Becoming Mr Matchmaker: Venntro founder Ross Williams talks going mobile, nature v nurture, and ginger dating August 16, 2015 A week today, Ross Williams will be a married man. “Oh, I’m not stressed, nervous, anxious, oh no,” he laughs. But Williams shouldn’t worry – after all, he’s got a wife and mother-in-law-to-be who are “absolutely fantastic” organisers, and his relationship was founded on a very firm footing: he and his fiancée met on an [...]
A-Level results: A major milestone for many – but not for much longer August 13, 2015 STUDENTS across the UK opened their A-Level results yesterday and, for most, the three or four letters in that envelope will determine where they study next or which employer they go on to work for. A-Level results day has been a major milestone in many peoples’ lives since the 1950s. But if other organisations follow [...]
Former finance director Michael Bracegirdle quits City to follow opera dream August 12, 2015 Let's face it – while many of us may plan on switching careers for a dream job in sport, art, or music, few have the guts to give up the security of that monthly pay cheque. But former EY chartered accountant and financial director Michael Bracegirdle can be an example to us all, as [...]
A-levels alone don’t cut the mustard with employers seeking practical skills August 9, 2015 On Thursday, thousands of students will open their A-level results envelopes and learn their fate. A few letters will determine whether they get a university place or an apprenticeship, or climb onto that first rung of the employment ladder. Schools in London have undergone a dramatic transformation in the last decade, with the growth of [...]
Deal bonanza as global mergers and acquisitions hit post-downturn high August 7, 2015 For deal junkies, it's hardly surprising – but now new figures have proved that the summer lull failed to materialise in July, with global M&A volume hitting $549.7bn, the highest figure since the global financial crisis. The figures, by Dealogic, showed deals peaked at $559.2bn – but that was in April 2007, shortly before the [...]
Purchasing managers’ index: UK and Eurozone set for decent growth despite service sector moderation August 6, 2015 The UK and Eurozone’s service sectors are seeing slower growth, new figures show, but are still expanding at levels consistent with robust economic growth. Markit’s purchasing managers’ index – a survey of firms – dropped to a score of 57.4 in July for the UK service sector from 58.5 in June, according to figures released [...]
UK’s services boom extends past two years August 5, 2015 THE UK and Eurozone’s service sectors are seeing slower growth, new figures show, but are still expanding at levels consistent with robust economic growth. Markit’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) – a survey of firms – fell to a score of 57.4 in July for the UK service sector, according to figures released yesterday. It marks [...]
Seven-year decline in lending to businesses set to end this year, says EY Item Club August 2, 2015 Business lending will grow for the first time since 2008, a group of economic forecasters said today. Banks lent £103.4bn to UK businesses in the first half of 2015 compared with £88.6bn in the first half of 2014. This trend is expected to continue throughout the rest of the year, according to the EY Item [...]
Rate hikes ahoy or time to batten down the hatches? What eight analysts think of today’s UK GDP figures July 28, 2015 It's official: UK GDP grew 0.7 per cent during the second quarter, meaning the UK has now had 10 consecutive quarters of growth. But is it all good news? And what does it mean for the future of interest rates, which Bank of England governor Mark Carney has strongly hinted will begin to rise "around [...]
David Cameron looks to City for new business advisory group with bosses from BP, EasyJet and Santander July 27, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron has appointed a new slate of 19 City leaders to his business advisory group, including more than a dozen chief executives of UK blue chips. The chief executives of BP, Legal & General, EasyJet, Land Securities, the London Stock Exchange Group, Persimmon, Asda, ARM, Severn Trent and Rolls Royce all [...]