Small business welcomes late payment tsar as Anna Soubry dubs disputes “unacceptable” July 26, 2015 Business groups have come out in support of the latest government proposals for a new small business tsar tasked with addressing payment disputes. The department of business, innovation and skills said yesterday that a new, yet to-be-named small business commissioner would tackle unfair practices by leading a “culture change in how small businesses resolve disputes [...]
London sets the pace on exports for UK regions July 26, 2015 London and the south east account for more than a quarter of all British manufactured exports, a study out today shows, making it the biggest export market in the country. The report, from EEF, says 25.4 per cent of total UK factory exports come from the area, with 47 per cent of those going to [...]
UK’s aerospace firms face threat from high production demands July 26, 2015 The UK’S aerospace professionals fear that higher production rates pose a threat to the industry and to the country’s position as a global superpower within the market. More than 62 per cent of UK aerospace engineers believe that their companies face productivity issues resulting from an increasingly demanding and global aerospace market, according to research [...]
Directors support government plans for devolution to regions July 26, 2015 Most business leaders are backing the government’s plans to devolve powers to cities and regions, according to a new survey out today. Two-thirds of business leaders polled by the Institute of Directors (IoD) said they supported chancellor George Osborne’s plans for devolution, while more than 75 per cent said they specifically backed devolving powers over [...]
Professional job sector boom is led by finance and engineering July 26, 2015 The finance industry is leading the way in a professional sector jobs boom, new figures show today. Professional recruitment firms now have 12 per cent more vacancies on their books than this time last year, according to survey data from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (Apsco). The number of permanent jobs available rose the [...]
British consumers becoming more upbeat on their finances July 26, 2015 UK shoppers felt more confident about their finances in June, according to a survey by a major British bank. Lloyds Bank’s spending power index climbed to a record high of 164 points from 160 in May, it said this morning. The survey has been running since 2011. People were more confident about their personal financial [...]
Greek stock market could re-open on Tuesday after being shut for a month July 26, 2015 The Athens Stock Exchange will remain closed tomorrow but might re-open on Tuesday, an anonymous spokesperson told Reuters. Read more: Greek banks and Athens stock market closed as Alexis Tsipras plans to stage referendum vote on bailout deal and euro value dives "It's certain that it will not open on Monday, maybe on Tuesday," they said. [...]
London house prices are being driven up by foreign criminals laundering money July 25, 2015 Foreign criminals who launder money through the purchase of high-end London properties are pushing up house prices, according to the National Crime Agency. "I believe the London property market has been skewed by laundered money," Donald Toon, the agency's director of economic crime command, told the Times. "Prices are being artificially driven up by overseas [...]
GDP data to show economy picked up in second quarter July 25, 2015 A preliminary estimate of gross domestic product released by the Office for National Statistics this week will likely show that second quarter economic growth picked up to 0.7 per cent, from 0.4 per cent at the start of this year. "We expect improved second quarter gross domestic product growth to have been primarily the consequence [...]
Housing market starting to “hot up” as mortgage approvals soar to a 15-month high July 24, 2015 The housing market is beginning to heat up again as mortgage approvals rose for the sixth consecutive month in June, taking them to a 15-month high. Figures released today by the British Bankers Association showed the number of mortgage approvals rose to 44,488 last month, from 42,876 in May. Remortgaging rose 20 per cent in the [...]