Half of all UK bank branches have been shut or are scheduled for closure as fintech kills off 736 locations in 2021 alone December 27, 2021 New figures published this morning show that the number of bank branches across the UK is dropping dramatically. In fact, nearly half of all banks’ branches have been lost since 2015, or are scheduled for closure, according to Which? Vulnerable customers are being left at risk of being “cut adrift”, the consumer organisation said after [...]
Travel industry in shock: Pre-departure tests for all UK arrivals from Tuesday December 4, 2021 Everyone arriving in England from abroad will be required to take a Covid-19 pre-departure test from 4am on Tuesday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said this evening. The pre-departure tests will have to be taken a maximum of 48 hours before departure and will apply to all travellers arriving in the UK, regardless of their departure [...]
IMPACT AM AWARDS 2023 SPONSORS November 30, 2023 ESG INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR SPONSOR: Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Our colleagues provide our clients in over 120 countries with advice and solutions that give them the clarity and confidence to make better decisions to [...]
Last orders: 21 pubs closed every day during coronavirus pandemic March 19, 2021 Almost 21 pubs and bars have closed each day since the first coronavirus lockdown was imposed last year, according to figures published today. Britain has 7,592 fewer licensed premises than it did before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, with independent pubs and bars hit the hardest by the restrictions on trading. Closures accelerated in January and [...]
Sharp increase in retail sales amid ‘subdued’ outlook due to inflation – but is there a ‘chink of light’ with Easter holidays? March 24, 2023 British retail sales grew sharply last month compared to pre-pandemic levels, but price increases continue to deliver a “subdued” longer-term outlook. Sales volumes are thought to have increased by 1.2 per cent in February after a rise of 0.9 per cent in January, suggesting the industry is recovering from the pandemic well. Industry figures are [...]
How Gaucho’s boss has turned the once-troubled steakhouse into a success story January 17, 2023 Martin Williams – the man behind M Restaurants – and his partners pulled Gaucho out of administration in 2018. Since then he’s turned the brand into one of the hospitality industry’s shining lights, with profits up and expansion continuing. We ask him how he’s done it. ASK regular restaurant-goers what their biggest bug bear is [...]
Nightclubs to ‘make up for lost time’ as New Year’s Eve given green light December 28, 2021 Clubs and bars have welcomed the government’s decision not to introduce any fresh Covid curbs in England until the new year. Nightclubs have been forced to shut in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, in a bid to tackle skyrocketing cases of the Omicron Covid variant. However, in England, ministers have said the scientific evidence does [...]
Unchallenged inflation will make strike action the norm in a new labour market December 1, 2021 Last Friday, London once again muddled through the inconvenience of yet another Tube strike. Another one is planned for the middle of December. They are just as much a feature of the metropolitan scene as Big Ben. Until more of the trains are automated, Tube staff will retain the capacity to cause disruption. But this [...]
Omicron Covid measures show our politicians still don’t know how to take risks December 1, 2021 According to the government, the Omicron measures are “proportionate and responsible”. This may be true when compared to the pinnacle of pandemic command-and-control, when scotch eggs were served with every pint, outdoor gyms were taped up, and hikers were pursued across moors with drones. But make no mistake, with these new restrictions the state is [...]
Government goes head to head with Britain’s nurses: ‘Simply not affordable’ November 11, 2022 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has dismissed pay demands from unions representing nurses across Britain, calling them “simply not affordable.” His remark comes as the threat of strike action that will hit operations and appointments looms. Sunak said he shared the public’s “respect and gratitude” for nurses, and that he was pleased the Health Secretary was [...]