The City is slowly stirring back to life, with the lifting of Covid restrictions in England on 19 July prompting some financial services professionals to back to the office after more than 16 months working from home.

Some big employers are taking a hard-line approach with their return to work expectations, with US banks in particular expecting staff to return to pre-Covid ways of working. Many want staff back in the office to begin collaborating with colleagues and resume face-to-face client meetings.