M&S set to cut jobs

The popular High Street store is feeling the effects of the credit crunch, image courtesy of www.thesun.co.uk

 

By Dionne Abolghassem 06/01/09

THE High Street giant Marks and Spencer is set to cut more than 1,000 jobs, it emerged today.

The formal announcement will accompany its trading update for the Christmas period, which will be released to the stock exchange at 0700 GMT.

Marks and Spencer is the largest fashion retailer in the UK, employing about 70,000 staff.

The job reductions represent less than 2% of the work force, but will still be seen as a sign of High Street weakness in the wake of the economic downturn.

The jobs will be cut across stores, head office and support functions, according to the Times newspaper.

M&S took the decision to have two days of 20% discounts in the run-up to Christmas and the trading update should give an idea of what effect that had.

There have already been signs of falling sales on the High Street, following trading statements from Debenhams and Next.

Clothing retailer Next announced that its sales had dropped 7% in the six months to Christmas Eve, while Debenhams said its sales in the past 12 weeks had fallen 3.3%.

But both sets of figures were better than had been feared and their shares have risen sharply in London.

Marks and Spencer has declined to comment officially.

A star-studded royal variety performance

the reformed boyband, photo courtesy of www.eabf.org.uk

By Dionne Abolghassem 18/12/08

A host of celebrities and performers alike came together for the 80th anniversary of The Royal Variety Performance, held in the iconic London Palladium last night.

Headlining for this year’s show were pop heart-throbs Take That, who have enjoyed a comeback success with their new album and gave a terrific performance.

The Pussycat Dolls also took to the stage to perform a medley of their raunchiest hits, proving a hit with The Prince of Wales in particular and an audience that included Their Royal Highnesses and The Duchess of Cornwall.

Welsh soul songstress, Duffy, along with Rhianna and Leona Lewis, were the top stars of the night.

Comedians of the night included the nation’s much-loved Peter Kay, as his winning alter-ego Geraldine McQueen, and Jimmy Carr.

Legendary Queen guitarist, Brian May, also put in an appearance with a stunning live performance.

Disney’s The Lion King performed a dazzling theatrical show, along with Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo, the ballet troupe with a difference, who completed the show’s line-up.

The event continues to draw in huge audiences, with 7.5 million viewers tuning in to last night’s show, according to unofficial overnight figures.

Travolta Tragedy

image courtesy of www.movieeye.com

 By Dionne Abolghassem 03/01/09

The family of Hollywood star John Travolta are in mourning following the death of his 16-year-old son, Jett.

The youngster collapsed at the family’s holiday home on Grand Bahama, after he was thought to have suffered from a seizure.

He was diagnosed at the age of two with the chronic disease, Kawasaki syndrome, an illness that leads to inflamed blood vessels in young children.

Travolta, 54, is finalising funeral arrangements and hopes to have his son’s body home to Florida by the middle of the week.

Messages of condolences have poured in from across the globe for the family at this difficult time.

Unemployment Soars

 

photo courtesy of www.ukstudentlife.co.uk

 By Dionne Abolghassem 18/12/08

THE closure of the retail giant Woolworths is just the beginning of the struggle for Britain’s retail sector in the economic downfall.

Over 27,000 employees of Woolies are set to lose their jobs after the company announced they would have all 807 outlets shut down by January 5th.

The failure to find a buyer to rescue the popular franchise before it reaches its one hundredth birthday, is another sign of economic hardship for the UK.

Tony McNulty, Employment Minister, said: “This month’s Labour market figures are very disappointing and we will do all we can to give real support to people during these tough times.”

Almost 100, 000 people are claiming Jobseeker’s allowance as turmoil in the economy forces many into unemployment.

Scotland’s unemployment rate has reached its peak with over 20,000 Scots out of work, the highest levels in nearly 34 years.

Light-up lives this Christmas

By Dionne Abolghassem 04/12/08

A Christmas appeal to help raise money for the Royal Blind School is hoping to make over £2000 extra each day to carry on running.

The Scotsman today launched the Christmas fundraising campaign Light Up Lives, which supports the wide-ranging work of the charity which is based in Edinburgh.

Helen Forrest, Marketing and Fundraising Manager for The Royal Blind School, told Dunedin Napier News: “We are hoping to engage the community to raise funds in all sorts of ways, including by phone and online, or even via text messages.”

The School is supported by local authorities and the Scottish Government, but still needs these extra funds to support its pioneering work for young people with multiple disabilities at its Canaan Lane base in Morningside.
The Light Up Lives campaign aims to ensure vital work for this charity can continue.

Over the next three years, the charity hopes to raise £6 million to redevelop the Royal Blind School. The campaign aims to use the funds to rebuild the school swimming pool, improve accommodation and modernise the Scottish Braille.

Helen Forrest added: “There are loads of ways to donate and we hope to keep-up the charity work that we have managed to achieve so far.”

Flyglobespan drops route

 

plane landing in Aberdeen airport, photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

By Dionne Abolghassem 04/01/09

Scottish budget airline flyglobespan has dropped its fourth international route from Aberdeen it has emerged.
The low-cost airline is blaming poor demand for the cancellation of the weekly service to Gran Canaria, which only began operating on December 22.
Passengers due to travel to the Canary Island with the budget operator have been informed that the service has ceased.
In November flyglobespan dropped its Aberdeen service to Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt after selling only 200 seats. Two months earlier the Lanzarote and Barcelona routes were also cancelled.
Margaret Thompson, from Stonehaven, told Dunedin Napier News she lost nearly £300 in non-refundable accommodation costs when her flights to Gran Canaria were cancelled.
“When the Egyptian flights were cancelled I held back from booking accommodation because I had a feeling this might happen,” she said.
“It came to Christmas eve and the flights had been up and running and I thought all looked well.
“I was absolutely gutted when I found out they had been cancelled.”
Margaret was offered the opportunity to fly from Glasgow or Edinburgh but said the alternative flights available were not suitable.
She added: “I think it’s dreadful they could do this and leave people financially disadvantaged from their actions.”
A flyglobespan spokesman confirmed the company had “reluctantly” cancelled the weekly Aberdeen to Gran Canaria winter flight due to a lack of demand but insisted it was doing all it could to keep passenger inconvenience to a minimum.
“Lack of uptake is a consistent factor in all winter programmes and the credit crunch seems to make it worse in this case,” he said.
“We are committed to bringing as many routes as possible to Aberdeen but cannot justify loss-making programmes in this financial climate.”
He apologised to affected customers, saying they could have a full refund or help to find an alternative flight. Passengers who decide to travel from Glasgow or Edinburgh would also have their parking paid.
A spokesman for the BAA-owned airport told Dunedin Napier news: “While we are disappointed to lose any new service, we have seen flyglobespan start a number of other services which have been tremendously successful. We have continued to attract not just flyglobespan but other operators and 2009 will see the start of a number of new services.”