RBS shareholders approve executive pay at annual meeting, joining Aviva and BAE Systems in waving through exec pay packages May 4, 2016 Embattled Royal Bank of Scotland has been fighting to defend its management practises and executive pay this afternoon at its annual shareholder meeting (AGM) in Edinburgh. The banks shareholders eventually voted overwhelmingly in favour of the bank's executive pay, with over 99 per cent approving the report. RBS boss Ross McEwan faced a barrage of [...]
Soon-to-be retirees are longing to take a gap year May 4, 2016 Those reaching pension age are more similar to university students than you'd think, as many are hankering for a gap year, research out today has found. According to the study by Investec Wealth & Investment, around a third (31 per cent) of UK professionals are considering taking a sabbatical of at least six months before they finally retire. More [...]
Lack of long-term investment in early stage companies is damaging the economy May 4, 2016 Lack of long-term investment in early stage and innovative companies is damaging the economy, leading fund managers have said. “Our society has increasingly lost its way. Fund management should be doing rightful investment for the world and I think it’s a really serious problem [that they’re not],” says James Anderson, manager of the highly regarded Scottish [...]
Mindfulness: Why it matters to business more than you think – and a taster exercise anyone can try May 4, 2016 Historically, the majority of leadership development has focused on tangible areas such as leadership competencies, skills and behaviours – what we call a “cognitive approach to learning”. These are all clearly very important, but they are not the whole story. Emotional learning matters. Consider, for instance, someone who is almost exclusively bound to the technical [...]
How Budget capital gains tax changes boosted attractiveness of startups to investors May 4, 2016 Changes to capital gains tax and entrepreneurs’ relief announced in the Budget have made startups and growing businesses more attractive investment prospects, a new survey of business leaders has found. Eight in 10 of the 1,224 Institute of Directors members quizzed in April over the changes said they would draw investment to entrepreneurial companies. Under the [...]
Introducing the DAO: The organisation that will kill corporations May 3, 2016 Imagine a world where companies didn’t exist. Instead of corporate entities being brought into existence through statute, networks of individuals would work, co-operate and generate wealth via DAOs – decentralised autonomous organisations. The hierarchical, centrally governed organisations we’re all so familiar with would not be needed. This is the world that the creators of the [...]
You being bored at work is probably the least of your employer’s worries May 3, 2016 Let’s be honest – if you’re reading this it’s probably because you’re bored at work. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Take a moment, however, to consider the plight of the Frenchman whose own crushing workplace ennui has led to him taking his former employer to court. We all get bored at work. We all manage to [...]
Nutmeg chief Nick Hungerford is stepping down May 3, 2016 One of the UK’s best known fintech entrepreneurs Nick Hungerford is stepping down as chief of the Nutmeg, the wealth management startup he co-founded. The firm, which has landed millions of pounds in backing from the likes of Schroders, has named revenue chief Martin Stead his successor and Hungerford will become a non-executive director. Here’s what [...]
Starter for 10: Think tank report urges Stephen Crabb to take on a Universal Challenge May 3, 2016 Stephen Crabb may just be settling into his new role as secretary of state for work and pensions, but a report published today is urging him to take on George Osborne and crew over universal credit. The study by think tank the Resolution Foundation warns that universal credit risks not meeting the goals it was proposed for if [...]
Four of the best recovery stocks: From alternative lenders to biotech, fund bosses highlight the unloved companies due for a stock market turnaround May 3, 2016 Investing in a company that’s had a bad spell on the stock market can mean an opportunity to buy cheap shares. If a turnaround is successful, or the company proves its true potential to the market, those shares will one day be worth much more. I asked the experts which stocks they’re backing. Illumina From James [...]