Cyber attacks cost European businesses over €300bn as insurance uptake lags September 24, 2025 Almost half of businesses in four of the largest European economies reported at least one cyber attack over the last five years, resulting in costs exceeding €300bn (£261bn). According to a new report by British insurance broker Howden, the cyber attacks on businesses in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain over the past five years equated [...]
Fewer than 1 in 5 senior finance roles held by women September 22, 2025 Women make up less than 20 per cent of senior leadership roles at UK financial services businesses, highlighting the persistent gender gap at the top of the industry. According to new data by employment law firm Fox & Partners, out of the 66,860 senior executives in UK financial services businesses, only 12,430 are held by [...]
Class action boom hampers Britain’s economic expansion September 18, 2025 The surge in cases could cost the UK economy up to £18bn, diverting resources away from innovation and undermining growth, according to a new Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) report. A report, authored by lawyer Stephen Dnes, warns that the UK’s competition class action system has seen an explosion of speculative lawsuits, with around one [...]
Enough slogans, Labour must walk the walk on growth September 11, 2025 The government’s promises of economic growth will fail unless it moves beyond slogans and reshuffles to implement substantive structural reforms in tax, planning and infrastructure to provide the certainty and stability needed to attract business investment, says John Caudwell Our Prime Minister tells us, once again, that his government is focused on growth. The reshuffle [...]
Has the legal market pulled the brakes on the NQ pay war? September 4, 2025 ‘City lawyers are the new bankers‘. This became a common refrain in the legal market as pay wars ramped up. However, the sentiment within the market suggests that the tide may be changing. Over the past several years, the pay war over newly qualified (NQ) lawyers has been a major talking point in the market, [...]
Geopolitical instability hits the bottom line as businesses suffer investment losses September 3, 2025 Businesses have suffered losses in international projects or investments due to geopolitical and economic risks, with interest in political risk insurance (PRI) soaring as a result. According to a new report by insurer Howden, over half of the companies surveyed, comprising around 500 senior risk and treasury function decision-makers, reported suffering a political loss to [...]
Businesses have one defence amid ‘seismic shift’ in UK fraud law September 1, 2025 Fraud laws have received a major shake up and businesses have been sent a stark warning to be weary of the “hidden danger”. New failure to prevent fraud offence, which came into effect today, mean firms could face prosecution from fraud committed by employees – even if management was unaware of it. Large firms will [...]
Big Brother: Can your employer monitor your whereabouts? September 1, 2025 As businesses grapple with the current economic challenges, the support measures previously offered to employees during the pandemic are being tightened. However, as companies adopt more stringent monitoring practices, the question arises: where is the line drawn between necessary oversight and the invasion of employee privacy? Headlines have been lighting up over the last year [...]
Large firms liable for fraud happening under their watch under new UK laws September 1, 2025 Businesses could be prosecuted if they profit from fraud committed by one of their employees even if managers do not know about it, under new UK laws. The new “failure to prevent fraud” offence, which came into effect on Monday, holds large firms to account over their internal anti-fraud measures. It says that businesses can [...]
UK businesses set to face tougher compliance over fraud August 26, 2025 British businesses need to prepare for a “sea change” as the new powers to tackle fraud come into effect next Monday. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) director Nick Ephgrave told City AM last year that time was running short for businesses “to get their house in order” ahead of its new powers. From 1 September, [...]