ONS: Widespread spike in UK Covid infections reflecting winter levels July 9, 2021 There was a “marked” increase in new Covid infections in the UK in the latest data collected on the virus by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). More than 400,000 people tested positive with coronavirus in the UK during the first week of July, according to the new ONS estimates – the higest level recorded [...]
Ryanair, BA, Easyjet and Stansted in court today suing over traffic light travel system July 9, 2021 Ryanair, BA, Easyjet and Stansted owner MAG are in court today suing over traffic light travel system
England’s Euro 2020 performance could rally consumer spending July 8, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he expects a “bounce” in consumer spending thanks to England reaching the Euro 2020 final. England reached their first men’s football final in 55 years on Wednesday after they fought back to beat Denmark 2-1 after extra time. Speaking to the BBC, Simon French, chief economist at Panmure Gordon, said the [...]
UK labour supply falls at fastest rate on record in June July 8, 2021 The supply of UK workers slid at its fastest rate on record as firms struggle with severe labour shortages, according to a survey released today. The latest KPMG and REC report on jobs shows supply of both permanent and temporary staff in June fell at its quickest pace since the survey started 24 years ago. [...]
Is learning tech capability in L&D holding it back? July 8, 2021 No matter your role on the learning and development team or the makeup of your organisation, it is important to consistently review and evaluate innovative technologies, tools, and trends to see if they make sense for your organisation. Technology changes rapidly, and if you do not keep up, you will be left behind. Learning technologies [...]
Surging house prices fuels revenue growth at Persimmon July 8, 2021 Housebuilder Persimmon posted a strong set of results for the first six months of the year, driven by surging house prices. Revenues climbed to £1.84bn in the first half of 2021, up from £1.75bn over the same period in 2019 – before the pandemic struck. Income for 2020 was £1.19bn. Surging house prices driven by [...]
Bank of England and FCA: Financial services’ bottom lines will be hit if they ignore diversity and inclusion July 8, 2021 The financial services industry, like many other areas in our society, has made slow progress in becoming more diverse and inclusive. In recent years, social movements in the U.K. and around the world, have put an acute focus on these issues. Where these wider social issues impact the statutory objectives the UK’s financial regulatory authorities [...]
Business growth returns across financial services sector in second quarter July 8, 2021 Business volumes across the financial services sector in the second quarter grew at its fastest pace since June 2017, after stalling in the previous quarter. Growth in business volumes across the financial sector in the second quarter was at 40 per cent, its fastest pace since June 2017, and is expected to continue in the [...]
Government adviser says Test and Trace app usage “at all-time high” July 7, 2021 A Test and Trace adviser to the government has dismissed suggestions that people are deleting the app and instead said usage is at an “all-time high”. Epidemiologist professor Christophe Fraser, who advised the Department of Health on the programme, squashed suggestions that people were deleting the app because they were getting “pinged” too often as [...]
Wetherspoons slams government for ‘behaving like Monty Python’s Dennis Moore’ over VAT rates July 7, 2021 Wetherspoons has hit out at the government for what is believes are unfair VAT rates on hospitality businesses, which could make the sector less competitive post-Covid. The pub chain has accused the government of “unfairness” and of ‘robbing the poor to help the rich’ by levying a higher VAT rate on food bought in pub [...]