Heed the business bashing – capitalism depends on it October 8, 2018 A dreadful misrepresentation, a gaggle of braggarts, the worst take on business you could possibly create. Yes, The Apprentice has returned to the BBC for a fourteenth season, and this time, its representation of business has turbocharged the hate and self-regard to gobsmacking levels. “Nation shall speak peace unto nation” is the motto of the [...]
Fintech M&A deals swell to $40bn in first half of 2018 October 8, 2018 The fintech sector carried over 140 M&A transactions in the first half of 2018, at a total value of nearly $40bn (£30.48bn) – an increase of more than 26 per cent on the same period last year. The Fintech M&A market report, compiled by Hampleton Partners, says the surge in transaction values can be attributed [...]
Founder syndrome: Are you suffering? October 5, 2018 When you start a new business, there is an expectation that your leadership will be marked by certain qualities – purpose, authenticity, and a lack of hierarchy. In the modern era, those leading tens of thousands of people, in businesses that were founded decades ago are now expected to display those same qualities. In a [...]
Get creative: It’s time to dye that hair and learn to fail with style October 5, 2018 You know about creatives, don’t you? They’re the ones with the wacky dyed hair and bright suits that can’t arrive at the meeting on time. You don’t seem to understand them – they’re creative. Driving on the same side of the road as everyone else shows conformity. And we don’t want that. It’s no wonder [...]
DEBATE: Can job seekers learn anything from The Apprentice? October 5, 2018 Can job seekers learn anything from The Apprentice? Martin Talbot, director at totaljobs, says YES. On Wednesday, Lord Alan Sugar was back on TV, and he swiftly got down to business. This year’s candidates quickly proved that there’s still plenty to learn from the series – even if that’s what not to do during a [...]
Everyone’s a loser in today’s fabricated generation wars October 5, 2018 According to doomsayers in policy and media circles, the young have never had it so bad, and the fault lies with their greedy elders. The allegedly enormous, voracious baby boomer generation, living it up on the golf course with the ill-gotten gains from gold-plated pensions and over-valued houses, is in the firing line for causing [...]
Tandem Bank narrows losses as revenue run rate rises to £15m October 5, 2018 Digital banking challenger Tandem has narrowed its losses over the last year, with a current annual revenue run rate of £15m, according to new figures seen exclusively by City A.M. Tandem Money, the parent company to the bank, reported total costs of £23.5m during 2017, up from £20.4m in 2016, according to its latest annual [...]
City Moves for 5 October 2018 – who’s switching jobs at Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Evestment, Nucleus and City AM? October 5, 2018 Today's City Moves covers pharma, investment, IT and City Moves. Take a look at these movers and shakers: Hikma Pharmaceuticals Hikma Pharmaceuticals has appointed Sagar Patel to a newly created London-based role as the European commercial head for its injectables business. Sagar joins Hikma at a time of organisational change to boost the group’s senior [...]
A lesson in language: Apps will not make you a good writer October 4, 2018 In the past year, I have witnessed an unfortunate proliferation of language apps: those that correct your spelling, grammar and style, and claim to make you a better writer. I’ve tested a few, and here is my considered advice: avoid. Apart from their obvious redundancy – Microsoft has been doing this for 20 years – the [...]
Peer-to-peer lender Zopa narrows losses despite revenue growth slowdown October 4, 2018 Peer-to-peer lending platform Zopa narrowed its losses while investing heavily into its impending digital banking effort last year, as it chases the coattails of freshly-listed rival Funding Circle. In accounts published late last night, Zopa Group, the parent of its online lending and financial services businesses, reduced its losses to £4.2m for the financial year [...]
