New business growth in London at eight year high amid concern about inflation and input costs March 14, 2022 New business activity in the capital has reached an eight-year high, but optimism remains cautious with rising inflation and pressures on input costs. There has been a resurgence in trade across the London, with growth rising from 57.3 per cent in January to a three month high of 63 per cent, in February. Growth reported [...]
Gin and whiskey maker snags planning permission for carbon neutral distillery March 14, 2022 Gin and scotch whiskey maker Eden Mill St Andrews has snagged planning permission for a new site – which it says will be the world’s first carbon neutral distillery. The distillery, which will also have a visitor centre, will be in the heart of St Andrews in Scotland and already has a 50-year land lease. [...]
Last orders: Restaurant insolvencies spike as economic pressure bites March 13, 2022 Restaurant insolvencies jumped 20 per cent, according to the latest data published from accountancy group UHY Hacker Young It revealed that insolvencies rose to 354 in the last quarter of 2021, – up from 296 in the previous three-month window. UHY Hacker Young argues that despite the end of coronavirus restrictions, the sector will continue [...]
NHS clinicians call for levy on gambling industry to help fund addiction services March 13, 2022 Top NHS clinicians are calling for a new levy on the gambling industry, which would help fund prevention and treatment programmes for addiction. Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones, the director of the National Problem Gambling Clinic and the clinical lead for the NHS Northern Gambling Service Dr Matt Gaskell have led the calls for a new independent [...]
Kirin to pump £660m into pharma pivot as beer profits ‘won’t grow forever’ March 13, 2022 Japanese brewing giant Kirin is looking to further pivot into healthcare and pharmaceutical space over the next three years, with a ¥100bn (£667m) investment. The Covid-19 pandemic has launched the potential for pharma profits onto many businesses and investors’ radars over the past two years – and has reportedly accelerated many in Asia to drink [...]
£24bn Brexit rebound: UK goods imports from EU overtake non-EU trade while Russian influx soars March 12, 2022 Goods imports from the EU rebounded fat the start of 2022, despite uncertainty over changes in HMRC methodology, to overtake Non-EU countries, after non-EU imports of goods to the UK surpassed those from the EU for the first time in 2021 since the ONS started recording the data in 1997. Over £24bn worth of goods [...]
‘Bonuses are back, and not just for bankers’, says CEO of recruitment giant Randstad March 11, 2022 Bonuses are back. That is the firm message of the boss of one of the largest recruiters in the country. Victoria Short, CEO of recruiter Randstad UK, told City PM this morning that “bonuses are back – and not just for bankers. “ Her comments follow the announcement that staff at the John Lewis Partnership will share [...]
House completions for properties outside London up by staggering 667 per cent March 11, 2022 There has been a significant spike in house completions for properties outside of London and Manchester with some areas having up to a 667 per cent rise. Apart from England’s two main population centres, the top 10 growth areas were in outlying towns, new figures from Paragon Bank shows. Milton Keynes led the way, experiencing [...]
Parcel service Hermes changes name to Evri and announces pensions for couriers March 11, 2022 Delivery titan Hermes has announced today that it is changing its name to Evri, as well as introducing changes to couriers’ pension plans. As well as news of a new logo, the parcel service has also announced a £7m annual cash injection into pensions. So-called ‘self employed plus’ couriers will be given retirement plans and [...]
M&S boss Steve Rowe to step down after six years March 10, 2022 M&S has announced its CEO Steve Rowe will step down after six years at the helm of the supermarket. Rowe will leave his role at the company’s preliminary results on 25 May as part of a planned succession programme, the supermarket revealed on Thursday afternoon. He will be replaced by Stuart Machin, who will become chief [...]
