The skills shortage and access to funding is holding back the UK’s entrepreneurs December 14, 2015 The UK's entrepreneurs are being held back by a lack of financing and the skills shortage. Over two-fifths, 42 per cent, of start-up businesses surveyed by the Institute of Directors’ 99 network said they struggled to hire people with the right skills, and 39 per cent said they had difficulty accessing financing, which was preventing the [...]
Transport for London’s Uber clampdown slammed by London First December 14, 2015 Transport for London’s (TfL) proposals to crackdown on Uber were dealt another blow today as business group London First labelled them “utterly flawed”, with just over a week to go before a critical consultation closes. The group says it “strongly opposes” suggestions that operators must not show vehicles being available for immediate hire, as well [...]
High street suffers Black Friday blues as footfall slumps in November December 14, 2015 UK high streets suffered a massive slump in footfall in November as shoppers abandoned the high street in favour of bagging a Black Friday bargain online. The number of visitors making shopping trips to their local high streets, retail parks and shopping centres fell by 2.1 per cent year-on-year. This was significantly below the 0.2 per cent fall [...]
Meet Peter Whittle, the Brexiteer bidding to win City Hall December 14, 2015 An openly gay arts enthusiast who has been a television producer, film critic and, most recently, director of the New Culture Forum think tank, Peter Whittle is often asked why he decided to become a Ukip politician. When he answers, Whittle usually has just two words: Nigel Farage. Speaking to City A.M. last week, Whittle says [...]
Fed revs up for historic lift in US interest rates – New York Report December 13, 2015 Stock market investors are ready for the first US Federal Reserve interest rate hike in nearly a decade this week, but they may not be fully prepared for all of the nuanced remarks likely to accompany that announcement. If the Fed lays out an aggressive schedule of future rate increases, stock markets could become very [...]
Digital Single Market: The impact for marketers December 13, 2015 The European Commission’s Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy aims to remove cross-border regulation, making it easier for digital businesses to operate across Europe. The EU estimates that it could add €415bn to GDP and create 3.8m extra jobs. The Commission’s latest proposals, released last week, cover copyright and digital contracts, and seek to make it easier [...]
France election 2015: Exit polls show Marine Le Pen’s far-right Front National fails to win a single region December 13, 2015 France’s far-right party Front National has failed to win a single region in the second round of regional elections held in the country today in a surprise u-turn. The first round of the vote showed the party, led by Marine Le Pen, taking the lead in several regions, with voters flocking to it in the [...]
US Federal Reserve to hike rates amid bond market jitters December 13, 2015 The US central bank is widely expected to lift interest rates from record lows this week, marking the Federal Reserve’s first move upward since rates were slashed in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Yet while the economy is strong overall, investors will be keeping a nervous eye on bond markets after junk bonds – [...]
Which City firm has the best stash? Gracechurch ranks the Square Mile’s corporate umbrellas December 13, 2015 AS THE gale-force winds around EC3’s obnoxiously tall skyscrapers have started to resemble something of a sadistic financial round of “Gladiator”, insurers at Gracechurch have started asking some important questions. Which City institution has the sturdiest branded umbrella? Which has the most stylish? More importantly, which is the most coveted? According to the firm’s annual [...]