Take that, banks: The UK’s online financial marketplaces attracted $253m in VC money last year as LendInvest, Transferwise and Funding Circle made their mark March 29, 2016 Financial marketplaces – crowdfunding platforms and other fintech sites – have proven irresistible to the City, it turns out, after figures released today showed venture capital funding for the sector has shot up five-fold in the last two years. Data released today by payment startup Stripe showed investors are backing developers in their bid to reshape how people buy and sell [...]
“How would you get an elephant in a fridge?”: These are the 10 toughest questions asked at job interviews – including questions from Topshop, Network Rail and EY March 29, 2016 Job interviews are galling at the best of times – but imagine being asked how to squeeze an elephant into a fridge, or how many people named Gary were born in 2013. That's what candidates at, respectively, Gemalto and BT were faced with, according to jobs marketplace Glassdoor, which has put together the 10 toughest [...]
Negative interest rates spark 2016 gold rush – but can German buyers push prices even higher? March 29, 2016 Almost a quarter of world GDP lies in economies whose central banks now have negative interest rates of some form. This experimental policy – used variously to weaken strengthening currencies and attempt to stimulate growth – has its fans, but investors have not been among them. “There’s a sense that central banks are running out [...]
Why Londoners should be wary about the Lifetime Isa March 29, 2016 Should you get a Lifetime Isa (Lisa) when they’re launched in April next year? On the face of it, definitely yes. Designed specifically for the under-40s, this new entrant to the growing Isa stable promises a government top-up of £1,000 if you contribute the maximum £4,000 in a tax year, no tax on capital growth [...]
Corporate hospitality: The secret to getting it right March 29, 2016 In today's business environment, hospitality remains a vital part of building and maintaining client relationships. As an increasing amount of day-to-day contact with our customers and potential customers is conducted remotely, “face time” helps build trust, candour and forge stronger working relationships. It goes without saying that the need to demonstrate a return on investment or, [...]
Dints International’s Geoffrey de Mowbray talks crows, mines and why business is always the right tool for development March 29, 2016 School and me were never the best match. The problem was that I enjoyed breaking rules far more than I liked adhering to them,” says Geoffrey de Mowbray, founder of African mining supply chain provider Dints International, before adding, “I suppose my entrepreneurial nature shone through a bit even then”. By “a bit”, he means that, [...]
How innovation is transforming the property industry March 29, 2016 A wave of innovation is transforming Britain’s property industry. A younger generation of motivated millennials in their early to mid 20s is coming in, looking at the traditional ways that companies have been doing things and recognising that demand has moved on and people want something different – and increasingly more social – from real estate. [...]
UK entrepreneurs top 100: From Richard Branson to Edwina Dunn, these are the most influential business founders in the UK on social media March 25, 2016 Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or have spent years building a business, you could do worse than to hear the stories of those who've been through it all before. So we've put together a list of the UK's best and brightest at building businesses to get you inspired – from those who are near the [...]
Investors should be more concerned about Donald Trump than a Brexit, says fund manager Richard Woolnough March 24, 2016 Investors should focus more on the prospect of Donald Trump than a so-called Brexit, according to a fund manager. Richard Woolnough manages around £35bn at M&G Investments. In a note to investors, he said the outcome of the US presidential election was more important than the UK's EU referendum. Read more: Trump and Clinton get the vote from [...]
Fintech powerlist: These are the most influential people in UK fintech on social media March 24, 2016 It's created billion-dollar startups, attracted record investment and is keeping major banks on their toes – London fintech is having its moment in the sun and there are some crucial influencers making that happen. These are the movers, the shakers, the doers and builders, and the people you need to know in the world of London [...]
