Flight to cities to boost London businesses’ profitability September 13, 2021 Changes to working patterns and companies flocking to cities as the spectre of Covid recedes will boost London businesses’ profitability, according to fresh analysis published today. Research conducted by accountancy firm KPMG shows an influx of new, fast growing businesses into the capital will drive productivity and overall profitability levels up in London. Office occupancy [...]
Perfect storm of glitches constrains UK economy September 9, 2021 Severe shortages of raw materials, constrained labour supply and persistently high furlough rates are putting the UK economy in a vice, according to new official figures released today. The Office for National Statistic’s latest business insights survey shows almost one in three hospitality firms are finding it harder to recruit workers compared to normal times. [...]
Number of workers on furlough tumbles to lowest level since start of pandemic September 9, 2021 The number of workers on furlough has tumbled to its lowest since the onset of the Covid crisis, according to official figures published today. Data from the Treasury shows there were 1.6m people on furlough at the end of July, down 340,000 from almost two million in the previous month. However, the rate at which [...]
KPMG wants nearly a third of staff to be from working class backgrounds September 9, 2021 In a first for a large business in Britain, KPMG has set a target for 29 per cent of its UK partners and directors to come from a working class background by 2030, the company said in an announcement today. Currently less than a quarter of KPMG’s partners, and a fifth of its directors, are [...]
Worker shortages persist as pool of candidates shrinks at record pace September 9, 2021 The number of workers ready to start a new job plummeted at its fastest pace on record last month, indicating the severe worker shortages that have put the UK economy in a vice are likely to persist, according to fresh figures published today. Research by accountancy firm KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation shows [...]
Hybrid working: Out of office… forever? September 8, 2021 During lockdowns, many started working from home for the first time. Now, 91% don’t want to go back to the office full-time. With hybrid models of work being adopted by many, Christian Koch talks to leading CAs about the chances of a new workplace revolution… This article first appeared in ICAS’ CA magazine. What does [...]
KPMG boss intervenes in dispute with FRC over poor auditing standards September 7, 2021 The global head of KPMG has written to the UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) over the its threats to publish further criticism of the auditor’s repeated failings, the Financial Times first reported. Bill Thomas, KPMG’s global chair and chief executive, entered the increasingly public dispute between the big four auditor and the FRC, after executives [...]
Retail sales growth slowed in August amid recovery warnings September 7, 2021 Retail sales growth has started to slow as shoppers’ pent-up enthusiasm has softened this summer. Total sales increased by 3 per cent in August, below the three month average growth of 6.9 per cent. Clothing retailers reported strong performances as Brits looked to stock up their post-lockdown wardrobes with outfits for weddings and returning to [...]
Nationwide taps Royal London chairman for top job September 6, 2021 Nationwide is poised to announce a new chairman who will take over the building society next year. Former Scroders and KPMG executive Kevin Perry will replace David Roberts, according to Sky News. The building society was reportedly in the process of seeking regulatory approval for the new appointment, according to the news organisation’s City sources. [...]
How worker shortages are cleared will determine UK economy’s trajectory September 4, 2021 You would be forgiven for forgetting we are currently amid one of the best runs of economic growth in living memory with all the negative news about supply chain snarl ups, worker shortages and soaring inflation flying around. A slew of data published this week, alongside a raft of announcements from supermarket, retail and food [...]