The stakes are high in the global 5G race February 12, 2019 High up in the Swiss Alps in Davos last month, it was clear that most of the town was pessimistic because of the outlook on trade and the global economy. But what should concern investors more is the breaking up of the global web through the arrival of what’s known as the “splinternet”. It’s increasingly likely [...]
Sam Torrance: David Law lands biggest win of his career in perfect style and Tiger Woods rivalry still spurs Phil Mickelson February 11, 2019 There is nothing better in golf than eagling the last hole and that fact will not be lost on David Law after the young Scotsman wrapped up his first European Tour title in style on Sunday. Law trailed overnight leader Wade Ormsby by five shots going into the back nine of the Vic Open in [...]
It’s time for brands to let their old products pass away February 11, 2019 Corporate giants in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector have been sitting on their hands for the past decade, waiting for the startup bubble to burst so that they can rule the supermarket shelves once again. They’ve been dozing, and are only now realising that these plucky challengers aren’t going away. The number of brands [...]
Quit nostalgic navel-gazing and get excited for the future February 11, 2019 The thing about the 1970s – if you lived through them – is that they were for the most part dull and dour years, devoid of political and economic energy. And as for the fashion, don’t even go there. Yet there seems to be no shortage of fresh-faced tweets proclaiming those years to be something [...]
DEBATE: As London Blockchain Week kicks off, will people ever feel safe buying their groceries in bitcoin? February 11, 2019 As London Blockchain Week kicks off, will people ever feel safe buying their groceries in bitcoin? Dr James Smith, co-founder and chief executive of Elliptic, a cryptocurrency intelligence agency, says YES. Cryptocurrencies are in still their early stages, used more as an investment and tradeable asset than as a form of money, and a lot [...]
Despite Brexit uncertainty, City links across the Irish Sea continue to flourish February 11, 2019 Amid the ongoing debate about the Irish border and the Brexit backstop, it would be easy to lose sight of the City’s flourishing links across the Irish Sea. Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland share a long history with the Square Mile. These ties have grown in recent years as the City Corporation [...]
The final frontier: Opportunities for global Britain lie in the stars February 11, 2019 This summer marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first humans landing on the moon on 20 July 1969. It was a defining moment of human achievement that still intrigues and fascinates to this day. First Man, Hollywood’s look at the life of the astronaut Neil Armstrong, played by Ryan Gosling, has just been nominated for [...]
DEBATE: In light of its limited success so far, should the apprenticeship levy be scrapped? February 8, 2019 In light of its limited success so far, should the apprenticeship levy be scrapped? Charlie Mullins, chief executive and founder of Pimlico Plumbers, says YES. The purpose of the apprenticeship levy was to increase the number of new apprentices, in a genuine effort to combat the UK’s skills gap. However it has proven an unmitigated disaster, [...]
How to capitalise on China’s luxury boom February 8, 2019 As many companies experience a slowdown in China, luxury brands are surely smiling as they look at their sales performance. Last week, LVMH – the world’s largest luxury group, which includes brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Moet & Chandon – surprised everyone by announcing an increase in sales during its fourth quarter earnings, and [...]
Revive that entrepreneurial spirit and get Britain building again February 8, 2019 Politicians have recently become fond of talking about how to tackle our alarming housing crisis. Yet little is delivered – and what is achieved focuses on inflating demand, with schemes like Help to Buy which do nothing to address the underlying supply shortage. In the third quarter of 2018, building on 46,930 new homes began [...]