Lloyds AGM hit by flexible working protests after telling staff to come back to the office May 18, 2023 Lloyds’ annual general meeting (AGM) was hit by protests about its flexible working policies and its fossil fuel financing, but all motions ended up passing with massive majorities. Speaking at the bank’s AGM in Edinburgh on Thursday, representatives from Unite argued that trialled changes to its hybrid working policies disadvantaged women, carers and working parents. [...]
Chancellor: Forget hybrid TWaTs, it’s the office by “default” May 17, 2023 The Chancellor has said that the office should be the “default” location for work, even after the rise of hybrid working in the pandemic. Vast swathes of workers in white collar jobs have switched out of the office for at least two or three days a week, with the term ‘twat’ now used to describe [...]
Elizabeth line sees hybrid workers flock back to the office May 11, 2023 London’s popular Elizabeth Line has prompted a surge in workers heading into the office, new research released on the eve of its one year anniversary shows. Footfall data from the workspace operator IWG has today revealed a 23 per cent increase in the number of visits, to offices across nine Elizabeth Line stops, since the [...]
Sharon White: Embattled John Lewis chair survives confidence vote – just about May 10, 2023 John Lewis chair Sharon White will remain chief of the business after winning a vote of confidence on her future leadership, but remains under considerable pressure with partners voting against her performance over the last year. White secured one victory at a John Lewis Partnership meeting held on Wednesday, with a majority of partners saying [...]
Toyota eyes EV sales boom in China as firm helped by easing supply chain issues May 10, 2023 Toyota Motor Corp on Wednesday said it expects operating profit to climb 10 per cent this business year, with a five-fold jump in pure electric vehicle (EV) sales amid an easing in global supply chain disruption from a shortage of chips. The growth plan was unveiled by new CEO Koji Sato, installed last month, and [...]
UP THE JUNCTION: Why Clapham’s pubs seem to be recession-proof May 8, 2023 Few London neighbourhoods can stir up conversation like Clapham does. Known for its cringey nightclubs and spawning array of trendy coffee shops, the region has long served as a first home for junior account execs and recruiters arriving in the capital to begin their careers and get a taste of city life. It’s also got [...]
Derwent: London property investment trust credits ‘busy’ West-End and return to the office for uptake in leases May 4, 2023 Derwent, the London property investment trust, has told investors that London and the West-End is “busy” as a return to offices and shopping signal better times for the capital. In its first quarter trading update, the FTSE 250 real estate firm revealed a 6.6 per cent uptake in the number of leases secured which totalled [...]
Women Want Equal Progression Opportunities At Work May 2, 2023 Does the company you work for promote women at the same rate it promotes male counterparts? If you’re nodding in agreement, you’re among the minority. That’s because women still only make up 30% of leadership roles in the UK. This is despite an active push by the government to highlight this issue via the FTSE [...]
UK retail giant set to ditch central London office space amid job losses May 1, 2023 John Lewis is looking to cut its office space by over 50 per cent after the company seeks to drastically cut costs benefiting from a loose hybrid working approach. The John Lewis Partnership, which also owns Waitrose, first announced its plans to move offices last year, waiting until the lease of its current Victoria HQ [...]
Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV Q4 review: Plug-in and play May 1, 2023 The new Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV is a plug-in hybrid SUV that also appeals to car enthusiasts. John Redfern drives it.