Just 30% of businesses commit to 2020 Christmas bonus November 20, 2020 Just three in 10 businesses that offer annual Christmas bonuses have committed to doing so in 2020. Numerous businesses have not confirmed if they will offer their traditional annual bonus, and a recent survey by expenses app ExpensesOnDemand found the sole focus for the majority of businesses is cash flow as they struggle to manage [...]
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 [...]
Covid restrictions drive online food shopping to record high as customers eat in to help out February 2, 2021 Online grocery shopping hit a record 14 per cent share of the UK grocery market in January, as customers bought more food to enjoy from home. The growth was boosted by a 229 per cent year-on-year rise in online spending by retired households. Supermarkets saw sales growth accelerate to 12.2 per cent in the last [...]
London Stock Exchange mulls £300m Covid rescue fund January 23, 2021 The London Stock Exchange is plotting a £300m listed investment vehicle aimed at offering much-needed support to companies hit hard by the pandemic. David Schwimmer, LSE chief executive, has led talks with top City figures and Treasury figures about establishing an investment trust that would list on the index. It is understood the vehicle, dubbed [...]
More than 2,000 jobs at risk as Edinburgh Woollen Mill collapses into administration November 6, 2020 High street giant Edinburgh Woollen Mill has collapsed into administration, putting more than 2,000 jobs at risk in the latest blow to the beleaguered UK retail sector. The firm, which is owned by billionaire businessman Philip Day, has appointed FRP Advisory as administrators to its Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Ponden Home brands, it announced this [...]
Aldi and Lidl sales growth slows as discounters struggle to compete with Big Four’s online capabilities March 2, 2021 The growth of the discount supermarkets Lidl and Aldi has slowed as the Big Four UK grocers benefitted from their more established online presence during the pandemic. German budget grocers Lidl and Aldi reported that sales were up 10.9 per cent and 5.6 per cent respectively in the 12 weeks to 21 February. However, three [...]
Retailers feel Tier 4 pain as footfall drops 40 per cent December 21, 2020 Retail footfall plunged by 40 per cent in the areas of England put under Tier 4 restrictions such as London, laying bare the impact of the restrictions on shop-owners during the crucial Christmas period. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced London and parts of the south and south east of England would go into [...]
Scotland’s public spending lead over England and Wales increases December 6, 2020 Scotland’s public spending advantage over England and Wales has extended to record levels, after a raft of new spending announcements by Nicola Sturgeon. Sturgeon recently announced an extension of free school meals and a pay rise for health workers, meaning Scotland now spends £2,000 per person more on public services than England and Wales. This [...]
UK supermarket sales soar to record-breaking £11.7bn in December January 5, 2021 UK supermarkets recorded their busiest ever month in December as grocery sales soared to £11.7bn amid bar and restaurant closures during the festive period. Morrisons was the strongest performer of the Big Four UK supermarkets, with sales jumping 13.1 per cent, followed by Tesco, which toasted a 11.1 per cent rise in sales. Sainsbury’s recorded [...]
Philip Green’s Arcadia collapse to push Debenhams to the brink November 29, 2020 The imminent collapse of retail group Arcadia will push Debenhams to the brink of liquidation, as potential buyer JD Sports considers backing out of the deal. JD’s board was supposed to decide whether to go through with the Debenhams acquisition by the end of last week, but has had second thoughts after learning that Arcadia [...]