Leicester stays in lockdown

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Local lockdown

Leicester will see its lockdown restrictions tightened this week after a flare up of coronavirus cases. Schools and non-essential shops are closing and people have been told to stay at home as much as possible. Many Leicester businesses had been planning to reopen this weekend - but now they’ll need to delay their plans.

Wirecard is back online

Thousands of people who’ve been cut off from their cash after Wirecard collapsed will be able to use their cards again today. The Financial Conduct Authority has allowed it to resume payment activities after making sure all the money was safeguarded in UK bank accounts with strict conditions. That means the 70 UK companies that use Wirecard’s technology, such as Pockit and FairFX, will now be able resume their usual services.

Future Fund expanded

UK startups which have moved their HQ to a different country will now be able to access government funding. Startups must show that half of their staff are based in the UK to be able to apply for the Future Fund, which was set up to help early stage businesses cope with the impact of coronavirus.

Facebook boycott grows

Big brands are cancelling their advertising on Facebook* in a boycott of the platform over its handling of hate speech and racism. Diageo, Starbucks and Levi’s are the latest to withdraw their spending with the social media site, joining Coca Cola, Unilever, and dozens of others. Facebook’s made efforts to appease the boycotters, announcing new policies over the weekend, to no avail.

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