Goldman Sachs CEO was right, a remote workforce will sow division, not creativity February 26, 2021 For much of the last year, chatter amongst business leaders has been on the “new normal” and how we’ve adapted to it. Businesses of all shapes and sizes have quickly and comfortably adjusted to a Zoom-based reality. We’ve all heard the doomsayers claiming the transition is the death knell for the office A few large [...]
Silvertown Tunnel contract costs increase by £200m March 11, 2020 The cost outlay for the controversial Silvertown Tunnel appears to have risen by £200m to £1.2bn. Transport for London (TfL) last night publicly released the contract it had finalised with the Riverlinx Consortium in November. The twin bore road tunnel, which is opposed by many environmental groups and local councils, will connect Greenwich with the Docklands [...]
McCarthy & Stone swings to a loss as completed projects halve July 15, 2020 McCarthy & Stone posted a £25m loss for the first half of 2020 this morning, and warned of further difficulties as the pandemic continues. The retirement-home builder said coronavirus had dampened housing transactions, affecting the number of sales it was able to complete in the six months to the end of April. McCarthy & Stone [...]
More than $600bn could be wasted in coal power generation at expense of renewables, says report March 12, 2020 An estimated $638bn (£489bn) could be wasted world wide on using coal to generate electricity. That’s according to a report released today which advises international governments to stop using coal as soon as possible. The report by think tank Carbon Tracker Initiative says in all major electricity markets, renewables are either cheaper than new coal [...]
Britishvolt chooses Welsh site for UK’s first battery ‘gigafactory’ July 17, 2020 Battery firm Britishvolt has chosen a site in Wales for the development of the UK’s battery manufacturing “gigafactory”, it was announced today. In a statement, the start-up said it had signed an MoU with the Welsh government to work on plans for the 30 gigawatt facility at Bro Tathan in south Wales. The company said [...]
Exclusive: Liberty Steel poised to swoop for stranded Port Talbot steelworks November 20, 2020 Sanjeev Gupta’s Liberty Steel is poised to swoop for Tata’s UK steelworks at Port Talbot in Wales, City A.M. understands. Over the weekend the Indian conglomerate announced that Swedish firm SSAB was in discussions with Tata over buying its assets in the Netherlands, which would lead to the break-up of the firm’s European steel operations. [...]
In harm’s way? The government’s plan to protect us online could break the internet November 19, 2020 In the coming days, it is likely that the government will signal the direction it plans to take on its journey to enhance the regulatory framework for content on the internet. As we wait to assess the details in the final response to the Online Harms White Paper, it is important to take a step [...]
The Imitation Game: Turing Scheme could be even better than Erasmus January 8, 2021 The UK’s final and definitive secession from the European Union has caused the gnashing of Remainer teeth for a hundred reasons, but one of the most prominent in the past week or so has been the end of British participation in the Erasmus+ student exchange programme. This pan-EU project allows students from member states to [...]
What are free ports and what are the economic benefits? November 16, 2020 This morning the Treasury announced that the bidding process for the creation of up to 10 new “free ports” in the UK had opened. The first of these sites are expected to begin operating in 2021, in the hope of boosting international trade after Brexit. But what are “free ports” and why is the government [...]
Coronavirus: UK relief package for self-employed opens today May 13, 2020 Applications will open this morning for the government’s £9bn coronavirus support package for the self-employed, with first payments expected on 25 May. The scheme will open weeks earlier than initially anticipated, and will see self-employed workers get paid up to £7,500 as a lump sum for three months’ income. Funds are expected in applicants’ bank [...]