Business News Round Up (26/05/2020)
UK manufacturing most attacked industry as cyber criminals innovate and automate attacks
The UK manufacturing sector has become the most targeted and attacked, representing almost a third of all attacks, while the technology sector was the most attacked globally, according to a new report. The Global Threat Intelligence Report, which highlights the importance of cyber resilience and security by design as criminals take advantage of the covid-19 pandemic, revealed the UK manufacturing sector represented 29% of all attacks, followed by the technology sector (19%), and the Business and Professional Services sector (17%). Manufacturing regularly appears as one of the most attacked industries on the global stage. With cybercrime in this domain most commonly linked to Intellectual Property theft, the sector increasingly faces the threat of financially motivated data breaches, global supply chain risks and risks from unpatched vulnerabilities.
£6.5m boost to support recovery of North West’s high streets
A £6.5 million fund for councils in the North West has been announced, designed to support local high streets safely return to business. To prepare for the reopening of non-essential retail when the scientific advice allows, the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund will help councils in England introduce a range of safety measures in a move to kick-start local economies, get people back to work and customers back to the shops. It will also support a range of practical safety measures including new signs, street markings and temporary barriers.
UK hiring hotspots revealed in new Jobs Recovery Tracker
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has launched a new Jobs Recovery Tracker, which uses job postings data to spot signs of labour market growth by county and occupation type. The job postings data used is processed by labour market analytics firm Emsi. It found that there were around 950,000 unique job adverts in the UK between 11-17 May 2020, with the largest surges in hiring seen in rural areas. While employer demand in the UK as a whole has been shrinking in recent weeks, many local areas have seen a significant uptick. The number of job postings in Breckland & South Norfolk in the east of England grew by 8.7% week-on-week between 4-10 and 11-17 May, the fastest of any local area in the UK.
Scottish hospitality sector could get £1bn boost in week after reopening
Scotland’s hospitality sector could receive a £1 billion boost when restaurants, pubs and hotels reopen, according to new research from Caterer.com. The study suggests that the UK’s desire to socialise at the pub, dine out or have a trip away with the family could inject almost £4 billion into the wider UK economy within a week of lockdown measures easing. Among the Scotland-specific findings, 27% of people are planning to go to the pub within a week of being allowed to do so. Some 56% of Scots are keen to support local hospitality businesses as soon as possible, providing the right safety measures are in place.The research also suggests that 32% of Scots are prepared to pay a premium in venues with enhanced physical distancing practices, while 43% would rather restaurants, pubs and bars only allowed groups of up to four people.