Almost two-thirds of Brits back to work as freedom day nears July 8, 2021 Almost two-thirds of Brits are now back at their normal workplace as the gradual return to work continues in the run-up to freedom day. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed 65 per cent of people had returned to their normal pre-pandemic place of work by 27 June, up one percentage [...]
City minister says UK govt won’t impose compulsory flexible working model on finance July 8, 2021 The government won’t impose an obligatory flexible working model on financial services, as regulators ramp up pressure on firms to improve diversity and inclusion. City minister John Glen said financial services firms should use the experience of remote working during the pandemic to decide how flexible working could help foster a more diverse workforce, but [...]
Nightlife bounce back: Boom Battle Bar bags prime Oxford Street retail space July 7, 2021 London’s Great Portland Estates has pre-let a prime Oxford Street retail space to competitive socialisation operator Boom Battle Bar, in a post-pandemic investment for both retail and hospitality. The 15,200 sq ft space at 70 Oxford Street, part of the redevelopment of the area, is a prime capital spot for a bar looking to capitalise [...]
Remote workers drive up UK productivity July 7, 2021 Workers in industries that were able to rapidly pivot to remote working after the onset of the pandemic have driven up productivity levels in the UK, according to new figures released today. Estimates from the ONS show output per job, excluding furloughed workers, was 9.2 per cent higher on average in the first quarter of [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? July 7, 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. Ex-abrdn CEO appointed chair university board The former CEO of Standard Life Aberdeen, now known as abrdn, has been appointed chair of the University of Sussex Business School’s advisory board. [...]
Deliveroo to create 400 new tech jobs after London stock market float July 7, 2021 Deliveroo will create 400 new tech jobs over the next year as the company aims to improve its service after a troubled stock market debut in London. The delivery giant is looking to hire across a range of roles, including software engineers, product managers, designers and data scientists. The vast majority of the jobs will [...]
Priti Patel targets countries deemed uncooperative on asylum seekers July 6, 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel could soon be able to block visas for citizens from countries thought to be uncooperative in taking back asylum seekers. The power is included in a clause in the proposed Nationality and Borders Bill published today. It would grant home secretary Patel, and all future post holders, the ability to suspend [...]
UK fiscal watchdog puts cost of reaching net zero at £1.4 trillion July 6, 2021 The cost of the UK reaching net zero by 2050 could be as high as £1.4 trillion, according to figures included in a report published by Britain’s fiscal watchdog today. The UK economy will require over £1 trillion in investment over the next three decades to hit the government’s target of making Britain carbon neutral, [...]
Sadiq Khan: Londoners who get their first Covid vaccine can win Euro 2020 final tickets July 6, 2021 The Mayor of London is putting up tickets to the Euro 2020 final that Londoners have a chance to win if they sign up for their first vaccine. As part of a drive to get more Londoners vaccinated, Sadiq Khan is putting up one pair of tickets for Sunday’s final at Wembley and 50 pairs [...]
Vauxhall owner commits £100m to future of Ellesmere Port July 6, 2021 Vauxhall owner Stellantis will invest £100m in the car firm’s plant at Ellesmere in Cheshire, it confirmed this morning, ending months of uncertainty about the future of the factory’s 1,000 jobs. The site will be transformed into a facility for building electric vehicles in another significant coup for the UK car industry. Prime Minister Boris [...]