How artificial intelligence, peer-to-peer technology and blockchain are changing the insurance industry forever July 14, 2016 Just as fintech is transforming the banking world, “insurtech” has set its sights on the insurance industry. There are firms like Trov, which provides insurance on-demand and enables consumers to catalogue insured belongings. Buzzmove uses home removals data to create a new distribution model for insurance – people are more likely to renew or buy [...]
June was a muted month for retail sales according to the British Retail Consortium and KPMG July 12, 2016 Retail sales were as damp as the weather in June as consumers stayed inside and waited for the outcome of the EU referendum. Data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG shows like-for-like sales fell by 0.5 per cent in June compared to the same month last year, with total growth slowing to 0.2 [...]
New Women’s Business Council chief Cilla Snowball says more needs to be done for female empowerment in UK firms July 8, 2016 Female representation on FTSE100 boards has risen from 12.5 per cent to 26 per cent in a year according to a report released yesterday. The latest Female FTSE Board Report by Cranfield University, City University London and Queen Mary University London also shows that, overall, the percentage of women on all FTSE boards has increased since [...]
The government is today unveiling a review on women in senior leadership as new leader of the Women’s Business Council is revealed July 7, 2016 A new, government-backed review of women in business has been announced today, as the 2016 Female FTSE Board Report reveals that the overall percentage of women on FTSE boards has increased since March 2015. Sir Philip Hampton, chair of GlaxoSmithKline, and Dame Helen Alexander, chair of UBM, will head up a team of industry chiefs [...]
KPMG has appointed senior partner Karen Briggs to be the firm’s “head of Brexit” July 6, 2016 KPMG has appointed one of its senior partners as the firm's official "head of Brexit". Ahead of many other companies and indeed the Conservative Party, the Big Four firm announced today that Karen Briggs will lead its work in advising its clients on how to manage their businesses in the wake of the surprise pro-Brexit referendum result two weeks ago. She [...]
European Commission approves new cyber security initiative and funding July 5, 2016 The European Commission wants EU member states to work together on cyber security. The European Union's executive body has signed an agreement that'll have member states funding and working together with private groups to prevent cyber attacks. There have been repeated warnings over the vulnerability of both private and public institutions in recent months. And it seems we're [...]
Multinationals warned over risk of cyber attacks July 5, 2016 Large multinationals are being warned over their preparations against cyber attacks. Companies have admitted to feeling constrained by regulation, resources, and dependence on third parties, with only a fifth of IT decision makers confident they are able to deal with the growing threat of cyber-criminals. Research from KPMG and BT found that almost half (47 [...]
City Moves for 4 July 2016 | Who’s switching jobs July 4, 2016 Towergate Towergate has appointed Kay Martin as commercial director. Kay will join the executive committee, reporting to CEO David Ross. She will join Towergate from Zurich UK where she has been a member of the UKGI executive team and chief marketing officer since June 2010. Kay recently assumed interim responsibilities for Zurich UK Personal Lines, taking on the role [...]
Infrastructure improvements needed at the heart of devolution agenda to boost growth, according to research from the Institution of Civil Engineers June 30, 2016 Significant boosts to local growth, quality of life and environmental sustainability could all materialise if infrastructure improvements are placed at the heart of the devolution agenda, according to new research. A report from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has found that the focus on infrastructure is a key economic driver for devolution, as well as [...]