Why government must stop treating medium-sized firms like corporates February 11, 2015 Speaking to business leaders earlier this week, David Cameron unveiled a British version of Germany’s Mittelstand scheme. Help to Grow will see £1bn of funding ploughed into medium-sized businesses across the country, bridging the “valley of death” funding gap that hampers our most promising scale-ups. But while there have been several high-profile and encouraging moves [...]
The free trade deals that could turbo-charge the UK economy by £10bn February 11, 2015 Few know it, but you are all paying a secret tax. Trade tariffs and other protectionist barriers are a hidden part of the price you pay for almost everything you buy. Consider this: if we could do a trade deal between America and the EU, at one stroke we could create up to 2m jobs, [...]
Boris Johnson’s mini-Manhattan in Old Oak Common: Why we must speak up for local housing needs February 11, 2015 London’s population is at an all-time high. By 2020, we will have over 9m people living in our city; 10m by 2030. So it is essential that we plan for the growing needs of the capital. London needs a transport system fit for the 21st century. We need a thriving jobs market built on secure, [...]
How UK growth firms are getting the financial leg up they need to thrive February 10, 2015 The UK is experiencing a “golden age” for smaller businesses. That was the message of Lord Young’s small business report, out yesterday, which heralded a record 5.2m small firms now operating in the UK. Britain is now officially ranked as the most entrepreneurial in Europe. In recent years, we have witnessed a rising tide of [...]
It’s high time supermarkets had a radical lesson in supply chain management February 10, 2015 Every year, the supermarkets hire substantial batches of high-flying graduates to work in their buying departments. The urban mythology is that these expensively-educated young people are paid to shout down the phone, browbeating suppliers to offer yet more discounts. This hectoring seems to be at the heart of the recent decision of the Groceries Code [...]
How regulators’ focus on culture is offering banks a chance to get ahead February 9, 2015 As the acid rain of fines and litigation costs wore away profits, last year will no doubt be remembered as the year that an ethical problem for banks became a financial one. In 2014, the fines levied by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) hit almost £1.5bn. Against this backdrop, the role of regulators will come [...]
Anti-business? The Labour Party’s real problem is that it’s anti-market February 9, 2015 The war of words between Boots and the Labour Party has led to much political soul-searching. The salient question seems to be: “is Labour anti-business?” This is not particularly interesting. “Business”, after all, is not some homogenous entity. Many claim to be the “voice of business,” but the loudest tend to be those representing the [...]
Why it’s high time we had a new solution to help charities innovate February 9, 2015 WHEN Britons dig deep into their pockets to help good causes, it’s an impressive sight. Last year, private individuals gave away the best part of £10.5bn. That’s terrific news for UK charities, but it also sets them a challenge. Once entrusted with this cash, how should the voluntary sector make best use of it? Take [...]
Will Miliband’s pledge to double paid paternity leave inhibit business growth and productivity? February 9, 2015 John Longworth, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, says Yes Businesses have had to manage half a dozen changes to parental leave in the past decade. While these changes are a step in the right direction for families wanting greater flexibility, Labour’s proposal is another burden for small and mid-sized businesses (SMEs) at [...]
Here’s a glimpse into the future of the Internet of Things: A day in the life of the connected city February 9, 2015 Meet Jeremy. He lives in London and as part of a new fitness drive, plays squash two mornings a week. The game ends triumphantly and he checks his smart watch to compare his performance to others and to track how many calories he burned – the device even has a personalised solutions service, advising [...]