UK tech special: The rocky but unstoppable rise in startup valuations January 30, 2022 The accelerated growth of startup valuations has sparked debate around the world, particularly in the markets where this has been reflected in the most significant raises and the speediest unicorns. Despite ongoing pandemic uncertainty, a quarter of the UK’s 116 unicorn tech companies became unicorns during 2021. Investment climbed significantly, up to £26bn in 2021 [...]
Sales and productivity have jumped since move to four-day work week, says London tech firm January 25, 2022 A London-based tech company has seen a 30 per cent boost in sales since moving to a four-day work week, the agency told City A.M. Since the change to a four-day, 32 hour working week, implemented in October of last year, technology consultancy company THRYVE ahas also seen its productivity go up by 20 per [...]
Nearly 2 million people were killed by air pollution in just one year January 22, 2022 New research published this morning shows that air pollution killed just over 1.8m people in 2019 alone. The study into fine particulate matter concentrations and the mortality rate in cities found that approximately 86 per cent (2.5 billion people) of urban inhabitants lived in areas that exceeded the World Health Organisation’s 2005 air quality guidelines. [...]
Exclusive: Most investors could not care less about ESG and sustainability January 20, 2022 With COP26 a few months behind us, more than half of UK investors admit sustainable investing is not a priority for them, with just under 45 per cent saying it is important and it is a priority in their investment portfolio. In fact, less than a third of British investors say COP26 and the UK [...]
Not so green after all: Hardly any Brit plans to stick to climate goals in 2022 January 17, 2022 Less than one in ten people in the UK are likely to keep resolutions around making positive climate decisions in 2022, according to new research shared with City A.M. today. Even fewer consumers said they are aspiring to live more sustainably this year, favouring resolutions around becoming healthier and fitter instead, according to the founder [...]
CEOs zoom in on ESG and climate change as world enters third pandemic year January 11, 2022 Climate risks dominate global concerns as the world enters the third year of the pandemic, according to a new World Economic Forum report shared with City A.M. today. The Global Risks Report 2022 sets out that while the top long-term risks relate to climate, the top shorter-term global concerns include societal divides, livelihood crises and [...]
Retail investors flock to sustainability firms January 10, 2022 Retail investors have flocked to ‘cleantech’ and sustainability firms as they look to capitalise on a wave of new entrants to the sector.
Tech Special: The jobs, sectors and countries most at risk of automation and robotics in 2022 January 5, 2022 Digital change and automation are driving enormous productivity gains in the world of work. However, the rapid changes mean many individuals, businesses and even entire nations will be hugely impacted by automation and tech, with some roles and jobs to be replaced by robots altogether. Many of the industries that are most at risk of [...]
Priti Patel’s new year resolutions: Home Secretary promises ‘relentless’ crackdown on eco-protesters, immigrants and asylum claims January 4, 2022 Home Secretary Priti Patel has promised to be ‘relentless’ this year as she intends to “crack down” on eco-protesters and end the “legal merry-go-round” of “spurious” asylum seeker claims in 2022. In a new year message posted on social media, Priti Patel said she was proud of many things the Government had achieved in 2021, [...]
Annual spending on ethical products soars past £100bn for first time December 31, 2021 British shoppers spent more than £100bn on ethical products and investments last year, as the twin crises of the pandemic and climate change prompted significant lifestyle changes. Plant-based food, and products, and secondhand clothes, furniture and even cars saw demand surge in the last year with ethical spending rising to £122bn in 2020 – up [...]