The directionless and ineffective World Health Organisation is in urgent need of reform May 14, 2018 As one of the biggest contributors to the World Health Organisation (WHO), holding its annual assembly in Geneva this week, the UK has a pivotal role in setting the global health agenda. The WHO’s work has never been more important to address serious and evolving international health threats. It is only a matter of time [...]
A National Trade Academy for educating the next generation of British exporters May 14, 2018 As the UK’s principal international ambassador for our country’s professional and financial services industry, I will spend approximately 100 days abroad, in high-growth countries this year. And, in my time overseas, I’ve noticed a problem. I have visited Australia, China, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Indonesia, and I can say with confidence that the phrase “Made [...]
Lloyds Bank launches fresh £2bn funding for sustainable investment under Clean Growth Finance Scheme May 14, 2018 Lloyds Bank today announced £2bn of fresh funding to help UK businesses invest more sustainably. The funding will be part of the Clean Growth Finance Scheme. Lloyds said: “The Clean Growth Finance scheme aims to deliver the most inclusive UK green funding in the market by providing the incentive of discounted lending to help businesses [...]
Fintech is now the most popular sector among high-net-worth investors May 14, 2018 Financial technology has now become the most popular sector among high-net-worth investors, according to an analysis by the direct private investment platform Capitama. Nearly 70 per cent of high-net-worth and professional investors said they were interested in putting money into fintech opportunities, while 67 per cent said they were keen to see software and technology [...]
Gender pay gap 91 per cent for those earning over £1m at financial services firms May 14, 2018 The scale of the gender pay gap in financial services has been revealed with new research showing that for top earners the gender pay gap is a massive 91 per cent. The research by employment law firm Fox & Partners shows that for those earning over £1m at financial services firms there is a gender [...]
Mark Carney and Sadiq Khan throw weight behind City mental health campaign as research show number of staff raising mental heath concerns is rising May 14, 2018 Bank of England governor Mark Carney and London Mayor Sadiq Khan have thrown their weight behind a campaign led by the Lord Mayor of the City of London to end the stigma around mental health in the workplace. This comes as new research from the Institute of Directors (IoD) shows that business leaders have seen [...]
Carillion hid true level of debt and used late payment to prop up its ‘failing’ business say MPs May 14, 2018 Collapsed outsourcer Carillion hid its debt and used late payment to its suppliers to prop up its balance sheet, MPs have said today. Ahead of the launch of the final report into Carillion’s collapse on Wednesday, the work and pensions and business, energy & industrial strategy (BEIS) committees are today publishing evidence from bank Santander [...]
Fresh wave of shareholder protests set to hit FTSE firms as AGM season gets into full swing May 14, 2018 The boards at several big-name companies will face a barrage of investor questions this week, as shareholders flex their muscle over issues ranging from board diversity to executive pay. British Gas owner Centrica, cinema chain Cineworld and pharmaceuticals titan Astrazeneca are just a few of the firms holding AGMs this week, while oil giant Royal [...]
Italy’s Five Star and League parties approach coalition after talks May 13, 2018 Italy’s populist Five Star Movement has reached an agreement with the League party which it is hoped will break the country’s political stalemate. Five Star’s leader Luigi di Maio said talks today had been “productive” and that negotiations were still ongoing over who will become prime minister. The progress is likely to clear the way [...]
Ex-Dragons’ Den star Julie Meyer reported to the FCA for misconduct as her ex-adviser crowdfunds for legal battle May 13, 2018 Julie Meyer, a former star of BBC TV show Dragons’ Den, has been reported to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), City A.M. has learned. The self-proclaimed “entrepreneur’s champion”, who relocated much of her early-stage investment business to Malta post-Brexit referendum, also had her licence to perform business as an investment fund revoked by the country’s [...]