Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group withdraws income guidance on Tier 4 news December 21, 2020 Frasers Group has withdrawn its published guidance of a 20 per cent to 30 per cent underling improvement in EBITDA in the wake of the latest coronavirus restrictions. Due to the closure of almost all stores in London and the southeast during the year’s peak retail trading period, Frasers Group said it was withdrawing the [...]
Retail, hospitality and transport sectors fear staff abuse when mandatory face masks end July 13, 2021 Business leaders in industries that operate in public indoor settings fear staff could come under attack from customers after the government lifts the legal requirement to wear face masks on 19 July. As of next week, businesses can enforce their own policy on masks as they see fit to protect their staff and customers. But [...]
UK extends commercial tenant eviction ban until March December 9, 2020 The UK’s ban on commercial property eviction has been extended today to March 2021. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick announced that this will be the final extension of the business eviction ban, after it was originally supposed to end in September this year. A statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the [...]
TfL pledges to make London world’s ‘most walkable city’, which could aid SMEs May 27, 2021 TfL has pledged today to make London the world’s ‘most walkable city’ and will programme 18 pedestrian crossings to show green walking signal until traffic approaches. The programmed crossings are set to prioritise people walking and will be installed by the end of next month. Six crossings have already been programmed in Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hounslow, [...]
Retailers ‘relieved’ as shops get green light to open before Christmas November 23, 2020 The Prime Minister has announced that non-essential stores in England can reopen next month, in what retailers hope will provide a lifeline for the high street in the run-up to Christmas. In a statement in the House of Commons this afternoon, Boris Johnson confirmed that stores that were forced to close during the coronavirus lockdown [...]
Govt urges employers to hire UK-based workers rather than rely on foreign labour August 30, 2021 The Government wants employers to invest in UK-based workers rather than relying on labour from abroad as businesses contend with a shortage of HGV drivers. Supermarkets and suppliers are struggling to meet demand following an exodus of drivers from EU countries, who returned to the continent during the pandemic and remained there. This is coupled [...]
High street suffers worst December retail sales on record as online growth slumps January 8, 2021 December retail sales were negative for the first time on record in 2020, with online purchases slumping to the lowest level since the pandemic began, in the latest blow to the beleaguered UK high street. Online sales were at their lowest level since March, increasing by 62 per cent on the previous year, and were [...]
BRC: Businesses face £3bn ‘tariff bombshell’ on no-deal December 11, 2020 The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that supermarkets and their customers face a £3.1bn ‘tariff bombshell’ if the UK leaves the EU without a trade deal. The UK’s transition period will end in three weeks and with talks at an impasse, there is growing concern the UK will be left to trade on World [...]
Shop prices dip as desperate retailers discount to attract customers December 2, 2020 Shop prices dipped last month as retailers discounted to encourage consumer spending in the run up to Christmas, which was disrupted by store closures during the second coronavirus lockdown. Prices fell 1.8 per cent in November compared to a 1.2 per cent decline in October, driven by a surge in discounting of non-food products such [...]
Debenhams shuts Irish website as Brexit ‘rule of origin’ clause leaves businesses blindsided January 7, 2021 Debenhams has shut its online business in Ireland as it is unable to send orders to the Republic of Ireland due to new Brexit trade rules. The business, which is in administration, said the website was “temporarily closed” but gave no details on if and when it would be back online. The website apologised to [...]