UK banks’ bonus pools have shrunk five per cent over the last year, but bosses’ handouts are on the rise February 26, 2017 Bonus pools at the UK's big five banks have shrunk five per cent in the last year, but handouts to bosses have almost doubled in the same space of time. The total bonus pool for HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, RBS, Standard Chartered and Barclays fell to around £5.6bn for 2016, compared with around £5.9bn in [...]
Uber takes on TfL in High Court over English language requirements February 26, 2017 The car-booking firm Uber joins forces with three of its drivers this week to launch a High Court challenge to English language tests for minicab drivers. Under the proposals, put forward by Transport for London (TfL), private-hire drivers without UK qualifications will have to take a two-hour test to demonstrate their English language skills. Yet [...]
Is the Home Office considering plans to hand new visa powers to an independent body after Brexit? February 26, 2017 The Home Office is reportedly considering handing new powers to an independent migration body to issue visas on a sector-by-sector basis. The Sunday Times reports that ministers are evaluating a plan to grant the Migration Advisory Committee powers to decide how many visas need to be issued for workers in key sectors after Brexit. The [...]
Samsung just launched an iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface rival at MWC 2017 as we wait for the Galaxy S8 February 26, 2017 Samsung is taking on Apple and Microsoft in the premium tablet stakes, unveiling a wannabe laptop replacement – the Galaxy Book. Vying for a slice of a market dominated by the iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface, the device is a full PC running Windows 10 and comes with a keyboard and stylus. The announcement, along with an updated [...]
ITV expected to blame Brexit for dip in advertising sales February 26, 2017 ITV is expected to cite the Brexit vote as the cause for its first decline in advertising sales since the financial crisis. The broadcaster will unveil a drop of around 7 percent in advertising sales when it publishes full-year results on Wednesday, The Sunday Times reported yesterday. The first advertising decline since 2009 will be [...]
Primark import costs expected to hit sales margins February 26, 2017 Primark's tightening margins could cause concern for its owner, Associated British Foods (ABF) and shareholders next week when the company releases its next trading update. Import costs have risen for the clothing retailer since the pound weakened, with 3 in every 4 of Primark's purchase invoices being billed in US dollars. Yet the budget brand [...]
Alibaba and a Californian school set to make millions from Snap’s IPO February 26, 2017 Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and a Californian school stand to make millions of dollars from Snap's IPO this week. In what will be one of the tech industry's biggest floats to date, social media giant Snap is set to make its Wall Street debut this week with hopes to raise $3bn (£2.41bn). Snap, the company [...]
The MoD has been failing to pay suppliers on time, after installing new systems to do just that February 26, 2017 Ministry of Defence officials have been left red-faced after the implementation of a new system designed to make sure that suppliers are paid on time left some firms missing out for up to three months. The MoD launched the new system to make business with the department more efficient as part of a cross government bid to [...]
Labour has invited industry groups for an emergency summit on business rates tomorrow February 26, 2017 Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has convened an emergency roundtable on business rates tomorrow in a bid to increase the pressure on the government to implement reforms. McDonnell will lead the summit alongside newly appointed shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, meeting with groups including the Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses and the British Chamber of Commerce [...]
The Nokia 3310 just got a major makeover – and it has Snake February 26, 2017 After less than furtive talks of a return of the 3310, perhaps Nokia’s most classic phone – and it turns out, the most-memed on social media – it has actually happened. The early noughties staple has been re-imagined by HMD, the Finnish firm which now creates Nokia brand phones under license. And the 3310 brings [...]