Women still failing to feature in the executive teams of many FTSE 100 firms, with only Severn Trent and Kingfisher managing a balanced split February 8, 2016 Some of the UK's most well-known household names are failing to appoint women to executive positions, with more than one in ten blue chip companies having no women in their executive teams at all. According to a report released today by female professional development organisation The Pipeline, women account for only 18 per cent of FTSE 100 senior executives. [...]
Business people take greater smartphone risks than kids or millennials February 3, 2016 People using their smartphones for business are taking greater risks when it comes to the devices' security than kids or millennials. A new study has revealed 79 per cent of businessmen and 67 per cent of businesswomen use potentially risky apps every day. That compares with 65 per cent of young people, while just 23 per cent of women of [...]
This is how addicted we are to our smartphones: One in three millennials have walked into something while looking at their phone February 2, 2016 Ever walked headfirst into a lamp post because you were focusing less on your surroundings than on following an unfolding Twitter debate on your phone? If you’re under 30 years old, chances are your answer is yes, according to a new study on millennials’ smartphone habits which reveals the (terrifying) full extent of our phone [...]
Cordant Group’s Phillip Ullmann talks to Harriet Green about looking after 52,000 workers and turning teal February 1, 2016 When I met Phillip Ullmann, head of Cordant Group and employer of over 52,000 people, he had just lost his job title. It wasn’t that someone had taken it from him – rather that he’s shed it. “Job titles are nonsense. What does it mean to be an executive chair, chief executive, managing director? Titles [...]
People, planet and profit: How to build sustainability into your business February 1, 2016 Every business wants to be sustainable – this is, by definition, about being set up to succeed over the long term. For a business to be truly sustainable, it is important to balance three priorities: people, planet and profit. We all rely on people and natural resources, and we’re looking to achieve a profit. If [...]
M Restaurant’s Martin Williams on Wagyu, division bells and building a brand January 25, 2016 There is something of the Midas touch about Martin Williams. Forty minutes into an interview about his restaurants, M Threadneedle Street and M Victoria Street – currently two of the capital’s trendiest hangouts – he mentions his previous life as an actor. Despite being successful on stage and TV in his early twenties, the on-off [...]
Q&A: Enotria’s CEO on acquiring Coe Vintners January 25, 2016 Troy Christensen, chief executive of Enotria & Coe, and Gary Edwards, growth and acquisition finance at Investec, explain the background, challenges, and motivation behind premium wine supplier Enotria’s acquisition of Coe Vintners. Why did Enotria decide to acquire Coe Vintners? Troy Christensen: Enotria was founded in the 1970s with the intention of bringing the best Italian [...]
JP Morgan’s Pencils Down initiative is proof the City’s financial institutions can adapt to millennials’ needs January 22, 2016 Millennials, Generation Y, the yoof – call them what you like, but HR departments the land over are going to increasingly desperate lengths to attract the people currently taking their first steps into working life. Kids these days are demanding, high-minded and tech savvy, oft-cited research tells us. They expect oodles of spare time, with [...]
Doddle’s Tim Robinson talks 2016, the future of shopping and why he’s looking for a new partner January 18, 2016 Have you used Doddle? If you have, then you’ll either have done so once or 13 times, Tim Robinson, chief executive of the parcel collect and send service tells me. Founded in the autumn of 2014, Doddle has done rather well so far. Over its 2015 peak trading period (the run-up to Christmas), it saw [...]
Office fit outs: Why asset finance is the smart choice January 18, 2016 The London property market is booming – and it’s not just the residential sector. The demand for office space in the capital is pushing up rents and this is having a significant impact on companies’ business strategies. Many firms are looking to move their headquarters out of London to more affordable locations, retaining small offices [...]