Childcare, chores, and stereotypes: Breaking down the barriers to female entrepreneurship October 12, 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on our economy. GDP has dropped by 20 per cent, and 7.5m people are out of work, with more job losses on the horizon. While business failure rates are currently low, as government support packages begin to be withdrawn we should expect to see more companies fold — and [...]
Technology has changed our minds — now it’s time for brands to catch up October 12, 2020 Let’s begin with the pretty bold claim: that digital technology has altered us forever. Over the past decade, an enormous amount of research and literature has been produced on the subject — from the American writer Nicholas Carr, to MIT professor of social psychology Sherry Turkle, to the eminent British neuroscientist Susan Greenfield. Each in [...]
We do not need to compromise the economy to fix the environment October 12, 2020 Overwhelming scientific evidence tells us that the climate is already changing. If we are to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and avoid the more extreme effects on our environment, averting potentially devastating consequences, we need to act now. And that is what the City of London Corporation is doing. Last week, it launched its [...]
Act now to close the education gap — or our economy will pay the cost for years to come October 12, 2020 If there were ever any doubt about the full cost of closing schools, the answer is now clear. It is a vast price — and one that will have to be paid by the nation on both a human and a financial level for many, many years to come. Alongside the mounting national debt being [...]
The answer to Britain’s housing crisis is more houses – not risky mortgages October 11, 2020 Housing experts were left scratching their heads this week after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his flagship policy to get young people on the housing ladder: bigger mortgages. Johnson plans to turn “generation rent” into “generation buy” by offering long-term, fixed-rate mortgages of up to 95 per cent of the value of the home. He [...]
BOXPARK chief: Government must allow hospitality businesses to recover October 11, 2020 The past few months have been some of the most difficult for the hospitality industry – and now, just as many of us are getting back on our feet, we have been hit by new restrictions that could last for up to six months. Six months is an extremely long time for an industry that [...]
On World Homelessness Day, can impact investing help us build back better? October 10, 2020 There is no debating that we are looking down the barrel of a tough six months. An increase in the daily cases of Covid-19 means that the gradual loosening of restrictions has ground to a halt, and the threat of a return to a full lockdown ahead of the festive season will be the Sword [...]
DEBATE: Should the social distancing restrictions on weddings be dropped? October 9, 2020 Should the social distancing restrictions on weddings be dropped? Mark Henriques, managing director of Cripps & Co and petitioner seeking an injunction against the government measures, says YES. In March, lockdown shattered the plans of the thousands of people set to marry this year. I have watched with dismay as a temporary upset, caused by [...]
Samaritans and the City: A message for World Mental Health Day October 9, 2020 Tomorrow marks World Mental Health Day, and this year, I can’t help but think how many lives have been profoundly altered by the shock events of 2020. I am reflecting more on what we have all learnt, about ourselves and our world. What change do we want? How can we directly contribute to making our [...]
The pensions triple-lock is unjustifiable in normal times — in the Covid era, it is utterly unconscionable October 9, 2020 Imagine you a Conservative chancellor trying to steer the economy through the midst of the worst pandemic in modern history. You have done your best to protect jobs and support struggling businesses in the face of drastic lockdown restrictions, while tax receipts shrivelled and the healthcare bill has ballooned beyond all previous measures. Despite your [...]