Weave support for minorities into the fabric of the City to empower them to thrive May 10, 2021 DiverCity® Podcast · Representation and Recognition of the ‘Model Minority’ The #StopAsianHate campaign sprung up in response to a sharp increase in the number of assaults, both physical and verbal, on Asian communities globally over the past year. In the US, former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric around China – he even referred to Covid-19 as [...]
UK house prices hit new record high after growing at fastest rate in five years May 10, 2021 UK house prices grew at the fastest pace in five years last month as the stamp duty holiday continued to buoy the market. Average house prices in April reached a new record high of £258,204, an annual increase of 8.2 per cent and a monthly rise of 1.4 per cent. Almost £20,000 has been added [...]
Countdown to COP26 – how 2021 is a “make or break” year in the fight against climate change May 10, 2021 This year will be “make or break” in the fight against climate change, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned. The next United Nations climate summit, COP26 – or to give it its full title, the 26th Climate Change Conference of the Parties – is due to take place in Glasgow in November. Postponed from last [...]
Provident Financial to shut doorstep lending arm after 141 years as it crashes to loss May 10, 2021 Troubled sub-prime lender Provident Financial today confirmed plans to shutter its doorstep lending arm as it reported a hefty loss for the full year. The Bradford-based company said it was withdrawing from the home credit market after 141 years, adding that it has begun a consultation process for 2,100 employees. “In light of the changing [...]
London house prices could rise by a further £21,000 this year May 8, 2021 The house price boom caused by the introduction of the stamp duty holiday could see the average house price across England climb by another £23,000 before the end of the year, should current market trends continue. House prices are increasing at an average of 0.84 per cent a month across England, according to research by [...]
US job growth crashes below expectations amid labour shortages May 7, 2021 US job growth was far slower than expected in April as labour shortages left employers scrambling to meet booming demand as coronavirus restrictions ease. Non-farm payrolls increased by just 266,000 jobs last month, well below estimates of 1m, according to figures from the Labor Department. It also marks a significant slowdown from the 770,000 jobs [...]
Has Covid changed the shape of London forever? May 6, 2021 After a rollercoaster year and a half, our economy is preparing to burst back to life. Fuelled by the joint success of the vaccine rollout and our effort in the third lockdown, we are now fighting back against our invisible foe that has, and continues, to wreak havoc around the world. Yet, life as we know [...]
March was HSBC’s strongest mortgage completion month in more than 40 years May 6, 2021 HSBC handed out more mortgages in March than in any other month of more than 40 years offering home loans. In a sign of the recent boom in housing market activity, HSBC UK said March was its strongest ever month for mortgage completions, including deals for more than 3,000 first-time buyers. The bank declined to [...]
Does an emissions scandal await the real estate sector? May 6, 2021 In September 2015, news broke that Volkswagen (VW) had been selling cars in the US that had a so-called “defeat device” installed in diesel engines. It could detect when they were being tested and change performance to improve results. The German carmaker admitted to cheating emissions tests and it soon became clear that this was [...]
Drinking around the world: Tasmania is a winemaker to watch May 5, 2021 You have probably never considered stocking up on wine from either Swansea or St Helens. Both are on Tasmania’s Great Eastern Wine Trail, one of four in Australia’s island state. Tassie, the “Apple Isle”, is also home to the Tamar Valley wine road, the East Coast route and the Cradle Coast region, which boasts Ghost [...]