Empty pockets: Why shops going cashless is good for business — and consumers January 22, 2020 In the market stalls, pop-up shops, and beer taprooms of our great city, card payment is increasingly common. And it’s not just a London trend — while card-only shops are primarily cropping up in the capital, they have appeared up and down the country too. This is a phenomenon dominated by small businesses, and it’s [...]
Economic insecurity ‘new normal’ as Brits fear for living standards November 18, 2019 Economic insecurity has become the “new normal” for Brits as millions fear their living standards will fall over the next decade, the boss of a top charity is set to warn. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), will today argue that changes in the [...]
The regulator’s intervention on car finance hides an underlying reality October 28, 2019 The UK’s car finance boom has been a cause for concern for some time now, and the regulator is finally cracking down on questionable practices. One common complaint of this sector has been the practice whereby a car dealer or broker will make commission on the interest rate of the loan. By setting a higher [...]
Garden Bridge Trust awarded £21m in contracts ‘prematurely’ and ‘recklessly’ October 15, 2019 Backers of the abandoned Garden Bridge awarded £21m in construction contracts before getting key land and building permits, according to a new report. The report, from the London Assembly’s Garden Bridge Working Group, details the “reckless” spending of the Garden Bridge Trust (GBT) and Transport for London (TfL) on the failed £53m project. Read more: [...]
Results are in, now businesses across the City must level up to boost social mobility August 19, 2019 Last week saw pupils across the UK celebrate their A-level results. A lot of hard work and dedication goes into preparing for these exams – not only from the pupils themselves, but also from teachers, support staff, school governors, and parents. The City of London Corporation, which manages 10 high-performing academies across London’s boroughs, was [...]
Think tanks beware: No one knows what you actually do August 8, 2019 In the midst of the Tory leadership contest, City A.M ran a leader entitled The definition of a think tank is up for debate. The article cited research from my firm showing that fewer than four per cent of the population could name a think tank. It also noted studies published by two leading think [...]
Jeff Bezos sells $1.8bn worth of Amazon shares August 1, 2019 Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos has sold roughly $1.8bn (£1.5bn) worth of shares in his company over the last three days. Read more: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos unveils plans to send Blue Origin rocket to the moon Filings to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed Bezos offloaded more than 900,000 shares [...]
Revealed: 20 purchases that prove money can buy happiness July 22, 2019 They say money can’t buy happiness, but there’s no doubt retail therapy can help boost your mood. Now a survey has revealed the nation’s favourite pick-me-up purchases, showing how Brits like to spend their hard-earned cash over the summer months. Read more: Why families feel ripped off by overseas summer holidays The research, commissioned by [...]
Bookies route £60m to fight problem gambling July 2, 2019 Five of the UK’s biggest bookies have committed to a tenfold increase in their contributions towards fighting gambling addiction. Bet 365, Flutter, GVC, Sky Betting and Gaming and William Hill said they signed a pledge this morning. It commits them to spend one per cent of their UK gross gambling yield promoting safer gambling. Read [...]
What does Boris Johnson have in common with Oscar Wilde? A brief history of private prosecutions June 3, 2019 Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson has been told that he will face court as part of private prosecution brought against him for his conduct in the Brexit campaign. Suddenly, this obscure legal mechanism is in the public spotlight. Indeed, many people may not even have been aware that private prosecutions still existed in modern Britain. [...]