Airlines set to save millions as air traffic control payments deferred April 8, 2020 The UK’s airlines could save tens of millions of pounds a month after European governments took steps to allow them to defer payments for using UK and European airspace for 14 months. The new measures, which were agreed by air traffic body Eurocontrol’s member states, will cover the period between February and May 2020. In [...]
Coronavirus: An economic evolution, not revolution April 8, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is the defining event for a generation and though its long-term effects remain uncertain, it is fair to say the ‘new normal’ we will return to will be significantly different to that we left. However, change was afoot long before the pandemic altered the way companies think, assess risk and manage their [...]
Why the future of Britain’s startups hangs in the balance March 30, 2020 Britain is blessed with one of the healthiest technology industries in the world. We are creating more tech unicorns – companies valued at over $1bn – than anywhere else in Europe. Globally, we are only behind giants America and China. Over the past decade, Britain created a veritable paddock of 63 unicorns. Our tech scene [...]
More than half London’s tech firms planning for ‘survival’ amid coronavirus impact March 27, 2020 More than half the tech businesses in London have admitted that “survival” is the only plan over the next three months, according to a new survey. The impact of the coronavirus outbreak has left 53 per cent of London-based tech firms just trying to survive in the short term, while 32 per cent of respondents [...]
Workplace: a key driver of business growth March 20, 2020 For organisations that dream of emulating Silicon Valley’s success stories, growth is the main goal. However, many senior managers underestimate the importance of bringing an organisation’s strategy into the physical realm of the workplace. Theoretically, it is well known that an organisation’s people – both its employees and clients – technology and operations are key [...]
DEBATE: Is the EU’s approach to regulating artificial intelligence misguided? March 16, 2020 Is the EU’s approach to regulating artificial intelligence misguided? James Lawson, chief AI evangelist at DataRobot, says YES. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming society for the better. We’re using it to improve services and save lives. Applications range from fighting fraud to preventing forest fires and creating new medicines. The EU’s desire to be the [...]
The EU’s attempt to regulate artificial intelligence could backfire March 12, 2020 The “Wild West” of artificial intelligence (AI) needs to be reined in, according to EU industry commissioner Thierry Breton. However, regulating AI generally, rather than regulating the technology’s uses specifically, may very well be putting the cart before the horse. Late last month, the European Commission revealed its intention to draft regulation around the use [...]
Budget 2020: Sunak commits to an increase in R&D spending March 11, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has increased tax relief for companies that carry out qualifying research and development (R&D) in his Budget today. The measure increases the rate of the R&D expenditure credit from 12 per cent to 13 per cent. The expenditure credit is a standalone credit that is brought into account as a receipt in [...]
Neil Woodford in talks with investors as he plots comeback March 7, 2020 Neil Woodford and a number of colleagues from Woodford Investment Management (WIM) are in talks with investors about snapping up a number of the fallen fund manager’s old investments. Woodford has held talks with institutional and wealth managers in recent weeks about creating a vehicle to buy back some of the unquoted WIM stakes, according [...]