Britain is still the best place to found a business in Europe – but entrepreneurs are nervous about Brexit December 16, 2016 The extraordinary growth in the number of companies founded in the UK since the financial crisis has been one of the standout economic success stories of the past decade. In a world of increasing competition for “enterprise hub” status, the UK is now one of the top global magnets for entrepreneurs. This is a hard [...]
Don’t believe the unions’ bogus claims against Southern Rail December 16, 2016 Passengers on Southern Rail are this week enduring disruption to their services of a kind not seen anywhere on the railway for a generation. From broadcasters to bishops, everyone has been having their say on the industrial dispute about whether drivers rather than guards should be responsible for closing doors on trains that has been [...]
London renters get some relief as prices fall December 16, 2016 Rents have been growing across the country this year – but in London, the average monthly payment has fallen, with the biggest falls taking place in the centre of the capital. London rents went into negative territory in May this year, and have fallen by 0.31 per cent from January to November. During the same [...]
Only a quarter of us are getting our festive haul on the high street December 16, 2016 Only a quarter of UK shoppers are collecting their haul on the high street this year, preferring to stay at home instead and order goods online. Figures from research company Qualtrics suggest that the proportion of Britons who are willing to physically search for gifts is falling. Last year, 29 per cent of people in the UK [...]
London house prices are growing at slowest rate for over three years December 16, 2016 Annual house price growth fell to 7.6 per cent in November, its lowest level for more than three years. The figures from Hometrack show how tax changes and the Brexit vote have been weighing on London property. In November 2015, house price growth was 11.8 per cent year-on-year. Read more: This is how far house prices will fall [...]
MPs demand Sir Philip Green ends BHS black hole December 16, 2016 A top group of MPs has made fresh demands that Sir Philip Green dig deep to plug the gap in BHS’ pension fund as new figures reveal the magnitude of the shortfall. City A.M. can reveal that Duff & Phelps, the administrators salvaging the wreckage of BHS, are set to contribute a maximum of £45.7m in [...]
Optimism about the UK economy drove business confidence up for November December 16, 2016 Business confidence increased in November, as political turbulence around the Brexit vote has contributed to a volatile climate for companies, according to a new survey. UK businesses saw a two-point increase to 111.1 in November, according to an index compiled by YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). A score of above [...]
Oracle chief executive Safra Catz to take lead role in Donald Trump’s transition team December 15, 2016 US President-elect Donald Trump has added another business executive to his circle of advisers, with Oracle chief executive Safra Catz joining the executive committee of his transition team. Catz will remain at the California-based software giant, according to Reuters. She had been present at a meeting of technology business leaders earlier in the week at [...]
A £50bn Brexit bill could face the UK before it leaves the EU, according to the European Commission’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier December 15, 2016 It could cost the UK £50bn to extricate itself from the EU if the European Commission’s chief negotiator has his way. Michel Barnier has indicated to multiple parties in the negotiation that the UK will have to pay between €50bn and €60bn (£50bn) in money still owed from earlier commitments, according to reports by Sky [...]
Brexit negotiations will take 10 years says UK ambassador to the EU as Theresa May is shut out of European Council summit dinner December 15, 2016 Trade negotiations over Brexit could take as much as 10 years, according to the UK’s ambassador to the EU. Sir Ivan Rogers privately briefed government officials that European diplomats believed a deal would not be completed until the middle of the next decade, according to the BBC. At a meeting of the European Council summit [...]