Hospitality sector welcomes ‘blaze of sunshine’ from chancellor’s VAT cut July 8, 2020 The hospitality sector has greeted chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcements of a VAT cut for the hospitality sector and a new Eat Out to Help Out scheme as a “blaze of sunshine” after months of closure during the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking in the Commons today to announce his “mini budget”, Sunak vowed to cut the VAT [...]
Lloyd’s of London reminds staff of ‘standard of behaviour expected’ ahead of Christmas parties December 6, 2019 Lloyd’s of London has warned its workers to behave appropriately at upcoming Christmas parties. It comes following allegations of bullying and sexual harassment at the world’s biggest insurance market. Chief executive John Neal told Financial News that an email had been sent to the around 45,000 staff at Lloyd’s and its member companies to remind [...]
Coronavirus wage bailout: Government to cover 80 per cent of workers’ salaries up to £2,500 March 20, 2020 The government will pay up to 80 per cent, or £2,500, of the salaries of British workers hit by the UK coronavirus crisis in a huge wage bailout. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the extraordinary measures today after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered all pubs and restaurants, cafes and gyms to shut their doors tonight and [...]
Invest in knowledge to make your trades go further June 3, 2020 “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest,” once quipped US founding father, Benjamin Franklin. While the advice of long-dead polymaths can usually be disregarded in the context of modern investment, this maxim has stood the test of time. The primary reason an investment might fail is a lack of understanding. The democratisation of financial [...]
The Friday Interview: Tom Gosnell brings mead to the masses July 31, 2020 Each Friday, City A.M. Deputy Editor Andy Silvester speaks to the most interesting people in London’s hospitality scene. This week he’s in Peckham, where founder Tom Gosnell has built the capital’s only meadery – Gosnells – turning out modern twists on the ancient drink. In an unassuming industrial estate in Peckham, a quiet drinks revolution [...]
Brew-haha: Backlash over Brewdog’s hybrid burger October 3, 2019 Brewdog has been left with its tail between its legs after the launch of its new hybrid burger prompted a social media backlash from sceptics. Baffled customers took to Twitter to express their bewilderment at the pub chain’s new creation, which contains both a beef patty and a plant-based patty. Read more: Raising the bar: [...]
DEBATE: Should some conversation topics or ‘banter’ be off-limits to keep workplaces inclusive? January 31, 2020 Should certain conversation topics or ‘banter’ be off-limits to keep workplaces inclusive? Melanie Stancliffe, employment partner at Cripps Pemberton Greenish, says YES. There’s a fine line between catching up with your colleagues and inappropriate discussions. You have to remember that the office is a place of work, where nobody should think it acceptable to discriminate [...]
Lessons from the data: How can countries avoid a second Covid wave? June 29, 2020 The Economist Intelligence Unit recently launched an index to rank the quality of the policy response to coronavirus across 21 OECD countries. Countries are assessed against three “quality of response” criteria: number of above-average excess deaths, number of tests, and provision of non-Covid-19 healthcare. Three mitigating criteria adjust scores to take pre-existing risk factors into [...]
UK coronavirus lockdown: Sports Direct asks if staff count as key workers March 24, 2020 Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct and Evans Cycles stores will now remain closed unless the government gives them permission to stay open during the UK coronavirus lockdown. Bosses earlier claimed the stores are vital to the health of the nation, giving staff so-called key worker status. Under new measures announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last [...]
Three charts suggest a V-shaped recovery, but economists are sceptical July 24, 2020 British businesses reported the best growth in five years in July and shoppers spent their money at close to pre-coronavirus rates in June, data showed today in a positive sign for the UK economy. It was a stark contrast to two weeks ago, when figures showed that the economy undershot expectations in May with just [...]