Kamikaze Brexiteers may end up in a hell of their own making February 8, 2019 Hell hath no fury like a Brexiteer scorned. From the backlash this week, you would have thought that European Council president Donald Tusk had suggested that the EU get custody of the Queen in the Brexit divorce. “I’ve been wondering what that special place in hell looks like, for those who promoted Brexit, without even a [...]
DEBATE: In light of its limited success so far, should the apprenticeship levy be scrapped? February 8, 2019 In light of its limited success so far, should the apprenticeship levy be scrapped? Charlie Mullins, chief executive and founder of Pimlico Plumbers, says YES. The purpose of the apprenticeship levy was to increase the number of new apprentices, in a genuine effort to combat the UK’s skills gap. However it has proven an unmitigated disaster, [...]
How to capitalise on China’s luxury boom February 8, 2019 As many companies experience a slowdown in China, luxury brands are surely smiling as they look at their sales performance. Last week, LVMH – the world’s largest luxury group, which includes brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Moet & Chandon – surprised everyone by announcing an increase in sales during its fourth quarter earnings, and [...]
Revive that entrepreneurial spirit and get Britain building again February 8, 2019 Politicians have recently become fond of talking about how to tackle our alarming housing crisis. Yet little is delivered – and what is achieved focuses on inflating demand, with schemes like Help to Buy which do nothing to address the underlying supply shortage. In the third quarter of 2018, building on 46,930 new homes began [...]
Law firm DWF aims to raise £75m in pre-Brexit March float February 8, 2019 Law firm DWF said it is targeting a March listing on the London Stock Exchange, with plans to raise £75m. That would make its listing the largest undertaken by a law firm so far, outstripping Knights which raised £50m in June. The firm said it expects to announce the final offer price following its marketing [...]
Nationwide profits fall as it warns IT investment will continue to weigh down earnings February 8, 2019 Profits fell in Nationwide’s third quarter as the building society was hit by a £167m write-off charge as well as an ongoing technology investment, it revealed today, warning profit pressure will remain in the fourth quarter. The figures Pre-tax profits dropped a staggering 20 per cent year on year to £703m for the last three [...]
SSE issues profit warning as it examines options for energy services business following Npower merger failure February 8, 2019 Big Six energy company SSE today cut its earnings forecast for the year, blaming a European court decision suspending state aid for the UK’s energy capacity market. The company said the court’s decision had the effect of removing the EU Commission’s state aid approval of the GB capacity market and introducing a “standstill period” until [...]
Permanent staff appointments decline at start of 2019 amid Brexit uncertainty February 8, 2019 Permanent staff appointments declined at the beginning of 2019 as recruiters and candidates waited for the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. Permanent placements fell for the first time in two years as companies reported that they were increasingly hesitant due to Brexit uncertainty. Placements also dropped due to a shortage of candidates. Read more: City [...]
Grant Thornton and the fraudian slip February 8, 2019 David Dunckley could have asked for a better start to his term as boss of Grant Thornton. Since taking over from predecessor Sacha Romanovitch – who quit shortly after being publicly criticised by an insider who claimed to represent 15 partners or directors – Dunckley has already had to deal with revelations of “false entries” [...]
City Moves for 8 February – who’s switching jobs at Morrison & Foerster, Jefferies and DMH Stallard? February 8, 2019 Morrison & Foerster Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce that Christopher Kandel will be joining the firm’s London office in the coming days as a partner in its Finance practice. Christopher brings to the firm a wealth of experience in leveraged finance and complex international acquisition finance, and restructuring [...]