Going places: The Source founder James Crabb talks risk-taking and velour sofas December 14, 2014 It was just time to do something completely different,” James Crabb tells me. He’s talking about going from managing director of global technology and operations at Deutsche Bank to founding The Source, a digital lifestyle business that satisfies the emerging affluents’ every need – from food, wine, travel and childcare to art, home interiors and [...]
Startup stumbling blocks: Be sure to avoid these four fatal pitfalls December 14, 2014 The capital is brimming with rising startup stars. Last week, seven up-and-coming fintech firms were selected to join the government-backed Future Fifty scheme, run by Tech City UK. The programme seeks out our most promising high-growth tech businesses and helps them get to market. More widely, the UK was recently ranked the most entrepreneurial nation [...]
Dream debut as Lending Club valuation soars after IPO in boost to British crowdfunding December 11, 2014 Lending Club’s valuation soared to more than $8bn yesterday as shares rocketed as much as 60 per cent on their first day of trading. The world’s biggest peer-to-peer lender floated in New York, and could kick-start a new tech boom – with British crowdfunding firms getting a big boost from the intense investor interest. [...]
Pensioners get help to find best annuity deals December 11, 2014 PENSIONERS are failing to shop around for the best annuities deal and so are missing out on income in their retirement, the City watchdog found in a report published yesterday. Annuities themselves could offer good value to consumers, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said, as long as they sought out a good deal. To rectify this [...]
London FinTech stars join Tech City UK’s Future Fifty scheme as booming digital finance sector steals the spotlight December 10, 2014 The capital's crown as the financial technology epicentre of the world will be reaffirmed today as seven of London’s rising FinTech stars will join the government-backed Future Fifty scheme. TransferWise, Go Cardless and Algomi are among the group of 12 companies joining Future Fifty – run by Tech City UK, part of UK Trade & [...]
It pays to think global – but diversification is no free lunch December 9, 2014 WE ALL know the logic – don’t put all your eggs in one basket, because diversification is the key to success. But so many investors still fall at this hurdle when it comes to investing globally. The first point to remember is that, when you’re invested in just one market or group of territories, you’re [...]
Canadian pension fund Ivanhoe Cambridge buys Deloitte’s London HQ Stonecutter Court for £112m December 8, 2014 Canada's second-largest pension fund has bought Deloitte’s City offices from Hines Global Reit for £112m as it looks to step up its exposure to the London office property market. Ivanhoe Cambridge, the real estate arm of Canada’s Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, said yesterday it has bought Stonecutter Court near Holborn. [...]
Restaurateur Des McDonald discusses the burger revolution, forests and what it means to have cooking in your blood December 7, 2014 Sitting in your own month-old restaurant would be extremely exciting for most people. It is for Des McDonald too, except this is one of six – and they’ve all opened within the last two years. His second branch of The Fish & Chip Shop is the latest, and it’s bringing the City what McDonald describes [...]
How government is opening its supply chain – to small business’s benefit December 7, 2014 If you’ve never considered government as a potential client for your business, think again. Government spends £230bn every year on products and services across all layers – from central and local government, to the police, NHS, and emergency services. This may not previously have appealed to the small business owner, as the perception has always [...]
Gimme 5: Christmas books for entrepreneurs December 7, 2014 Business Adventures by John Brooks Bill Gates’s all-time favourite business book, these twelve short stories narrate turning points for some of the world’s largest companies, providing salient lessons on money, ethics and the corporate world. From £10.13 (Open Road Media) Zero to One by Peter Thiel The visionary PayPal co-founder and venture capitalist explains [...]
