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Security business G4S has said it will spin out its cash-handling business and focus on its core security operations.

The outsourcing firm said its board has approved the plans and the group will begin the split in the first half of 2020.

The announcement came as the group reported a 3.8% jump in revenues to £3.8bn for the half-year to June 30.

Earnings at the company fell by 41% to £59m. The firm suffered due to currency movements and a £36m cost relating to its restructuring.

Revenues for its main security business rose by 4.9% to £3.2bn, while its cash arm saw sales rise 3.9% to £535m for the period.

Ashley Almanza, G4S’s chief executive, said:

In the first half of this year, our improving sales performance in both Secure Solutions and Cash Solutions saw the group deliver underlying revenue growth of 4.7%.

The group’s half-year performance, sales pipeline, revenue momentum and productivity programmes support a positive outlook.

Our separation review is now complete and the board has approved the separation of Cash Solutions from the group.

We believe that this will create two strong, focused businesses, each with the clear potential to capitalise on market-leading positions and to unlock substantial value for customers, shareholders and employees.

William Hill has seen half-year profits cut by almost half after the bookmaker was hammered by the Government crackdown on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs).

The betting giant saw adjusted pre-tax profits plunge 47% to £50.8m for the six months to July 2019, after it was hit by the change in minimum stake, as well as heavy investment in the US.

The figures come weeks after the group announced plans to shutter 700 betting shops across the 海角视频, putting 4,500 jobs at risk.

William Hill said it had to cut jobs in response to the Government’s decision to slash the maximum stake on the controversial FOBTs from £100 to £2 in April, which has weakened the bookmakers’ sales.

Despite the policy change, the company saw revenues edge higher, moving up 1% to £811.7m for the six-month period.

The company said it was buoyed by “strong” growth in the US, as it looks move away from its high dependence on the 海角视频 market.

Nevertheless, it said its profits were hit by heavy investment into expanding overseas, which also included the £245m acquisition of Swedish bookmaker Mr Green earlier this year.

In the 海角视频, William Hill saw online revenues slide by 1% as it was affected by “weaker sports results” over the period.

Chief executive Philip Bowcock said:

We are making good progress against the five-year strategy we outlined last year, delivering strong revenue growth in the US and other international markets and positioning William Hill well for future growth.

In retail, we took the tough decision to announce a consultation process over the proposed closure of around 700 shops to protect the long-term future of the business following the introduction of the £2 stake limit.

The response of our colleagues has been incredibly professional during this difficult time and I would like to thank each and every one of them for that.

The company added that it made progress in collaborating with other major gambling firms over measures to “enhance safer gambling and address public concerns”.

Premier League football clubs are being urged to end ‘poverty pay’ and allow its staff to earn a wage that covers their cost of living.

Charity Citizens 海角视频 is asking clubs to pay staff, such as cleaners and security guards, the Real Living Wage and has criticised them for not paying a large proportion of its staff enough to live on despite making record signings.

It is estimated that 42% of all workers in sports clubs and facilities are paid below the Real Living Wage,which currently stands at £9 an hour and £10.55 in London.

Only four Premier League clubs are accredited for paying a high enough salary to its staff with the Living Wage Foundation. These are Everton, Liverpool, Chelsea and West Ham.

Matthew Bolton, director of Citizens 海角视频, said:

Premier League clubs have had years to fix this, yet we are once again starting a new football season with employees at 16 clubs left on the breadline. It’s not right when clubs are splashing out record fees on players.

Today we’re urging Premier League clubs dragging their feet to join Liverpool, West Ham, Everton and Chelsea, do the right thing, step up and pay the Real Living Wage for all workers.

A cleaner who works at Manchester United’s Old Trafford, and wishes to remain anonymous, said:

I currently get paid £7.80 per hour. At the moment I struggle to put food on the table for my family and I often have to have cut-price meals.

Considering the amount of money in football, it would be great to see the club paying all their staff a fair and decent wage.

The low pay practices of sports clubs has also been criticised by the Roman Catholic Church. The Right Reverend John Arnold, Catholic Bishop of Salford, said:

Football clubs have a rich history in our communities and the Premier League has become a global export, yet too often clubs seem to have lost touch with the lives and struggles of workers and their families.

Solving poverty can’t be left to faith and civil society alone and big clubs and their wealthy owners must do their bit.

Championship side Luton Town FC became the first club in English football to increase its pay to the Real Living Wage and its bosses are backing the call for more clubs to do the same.

Gary Sweet, chief executive of Luton Town FC, said:

We became the first club in professional football in England in December 2014 to become an accredited employer, yet five years on there are still only seven clubs in total in the 海角视频 that can call themselves one.

We hoped that our commitment would have a knock-on effect across the leagues, which it has slowly done, but, given the amount of money that is now in the Premier League and the EFL, it is a sorry state of affairs to see clubs aren’t ensuring staff are living above the poverty line.