Young people hit disproportionately by Covid jobs crisis April 20, 2021 Those aged under 35 disproportionately lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, as sectors like hospitality and retail were hit particularly hard by the crisis. In the year to March, nearly 635,000 under-35s saw payroll job losses in the UK, making up 80 per cent of the total payroll jobs lost during [...]
London businesses demand return of the Night Tube amid delay until 2022 April 15, 2021 London businesses have demanded the resumption of the Night Tube after Transport for London (TfL) said earlier this week the service will not return until at least 2022. Andy Byford, the transport commissioner for London, said the capital’s struggling transport body lacked the resources to reinstate all-night Friday and Saturday services on the Victoria, Jubilee, Central, Northern, [...]
How to Navigate restaurant wine lists post-lockdown April 11, 2021 It’s happening. Things are shifting. Spring is in the air and soon restaurant terraces will be open for business and shortly after that (please oh please) inside restaurants too. I am among the thousands who are chomping at the bit to see friends and loved ones over a plate of linguine and a nice glass of [...]
UK PMIs: Construction activity grows at fastest rate since 2014 April 8, 2021 Construction output grew at the fastest rate in six and a half years in March as a combination of delayed projects getting the go-ahead and a boost in housebuilding spurred on the industry. IHS Markit’s construction Purchasing Managers Index registered 61.7 last month, a sharp increase from a reading of 53.3 in February. The latest [...]
Green investment surges as UK bosses sound alarm on climate change March 25, 2021 The majority of UK bosses intend to increase their long-term investments in sustainability initiatives as they grow concerned about the impact of climate change. A PwC survey of UK chief executives reveals 70 per cent are concerned about the impact of climate change, with almost a third “extremely concerned” about the issue. But climate change [...]
Manufacturing output on track for spring surge March 23, 2021 Manufacturing output hit its highest level in nearly two years in the three months to March in the clearest sign that a revival could be on the cards for the sector. Although still flat, the CBI’s monthly order book balance rose to -5 in March, the highest reading since April 2019 and up from -24 [...]
UK housing transactions soar in ‘sprint finish’ before stamp duty holiday extension March 23, 2021 UK housing transactions soared last month in a “sprint finish” to get deals completed before the initial stamp duty holiday deadline. Residential transactions in the UK were 45.5 per cent higher than February last year and 23 per cent up on January’s levels at 147,050, according to the latest HM Revenue and Customs data. The [...]
Crest Nicholson hikes profit expectations as UK housing market remains ‘resilient’ March 23, 2021 Crest Nicholson has hiked its profit expectations for the year, saying the UK housing market has remained “resilient” to the impact of Covid-19. The UK housebuilder said profit before tax for the year ended 31 October 2021 is expected to be around £85m, up from previous expectations of £74.3m. Crest Nicholson’s share price jumped 4.1 [...]
London needs a transport shake-up, with cheaper rail prices, e-scooters and new funding systems for TfL March 20, 2021 One year into the pandemic and London is on the brink of a transport revolution. For many the only obvious step change has been a retrograde one. Londoners continue to avoid public transport with almost the same zeal with which we once crammed ourselves onto tube carriages. Driving cars, while not quite back in vogue [...]
Roadmap out of lockdown sends consumer confidence to near 12-month high March 19, 2021 Roadmap out of lockdown sends consumer confidence to near 12-month high