Leaked report advises Johnson to scrap social distancing at large events April 30, 2021 Prime minister Boris Johnson will be advised to scrap social distancing at larger events from 21 June, as results from a pilot scheme revealed no surge in Covid-19 cases among attendees. Johnson will be told next week to shelve the restrictions after the interim report into reopening trials found that crowds can return safely and without [...]
Business confidence in London jumps to pre-pandemic levels April 30, 2021 Business confidence in London rose 20 points during April, to 32 per cent, its highest level since January 2020. Moreover, companies in the capital reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 17 points at 31 per cent, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up 22 [...]
Exclusive: UK private equity firms pool £20bn fire power as they circle higher value targets April 29, 2021 The total value of UK private equity club deals reached £19.7bn last year, a fourfold increase from the £4.5bn in 2019. Moreover, the number of club deals has reached a three-year high as there were 56 deals in 2020, a jump of 30 per cent from 43 the year before, according to new data that [...]
The Evening Read: City veteran Gavin Rochussen on closing deals remotely April 29, 2021 In an exclusive interview, Morning Wire sits down with Gavin Rochussen, the CEO of St. James’s-based Polar Capital, to talk all things asset management, how the pandemic has changed working practices, navigating acquisitions in lockdown and how culture is so important to success. You told me that Polar Capital is a boutique asset manager, but [...]
Deutsche Bank staff in the City set for three-day work from home week April 29, 2021 Deutsche Bank plans a post-pandemic policy for its City staff that allows them to work from home for up to three days a week. The implementation of the hybrid working model is part of a wider initiative to encourage flexible working at the German financial giant. “It’s a range of 40 per cent to 60 [...]
London homes snapped up by Hong Kong buyers quadruples April 29, 2021 The number of London homes being bought by Hong Kong buyers has quadrupled since the UK’s visa scheme has allowed many to relocate. Hong Kong buyers now account for four per cent of transactions in the capital, up from one per cent, according to client data from property firm Benham and Reeves. Since the British National [...]
Brand London: How will the capital change after Covid and Brexit? April 29, 2021 As the UK gradually emerges from lockdown, the deserted streets of London are beginning to show hints of their former vibrancy. But a return to normality will be far from straightforward. Not only has London been left reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is still working through the fallout from Brexit, which has sparked a [...]
London-based food-tech platform Taster raises $37m in funding April 29, 2021 London-based digital restaurant platform Taster has raised $37m in series B funding, led by Cazoo-backing firm, the company confirmed today. Backed by the same firm that helped used-car platform Cazoo land its £5bn valuation, Octopus Ventures, Taster has capitalised on the growth seen within the food delivery industry over the last 18 months. “If McDonald’s [...]
Lockdown roadmap cannot be rushed, despite vaccine success, minister says April 29, 2021 Despite the success of the vaccine rollout, the roadmap through lifting lockdown restrictions cannot be accelerated safely, the UK’s vaccines minister has warned this morning. Minister Nadhim Zahawi said that while one in four adults had two doses, “we have to be careful”. The successful vaccine rollout does not ensure full protection, Zahawi warned, adding that “if the [...]
Indeed: Highest paying jobs are seeing the least competition April 29, 2021 As restrictions ease, the UK’s job market has been slowly pulling itself together after a rocky year and according to jobs site Indeed, some of the highest paying roles are seeing the least competition. New figures by Indeed revealed that while recruitment is picking up speed, job postings are still 10 per cent below pre-pandemic [...]