Government rolls out new cybersecurity laws for smart devices January 27, 2020 The government today unveiled new laws to help protect millions of internet-connected household devices from the threat of cyber attacks. The measures mean all consumer smart devices sold in the UK will have to adhere to three security requirements. Under the new legislation, all internet-connected device passwords must be unique, with users unable to reset [...]
Flybe: Ministers draft in restructuring advisers on rescue loan talks amid ‘state aid’ row January 27, 2020 Ministers have brought in advisers to help negotiate a government loan to struggling regional airline Flybe, despite insisting the rescue deal will not constitute state aid. Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has been tasked with advising the Department for Transport (DfT) in assessing the basis for a commercial loan, according to Sky News. The company, a [...]
Workplaces urged to crack down on ‘laddish’ football chat January 27, 2020 Companies should crack down on workplace chat about football and cricket amid fears it excludes women, a top management body has warned. Ann Francke, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, said sporting banter could divide offices and pave the way for more laddish behaviour. “A lot of women, in particular, feel left out,” she [...]
Philip Hammond joins fintech startup Oaknorth as adviser January 27, 2020 Former chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has joined small business lender Oaknorth as an adviser. Hammond will work with clients of the fintech startup and “senior policymakers around the world” on the issue of small and medium-sized firms’ access to loans. The ex-Treasury boss said: “I am delighted to be joining Oaknorth’s advisory board [...]
UK-listed tech recruiter S Three says profit jumped 20 per cent in 2019 January 27, 2020 London-listed recruiter S Three reported a 20 per cent increase in pre-tax profit today, driven by strong international growth. The recruiter, which focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) roles, said revenue grew nearly seven per cent to £1.3bn. Reported profit before tax was up 20 per cent in the year to 30 November [...]
Almost 10,000 retail jobs lost in first three weeks of 2020 January 27, 2020 Almost 10,000 retail jobs have already been lost in the first three weeks of 2020, following a string of store closures and restructurings. New research published today showed that 9,940 jobs have been cut following store closures at high street chains. Supermarkets including Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have also announced plans to axe back office and [...]
Varadkar: The EU has the upper hand in Brexit trade talks January 27, 2020 Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar feels the EU will have an advantage in the upcoming trade deal talks between the UK and the bloc. Varadkar used a sports analogy to explain the EU has a “stronger team” than Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s UK, due to its larger population and market size. The Irish PM is [...]
Asian markets in the red as coronavirus fears rise January 27, 2020 Asian stock markets fell overnight as the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in China rose to 81 and fears mounted that it could soon cause fatalities elsewhere. Japan’s Nikkei index dropped two per cent, Indonesia’s Jakarta composite index fell 1.5 per cent and India’s S&P BSE Sensex fell 0.5 per cent. The growing death [...]
Lender Amigo kickstarts formal sales process January 27, 2020 Lender Amigo today launched a strategic review and opened itself to offers as its founder signalled he wants to sell on his majority stake in the struggling company. All or part of Amigo’s business could be sold after founder James Benamor’s Richmond Group said it was open to divesting its stake of 60.66 per cent. [...]
City Moves for 27 January – Who’s switching jobs at CMS, the FCA and Shoosmiths? January 27, 2020 Today’s City Moves includes CMS, the FCA and Shoosmiths CMS Global law firm CMS has announced the re-election of Penelope Warne as senior partner of CMS’s UK arm following a vote by the firm’s partnership. This will be Penelope’s second term, effective for four years from 1 May 2020. Penelope became the firm’s first woman [...]