A four-day week would boost efficiency, productivity, health and wellbeing April 23, 2019 With the Easter bank holidays behind us and more to come in May, we are enjoying a season of four-day weeks. But walk through any BizSpace business centre on a Friday, and you could be forgiven for thinking that every week is a four-day week. Many of our customers, most of whom work for themselves [...]
Government in email gaffe amid plans for new pornography age checks April 17, 2019 The government was embroiled in a data breach blunder today hours after setting out its own privacy laws over pornography age verification checks. Culture minister Margot James insisted privacy around porn checks will be secure despite a press release regarding the new laws exposing hundreds of email addresses when it was sent out to journalists [...]
You can’t blame Brexit for the British car industry’s woes April 15, 2019 Quizzed by Nick Hewer on Honda’s decision to close its Swindon plant earlier this month on BBC radio, I suggested that blaming Brexit for the demise of the Japanese auto makers factory with the loss of 3,500 jobs was not the whole story. Certainly, Brexit plays havoc with the vehicle industry’s sophisticated just-in-time supply chain. [...]
CBI chief calls for second Brexit referendum if MPs can’t ‘get their act together’ April 11, 2019 Another EU referendum should be held if MPs are unable to “get their act together” and sign off a Brexit deal, the president of the CBI has insisted. Speaking after the EU granted a second delay to the UK’s withdrawal from the organisation, John Allan said going back to the public could well be the [...]
Sports Direct accuses Debenhams administrators of conflict of interest April 10, 2019 Sports Direct doubled down on its calls for the administration of Debenhams to be reversed this afternoon, as it mulls potential legal action following Mike Ashley’s failed bid to take control of the retail chain. Lawyers from the sportswear retailer said today that the appointment of administrators and the subsequent pre-pack administration only happened because Ashley’s own [...]
After Brexit, will Britain remain a land of opportunity? Apprentice star Mark Wright shares his views on startups and the economy April 9, 2019 Winning a reality TV show isn’t normally considered a recipe for success. The stars of such programmes usually end up plastered across the tabloids, followed by performing in a Christmas pantomime somewhere in rural England. But the BBC’s The Apprentice is an altogether different beast. With the backing of business mogul Lord Alan Sugar, the [...]
Theresa May to travel to Paris and Berlin for critical Brexit talks April 8, 2019 Theresa May will head to Berlin and Paris on Tuesday in an eleventh hour bid to convince EU leaders to grant another delay to Brexit. The Prime Minister will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron just a day before a crunch Brexit summit in Brussels. The EU will use that [...]
Google scraps AI ethics board after just a week amid controversy over board member April 5, 2019 Google has scrapped its AI ethics board only a week after forming it following a controversy over its choice of board members. The tech giant last week unveiled its newly-formed Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC) to oversee the ethical development and use of its AI research and products. Read more: Here's how much Google [...]
MPs slam BBC over ‘chaotic’ handling of freelance presenter tax system April 5, 2019 MPs have launched a scathing attack on the BBC over a “muddled and chaotic” approach to freelance workers that left hundreds of presenters liable to tax investigations. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last year launched an inquiry after it emerged the complex employment status of the broadcaster’s freelancers could mean tax laws were being broken. [...]
Google UK employees earned £226,000 on average last year April 3, 2019 Staff at Google’s UK offices earned an average of £226,000 last year after the firm paid out more than £340m through its share scheme. The tech firm paid £829m to its employees in the year to the end of June, up from £657m the previous year. The company, which currently has three main offices in [...]