The stage is set for the City to lead the post-Covid fintech revolution June 15, 2020 The 2008 global financial crisis marked a watershed moment for the financial services sector. For the global economy to recover, it needed to innovate. Investment in technology and its application across the entire financial system — what we now refer to as “fintech” — has since transformed the industry as we know it. Fintech will [...]
We now have a unique opportunity to end rough sleeping in London for good June 13, 2020 Where do we go from here? It’s a question many of us are asking ourselves, as lockdown measures are gradually eased and we start to move from dealing with the day-to-day impact of the pandemic to looking towards the longer-term future. For the nearly 1,400 rough sleepers who have been accommodated in London hotels, paid [...]
No more ‘Cinderella sector’ — we need to invest in further education for Londoners June 12, 2020 Like the rest of the UK, London’s economy has taken a body blow from Covid-19, with unemployment rising steeply and a widespread take up of the Job Retention Scheme (“furlough”). Some London industries have managed to stay active and engaged during lockdown, such as finance and business services, but a vast range — from accommodation [...]
Brexit vs. Business: Thanks to Covid-19, we’ll never know who was right June 12, 2020 Let’s start with some good news: Unilever has put its faith in Britain. The Dutch-Anglo consumer goods giant, owner of iconic brands from PG Tips to Marmite, announced on Thursday that it was unifying under its UK listing. How times have changed. A mere 18 months ago, Unilever was trying to move its headquarters to [...]
London’s businesses can lead a UK-wide economic recovery June 12, 2020 As the focus shifts from the immediate health crisis of Covid-19 to slowly easing the lockdown, the capital’s business leaders are committed to playing their part. Early this week, I brought together some of London’s most prominent businesses, representing all sectors of the economy, to map out solutions that support a business-led recovery. From Heathrow, [...]
Eight tips for nailing the remote job interview June 11, 2020 The world of job hunting has changed dramatically in recent months. In May, nine out 10 UK job interviews were conducted over a video or phone call. So with competition for jobs intensifying, here are my top tips to ace your next Skype, Hangouts or Zoom interview this summer. 1. Prepare your environment in advance [...]
This government’s oversight risks destroying my business June 11, 2020 Despite my strenuous efforts to find some help (submitting evidence to the Treasury Select Committee, writing to the chancellor, the economic secretary to the Treasury, the Welsh secretary, and the first minister of Wales), this government stands on the brink of bringing my business down. My business was not “in difficulty” before Covid-19 struck, it [...]
DEBATE: Is it time for western investors to abandon China? June 11, 2020 Is it time for western investors to abandon China? Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, says YES. The phrase “caveat emptor” should be ringing in the ears of China investors. When it comes to business, western countries are waking up to Chinese policies that undermine free trade and distort the global market. [...]
From airships or supersonic jets, air travel is about to change forever June 11, 2020 The phrase “a perfect storm” is frequently overused. But when it comes to aviation, it is no exaggeration. Indeed, the collision of the Covid-19 pandemic with the challenges the civil aviation industry was already facing is certain to precipitate the mother of all root and branch transformations in air travel. While journalists today write glibly [...]
Why the businesses of the future are honing in on Cornwall June 10, 2020 Six months into a new decade, the working landscape has altered beyond recognition. Businesses around the world have adapted to remote working with a scale and ease beyond wildest expectations. “Working from home” has cast off any of the negative connotations attached to it, with workers in fields ranging from banking to surveying, media to [...]