How Christmas bonuses can turn into a festive disaster December 14, 2015 As we gallop, reindeer like, towards Christmas, thoughts will be turning to the gesture of “measured generosity” that is the discretionary Christmas bonus. It should be uncontroversial: a mark of appreciation that will help staff pay for their retail pleasures over the festive season. If employers get it wrong, however, they could face expensive claims from [...]
Property of the Fortnight: Inside former England defender Sol Campbell’s £6.5m Chelsea penthouse December 11, 2015 No one knows how to flash their cash like Premier League footballers. From Mario Balotelli’s camouflage Bentley to Steven Ireland’s £100,000 aquarium (complete with a coral reef imported from Fiji), they’re pretty big spenders, if not exactly renowned for their good taste. But when estate agents Strutt & Parker revealed former England defender Sol Campbell’s home [...]
By punishing London’s buy-to-let investors, George Osborne is only hurting private renters December 11, 2015 According to a source at the Bank of England, 15 per cent of loans on their books are buy-to-let mortgages. The Bank has spent the last few years yanking levers for owner-occupiers to make sure they’re happy with its stress testing for interest rate rises. In the absence of such a shock absorber for buy-to-let [...]
Focus On London Bridge: Why house prices are on the rise next to The Shard December 11, 2015 Children in nursery may sing about London Bridge falling down, but in property circles, it’s building up and the sky’s the limit. The area first became a part of London’s fabric due to its famously crumbly bridge, which was built by the Romans and was the first to cross the Thames. It was originally made [...]
Carmaker Ford to invest £3bn in electric vehicles with 40 per cent of nameplates electrified by 2020 December 11, 2015 NULL
London house prices: Property in the outer boroughs have proved to be the best investments in 2015. Can they keep it up? December 11, 2015 It’s not like London boroughs are in competition with each other, but if they were, then 2015 has really thrown up some interesting winners and losers in the property market. A new survey published this week by estate agent comparison website GetAgent.co.uk shows that the real success stories in terms of asking price growth and [...]
Mindfulness techniques: Give yourself a competitive advantage with these simple exercises to keep on top of work December 11, 2015 Can you recall the last time you found yourself fully focused on a task for an extended period of time, or enjoyed a dinner with a friend without checking your phone frequently? In both our work and personal lives, our minds are under siege. Our ability to be present and focused with our tasks [...]
What an MBA can offer marketers December 10, 2015 Business schools are adapting to the industry’s needs, but the course isn’t for everyone AN MBA can open doors in any profession. But the rise of mobile technology has transformed the marketing landscape in recent years, and the skills taught on MBA courses can put graduates in a better position to help brands embrace [...]