Jobs market turbulence after furlough fails to rear its head as Brits in work swells 0.6 per cent to over 29m November 16, 2021 An expected wave of job losses after government support measures propping up the jobs market were pulled has seemingly been averted. The number of payrolled employees climbed 160,000 over the last month, or 0.6 per cent, to 29.3m. This is the first period which the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has examined the labour market [...]
Editorial: From fireworks to business rates, it’s time to move forward October 15, 2021 On the face of it, whether or not a fabulous yellow roman candle explodes like a spider across the stars for London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations is not the world’s most pressing issue. But in its own luminous way, the decision by the Mayor to cancel the capital’s midnight show for the second time in [...]
Nuclear conflict: why we must consider the risks June 21, 2022 In the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the risks of nuclear conflict have become clearer both inside and outside the world of finance. Yet many market watchers have simply thrown up their hands under the mistaken assumption that when it comes to nuclear weapons, nothing they do will matter. Such a philosophy is inadequate on [...]
Not going out: sales down 4.5 per cent for pubs, bars and restaurants November 15, 2021 The hospitality sector is struggling to bounce back from Covid-19 as Brits take a cautious attitude to spending post-lockdown. Rolling sales for managed pubs, bars and restaurants are down 4.5 per cent over the past 12 months as the sector continues to be hit hard by supply chain pressures, high energy prices and recruitment issues. [...]
UK housebuilding tumbles into ‘stagnation’ amid reversing economy June 8, 2022 Higher raw material costs and ongoing supply chain disruption clamped down on the UK construction sector last month, according to a closely watched survey released today. Construction businesses cut back on activity amid rapid cost inflation persisting in May making projects unviable. Just over seven in 10 firms said input prices climbed in May, driven [...]
Travellers can now use cheap lateral flow tests on arrival in UK October 24, 2021 From today double jabbed Brits will be able to use cheap lateral flow tests instead of PCRs when they arrive in the UK from abroad. The new rules have come into affect just in time for families to go on holiday during the October half term. People travelling to the UK from non-red list counties [...]
Londoners face more disruption as new tube strike is confirmed for 21 June June 8, 2022 Londoners will need to brace themselves for more disruption as the RMT union has announced that 10,000 of its tube workers will walk out on 21 June. RMT members working for London Underground cited a dispute over pensions and job losses as the main reason behind the walkout. The strike is the latest disruption to [...]
All eyes turn to Europe as rugby’s Champions Cup gets underway December 6, 2021 Come winter every season, European rugby halts its domestic competitions and looks towards the Champions Cup – the premier international club rugby competition in the world. This season, in a revised format, it’s imperative that teams get off to a flying start. Here’s what to look out for. Fast Start Last season saw a new [...]
Criminal Barristers vote to escalate strike action over legal aid fees August 22, 2022 Criminal barristers today voted in favour of plans to cancel their bi-weekly court walkouts and run a continuous strike from 5 September onwards. The Criminal Bar Association’s members overwhelmingly backed the decision to strike on an “indefinite basis” on Monday morning. 2273 members backed escalation of strikes by 79.5 per cent, with 11 per cent supporting a continuation [...]
This is not just a settlement: M&S agrees deal with Aldi over caterpillar cake February 1, 2022 Marks & Spencer has settled a long-running copyright dispute with Aldi over its iconic Colin the Caterpillar cake.