Architect Daniel Libeskind on returning to Poland to reshape its skyline, NYC’s World Trade Center masterplan, and President-elect Trump November 23, 2016 To Daniel Libeskind, architecture is a political act. Every building he creates is intertwined with a sense of place, culture and national identity. “Every project deserves a sensitivity to history, tradition, to something that isn’t completely visible to the naked eye, in terms of the spirit of the place,” he tells me. “There is no [...]
Autumn Statement 2016: For all Hammond’s plans the OBR fears UK economic productivity could be weaker after Brexit November 23, 2016 In the Autumn Statement today chancellor Philip Hammond said no other major economy has such a gap between the productivity of its capital and its other cities. He also said the UK lags the US and Germany by a whopping 30 points in productivity. According to Hammond raising productivity is essential for the "high wage, high [...]
Here’s what UK tech thinks of the £400m promised for VC startup investment November 23, 2016 Startups are set for a boost from the chancellor's Autumn Statement, as Philip Hammond announced plans to plough £400m into venture capital. The funds will come via the British Business Bank and it's expected to unlock as much as £1bn for startups itching to scale up as it will encourage private investment. Of particular focus will [...]
Soho House has unveiled an online interiors business – we catch up with Jayne Demuro, the brains behind the project November 23, 2016 If you’re one of the 30,000 people currently on a waiting list for membership of Soho House, there may be an easier way to bask in the studied cool of its private members’ clubs. The worldwide hospitality brand launched an online retail business this summer that aims to ‘bring the House home’. Your home, specifically. [...]
All the places the Autumn Statement will hit your wallet November 23, 2016 The Autumn Statement was lighter on personal finance initiatives than it has traditionally been – but that doesn't mean it had nothing to offer. For pensioners, without a doubt the most important thing was that the pensions triple lock – which guarantees pensions will rise at least 2.5 per cent a year – has been [...]
Here are the winners and losers from today’s Autumn Statement November 23, 2016 It's been a rough day for the UK's economic forecasts, but the revelations from chancellor Philip Hammond's first Autumn Statement weren't all bad. Here are some of the biggest winners and losers from the speech: Winners Companies will be cheering after Hammond confirmed that he will be cutting corporation tax to 17 per cent by 2020. [...]
It’s official: The pound’s fall is set to raise inflation way above target in the next few years November 23, 2016 The UK’s rate of inflation will grow faster than previously predicted, according to new government forecasts. The Consumer Price Index (CPI),the main measure of UK inflation, will rise to 2.3 per cent in 2017, according to new figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility. The figures were released today alongside chancellor Philip Hammond’s first Autumn [...]
Autumn Statement TL;DR? Here’s our at-a-glance guide November 23, 2016 Chancellor Philip Hammond spoke for around an hour while delivering today's Autumn Statement. If you don't have time for that, here's our at-a-glance overview of the announcements you need to know: Economics, public spending and politics The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast for growth increased to 2.1 per cent, up from two per cent, for 2016, but [...]