UK economy grew by 2.3 per cent in April as high street and hospitality reopened June 11, 2021 Britain’s economy grew by 2.3 per cent in April as government restrictions affecting economic activity continued to ease. It was the fastest monthly growth of gross domestic product (GDP) since July last year and exceeded economists’ forecast of a 2.2 per cent jump. In comparison with April 2020, monthly GDP in April 2021 is estimated [...]
John Lewis exclusive: ’40 per cent of our profits will come from non-retail by 2030′ June 11, 2021 High Street giant John Lewis looks back on a difficult year. In March, the 157-year old partnership announced it would not reopen eight stores after lockdown restrictions eased, putting almost 1,500 jobs at risk. The value of John Lewis stores dropped to almost half the value they were before this year’s and last year’s writedowns, due [...]
Frost receives icy warning after giving culture committee the cold shoulder June 10, 2021 The chair of Westminster’s influential culture committee has slammed Brexit minister Lord David Frost for postponing an evidence session today. The government has been under fire for some time over post-Brexit immigration requirements, with confusion over visa access for touring musicians or performers. Frost was due to give evidence on the implications of Brexit on [...]
Empty stores on Oxford Street rise by a fifth in six months June 10, 2021 The number of empty stores on Oxford Street has risen by nearly a fifth since the start of 2021, as pandemic-led lockdowns took a toll on the high street. Some 17 per cent of stores on London’s most famous street have closed since January, according to research by Property Week. Among the most famous and [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? June 9, 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. Chairman trades The Restaurant Group for the FA The Restaurant Group (TRG), which host brands like Wagamama and Frankie & Benny’s, has confirmed this week that its chairman will be stepping [...]
Pride 2021: Businesses must encourage their employees to bring their whole selves to work June 9, 2021 Being an ally by always calling out bad behaviour and supporting all of our colleagues – no matter who they choose to identify as – is so important, not only in work but in life.
Swift shift to remote working may have had ‘major security trade-offs’ June 8, 2021 US-based AvePoint, which manages data for Microsoft 365, has said today that although the shift to remote working was swift, it ‘may have come with major security trade-offs’. In a workplace Covid impact survey released today, the software firm revealed how despite UK organisations having a quick pivot to the digital sphere, most companies did [...]
MiCA: A ‘beta version’ of crypto-assets regulation in the EU June 8, 2021 Alexander Prognimak, CFA from the CFA UK Future of Money Working Group, looks at European Union plans for crypto-assets. Gone are the days when London’s famous red buses would be carrying adverts promoting the dream of a shiny post-Brexit future for the NHS. As one ad (that has attracted the advertising regulator’s attention) read: ‘If [...]
Sarah Everard death: Wayne Couzens pleads guilty to rape and kidnap June 8, 2021 A serving British police officer has admitted the rape and kidnap of Sarah Everard, whose body was found a week after she disappeared walking home in London in March. Couzens, 48, a London officer whose role was to guard diplomatic premises, told the Old Bailey that he accepted responsibility for killing Everard but did not [...]
London won’t see exodus – but property growth rates may slow, says Onthemarket June 8, 2021 Property growth rates in the capital could slow in the medium-term, as pandemic-led lifestyle changes like wanting a garden or office space are likely to continue. House prices in the UK have on average grown by £22,000 in the last 12 months, according to the latest figures from Halifax, however prices in London have lagged [...]