The UK has a vital role to play in leading the global fourth industrial revolution October 28, 2019 For nearly a year, my mayoral programme – Shaping Tomorrow’s City Today – has promoted UK innovation and technology, addressed social and digital exclusion, and championed digital skills. And during my recent business delegation visit to Kenya, I saw the great potential that technological innovation offers to individuals and communities seeking financial empowerment. Over the [...]
Top tips for National Mentoring Day October 27, 2019 We all know that having a mentor can make a huge difference to entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders. The most successful people surround themselves with those they learn from, so it’s no surprise that many of our aspirational clients ask for a mentor. I’d like to think that we know a thing or two about [...]
Wework’s fall back down to Earth was a long time coming October 25, 2019 Sometimes only a bold and radical move can pull a company out of a hole, and by the standard of Wework, plans don’t get more radical than the ones announced by the company’s new chairman Marcelo Claure. One can almost imagine the gasps as he informed staff that from now on, the business will “prioritise [...]
December may not turn out to be the Brexit election after all October 25, 2019 I was 14 when I voted in my first election. Not for real, of course, but in a school-wide mock poll to get us all engaged with politics back in 2005. Sixth-form students assumed the role of candidates (one for each party) and published simplified manifestos based on what the national parties had put forward. [...]
Time’s up: Ending the tyranny of clock-changing would make us a richer, happier nation October 25, 2019 It’s that time of year again where the government exerts its power over time itself. In the early hours of Sunday morning, British Summer Time (BST) will officially be no more, and the country will return to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) until March. Alas – for it would make far more sense to stop changing [...]
Sex, drugs, and voting booths – when is the true ‘age of adulthood’? October 25, 2019 When does adulthood begin? Is it your first alcoholic drink, your first sexual experience, the first time you gamble, or get paid, or vote? In the UK, you can have an alcoholic drink from the age of five at home, 16 if you’re eating in a restaurant, or 18 if you’re buying your own. You [...]
DEBATE: Virgin Galactic is planning to float on the New York Stock Exchange – is going public a wise move? October 25, 2019 Virgin Galactic is planning to float on the New York Stock Exchange – is going public a wise move? John Mullins, associate professor of management practice at London Business School, says YES. It was exciting to learn that Sir Richard Branson is planning to float his space venture Virgin Galactic on the New York Stock [...]
Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia: Three ways UK firms can prosper post-Brexit October 24, 2019 This is an important moment for business across the UK. Whatever the final outcome of the Brexit negotiations, as business leaders we have to keep our eyes on the big picture – which means thinking years and not days ahead. I believe the fundamentals of the UK are strong. The onus now is on business [...]
Let’s use Tube tunnels to boost London’s broadband connections October 24, 2019 One of London’s biggest infrastructure challenges is how to spread gigabit connectivity far and wide. Today, because of the way connectivity has been managed nationally, the vast majority of Londoners still get their broadband services through a ‘last mile’ of copper connections, with full fibre only reaching around 10 per cent of households. Read more: [...]
DEBATE: In the wake of the Woodford scandal, is there enough oversight of fund managers? October 24, 2019 In the wake of the Woodford scandal, is there enough oversight of fund managers? Yes – Darius McDermott is managing director of FundCalibre There were a number of issues I took strong exception to in this week’s BBC Panorama programme on the Woodford saga, but the conclusion that there is very little regulatory oversight of fund [...]