This Autumn Statement could significantly change the UK state and the Tories’ fortunes November 23, 2015 For the third time in a year, tomorrow, George Osborne will take to the despatch box to deliver a budget or budget-like statement. We will be treated to a feast of announcements as the Treasury pontificates on just about every policy issue imaginable in its “Autumn Statement” – showing the huge governmental power hoarded within [...]
Tech City UK’s Gerard Grech on blockchain, BMWs and the Commonwealth November 22, 2015 A View To A Kill, with Roger Moore – you know, the one where Max Zorin plots to blow up Silicon Valley and halt microchip production? That was back in the mid-80s!” says Gerard Grech, chief executive of Tech City UK, the government-funded tech cluster at the heart of Silicon Roundabout and London’s burgeoning tech [...]
Win-win: Breaking down barriers for young people – Investec Comment November 22, 2015 It is a priority for all businesses to access talented employees from a range of backgrounds, to harness a broad set of skills and experiences. Yet many exceptional young people face barriers to accessing professional jobs – some obvious, many more subtle – that put them off such a career as an option or take [...]
November Spending Review 2015: Chancellor George Osborne to say basic state pension will rise by the most in 15 years in 2016 November 21, 2015 The basic state pension is set to rise the most in real terms since 2001, according to media reports. Chancellor George Osborne will confirm that 2.9 per cent increase to £119.30 a week from April 2016 in next week's widely anticipated Spending Review. The government has committed itself to a so-called "triple-lock" on state pensions over the next five [...]
A meal with a view: Why street food market maverick London Union is looking for investors November 20, 2015 We're just scratching the surface of what’s possible in London,” says Jonathan Downey, co-founder of London Union, which transforms sad corners of the city into vibrant street food markets. Downey, known as JC and founder of Street Feast, teamed up with Henry Dimbleby, the founder of restaurant chain Leon, to start the new company. [...]
London is now a true rival to Silicon Valley – but risks loom November 19, 2015 This year has been dubbed the Year of the Unicorn. It’s not an allusion to the success of the Scottish National Party – the unicorn being the national symbol of Scotland – but rather a reference to the booming global startup scene. In the world of venture capital, “unicorn” is applied to young tech [...]
Facebook Fundraiser: Is Facebook taking on Kickstarter and other crowdfunding platforms with this JustGiving-style donation tool? November 19, 2015 Is Facebook planning to give crowdsourcing platforms like Kickstarter a run for their money? Looks like it. The social media giant has launched a new fundraising tool set to help charities and non-profits raise money through the social network. The tool, similar to existing fundraising sites like JustGiving, lets charities easily set up a page [...]
Is Workie, the government’s psychedelic embodiment of the workplace pension, a hit with audiences – or is it P45 time? November 19, 2015 Eyebrows have been raised at his £8.5m price tag; Baroness Altmann, the pensions minister, has taken to her government blog to defend him and he's been described (somewhat uncharitably) as an "outrageously condescending supersized gonk". So the question is…is "Workie", the government's psychedelic embodiment of workplace pensions, working? It's clear something had to be done to get the message [...]
The Shard skyscraper wins new letting after poaching fintech firm from the City November 19, 2015 The developers behind the Shard skyscraper at London Bridge have secured another letting after poaching fintech firm Sapphire Systems from the City. The global software solutions firm has agreed to take 15,700 square feet of office space on level nine of the tower, City A.M. can reveal. It is understood to be paying in the [...]
Seeking income: Three contrarian ideas for hunters, from Cyprus government bonds to energy companies November 19, 2015 Times have been tough for investors seeking regular income payments. Nearly all bond sectors have made losses for investors this year. Meanwhile, some of the companies which could once be relied upon for good dividend payments from their shares – such as Tesco and Glencore – have cut or scrapped them entirely. But specialist fund [...]
