UK productivity is still lower than it was before the financial crisis October 5, 2018 UK workers boosted their hourly productivity at their fastest rate in more than a year in the second quarter, the latest data shows. However, the growth of 1.4 per cent in the three months to June compared to the same period a year ago, but is still far lower than the average of two per [...]
Moore Stephens partner says it is ready to take on FTSE audits as revenues grow for third year October 5, 2018 The managing partner of Moore Stephens, the UK’s ninth-biggest accountancy firm, has said the company is “well-positioned” to pick up FTSE-listed clients, as it announced revenue growth for the third consecutive year. The professional services firm’s UK operation posted revenue of £137.5m in the year to April, a 13 per cent rise on the year [...]
England squad: Gareth Southgate’s selection of Jadon Sancho, James Maddison and Mason Mount shows refreshing change of attitude October 4, 2018 When Jadon Sancho turned down a £30,000 per week contract at Manchester City last season he was taking a big gamble. But armed with supreme confidence in his own ability, the then 17-year-old winger upped sticks amid plenty of acrimony to join Borussia Dortmund for £10m and challenge himself. Fast-forward 14 months and Sancho could [...]
Former footballer Scott Ward launches new scheme with EY to support retiring athletes October 4, 2018 One of the lowest points of Scott Ward’s career came when he was without a contract and training with Millwall, hoping to rebuild his fitness after leaving boyhood club Luton Town. Ward bumped into a group of his former Luton team-mates while walking down the high street, but when they asked what he was doing [...]
City Moves for 2 October 2018 – who’s switching jobs at KL Communications, Barclays and CBRE? October 2, 2018 Today’s City Moves cover comms, corporate broking and property. Take a look at these movers and shakers: KL Communications KL Communications, the financial PR and communication consultancy, has hired Charles Gorman to lead its listed company practice. Charles, who joins from Neustria Partners, specialises in advising listed investment and specialty financial companies on their strategic [...]
PwC global chair says firm ‘cannot rest on laurels’ as global revenues pass $40bn October 2, 2018 The global chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has said audit remains “at the heart of what we do”, after global revenues at the professional services giant rose above $40bn (£30.66bn) for the first time despite a series of accounting scandals. Total revenue across PwC’s international network of firms hit $41.3bn, a seven per cent rise in [...]
UK house prices show modest growth for September October 2, 2018 UK house prices grew two per cent year on year for September, according to new figures released today, but London house prices declined. Homes in the capital fell by less than one per cent compared to the same period of 2017, Nationwide reported today, against a fairly stable picture for the whole of the UK. [...]
Mortgage approvals hit seven-month high but caution lingers as year-on-year growth dips October 1, 2018 The number of mortgages being approved hit a seven-month high in August, suggesting a modest pick-up in buyers after the traditional summer slowdown. According to the latest Bank of England (BoE) statistics out today, mortgage approvals climbed to 66,440 last month, marking the highest level since January 2018. However, housing experts remained cautious on the [...]
How London can fend off the European hotspots vying for its fintech crown October 1, 2018 Flash back to the immediate aftermath of the Brexit vote. “London has committed suicide as a leading fintech centre,” tweeted Traxpay, a German payments platform. Catchy advertising urged startups to “keep calm and move to Berlin”. Read more: Meet the startups in the Treasury-backed Tech Nation fintech accelerator Over two years later, and it’s French [...]
Pressure mounts on the CMA to break up accountancy’s Big Four October 1, 2018 The UK’s competition body has been told to “bare its teeth” and investigate breaking up the Big Four accountancy firms, as it prepares to announce a decision on whether it will investigate the sector. Three senior politicians from across the main parties have called on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to find ways to [...]