Goods exports to the EU partially rebounded in February after a record slump at the start of the year, official figures show. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales to the bloc rose by £3.7bn, or 46.6%, having fallen by £5.7bn, or 42%, in January. However imports from the EU, which also saw an
Business
All across England shutters are rattling open, beer is foaming into pint glasses and tills are ringing. For the first time in months, many businesses that have been shut are able – subject to a variety of restrictions – to serve their customers again. From the snip-snip of hair salons to the splash of swimming
Businesses have wasted little time in welcoming back customers after lockdown measures eased across the UK at midnight. Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the nation to “behave responsibly” as non-essential shops, hairdressers, salons, pubs, restaurants and gyms reopened in England. In Wales, people can now also visit non-essential shops and travel across the border to
Cyber security company Darktrace will on Monday fire the starting gun on a £3bn London flotation – crystallising a stake worth tens of millions of pounds for its 38-year-old chief executive. Sky News has learnt that Darktrace’s board plans to issue an expected “intention to float” announcement before the stock market opens on Monday morning.
England’s coronavirus restrictions will be eased further on Monday, with pubs and restaurants allowed to serve customers outdoors. Hairdressers will reopen, as will non-essential shops, indoor gyms, swimming pools, libraries, zoos and nail salons. The celebration will be slightly muted, however, by the period of national mourning in place following the death of the Duke
The UK’s most influential commercial property organisation is wading into a battle over the future of the Japanese-owned car park operator NCP. Sky News understands that the British Property Federation (BPF) has begun convening calls for NCP landlords next week as they face demands to write off substantial rent arrears. A group of landlords is
One of Britain’s wealthiest businessmen is assembling a £300m takeover bid for Homebase, the DIY chain which has been revived from the brink of collapse just three years ago. Sky News has learnt that Hugh Osmond, who is spearheading a legal challenge to the government’s coronavirus restrictions on the hospitality sector, is among a number
The owner of the vast Stanlow oil refinery in north-west England is in urgent talks about its future amid growing concern that it could be nearing collapse. Sky News has learnt that Essar Oil UK, which bought the site at Ellesmere Port from Shell in 2011, has been in discussions for weeks about efforts to
Jet2’s chief executive says the travel company will suspend flights and holidays until at least 23 June due to uncertainty over the government’s travel proposals. Steve Heapy said he had been “extremely disappointed at the lack of clarity and detail” in the plans, which were announced overnight. He added: Because of the continued uncertainty that
Most airlines have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic, but two newbies are bravely planning to enter the US market in the coming months. Avelo Airlines announced on Thursday that it will start flying later in April to 11 destinations from its hub in Burbank, California. It currently has three Boeing 737 jets but plans to
The Co-op Group is to hand annual bonuses to senior executives despite refusing to repay £65m in business rates relief it received from the government to support it through the pandemic. Sky News can reveal that the mutual’s remuneration committee has decided to reward chief executive Steve Murrells and senior colleagues for their work last
The Co-op Group will risk igniting a reputational row on Thursday when it announces that it will not repay all of the government funding it received during the pandemic – despite its 2500 food stores remaining open throughout. Sky News has learnt that Britain’s biggest mutual will commit to a partial repayment of state support
UK Deliveroo riders are expected to strike over pay and conditions as unconditional trading commences in the company’s shares. Hundreds of riders are expected to strike on Wednesday, with socially-distanced protests planned in London, York, Reading, Sheffield and Wolverhampton. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) said the riders want the living wage, safety
The chief executive of Virgin Media is to take the helm of Britain’s biggest mobile network operator, it will announce this week as it seeks regulatory approval for its £31bn tie-up with O2. Sky News has learnt that Lutz Schuler, who has run Virgin Media since mid-2019, will be named on Wednesday as chief executive
The car industry has reported an 11.5% rise for sales of new vehicles in March, driven by demand for the new 21 number plate, after a torrid coronavirus crisis to date. Figures from the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed almost 284,000 new vehicles were sold last month compared to 255,000 in March
Thousands more high street jobs are to disappear as part of a deal that could nonetheless salvage approximately half of the workforce at the stricken clothing chain Peacocks. Sky News has learnt that up to 200 of the chain’s 400-plus stores and 2000 jobs will be saved by an investment consortium which has agreed to