Exclusive: Startups and finserv firms push for more rules to keep bots under control September 21, 2021 Bots are changing the way we work, saving businesses thousands of hours and significant sums per year as they increasingly play a key role in automating key corporate functions, including customer service and data collections. Despite this, due to the actions of a small number of irresponsible bot users, myths and misconceptions, many business leaders [...]
Russ Shaw’s Tech Week Diary: Showcasing the best of London to the world September 21, 2021 London Tech Week – the showcase of all things innovative – is back. Each day this week, Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates boss Russ Shaw CBE will write for us reflecting on the jamboree. Here’s day one. Europe’s largest tech festival, London Tech Week, is back. The launch event – the Global Leaders [...]
Exclusive: ASOS and Boohoo lead the pack as online-only retail sales hit record £16bn September 20, 2021 Sales at the UK’s 20 biggest online-only retailers have reached a record £16.4bn in the last year, rising 22 per cent from £13.2bn the previous year, according to calculations based on Companies House data. This growth continues to be driven by the success of fashion retailers, which increased their revenues by 14.2 per cent to [...]
Chancellor hails London tech success as capital beats European competitors again September 20, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak today hailed London’s bounce back from the pandemic as new figures show the capital is sprinting ahead of rival European tech hubs. London has attracted more venture capital investment to its startups than anywhere else in Europe and now boasts more unicorns – firms valued at more than $1bn – than France [...]
UK tech: Record raise of £13.5bn pushes number of British unicorns to 105 September 20, 2021 The UK tech sector raised £13.5bn in the first six months of this year, almost three times more than the same period a year ago, according to new data. As a result, the number of British unicorns has jumped to 105. Companies including fintech giant Revolut, online video conference business Hopin and online car sales [...]
Exclusive: London’s first ever data charter launched September 20, 2021 One of London’s leading business associations has today launched the capital’s first ever Data Charter to help businesses tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the city. Drawn up by law firm Pinsent Masons for London First, the charter provides a framework for private and public companies across the city to collaborate and share data. [...]
Sir Clive Sinclair: Inventor behind the home computer and pocket calculator dies September 17, 2021 Inventor Sir Clive Sinclair – the man behind the home computer and the pocket calculator – has died at the age of 81. The computing pioneer passed away at his London home yesterday morning, according to his daughter Belinda Sinclair. Sinclair, known for his ZX models, received a tribute from Tesla and SpaceX boss [...]
Golden year for startups: London may be heading for a post-pandemic unicorn boom September 15, 2021 The last 15 months has provided every aspect of society with an unprecedented challenge, not least to small firms and founders. The response of this section of business, however, has been nothing short of inspiring, with nearly 800,000 new firms incorporated in 2020. The response of the investors who back them has been equally stirring, [...]
Apple’s new iPhone 13: Faster chips, sharper cameras and 5G September 15, 2021 Apple unveiled the iPhone 13 and a new iPad mini last night, expanding 5G connectivity and showing off faster chips and sharper cameras without raising the phone’s price. To encourage trade-ins, participating wireless carriers are offering incentives that could make a new phone free. Watch the full report.
Exclusive: UK fraud is big business at £52bn each year, says financial crime guru September 15, 2021 Financial crime, fraud and hacking soared during the pandemic as criminals took advantage of behavioural changes during three strict lockdowns. In fact, fraud and cybercrime jumped by nearly a third in the last twelve months. Time for City A.M. to catch up with financial crime guru Richard Wood, a former Morgan Stanley fraud manager who [...]