Degrees still preferred over apprenticeships in London, while latter suffers from an image problem in the eyes of young people, parents and employers June 13, 2016 Apprenticeships are struggling to compete with university qualifications in London, according to research released today by the business support organisation Interserve. Work-based learning programmes, including apprenticeships, are suffering from an image problem in the eyes of young people, parents and employers, and still lag behind academic degrees that are viewed to be more prestigious, Interserve's study [...]
EU referendum: Leave campaign threatens legal action again after voter registration extended June 9, 2016 A pro-Brexit campaign group has made yet another threat of legal action, this time against the government. Leave.EU, Arron Banks' project, has said it is considering legal action against the government after it was announced that the registration deadline for voters would be extended until midnight tonight. While most called on the government to extend registration [...]
Dominic Chappell faces MPs’ questions on BHS collapse as retailer’s management appear at BIS select committee hearing June 8, 2016 Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell, the majority shareholder of Retail Acquisitions, which bought BHS for £1 last year from Sir Philip Green, is giving evidence on the retailer's collapse this morning. The business, innovation and skills (BIS) select committee has already heard explosive evidence about the sale of BHS to Retail Acquisitions and its subsequent demise – with [...]
Cameron and Osborne have backed themselves into a corner with their shrill defence of a broken EU June 1, 2016 The worst thing for a politician is to run out of options. So said Francois Mitterrand, the late French President, without a doubt a master in the dark arts of political ambiguity. As the EU referendum approaches, it is clear that the Cameron and Osborne tandem finds itself in a tight spot. Their defence of [...]
Vicar of Dibley and Basil Fawlty go head-to-head over divisive referendum on EU membership May 30, 2016 Freedom of movement laws in Europe have done wonders for the continent's nannies and a new generation of British middle-class families who employ them to look after our brats. One might forgive the traditional English nanny for bearing a grudge against such low-cost competition, but new polling data reveals no evidence of any lingering resentment. [...]
Sir Philip Green would “welcome” opportunity to discuss the future of pensions regulations May 22, 2016 Sir Philip Green and Frank Field may finally be seeing eye-to-eye, with a spokesperson for the business tycoon today telling City A.M. that he would "welcome" the opportunity for a serious talk about pensions. BHS' pension scheme, which ran a deficit worth £571m when the retailer was put into administration last month, has proved something [...]
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff stands down ahead of impeachment trial May 12, 2016 Brazil's Senate has brought down President Dilma Rousseff, after they voted strongly in favour of putting the embattled politician on an impeachment trial. Following a marathon overnight debate, senators voted 55-22 to try Rousseff for breaking budget laws. The rules mean Rousseff has been suspended from office ahead of her trial. Read more: Rousseff's impeachment is Brazil's [...]
Londoners are right to oppose Brexit: Our security is more important than our sovereignty May 10, 2016 Londoners chose Sadiq Khan as their mayor over Zac Goldsmith on Thursday. Sadiq is a declared In-er and Zac is an Out-er. All the expert pollsters – who can get things wrong – point to London being a three-quarters In city. As both a businessman and London’s first deputy mayor for policing and crime for [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open May 4, 2016 US stock futures are heading south in New York, following most European markets moving downwards in early afternoon trading. Asian markets recorded small losses by their close this morning. A little earlier the S&P was down by 0.64 per cent, while the Nasdaq was off by 0.72 per cent, and the Dow 0.53 per cent [...]
EU referendum: Usdaw union backs Remain ahead of vote in June April 26, 2016 A second trade union in a week has come out in support of remaining in the EU, in a blow to Leave campaigners. Usdaw, one of the UK's largest trade unions, today announced it would be backing British membership of the EU at its conference, a day after the CWU union committed its support for the same [...]