BT slaps millions of customers with 9 per cent hike in charges on phone and broadband bills January 21, 2022 Telecoms giant BT has said it plans to increase prices by 9 per cent from the end of March for most customers, another sign the cost-of-living squeeze is deepening. The company said those affected will end up paying an extra £3.50 a month – or £42 annually – on average for phone and broadband bills. [...]
Goldman, Citi, KPMG and PwC lead office return as workers flock back into the City January 21, 2022 The City of London’s major banks, accountants, law firms, and insurers have called on staff to return offices, after the government scrapped its work-from-home guidance. Major players including PwC, KPMG, Slaughter and May, and Aviva, told City A.M that they have called on staff to come back in. Major banks and financiers including Goldman, Citi, [...]
Belfast is Kenneth Branagh at his sentimental best January 21, 2022 While many might associate him with his acting roles, Sir Kenneth Branagh has been prolific behind the camera, too. Belfast is his nineteenth film as a director, with a CV that has included everything from his epic 90s adaptation of Hamlet to the first Thor movie. This new film, however, comes from a personal place. [...]
High Street takes a Christmas beating as retail sales volumes dropped by nearly 4 per cent in December January 21, 2022 UK retail sales fell in December by 3.7% as the Omicron variant spread and shoppers made Christmas purchases earlier in November due to concerns over supply chain shortages, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said retail sales volumes fell by 3.7% for the month, compared with a 1% rise in November. [...]
Military veterans step up to support the jabs effort January 21, 2022 The pandemic, though tough, has brought out the best in Britain – from clapping our NHS staff way back in the first lockdown to volunteers coming forward to help with the vaccination effort. It’s hardly surprising that front of the queue offering to help support the vital booster jabs effort are veterans of the Armed [...]
Wagamama owner TRG hikes profit forecast as it warns of slow battle to recover consumer confidence January 21, 2022 Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group has upgraded its profit expectations after strong trade at the end of last year despite Covid uncertainty. The group was affected by Omicron concerns and restrictions, such as guidance to work from home, but said it continued to trade ahead of the market. In a trading update on Friday, the [...]
Four day work week trial shows 100:80:100 model is taking off in UK but same job in less time may power stress and anxiety January 21, 2022 Three lockdowns have made a large number of employees re-evaluate the notoriously tricky work-life balance. The four-day working week is seen as the perfect solution, designed to offer employees flexible hours and increase productivity during working hours. To some large businesses the concept has proven more viable , so could the five-day working week the next traditional policy [...]
Online school has been a blemish for kids learning but hybrid could be a safety net January 21, 2022 Earlier this week, Boris Johnson announced kids would once again be free to take off their masks while at school. But with the Omicron variant still sweeping through the country, some schools have defied the Prime Minister and will keep the rules in place. The uncertainty all of us have had to live through has [...]
Brits’ optimism shrinks on soaring inflation and looming tax hikes January 21, 2022 An inflation spike, the re-emergence of Covid-19 restrictions and looming tax hikes have combined to dampen Brits’ confidence in the year ahead, reveals a closely watched survey released today. The erosion of household budgets by inflation climbing to a near three decade high has led to concerns about a deterioration in personal finances to sweep [...]
Grenfell campaigners outraged over Westfield owner’s plans for ‘death trap’ apartment block January 20, 2022 A developer has faced fury after plans for an apartment block twice the height of Grenfell with just one fire escape staircase. The 35-storey building has been proposed by the owner of the Westfield shopping centres, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), and will be part of a complex of 1,760 new homes, the Guardian first reported. The apartment [...]