Debate: Could financial services firms be better off basing themselves outside of London? April 9, 2019 Could financial services firms be better off basing themselves outside of the capital? Yes – Andy Mielczarek is chief executive at Chetwood Financial. Being based outside of London has such a raft of incentives that it seems like a no-brainer to set up outside of the capital. The overwhelming difference is operating costs. As we’re [...]
Technology, leadership, and change – business leaders must prepare for their next act April 9, 2019 "Everything flows, nothing stands still” (Heraclitus, 501 BC). Quite a lot has changed in 2,500 years, but that quote still rings true. We are surrounded by a flow of constant and accelerated change. And in such times of change, the art of decision-making is more significant than ever. While this added weight of responsibility might [...]
The government must pause for thought before pushing ahead with “online harms” regulations April 8, 2019 A common view of the world goes thus – individuals and businesses do whatever they can to pursue their own self-interest, and must be kept in check by governments. As certain companies get bigger and bigger, greater regulations are required. While not entirely without merit, this dichotomous standpoint is excessively blunt and can result in [...]
The burden of business rates falls unfairly on the West End April 4, 2019 This week, UK retailers received one of their biggest tax bills of the year. The consequences of the 2017 revaluation of business rates will again be felt, with a further hike of nearly 50 per cent for some companies. Retailers in London’s West End and Mayfair will once again be hardest hit, paying the lion’s [...]
European Parliament passes controversial EU Copyright Directive March 26, 2019 The European Parliament has voted for a controversial copyright directive that critics claim could harm the future of the internet. Read more: EU agrees draft copyright reform in blow to tech giants The Copyright Directive passed today with 348 MEP votes, compared to 278 voting against it. The law includes ill-received elements such as making [...]
Bitcoin critic warns central banks ‘risk financial stability’ by issuing digital currencies March 22, 2019 A prominent bitcoin critic has warned central banks against issuing their own digital currencies. Read more: JP Morgan launches its own cryptocurrency Augustin Carstens claimed central banks issuing digital tokens would need to take on customer-facing tasks that would result in “huge operational consequences for central banks in implementing monetary policy and implications for the stability [...]
Bank for International Settlements warns central banks over risk posed by cryptocurrency exposure March 13, 2019 The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has warned banks that cryptocurrencies could pose a risk to financial stability. The BIS Basel Committee, which sets regulatory standards for central banks, said the growth of crypto asset trading platforms and new financial products could increase the risks faced by lenders. Read more: Most UK consumers unable to [...]
Serious Pig founder George Rice wants to pair craft beer with better snacks in British pubs March 4, 2019 The craft beer scene is big business. Hundreds of challenger brands have emerged over the past decade or more to take a bite – well, sip – out of the market share of the mainstream breweries. Some craft beer-makers have become established names, such as controversial Scottish brand BrewDog, while others have been snapped up [...]
Comrade Corbyn’s statist policies would tank the British economy February 28, 2019 The journalist Tom Bower has a new book: Dangerous Hero – Corbyn’s Ruthless Plot for Power. With all the current headlines about the Labour leader centring around his U-turn on a second referendum and the worsening crisis of antisemitism in his party, Bower’s biography is a timely reminder of Corbyn’s economic ideology. The leader of [...]
EU-wide digital services tax could make system worse, warns pan-European think-tanks February 19, 2019 An EU-wide digital services levy would distort the bloc’s tax system and introduce extra bureaucracy, a pan-European group of think-tanks has warned. A report by the European Policy Information Center [CORR] – made up of organisations from nine European countries including the UK’s Institute of Economic Affairs – raised concerns that in the drive to [...]