It’s fine to fail: Why we need to teach people the good, the bad, and the ugly of building a business August 12, 2019 Every entrepreneur has a story of past failure that they’re not afraid to share. I’m no exception. Back in 2010, when Octopus began investing in film production companies, we turned down the opportunity to invest in a small British film called The King’s Speech, which went on to gross £250m worldwide and win four Oscars. [...]
Chill out, take a breath, and don’t worry about wasting time August 12, 2019 Shrimp salad and a gin and tonic for lunch, then back to bed for a snooze. The relaxed recipe for creative genius, as told by Liccy Dahl at a literary event last week, on the work routine of her late husband, Roald. It got me thinking. In a world focused on the need for speed, [...]
Now that the Treasury has stopped making 1p and 2p coins, should we scrap them completely? August 12, 2019 Now that the Treasury has stopped making 1p and 2p coins, should we scrap them completely? Finn McRedmond, a staff writer at Reaction, says YES. The rising cost of living has eroded the value of pennies, while surveys suggest that now over half of them are left lying around unused. And as cash use falls, [...]
We can avoid a no-deal Brexit, if both sides just keep calm August 12, 2019 The Eurozone economy is not looking healthy. The German engine is stalling, global trade tensions will not abate any time soon, and President Donald Trump may soon turn his fire on Europe. China has allowed the renminbi to sink, thereby exporting deflationary pressures. Large economies like Italy, France and Spain are still in no condition [...]
One message resonates across the globe: London is still one-of-a-kind for finance August 12, 2019 As people across the City head off on their travels over the summer holidays, there is no better time to reflect on the exciting opportunities for the UK across the globe as our future trading relationship comes into sharp focus. I have already been fortunate enough in my role as the 691st lord mayor of [...]
Social care crisis: Steps we can take now to help millions of unpaid carers August 9, 2019 An unnecessary stay in hospital can be bad for your health. Just seven days waiting in a hospital bed can cut a person’s muscle strength by 10 per cent – and every month thousands of people’s transfer out of hospital is delayed. We don’t need to wait for government action before we do something about [...]
Prosperity or pound shop? Our free trade future awaits August 9, 2019 Like most of us, I’ve been watching the new government in the UK with interest – and no small measure of anxiety. As it became clear that Boris Johnson would emerge as the new PM, it also became clear that there would be a sharp change in government policy across the board. Theresa May, for [...]
John McDonnell has put a nationalist cat among the Scottish pigeons August 9, 2019 Labour has a problem – and for once it isn’t antisemitism. This time, it’s second-in-command John McDonnell, who this week defied party policy and threw a spanner in the constitutional works by declaring that he backed allowing Scotland to vote again on independence. Speaking at an event at the Edinburgh Fringe (a festival more commonly [...]
No, a four-day week won’t miraculously cure the workplace of stress August 9, 2019 Despite mooting plans to trial a four-day working week, research foundation the Wellcome Trust then did a complete U-turn on its proposal, following a review which found that the initiative could put extra pressure on some of its workforce. The news caught my eye because it confirmed what I already knew: while I wholeheartedly support [...]
Why Boris Johnson could be the man to unlock the potential of the Northern Powerhouse August 9, 2019 If I asked you to think of a politician who could rebalance the economy and reinvigorate the north, Boris Johnson probably isn’t the first who springs to mind. With his Eton schooling and eight-year tenure as mayor of London, Boris is very much the stereotypical southern Englishman. You’re much more likely to conjure up Andy [...]