UK consulting sector grows 18 per cent as firms deal with post-Covid fallout July 10, 2022 The UK’s consulting sector grew by 18 per cent in 2021 and is forecast to experience further strong growth this year, the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) has said. According to the group’s latest Annual Industry Report, many businesses kick-started new projects last year which had previously been delayed while others focused on digital transformation and [...]
EDF cyber security ‘shortfalls’ see energy giant placed under further monitoring July 10, 2022 FRENCH Power Giant EDF is being scrutinised by the UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) after it identified shortfalls in the firm’s cyber security defences. Following a number of routine inspections over the past year, the regulator said it had found “shortfalls in governance, risk and compliance and certain technical controls” at EDF and that [...]
Barclays fights cost of living crisis with £1,200 pay rise for 35,000 employees June 30, 2022 Barclays is giving 35,000 of its UK-based staff a £1,200 pay rise to tackle the cost of living. The banking giant will provide this salary increase to customer-facing, branch, and junior support workers from 1 August. “Barclays will continue to monitor the economic situation globally and consider our approach to pay in each country in [...]
AXA UK Chairman Scott Wheway steps down with Mark Pain appointed June 30, 2022 AXA UK plc announced that Chairman of the Board Scott Wheway is stepping down today. Non-Executive Director Mark Pain will serve as Chairman from tomorrow. Wheway was appointed as Chairman in December 2017 while Pain was appointed to the Board in December 2018. He is Chairman of the Risk Committee and Senior Independent Director Wheway said [...]
AIM IPOs fall to lowest level since 2009 with just one in Q2 2022 June 29, 2022 The UK’s Alternative Investment Market had the lowest number of IPOs since 2009 in 2022’s second quarter. Only one company floated in Q2 and raised £6m, research by accountancy group UHY Hacker Young found. The last quarter to experience IPO activity this low was the first quarter of 2009, following the start of the financial crisis, [...]
Goldman Sachs cuts Coinbase price target and downgrades it to ‘sell’ June 27, 2022 Goldman Sachs reduced Coinbase’s price target from $75 to $40 and cut its rating to “sell” from “neutral” as the crypto market experiences a severe rout. In a report today, the banking giant cited falling cryptocurrency prices and lower industry activity for the downgrade. “We believe current crypto asset levels and trading volumes imply further [...]
CMA targets fashion industry over ‘greenwashing’ concerns June 27, 2022 The CMA is going after fashion brands responsible for “greenwashing” with a plan to “name and shame” the worst offenders. The fashion sector made up about a quarter of complaints received by the Competition and Markets Authority over false or misleading environmental claims, called greenwashing, according to research by law firm RPC. The CMA is, [...]
London IPOs in decline since Brexit vote as British companies flock to New York June 24, 2022 London’s IPO market share has dropped since the Brexit vote as British companies seek to list in New York. Listings in the UK are at their lowest in over 10 years despite the government relaxing some rules to attract IPOs and make London a post-Brexit listings favourite. IPO activity in the country dropped to about [...]
Energy giant Centrica turns to hundreds of former soldiers in push to greener energy June 24, 2022 Centrica is planning to hire about 500 former soldiers, sailors, and air force personnel by the end of next year as it looks to transition to Net Zero. The energy giant will recruit them into engineering roles across British Gas and the wider group as the company aims to reach Net Zero by 2045. Greg [...]
Record £11.9bn invested in London’s smaller businesses in 2021 June 22, 2022 Equity investment in London’s smaller businesses hit a record £11.9bn in 2021, according to data released today by the British Business Bank. This was an 89 per cent increase year over year, with the number of deals announced in the capital increasing by 23 per cent to 1,286, the Bank’s annual Small Business Equity Tracker showed. The upward trend continued in [...]