British scaleups must leap the confidence gap to achieve growth September 13, 2018 It's a well-worn fact that small businesses are the backbone of Britain. It’s also well-known that they have a high failure rate, as four tenths of SMEs fail within five years. Far less well explored are the reasons behind this failure rate. To better understand the challenges facing these businesses as they attempt to scale, we [...]
Mayor power: Devolution is giving Britain a brighter future September 13, 2018 With the distraction of Brexit, one could be forgiven for believing that devolution policy has been dormant since 2016. Indeed, as Westminster negotiates feverishly for optimal European and international status come 30 March, it can seem that domestic policy has been effectively on hold since the referendum. But in that time, a quiet revolution has [...]
Mayor power: Devolution is giving Britain a brighter future September 13, 2018 With the distraction of Brexit, one could be forgiven for believing that devolution policy has been dormant since 2016. Indeed, as Westminster negotiates feverishly for optimal European and international status come 30 March, it can seem that domestic policy has been effectively on hold since the referendum. But in that time, a quiet revolution has [...]
British Airways pension scheme strikes landmark £4.4bn deal with L&G September 13, 2018 British Airways (BA) has this morning struck a bumper deal to insure £4.4bn worth of pension liabilities in its Airways Pension Scheme (APS). Insurer Legal & General will cover the enormous pension buy-in, which represents the largest ever so called bulk annuity transfer with a UK pension scheme. The contract will see L&G agree to [...]
British Airways pension scheme strikes landmark £4.4bn deal with L&G September 13, 2018 British Airways (BA) has this morning struck a bumper deal to insure £4.4bn worth of pension liabilities in its Airways Pension Scheme (APS). Insurer Legal & General will cover the enormous pension buy-in, which represents the largest ever so called bulk annuity transfer with a UK pension scheme. The contract will see L&G agree to [...]
We speak to the head of Zopa about the FCA’s credit clampdown and how to survive another financial crisis September 13, 2018 In the grand scheme of financial services, the peer-to-peer lending industry is young. With the sector now in its early teens, it’s this immaturity that often seems to spark questions about resilience, particularly how peer-to-peer companies would cope during another economic downturn. Those in defence of the industry tend to use Zopa as an example: a [...]
We speak to the head of Zopa about the FCA’s credit clampdown and how to survive another financial crisis September 13, 2018 In the grand scheme of financial services, the peer-to-peer lending industry is young. With the sector now in its early teens, it’s this immaturity that often seems to spark questions about resilience, particularly how peer-to-peer companies would cope during another economic downturn. Those in defence of the industry tend to use Zopa as an example: a [...]
City Moves for 13 September 2018 – who’s switching jobs at Punter Southall Aspire, Nomanini and Ofcom? September 13, 2018 Today's City Moves cover financial planning, fintech and telecoms. Take a look at these movers and shakers: Punter Southall Aspire Punter Southall Aspire, a leading investment, savings and workplace pensions company, has appointed Peter Selby as its new managing director of retail advice to manage its fast-growing financial planning business. Peter joins from Scottish Widows, [...]
City Moves for 13 September 2018 – who’s switching jobs at Punter Southall Aspire, Nomanini and Ofcom? September 13, 2018 Today's City Moves cover financial planning, fintech and telecoms. Take a look at these movers and shakers: Punter Southall Aspire Punter Southall Aspire, a leading investment, savings and workplace pensions company, has appointed Peter Selby as its new managing director of retail advice to manage its fast-growing financial planning business. Peter joins from Scottish Widows, [...]
Carlyle Group to buy insurance service Sedgwick for £5.1bn September 12, 2018 Private equity firm The Carlyle Group has acquired US insurance claims service provider Sedgwick for $6.7bn (£5.1bn). Current majority shareholder KKR will exit the group and Stone Point Capital, CDPQ and Sedgwick management will remain minority shareholders when the deal coses later this year. Read more: Plastic packaging giant RPC confirms buyout talks with Apollo and Bain [...]