The rate of change: Oliver’s Simon Martin on speed, Starbucks and the in-house model February 29, 2016 Whether it’s time to market or a reactive social campaign, speed is of the essence in business today. But while a catalyst remains unchanged after accelerating a chemical reaction, marketing agencies must transform to meet the evolving needs of their clients. “We created all the content around educating Starbucks customers about pre-ordering their drinks,” says Simon [...]
Being seen: Reducing the risks around viewability February 29, 2016 Last month, it was announced that online ad fraud is expected to cost brands $7.2bn globally in 2016, because of an infiltration of botnets, networks of computers infected with malicious software. There is a very real risk that ads are not being seen and media spend is being wasted. What differentiates smart marketers from the rest [...]
HMRC raises an extra £3.5bn from small businesses for underpayment of VAT, says tax investigation insurance company PfP February 29, 2016 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has raised an additional £3.5bn in the last year through inquiries into the under-payment of VAT by small businesses, tax investigation insurance company PfP said today. Increased VAT revenue accounted for 45% of the additional tax take in 2014/15 from investigation by HMRC’s local compliance teams, according to PfP. The [...]
CoalFace Capital’s Declan McEvoy on clichés, robo-advisers, and pink hair February 29, 2016 Plenty of people must have sat in their banking job thinking about what could be done better and wondering if they should just pack it all in and start their own business. Declan McEvoy, founder of innovative trading platform CoalFace Capital, first realised he wanted to be this person back in 1999, while doing his [...]
How business can get around the digital skills crisis February 29, 2016 Make no mistake, digital is more than just the word du jour; it’s helping companies to transform their businesses. But the demand for digital talent is causing yet another skills crisis. This skills gap is a complicated one as there are many factors at play, from education failing to keep pace with commercial need, through [...]
Budget 2016: Economists warn of tough times ahead for the British consumer February 29, 2016 British households will have to rein in their spending next year as inflation creeps back up and a fresh round of austerity bites, economic forecasters are warning today. The EY Item Club, which uses Treasury models to make its forecasts, said consumers will enjoy “one last hurrah” this year while inflation remains below one per [...]
EU referendum: Six in 10 small business owners would vote for the UK to stay in the EU, while 17 per cent back Brexit according to new Moore Stephens pol February 29, 2016 Six in 10 owners of small and medium-sized businesses in Britain would vote to stay in the European Union, according to a new poll out today from a leading accountancy group. Moore Stephens polled nearly 500 owner-managed businesses in Britain, across multiple sectors, finding that just 17 per cent of so-called SMEs back Brexit. "Owner-managed businesses [...]
Budget 2016: Sir Charlie Bean’s report on national statistics should be published ahead of Osborne’s budget, according to the Treasury Select Committee February 29, 2016 An influential group of MPs have today raised red flags over the government's handling of official national statistics, ahead of the publication of a major review on the subject. Andrew Tyrie, the Conservative MP who chairs the Treasury Select Committee, has written to Sir Charlie Bean calling for a "shake up" of UK national statistics. [...]
London airport expansion: 1922 Committee chairman Graham Brady hits out at government over runway delay February 29, 2016 A leading backbencher MP is set to slam the government today over its move to delay a decision to build another runway in London and the southeast. Graham Brady, the Conservative MP who chairs the influential 1922 Committee, is expected to table a so-called Early Day Motion criticising the government over its indecision and urging ministers to deliver a [...]
Budget 2016: Federation of Small Businesses, EEF, British Chambers of Commerce all warn over chancellor George Osborne’s onslaught of business taxes February 29, 2016 Britain's biggest business groups are today calling on chancellor George Osborne to stop increasing taxes on industry at next month's Budget. In its Budget submission out today, the EEF said that Osborne needs to signal to businesses that they will not be the "thin end of an ever-thickening wedge". The EEF, which represents manufacturers, said a "raft [...]