Manufacturing output grows at fastest rate on record in last quarter June 22, 2021 Increased production of cars, foodstuffs, and drinks helped the UK’s manufacturing output grow at the fastest pace ever recorded in the last three months. According to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends survey, output grew in 15 out of 17 sectors, with volumes up 37 per cent in total over the period. That’s the fastest rate [...]
Packaging giant DS Smith sees profit tumble but e-commerce boom beckons June 22, 2021 Packaging giant DS Smith saw its profit slide in the last financial year as the boom in online shopping failed to offset the initial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite record growth in the second half of the year, the cardboard maker said that profit before tax fell 37 per cent to £231m last year. Full-year revenue [...]
Hospitality hiring crisis drives up wages by 14 per cent as venues turn to temporary workers June 22, 2021 Hiring bottlenecks in the UK’s hospitality sector are prompting pubs and restaurants to turn to temporary staff to keep up with demand. It has also forced companies to increase wages by as much as 14 per cent, according to new research from Indeed Flex, an online marketplace for flexible workers. Analysis of pub, bar and [...]
Sturgeon and Burnham row over Covid travel ban compensation heats up June 21, 2021 Scottish First minister Nicola Sturgeon and Manchester mayor Andy Burnham are engaged in a war of words over the Scottish Government’s decision to impose a Covid-19 travel ban on parts of north west England. Burnham continued his criticism of the restrictions, saying he felt people in his region had been “insulted” by Sturgeon’s approach and [...]
Old guard of the Square Mile must change their attitude towards loss-making, high-growth tech companies June 21, 2021 Towards the tail end of 2020, investors were gleefully rubbing their hands looking ahead to a year like no other for London’s public markets. Rumours of multi-billion pound tech floats from the likes of Deliveroo, Darktrace and Wise began to swirl around the City. By late March this year, the hotly anticipated Deliveroo IPO led [...]
Calls for more ‘green list’ destinations grow ahead of travel review June 21, 2021 Pressure is mounting on ministers to add more countries to the UK’s travel “green list” after data showed that fewer than one in 200 people returning to the country from “amber list” destinations is testing positive for coronavirus. The next review of the traffic light system, which has been panned by the travel and airlines [...]
Boris Johnson says it will be a ‘difficult year’ for international travel June 21, 2021 Boris Johnson has warned it will be a “difficult year” for international travel as the government discusses exempting fully vaccinated people from quarantine when coming back from amber list countries. The Prime Minister said today that there will be “hassle, there will be delays” when it comes to international travel this year as “the priority [...]
Crypto investment accessibility set to grow ahead of expected inflation rate hikes June 21, 2021 CryptoCompare data shows the price of Bitcoin (BTC) started the week close to the $40,000 but failed to breach that mark and keep moving upwards. Instead, the flagship cryptocurrency’s price dropped to a $33,000 low at press time. Ethereum’s Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, moved from around $2,600 at the beginning of the [...]
Another adviser warns JD Sports shareholders on chairman’s pay June 19, 2021 Another leading adviser has added its name to group urging JD Sports shareholders to look at bonus payments for bosses, despite the retailer refusing to repay government support. Adviser IVIS has warned shareholders over votes on bonus payments and its future remuneration policy, Sky News first reported. Advisory service Glass Lewis has already issued [...]
DEBATE: Are pedestrianised streets enough to bring retail back to life? June 18, 2021 Oxford Circus is being given a makeover. On both sides of the tube station, cars will be banished, and the space will be transformed into two “piazzas”, as the Italians call it. Westminster Council, who are spearheading the project, will pedestrianise the area in hopes of injecting life back into fledgling shops struggling to make [...]