Why boosting physical activity is key to speeding up London’s pandemic recovery, by Prof Kevin Fenton of Public Health England September 20, 2021 In this guest column, Professor Kevin Fenton, London regional director at Public Health England, calls on businesses to prioritise employee health ahead of London Sport’s Active London conference this week. As we emerge from Covid-19 and set out to repair its impact globally, the success of London’s post-pandemic recovery will ultimately depend on the physical [...]
National Insurance rise may ‘choke off’ investment and recruitment, business leaders warn September 20, 2021 Manufacturers are reporting an increase in business growth but warn the planned rise in National Insurance threatens to “choke off” investment and recruitment. Domestic and export orders have increased in recent months with increased optimism for the year ahead, according to manufacturers’ organisation Make UK. Manufacturing growth is now forecast to be 7.1 per cent [...]
Prudential turns gaze to Asia in fresh £2bn share sale September 19, 2021 Insurer Prudential is planning to offer fresh shares on the Hong Kong stock exchange to raise £2bn as it continues to shift its focus away from the UK. The proceeds will be used to pay off debt and capitalise on investment opportunities in Asia and Africa, the 173-year old insurer said. Prudential will offer nearly [...]
Sunak to launch battle plan to cut borrowing at budget September 19, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak will outline plans to put the UK’s public finances on a more sustainable path at the budget next month, according to reports. Sunak is expected to set new targets for the government to stop borrowing to fund day to day spending within three years, according to the FInancial Times. The proportion of [...]
FCA bans financial adviser convicted for grooming September 17, 2021 The UK financial watchdog has banned Jon Frensham from performing any regulated activity after he was found guilty of grooming teenage girls. In March 2017, Mr Frensham, the sole director and an independent financial adviser at Frensham Wealth Limited, was imprisoned after attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. At the time he was [...]
KPMG: Britain’s tax system is having an identity crisis September 17, 2021 Every so often a debate about UK tax policy cuts through into the media and public imagination, as we’ve seen in this last couple of weeks. The Health and Social Care levy has thrown a light on some big questions about how, and from whom, we raise money to fund the country’s public spending needs. [...]
Aviva makes £320m bulk annuity deal with pension fund September 16, 2021 Aviva has today announced the completion of a bulk purchase annuity deal, worth £320m, with the John Laing Pension Fund. John Laing, a manager of infrastructure projects, is an active investor in large transport, social and environmental infrastructure projects and renewable energy projects globally. The transaction marks the second buy-in between the two firms after the [...]
Brexit: Lord David Frost outlines priorities for EU regulations bonfire September 16, 2021 The UK has launched an official review into EU regulation that is still in place in the UK, with Lord David Frost announcing that red tape on things like port services, vehicles and data rights is set to be slashed. Frost, the UK’s defacto Brexit minister, told the House of Lords that the UK had [...]
Staff shortages: Care homes may shut as vaccine deadline for care workers is today September 16, 2021 Care homes may be forced to shut because of staff shortages as the deadline for care workers to get vaccinated looms today, Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, warned this morning. Green told Radio 4’s Today programme: “There’s a real crisis around recruitment in the social care sector which has, in the pandemic, gotten [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? September 15, 2021 City A.M.’s Millie Turner provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. Falcon posts City veteran Joe Nally to board Falcon Oil & Gas has posted Cenkos co-founder Joe Nally as a new non-executive chairman to the board of the company with immediate effect. Nally, a City veteran, [...]