Met Office issues England heatwave warnings after lockdown eased June 24, 2020 The Met Office has issued a warning about heatwaves across England, with searing temperatures well above 30C expected across the UK today. Brits have been urged to take care in the sun, as health authorities encouraged those most vulnerable – many of whom have been shielding during the coronavirus lockdown – to protect themselves amid [...]
Rent day: Landlords braced for as little as one-sixth of quarterly payments June 24, 2020 Commercial property owners are braced to receive as little as 15 per cent of the rent they are owed today, with quarterly payments due by the end of today. Experts have warned of an impending crisis on both the landlord and tenant side without further government support, with businesses across the spectrum unable to pay [...]
JD Sports buys back Go Outdoors from administrators in £56.5m pre-pack deal June 23, 2020 JD Sports has bought back its struggling outdoor clothing chain Go Outdoors from administrators for £56.5m. The move, which is designed to “preserve as many jobs as possible”, comes with a major restructuring plan aimed at retaining the “majority” of stores, JD Sports said. Big Four accountancy giant Deloitte had been appointed by JD Sports [...]
The City goes al fresco: Pavement space could be reallocated for cafes in Square Mile June 23, 2020 The Square Mile’s restaurants and cafes could be given a new lease of life with al fresco dining, under new plans being drawn up by the City of London Corporation. The CLC has announced that it will look into reallocating street space to restaurants as part of its plan to help them reopen safely after [...]
Pubs and restaurants express relief as their lockdown ends June 23, 2020 Hospitality bosses have reacted with cautious optimism after Boris Johnson gave the green light for restaurants and pubs reopening on 4 July. Industry reaction has been largely relieved this afternoon, albeit with warnings that many businesses will still need financial support from the government as they start trading again. The Prime Minister announced this afternoon [...]
Sajid Javid: Slash taxes and ramp up spending to fuel UK recovery June 23, 2020 Britain should reduce the National Insurance tax and pour money into infrastructure and the poorest regions of the country to boost the UK’s economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis, according to former chancellor Sajid Javid. Javid, who left the Treasury as part of Boris Johnson’s February cabinet reshuffle, warned against a return to the austerity [...]
FTSE 100 finishes in the red amid second wave concerns June 22, 2020 The FTSE 100 has started the week on the back foot amid growing concern over a second wave of coronavirus infections. As markets opened, the index fell 0.94 per cent to begin the day in the red at 6,233.28 points. However, the FTSE 100 trimmed some of its losses to finish 0.76 per cent down [...]
Fears for jobs at Pret A Manger after ‘leaked video reveals sales downturn’ June 22, 2020 A leaked video revealing how Pret A Manger’s sales have plummeted throughout the coronavirus lockdown has prompted fears that job cuts could be on the cards at the sandwich chain. In the clip, Pret boss Pano Christou told staff in an online meeting that an announcement about the “job situation” would be made on 8 [...]
Camelot gets six month National Lottery extension June 22, 2020 Camelot, the games business, is to get a six-month extension to run the National Lottery, as regulators press pause on an auction to run the competition next. The decision to extend Camelot’s license by the Gambling Commission is likely to be formally announced in the coming weeks. It is the latest stall in the competition [...]
UK factory output falls at fastest pace since records began June 22, 2020 Britain’s manufacturing output has fallen at its fastest pace since records began during the three-month coronavirus lockdown. It comes as the sector remains in a deep downturn because of the pandemic, according to the latest report on UK factories by the Confederation of British Industry. The CBI’s manufacturing output gauge dropped from minus 54 per [...]