Explainer: Small house builders face existential hurdles July 6, 2023 As mortgages and rents rocket up, the housing industry hardly needed another blow. But small firms in the sector have warned they risk going bust without an intervention. In a letter to the prime minister this week, more than 200 small to medium-sized companies lamented that changes in the planning systems are blocking new developments [...]
Why money should have a direct and transparent link to energy July 3, 2023 Bitcoin's potential to drive the adoption of clean energy technologies further highlights its importance, says Susie Violet Ward.
KPMG and PwC slapped with fines of almost £3m for botched Eddie Stobart audits June 29, 2023 Big four accountancy firms PwC and KPMG have been fined a total of nearly £3m over botched audits of logistics giant Eddie Stobart in 2017 and 2018. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said this morning it would fine PwC £1.99m and partner Philip Storer £51,000, with both receiving a “severe reprimand.” KPMG received a fine [...]
PwC set to hand 25,000 junior staff a real-terms pay cut – despite FRC plea to give them more June 28, 2023 Big four firm PwC has reportedly told its junior auditors their pay is going to be frozen, amid concerns it will make the industry less attractive. According to reports in the FT, around 25,000 staff members are set to get lower pay rises, with the accountancy giant citing the challenging market conditions and pay rises’ [...]
I’d love to be an MP, but Britain is still too ashamed of open political ambition June 20, 2023 When I was asked if I wanted to be an MP, I fudged an answer because I knew it would be met with scepticism . But our stifled laughs mean we're stuck in a doom loop of bad politicians, writes Adam Hawksbee
Embracing the crypto economy: Why Labour needs to take notice June 12, 2023 Simon Jennings, Executive Director of the UK Crypto Asset Business Council, is urging Labour to show it cares about the crypto economy.
Explainer: The Woking case, and what happens when councils go bust June 8, 2023 This week, Woking Council declared effective bankruptcy with a deficit of £1.2bn. It is only the latest in a string of councils going bust, a result of the chronic local government underfunding that took place over the past decade. The Woking case is one of misguided investments. The council, which was controlled by the Conservatives [...]
Capita wins £565m in government contracts – despite major data breach May 25, 2023 Capita was today confirmed as the government’s chosen partner in two contracts worth a combined total of £565m – despite two recent major data breaches, the impact of which is still being investigated. The firm said the investigation and clear up will cost between £15m and £20m – this includes “further steps [taken] to ensure [...]
London-listed firms face tougher fraud rules as watchdog prepares clampdown May 24, 2023 The bosses of London-listed firms are facing tougher scrutiny on fraud and financial reporting from 2025 after Britain's corporate governance watchdog proposed a slew of reforms today.
In the former coalfields of North Yorkshire is a story of how to actually level us up May 23, 2023 The regeneration of former coalfields can teach the Conservatives a lesson on their own flagship policy - levelling up