Talktalk swings to profit on lockdown boost June 11, 2020 Talktalk today reported a strong profit rise on the sale of its broadband business and customer growth, as Brits stayed indoors during the coronavirus pandemic. The figures Pre-tax profit hit £146m for the year, up from a £5m loss the year before, as cost cutting and the sale of its Fibrenation broadband arm for £206m [...]
Two metre social distancing rule ‘would leave many small businesses unable to make profit’ June 10, 2020 Many of the country’s small companies will not be viable unless two metre social distancing rules are relaxed, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has claimed. Ahead of non-essential shops reopening next week, FSB chairman Mike Cherry this afternoon added to pressure on the government to cut the nationwide two metre rule, which has already [...]
Nationwide vows to keep branches open as it spends £1.3bn on digital growth September 15, 2018 Nationwide has vowed not to be the second bank to fall victim to an IT disaster this year as it unveiled a £1.3bn technology upgrade today. Chief executive Joe Garner said there would not be one “big bang” change as it moves to a new digital platform, adding that the investment won’t come at the [...]
Nationwide vows to keep branches open as it spends £1.3bn on digital growth September 15, 2018 Nationwide has vowed not to be the second bank to fall victim to an IT disaster this year as it unveiled a £1.3bn technology upgrade today. Chief executive Joe Garner said there would not be one “big bang” change as it moves to a new digital platform, adding that the investment won’t come at the [...]
Face coverings to be made compulsory in shops in England July 14, 2020 Face coverings are to be made compulsory in all shops in England from 24 July, with a fine of up to £100 for those who do not comply, the government is expected to announce today. Since May, the public have been advised to wear face coverings in enclosed meeting spaces, but they have only been [...]
Pay no attention to the dysfunctional comms team behind the Downing Street curtain November 13, 2020 There’s a well-known warning in the world of theatre tech: if someone notices the lighting, you haven’t done your job. Yes, sometimes dazzling special effects are what make a show, but nine times out of 10 the audience only becomes aware of the tech if something goes wrong. The way you know you’re doing a [...]
How to eat well during a pandemic, from pre-mixed cocktails to Michelin home delivery November 11, 2020 Another endless week approaches its inglorious mid-season finale. But what do we have to look forward to in the barren cultural landscape of November 2020? Well, restaurants may be closed but many canny entrepreneurs have turned their empty kitchens into home delivery hubs, allowing you to feast like it’s 1999, or indeed 2019. Each week [...]
More than half of London businesses ‘are not prepared’ for local lockdown October 13, 2020 Almost 60 per cent of London businesses have no plan in place for a local lockdown, according to new research, as the London mayor today warned the capital could see tighter restrictions within the next few days. Only 41 per cent of companies in the capital currently have a plan in place to deal with [...]
Markets greet Biden presidency with sigh of relief November 9, 2020 Markets have celebrated a return to political normality after a five-day vote count in the US presidential election finally yielded a result over the weekend. Joe Biden on Saturday was elected the 46th President of the United states after winning the major battlegrounds of Pennsylvania and Nevada, booting incumbent Donald Trump out of the White [...]
Joe Biden’s business in-tray: The President-elect’s most pressing issues November 9, 2020 President-elect Joe Biden will be entering the White House at a time when the US is facing stark crises on multiple fronts. The US is seeing a third wave of Covid with almost 240,000 deaths recorded, the economy is in a deep recession and the US’ federal climate policy is in need of reform. City [...]