Businesses cut employee benefits with changes to pension plans February 11, 2015 Businesses are cutting the benefits they give their employers, so that they make up a smaller proportion of their overall salaries. According to a survey of mid-sized companies by professional services firm Towers Watson, the proportion of companies spending over 20 per cent of employee salary costs on workplace benefits has dropped from [...]
Apple becomes most valuable publicly traded company ever February 10, 2015 Apple has become the first ever publicly traded company to exceed a total value of $700bn (£459bn). Shares in the technology giant went up by two per cent to $122.02 (£79.99) at close on Tuesday, giving the company a valuation of $711bn (£466bn). This was $13.4bn (£8.8bn) higher than on Monday, and makes Apple [...]
Martin Wheatley says FCA was not informed of HSBC tax allegations February 10, 2015 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) did not know about the HSBC tax allegations until media reports released details on Sunday, according to the watchdog's chief executive. Earlier today, Martin Wheatley told the Commons Treasury Select Committee that no formal information regarding claims of tax evasion was passed on to the body. "I am [...]
Chinese hackers managed to spy on companies via the Forbes website, and could still have access in some cases February 10, 2015 A Chinese hacking group managed to gain access to to the computer systems of thousands of businesses via the Forbes website. From 28 November to 1 December last year, the well established group Cosodo circumvented the company's cyber security measures by exploiting a loophole in its Adobe software, allowing it to infiltrate all [...]
Businesses want to know that the UK has safeguards against the Eurozone, says head of BCC February 10, 2015 The head of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has said he would like Britain to be protected against getting closer to the Eurozone At the annual BCC conference today, John Longworth said the next government “must set out what it will do to protect the United Kingdom against the prospect of being [...]
UK tech sector set to grow four times faster than GDP this year, and strong leadership is crucial February 10, 2015 Britain's technology sector is set to grow four times faster than GDP this year, according to a survey by Barclays. By asking owners and chief executives of technology firms across the country, the bank found that on average, businesses expected a growth of 11 per cent over the course of 2015. By comparison, [...]
Safer Internet Day: How to protect your business against cyber attacks February 10, 2015 Today is Safer Internet Day – an annual event dedicated to the importance of cyber security in an increasingly digital world. For businesses, one of the most difficult and growing challenges they face is protecting against hackers, who are becoming more frequent and severe in their attacks as they develop new and improved [...]
Fat Britain: More people in UK and Ireland view themselves as overweight than anywhere else in Europe February 9, 2015 When it comes to self-image, people in the UK have an inflated view of themselves. A higher percentage of people in Ireland and Britain consider themselves to be “overweight” than anywhere else in Europe, according to a survey by information service Nielsen. Out of the 32 countries included, Ireland came in first [...]
Ed Balls talks business: Markets alone won’t deliver for the UK, says shadow chancellor February 9, 2015 It's been a bit of a bruising few days for those in the Labour Party charged with finessing its relationship with the UK’s top business leaders. But that won’t stop Ed Balls relishing the prospect of speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce’s annual conference tomorrow in front of hundreds of business leaders. [...]
General Election 2015: Poll suggests Conservatives are in the lead February 9, 2015 With just three months to go before the general election, analysts are still unable to place a firm prediction on who will come out on top. It has been been described as the least predictable general election in British history, and most recent polls have placed the Conservatives and Labour roughly neck and [...]
