British firms order Scania trucks January 12, 2014 Scania has received an order for 1,500 trucks from British transport companies Eddie Stobart and A.W. Jenkinson Forest Products, the Swedish truck maker said yesterday. The order, Scania’s biggest in Britain ever, will be filled over two years and follows a new joint-procurement agreement between Scania and the two companies, Scania said in a statement. [...]
Accenture picked for Obamacare January 12, 2014 Accenture has been chosen to replace CGI Federal as the lead contractor for the Obamacare enrolment website, which failed to work when it launched in October for millions of Americans shopping for health insurance, the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced over the weekend.
Firms say skills gap keeping EU youth workless January 12, 2014 DESPITE crushing levels of youth unemployment, many European businesses say they struggle to find appropriately skilled young workers for vacant places, raising questions about educational systems in the EU. A report released today by management firm McKinsey shows that some of the countries with the most significant youth unemployment crises also have major skill shortages [...]
Business records top quarter for growth in 12 years as 2013 ends January 12, 2014 THE LAST quarter of 2013 saw the biggest jump in business activity recorded in over a decade, as a major survey of firms suggested that the economic climate has warmed across the country. Lloyds Bank’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for England and Wales hit 60 in December, with a score over 50 indicating an improvement [...]
Value of trading in Aim shares up 30 per cent after new rules January 12, 2014 THE VALUE of investors’ trading in Aim stocks has shot up nearly 30 per cent since August, after the shares became eligible for inclusion in Isas. Since August 2013, when the change occurred, the average daily value traded in Aim stocks has risen 29 per cent to £127.6m, with a high of £148.4m in October, [...]
No pay rise for two thirds of staff last year January 12, 2014 TWO THIRDS of workers did not see a salary increase during 2013, with little growth in pay following the decent economic growth during the second half of the year. Figures published by careers website Reed today add to the mounting evidence that workers are not yet feeling the effect of the recovery in their pay [...]
HS2 firm spent £300m on rail link since 2011 January 12, 2014 THE COST of building HS2, the new high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham, could spiral out of control, a campaign group has warned. The Taxpayers’ Alliance has published figures showing that HS2 Ltd, the publically-funded company set up to develop the rail link, has spent £300m since January 2011. Of this figure, over £1m [...]
High performance sports cars to dominate 2014 Detroit auto show January 12, 2014 SO-CALLED green cars — electric vehicles, hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells — are set to be heavily overshadowed at this week’s Detroit show by sports cars, in a broad spectrum of sizes, shapes and prices, from Ford’s redesigned 2015 Mustang to Kia Motors’ zippy GT4 Stinger concept. The annual event, officially called the North American [...]
Npower unveils new bills to help customers cut their energy costs January 12, 2014 NPOWER today unveiled a new, simplified energy bill, amid claims that energy companies make it too complicated for customers looking to reduce costs. The big six supplier embarked on a bill design makeover at the end of last year in response to customer feedback. The new format uses clearer language and contains information on energy [...]
A recovery built on bricks and mortar January 12, 2014 Bovis chief executive David Ritchie tells Elizabeth Fournier why he’s not concerned about a new UK housing bubble THE LAST 12 months have been good ones for Britain’s housebuilders. After a financial crisis that saw billions wiped off the sector as credit dried up and house prices crashed, 2013 saw a return to form as [...]
