Lloyds to slash office space as it resumes dividend despite 72 per cent profit drop February 24, 2021 Lloyds resumes dividend despite 72 per cent profit drop as it unveils wealth drive
Post-Covid offices will become cultural hubs and even art galleries to tempt staff back to the office February 24, 2021 “Ditch the desks and ditch the boardroom! Tell your people to bring their trunks and they will love working for you.” So said Robert Dowling, CEO of Deanlow Consulting in Ontario in 2016, after revealing that his employees spent their days paddling around a company swimming pool with laptops to promote creative thinking. We’re five [...]
Michael Gove to hold crunch Northern Ireland meeting with EU today February 24, 2021 Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove will meet with his EU counterpart today in a crunch meeting to discuss post-Brexit problems at the Northern Ireland border. European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic, who is the Brussels’ key representative to the UK-EU Joint Committee, said last week he wanted all issues with the Northern Ireland protocol of [...]
UK agrees to EU extension of Brexit trade deal ratification February 23, 2021 The UK has agreed to a request by the EU to extend the date of its parliament’s ratification of the Brexit trade deal until 30 April. The trade deal was provisionally approved by the 27 EU ambassadors in December to ensure it came into place on 1 January when the UK left the single market [...]
HSBC results: Shift to Asia, office space slashed, dividend returns February 23, 2021 HSBC today said it plans to nearly halve its office space globally as part of a radical overhaul that will see the lender shift its focus to Asia. The bank will pump roughly $6bn (£4.3bn) into the region over the next five years, focusing mainly on its wealth management business in greater China as well [...]
Saudi prince to sell £195m stake in London skyscraper February 23, 2021 A Saudi prince is close to selling his stake in a City skyscraper to an American investor for around £195m. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd owns 25 per cent of Salesforce Tower in Bishopsgate. The tower has attracted interest from New York-based investment firm Madison International Realty. The 46-storey tower took four years to complete [...]
Businesses should be wary of class action lawsuits as groundbreaking Shell decision has global reach February 22, 2021 Class action lawsuits are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, and a combination of the coronavirus, Brexit and previous claimant-favourable outcomes will mean UK companies see more action against them in the coming years. Britain is part of something of a third wave of class action lawsuit popularity. The practice of collective claims started in [...]
London holds firm as financial services centre of Europe February 22, 2021 Many European financial services firms are applying for permission to operate in the UK, signifying London will continue to be a leading player on the global financial stage post-Brexit. Nearly 1,500 EU-based financial services firms have applied for permission to operate in the UK, with around 1,000 of those planning to establish their first UK [...]
Creative, civic and commercial organisations must work together for a cultural resurgence in London February 22, 2021 The COVID-19 pandemic has hit all parts of our country but sadly, the situation facing the City’s and London’s creative sector is nothing short of a cultural catastrophe. These two words paint a simple and bleak picture but, if we work together, I fully believe that we can spark a cultural resurgence. Prior to the [...]
Frost replaces Gove with “more assertive stance” on EU February 19, 2021 PM Boris Johnson replaced Michael Gove as EU relations minister with Lord David Frost, chief negotiator of last year’s Brexit deal, on Wednesday. Downing Street said Frost would have a seat in cabinet and take over all responsibility for dealings with Brussels. The newly-appointed EU relations ministers wants to take a more “hardline” stance on [...]