Give businesses a tax-break to encourage investment, CBI tells Chancellor ahead of Budget October 9, 2018 Philip Hammond is under growing pressure to hand businesses a tax-break in the upcoming Budget to boost competitiveness. The CBI today echoed calls from the British Chamber of Commerce to increase the amount firms can invest without being taxed. The Annual Investment Allowance currently stands at £200,000 a year, but the CBI is calling for [...]
London VC firm Mosaic Ventures closes $150m second fund for startups October 8, 2018 London-based venture capital (VC) firm Mosaic Ventures has today announced the close of its second fund, Mosaic II, at $150m (£115m) for startups across the capital and beyond. Intending to cut cheques at series A-stage for between $3m and $7m, Mosaic Ventures has previously backed the likes of London automated mortgage broker Habito, crypto wallet Blockchain and period-tracking app [...]
Former top strategic adviser joins firm aiming to ‘open up’ emerging markets to British businesses October 8, 2018 Two former top strategic advisers have joined a newly-launched business intelligence firm, which will help British groups in “opening up” emerging markets to business. CTD Advisors, which launched in London last Monday, will offer advice to firms targeting countries such as India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria, using experts from a variety of fields. Read more: [...]
Jaguar Land Rover to shut Solihull factory for two weeks amid trade tensions and weak China demand October 8, 2018 Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is set to shut down its Solihull plant for two weeks, blaming economic uncertainty and dampened demand for its cars in China. Staff will be sent home on full pay for a fortnight from 22 October as the British car manufacturer stops producing any vehicles, as it tries to match supply to [...]
Downing Street plays down EU rhetoric on a Brexit deal being close October 8, 2018 Downing Street today called for actions, not words from the EU as the clock ticks down on the Brexit talks. Speaking ahead of a crunch summit in Brussels next week, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said there are still "big issues" to be worked out before a deal can be agreed between the UK and [...]
Brand Boris: Johnson needs to shed his disrupter image if he wants to become a leader October 8, 2018 There was a particularly pithy Tweet doing the rounds just after the Conservative party conference last week: “in summary: Boris’s speech not good enough for him to take over; May’s not bad enough to be kicked out”. So, was Boris Johnson really just one speech away from leadership? Possibly. Because Boris, just like Donald Trump, “has [...]
Both sides would lose out from a no-deal Brexit October 8, 2018 As MPs return to the House of Commons this week, a plethora of pressing issues will have built up during party conference season. One topic, of course, that will inevitably continue to dominate the political landscape over the coming weeks and months is Brexit. Negotiations are entering a critical phase, with less than six months [...]
Japan would welcome Britain into the Trans-Pacific Partnership after Brexit October 8, 2018 Japan would welcome the UK into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) “with open arms” once it leaves the EU, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said. The leader said Britain would be welcomed into the trade deal involving 11 Pacific countries, including Japan, Malaysia, Canada, Mexico and Australia, but urged Prime Minister Theresa May’s government to avoid [...]
London comes top in overseas investment ranking as Asian demand flourishes October 8, 2018 London has kept its crown as the world’s most popular city for global real estate investment, according to a new report that sheds light on the burgeoning overseas demand for commercial property in the capital. Buoyed by an influx of Asian money, London has now held its position as the top city for cross-border investment [...]
Theresa May urges Labour voters to ‘look beyond’ party labels and back her plan for post-Brexit Britain October 7, 2018 Theresa May has launched a bid to woo disgruntled Labour voters, asking them to "look at her party afresh" and "beyond party labels". Writing in the Observer yesterday, May said she wanted the Conservatives to be a party "for the whole country" and that the Tories were capable of going beyond criticising the opposition. "To [...]