Filled with HS2 fever? No? Then let’s think up something better August 27, 2019 HS2, the unloved child of British infrastructure, looks like a goner. And while those into trains might spot that there is a review underway, there can be little doubt that this in itself sends a terminal signal to a project that once seemed to offer a glimpse of what a brave new British future might [...]
He might not be best friends with the press, but the Prime Minister is no Putin August 27, 2019 Is Boris Johnson the new Vladimir Putin? That’s what Dorothy Byrne, head of news for Channel 4, suggested at the Edinburgh Festival last week. Byrne said that Boris Johnson was “a known liar”, and accused him of aping not only Donald Trump, but the Russian President in his dealings with the press. A head of [...]
Time to scrap our archaic and misguided Sunday trading laws August 27, 2019 The Sunday Trading Act 1994 came into force 25 years ago yesterday, allowing shops to open on Sundays, but restricting opening times of stores over 3,000 square feet to six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm. This compromise followed the defeat of the Shops Bill 1986 – Margaret Thatcher’s only defeat in the House of [...]
Management lessons in kindness from TV icon Mister Rogers August 27, 2019 Say the name Mister Rogers to a certain generation of Americans, and they will likely go misty-eyed and start humming the same tune. Fred Rogers hosted a US children’s television programme called Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood that ran from 1968 all the way to 2001. The show was revered for its host’s gentle nature and the [...]
Number of people employed by Aim-listed businesses increases 76 per cent over five years August 27, 2019 The number of people employed by companies listed on London’s junior Aim market has increased 76 per cent over the last five years, to reach almost 390,000 people. Revenues of Aim-listed businesses have also grown significantly, with an 86 per cent increase over five years, bringing total revenues to £58bn, according to accountancy firm BDO. [...]
Boardroom survey finds fears over UK economy August 27, 2019 A majority of business boardrooms are predicting a downturn in the UK economy over the coming year, as Brexit uncertainty and trade war troubles take a toll on corporate confidence. Almost 70 per cent of respondents from FTSE 350 companies believe that the UK economy will decline in the next 12 months, improving from 81 [...]
City Moves for 27 August – Who’s switching jobs at Quadrant, BNP Paribas Real Estate and Dun & Bradstreet? August 27, 2019 Today’s City Moves includes Quadrant, BNP Paribas Real Estate and Dun & Bradstreet. Quadrant Quadrant, the UK real estate asset management and development company, has appointed Duncan Reader as a partner. He specialises in the retail sector and will focus on planning, development, asset management, leasing and disposals. He joins from Orchard Street Investment Management, [...]
Tech founders warn UK at risk of losing global fintech crown August 27, 2019 Tech founders have warned that the UK is at risk of losing its position as the global fintech leader. Sector leaders urged the government to “not be complacent” about the country’s fintech crown, as a new survey revealed that founders were concerned about access to talent and capital and the potential impact of Brexit. Read [...]
Lane Clark and Peacock plots takeover of KPMG pensions arm August 26, 2019 Lane Clark and Peacock (LCP), one of the UK’s largest independent financial consultancy firms, is preparing a £200m takeover of KPMG’s pensions advisory arm. The company, which is backed by buyout firm Inflexion, is among a small group of bidders that have made it through to the second round of the auction, Sky News reported. [...]
Record quake reignites calls for fracking ban August 26, 2019 Ministers faced renewed calls to ban fracking today as a record-breaking earthquake shook homes in Blackpool just weeks after the government said it may review limits which the industry says are stifling business. A 2.9 magnitude quake by Cuadrilla’s Blackpool site woke up locals enjoying a bank-holiday lie-in. Read more: Record-breaking 2.9 earthquake measured at [...]