Most entertainment is consumed online through access services and is not owned outright March 7, 2017 Britons now spend almost 80 per cent of their total expenditure on entertainment online and are increasingly consuming it via access services such as Spotify and mobile apps like Pokemon Go. Data from the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), which represents retailers and digital services offering music, video and games, shows that 27.6 per cent of [...]
Former chancellor Norman Lamont warns Brexit is “under attack” March 6, 2017 A former Conservative chancellor has warned that Brexit is “under attack”, calling on the House of Lords to “see sense”. Lord Lamont said yesterday that Prime Minister Theresa May should be allowed to begin official negotiations as soon as possible. Lamont, who supported exiting the EU, served as chancellor under John Major between 1990 and 1993, [...]
Standard Life-Aberdeen deal expected to spark M&A flurry in asset management industry March 6, 2017 Standard Life (SL) and Aberdeen Asset Management’s £11bn merger is expected to prompt a flurry of fund management consolidation, industry experts said yesterday. The companies’ share prices rocketed after they confirmed the terms of their deal, despite City uncertainty over plans for Keith Skeoch and Martin Gilbert to be co-chief executives. Read more: Standard Life [...]
Former Labour home secretary brands proposed new solicitors’ exam a potential matter of “national concern” March 6, 2017 A former Labour home secretary said today proposed changes to qualifying exams for solicitors should be treated as a matter of national concern. Both Lord Blunkett and Lord Low of Dalston, the latter of whom brought the question forward for debate in the House of Lords, argued the Solicitors Qualifying Exam put forward by the Solicitors [...]
Government cannot intervene to safeguard Vauxhall jobs, say experts March 6, 2017 The UK government is powerless to challenge or influence PSA’s merger with the owner of Vauxhall from a legal perspective, experts have said. The owner of Peugeot and Citroen revealed this morning it had reached an agreement with General Motors (GM) to merge European operations in a deal that values the combined business at €2.2bn [...]
It’s a thumbs up from the City: Over half of bankers think the Senior Managers’ Regime was a good idea March 6, 2017 Bankers have given their blessing to a recently introduced set of rules designed to increase personal accountability, the next tranche of which is due to take effect tomorrow. Over half (55 per cent) of nearly 200 senior finance execs polled by Duff & Phelps think the Senior Managers' and Certification Regime, which first came into force last [...]
A new breed of Boris bikes could soon be available at your local uni, as Santander launches crowdfunding competition March 6, 2017 Uni students could soon be zipping around campus on their own versions of Boris bikes, as Santander is launching a competition to help institutions set up their own schemes. Santander Cycles University Competition will give two universities the opportunity to get their hands on funding for a cycle scheme, while the other universities which take part will receive [...]
The government has vowed fresh action to stop women being told to wear high heels at work March 6, 2017 The government has petitioned high-risk sectors to warn employers away from demands for women to wear heels in the workplace. Junior equalities minister Caroline Dinenage revealed today that she had written to trade bodies in a raft of sectors, asking them to remind employers of their responsibilities. Sectors targeted include hotels and tourism, travels and [...]
Apprentices may bridge post Brexit labour shortages, employers’ campaign claims March 6, 2017 Apprentices can help bridge the gap of labour shortages if the UK loses access to skilled workers following Brexit, research by apprentice and graduate entry to work campaigners, The 5% Club, claims. In a survey of 200 UK employers, 89 per cent said that Brexit would make no difference to the number of apprentices they [...]
Record profits reported by chemicals specialist Synthomer March 6, 2017 FTSE 250 chemicals company Synthomer has achieved a second consecutive year of record profits, it announced yesterday. The speciality chemicals company, which provides emulsion polymers to a range of industries, including coatings, health and protection, said 2016 revenues jumped up by 20 per cent to £1.04bn, and 10.8 per cent on a constant currency basis, [...]