July was a key month for the UK as it continued its gradual emergence into a post-pandemic landscape. With further easing of restrictions on the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors, UK consumers had more opportunities to visit shops, bars, restaurants and theatres than at any point since March 2020.

Just as importantly for UK businesses, the relaxing of the government's work from home guidance meant that more people returned to their workplace for the first time since those early months of 2020, bringing with them an expected boost to those businesses that rely on the passing trade of commuters and office workers.