Omicron is the biggest threat to Britain since the start of the pandemic and the country will see “staggering” numbers of infections in the coming days, the government’s top public health official warned today.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Banks join forces to ensure UK people and firms have access to cash
Major UK banks have agreed to join forces and share services to help people and businesses to continue to be able to access cash.
Scotland delays bottle and can return scheme after intense industry lobbying
The launch of the UK’s first bottle and can deposit return scheme has been delayed until the summer of 2023 after Scottish ministers bowed to intense lobbying from major retailers and drinks companies.
British Airways to restart short-haul London Gatwick flights from March
British Airways will return to short-haul flying from London Gatwick next year confirming the go-ahead of its planned subsidiary BA Euroflyer
Expect mass staff absences and major shortages, UK ministers told
Soaring Covid cases could cause major shortages across industry, hospitality and healthcare, ministers have been told, as rail companies cancelled services and Royal Mail said it was experiencing high staff absences.
IMF tells UK to prepare mini-furlough if Omicron hits economy
The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, should be drawing up contingency plans for a mini-furlough in the event that the Omicron variant forces the government into closing parts of the economy, the International Monetary Fund has said.
Amazon to sell low-cost PCR Covid tests for UK travellers
Amazon is to start selling low-cost Covid PCR test kits to travellers in a move that promises to shake up a market that has been described as a “rip-off jungle” for consumers.
Ocado wins ruling over robot patents
An American federal agency has found that Ocado did not violate the patents of a Norwegian robot maker.
Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin warns of ‘lockdown by stealth’
The boss of JD Wetherspoon claimed that Britain was heading towards “lockdown by stealth” following the restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.
Third of Tory backbenchers ready to rebel against Omicron plan B
More than a third of backbench Conservatives are preparing to defy Boris Johnson over new Covid-19 measures today even after the prime minister warned rebels against “complacency”.
Purplebricks shares sink with tenant claims looming
Shares in Purplebricks tumbled another 20 per cent after the online estate agent warned that it faces a multimillion-pound payout to tenants because of a “process error” in its lettings business.
Majority of employers say UK’s Statutory Sick Pay rate is too low
Almost two thirds of employers say the UK’s Statutory Sick Pay rate is too low and should be increased, according to CIPD research
Half of UK families £110 a year worse off since 2019, report says
Half of UK families have seen their disposable incomes shrink in the last two years, new analysis suggests.
England’s theatres and restaurants fear another ruinous Christmas
Theatres face a peak Christmas season with bookings down by as much as 50%, while restaurants and other attractions could see mass cancellations, as a result of the government’s new Covid restrictions.
Staff shortages: small restaurants forced to offer £1,000 sign-on bonuses
Independent restaurants are being forced to offer hefty sign-on bonuses of £1,000 or more for chefs and other kitchen staff as the shortage of skilled workers tightens in the busy festive season.