Businesses have a duty to help end the scourge of youth unemployment in London August 22, 2016 On Thursday, the tense wait will finally come to an end for thousands of students who will find out their GCSE results. Last week thousands more received their A-Level grades, and both sets of results could determine these young people’s futures. Whether it’s deciding to continue into higher education or take on additional training – [...]
Broadband is the lifeblood of business: It must be prioritised like any key utility August 8, 2016 It's a story that some firms in London find all too familiar. They decide on their office location, speak to property agents, negotiate the lease and move in. Everything is ready for them including desks, power and water. There is, however, one major issue: their broadband connection isn’t in place. It’s not even the case that [...]
Business received more than it hoped for in this year’s Autumn Statement December 7, 2014 It may not be as exciting as an iPad or as romantic as jewellery, but George Osborne’s Autumn Statement last week was in many ways business’s equivalent of Christmas, with rewards for some – and coal for others. On the whole, however, the picture for the City was positive, with action proposed for some of [...]
Business can’t rely on government to allay immigration anxiety November 23, 2014 The question of how to talk about immigration is one of the most convoluted of our time, despite the pivotal role migrants play in our economy. As the Conservative Party loses another seat to Ukip and anti-immigration rhetoric continues to influence the debate, it is clear that something is wrong with our conversation. On Thursday, [...]
City Matters: Business must stand up and be counted – and put the facts into the EU debate November 9, 2014 OVER the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to discuss the political situation in Britain, and the state of Britain’s relations with the EU, with business and political leaders in both Brussels and London. It is no exaggeration to say that there has never been such concern in business about politics. This is [...]
Power to the cities: It’s not just London that needs more control of tax revenue October 26, 2014 It’s not as catchy as “Brics”, but “ManShefLeedsPool” – the latest coinage from the Centre for Cities’s Jim O’Neill, formerly of Goldman Sachs – could have an equally seismic impact here in the UK. The growing difference between London and many of the UK’s other regions is a problem for the entire country. Politicians and [...]
Forget New York versus London: Business has its own special relationship October 12, 2014 If two cities could ever be described as siblings, it would be London and New York; two truly global cities, alive with culture, and both co-operating and competing as the world’s two largest international financial centres. And like all siblings, we often engage in friendly rivalry, jostling to be the best at theatre, art, fashion, [...]
There’s a black hole at the heart of the City: Lack of superfast broadband September 28, 2014 In the twenty-first century, superfast broadband is something we take for granted, like clean water and bright lights. But despite being in the world’s most popular business location, many of the City’s SMEs are still receiving the internet equivalent of rusty, murky water. While our larger businesses are well-served by fibre optic broadband, SMEs and [...]
Staying silent about the real price of Scottish independence is a cop out – City Matters September 14, 2014 This week will see the most crucial poll in the United Kingdom for centuries – a poll on whether the UK will stay as it is or Scotland will choose to leave the Union. The business world has led with the view that “this is a matter for the Scottish people”. But this is also [...]
Bank regulators need to get more realistic if we are to avoid a new crisis – City Matters August 31, 2014 The idea of a “Europe without banks” became popular after the financial crisis, when bankers were demonised and punitive regulations proposed. Six years on, the repercussions still resonate deeply, as I found at the recent Alpbach Financial Markets Symposium, where the high Austrian location gives an added sense of perspective to Europe’s issues. Of course, [...]
