Every UK job has the potential to be green, government-backed taskforce says July 14, 2021 Every job in the UK has the potential to be green, according to an independent report today, as long as the right investment is unlocked. The Green Jobs Taskforce, which wrote the report and is backed by the UK government, has been set up to build the workforce needed for prime minister Boris Johnson’s ‘green [...]
Baked goods group Finsbury Food knocked by Covid delays but still marked growth July 14, 2021 Baked goods group Finsbury Food has ended its financial year with raised revenues despite being struck by Covid-19 unlocking delays, bringing in some £313.3m in total revenue. The group’s results in the second half of the year faired slightly better, as consumers had more spending confidence as they eyed restrictions easing, with revenues up 9.1 [...]
UK still ‘deeply concerned’ over treatment of human rights in Belarus July 13, 2021 The UK has again voiced its concerns over Belarus’ treatment of human rights today, following the hijacking of a Ryanair plane in May. “The United Kingdom remains deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Belarus,” the UK’s ambassador to the United Nations and World Health Organisation in Geneva, Simon Manley, said. “Tightening the laws [...]
‘Wasteminster’: Greenpeace offloads mass of plastic outside Downing Street July 13, 2021 Activists from environmental charity Greenpeace have offloaded 625kg of plastic outside Downing Street today, while one activist donned a caricature mask of prime minister Boris Johnson. The amount of plastic is the same volume of plastic waste the UK exports every 30 seconds, according to the charity. “We hope this pile of plastic helps [...]
Global PC shipments lag after pandemic peaked demand July 13, 2021 Worldwide shipments of PCs grew just 4.6 per cent in comparison to the second quarter in 2020, after the pandemic peaked demand, according to research and advisory firm Gartner. The shipments totalled 71.6m units in the second quarter of this year and while the growth appears minor, it remains above pre-pandemic levels. The lagging growth [...]
Kier group ‘moderately ahead of expectations’ after attempts to slash debt July 13, 2021 Infrastructure services and construction group Kier, which worked on London’s HS2, has finished the year “moderately ahead of expectations”, it said today. The group has been on the receiving end of hefty government contracts, namely a £1bn prisons contract for the Ministry of Justice, for the year ending 30 June. Kier had also accepted a [...]
Retirement group Phoenix enters £197m pensions deal with Irish Life July 13, 2021 Retirement group Phoenix is set to sell Ark Life Assurance Company to pensions group Irish Life for around £197m, the retirement group today. Ark Life Assurance Company, known as Ark Life, added around £1.8bn of assets under administration to Phoenix’s heritage division as of 31 December. The deal, which is expected to be completed by [...]
Biblical rains pour on London, flooding areas and dampening summer hopes July 13, 2021 London was subject to rains of biblical proportions yesterday, which saw cars submerged and abandoned amid flash flooding, as July dampens summer plans for Londoners. The most severe flooding was spotted in parts of North and West London and has continued to cause travel chaos for Londoners. The Circle line was suspended this morning, while [...]
Kate Middleton-favoured maternity brand Seraphine eyeing £150m IPO July 13, 2021 Online maternity and nursing brand Seraphine is looking to raise just over £150m in its London IPO, floating on the tech-crazed market for the first time today. Today’s float, which commenced at 08:00, will see Kate Middleton’s go-to maternity brand’s shares set at 295p per share under the ticker “BUMP”. Around 50 per cent of [...]
Italy may add another string to EU’s vaccine bow as new jab shows strong results July 12, 2021 Italy’s homemade Covid-19 vaccine has shown a strong immune response in its mid-stage trials, according to biotech firm ReiThera, which could potentially add another string to Europe’s vaccination bow. ReiThera said its vaccine candidate, called GRAd-COV2, showed no major side effects in intermediate phase two clinical trials – and that it is in talks with [...]