Complaints to financial services firms dropped in second half of 2015 March 30, 2016 People were much happier with their financial products in the latter half of last year, or, at the very least, they were quieter about any problems they had. The number of complaints to financial services firms inched down in the last six months of 2015, mainly driven by a drop in grievances over savings accounts, figures [...]
UK’s first full-service insurance provider tailored towards LGBT community launches March 30, 2016 Emerald Life has today launched as the first full-service insurance provider aimed at the LGBT community. Shunning one-size-fits-all service models, Emerald Life is launching insurance products for home, term life, wedding and pets, with travel to follow shortly, tailored towards the LGBT community's particular needs. In particular, the home and wedding insurance packages will offer legal [...]
HM Revenue & Customs continues quest to develop digital presence by ditching IT contract that cost it £10bn March 30, 2016 The UK's tax authority made another move in its mission to go fully digital today by dropping an IT contract worth £10bn. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has agreed a phased exit from a contract with IT suppliers Aspire in favour of seeking services from a wider range of companies from next month onwards. By [...]
If you’re a higher earner, you’ll likely only retire on two-thirds of the pensions income you think you will March 30, 2016 Here's a midweek magic trick for you if you're earning over £50,000: Take the amount you think you're going to be raking in every year of your retirement from your private pension, then divide it by three and times it by two. Ta-da! There's the amount you're actually more likely to receive (we didn't say it [...]
National Living Wage may motivate employees but here’s what it will do to productivity March 30, 2016 While the majority of businesses support the sentiment of National Living Wage (NLW), many are doubting it will boost productivity in the office, despite employees saying the pay rise will make them more motivated. According to a study released today by Close Brothers, 50 per cent of SME owners and managers it surveyed have their doubts that [...]
Personal Group share price up as preliminary results for year ended December 2015 show improved revenues and profits March 30, 2016 Share price in Personal Group rose this morning after the company revealed that both its profits and revenues had grown in its results for the year ended December 2015. The company, which provides a range of employee benefit, insurance and financial services, announced that its profits before tax had grown to £10.4m, up 14 per [...]
National Living Wage: One in three workers in wage hotspots will benefit when new rules come in on Friday but very few workers in London will see their pay rise March 30, 2016 Around a third of workers in some parts of the country will see their pay packets boosted when the National Living Wage (NLW) comes into force on Friday but not many Londoners will be receiving a payrise. According to research released today by the Resolution Foundation, workers in Torridge, Devon, stand to gain the most from NLW, [...]
UK savings: People in their 30s and 40s are adopting a YOLO attitude and failing to set money aside for their future March 30, 2016 It may well be the hashtag that defines generation Z but, when it comes to savings, it's those in their 30s and 40s who have adopted a you-only-live-once attitude. Research published today by Scottish Widows has found that almost half (45 per cent) of those aged between 35 and 49 are shunning saving for the future [...]
Lifetime ISAs confusion: MPs re-open inquiry into pensions auto-enrolment after compatibility concerns raised over Lisa March 29, 2016 A government contribution of £1 for every £4 put aside for their first house or their retirement must have sounded somehow too simple to many young savers but, as some auto-enrolment experts have pointed out, that's because it might just be. The Work and Pensions Committee has today announced that it is re-opening its inquiry into [...]
Seventh individual charged by Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in investigation into Alstom and alleged bribery March 29, 2016 The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has today charged another person in its ongoing investigation into alleged bribes paid out in connection to Alstom Network UK, bringing the total number of individuals charged to seven. Terence Watson, Alstom country president for the UK and managing director of Alstom Transport UK & Ireland, has been charged with two corruption-related offences [...]
