Britain and Ukraine are tied together by our independent tech industries March 1, 2022 AS RUSSIA launched an illegal war of aggression in eastern Europe, Ukraine may still feel quite far away from the UK, even though it is in Europe. Cities like Mariupol and Kharkiv are foreign to most Britons. Crimea is best known to most from a 200 year old poem. When Vladimir Putin talks of Ukraine [...]
University education can’t deliver the skills we need for the economy of the future March 1, 2022 TOO many jobs, wage inflation, and an abundance of flexible working opportunities. Compared to the threat of mass unemployment when the pandemic began two years ago, these feel like better problems to have. But labour market figures released last month revealed one serious problem: an exodus of older workers. Since March 2020, the number of [...]
Our housing system needs to find flexibility in how we use undeveloped brownfield land March 1, 2022 The housing crisis is an oft used term to describe a wide array of problems facing Britons. There’s cladding problems, safety problems, access problems and affordability. But the common denominator is the lack of alternative housing stock. For those struggling to access social housing lists, those in need of emergency accommodation, or even students in [...]
Putin’s war in Ukraine must make us wonder about our military capabilities February 28, 2022 Last week all changed, changed utterly; on the eastern fringes of Europe, a war is now happening. Not a border skirmish or some cyber jousting—the Russian army has invaded Ukraine and men and women are losing their lives in a struggle for territory and power. Taken by surprise by this resurrection of old methods of [...]
Opinion-in-brief: New measures won’t be enough to protect vulnerable users February 28, 2022 As part of new measures included in the Online Safety Bill, users will be able to block anonymous accounts on social media like Facebook and Twitter. The move is an attempt to deter the abuse – coming from trolls and fake accounts – taking place on these platforms. Most social networks in the UK don’t [...]
An important distinction should be made between impact unicorns and ESG February 28, 2022 For years, technology investors have been searching for “unicorns” – companies with a valuation of one billion dollars. These companies were dubbed unicorns because they once were as rare as the mythical beast. Today, there are over 1000 of them globally. Now, there is a whole new breed of unicorn – impact unicorns. True impact [...]
We must stand united with Ireland and our European partners in this time of crisis February 28, 2022 At a time when tensions across Europe are at the highest they’ve been for a generation, it is critical for like-minded allies to work together in close partnership. That will be my message when I cross the Irish Sea and return to my roots in Dublin this week. Strengthening financial and professional services links following [...]
Letters: Can we be friends again? February 25, 2022 [Re: UK’s leading fintech bosses call on government to ramp up efforts to overhaul regulation, Feb 21] I’m surprised to see fintech leaders calling on the government to overhaul regulation. A year on from the Kalifa Review, and with investment hitting a record $37.3bn in 2021, the UK’s fintech space is thriving. I’d argue this [...]
Russia will weaponise a refugee crisis if we’re not prepared to open our arms February 25, 2022 Putin has invaded Ukraine. He was never going to be satisfied with only taking Donetsk and Luhansk. The result will be a bloody and likely protracted war accompanied by another refugee crisis as many Ukrainians make the heart-wrenching decision to desert their home. Britain has a long and proud history of welcoming refugees, especially from [...]
The parallel war of disinformation between Russia and Ukraine could seed more poison February 25, 2022 As Russian forces attacked Ukraine on three fronts, a parallel disinformation war was taking place on social media and on Russian news outlets. Since the early stage of this conflict, President Putin has sought to justify his invasion by depicting Ukraine as a belligerent actor threatening Russian lives. In his speech on Monday night, right [...]