Paying the UK National Living Wage could lift six million people out of poverty November 1, 2015 Some six million people are being paid less than the Living Wage, according to a new study. The study by KPMG, one of the big four auditors, found that by paying the Living Wage six million people would be lifted out of poverty. The report added that "early adopters report clear benefits to their businesses". [...]
Crossrail 2 consultation launched by Transport for London to decide station locations on route October 27, 2015 Crossrail 2 is a step closer to becoming reality as Transport for London launched a public consultation on the exact route and where stations will be located along it. "This consultation gives people the chance to comment on where we are proposing to put station entrances, work sites and ventilation shafts needed to run Crossrail 2," [...]
Nameless CVs: David Cameron to announce new measures aimed at reducing discrimination using ‘name-blind’ recruitment October 26, 2015 A selection of major public and private sector employers are pledging to operate ‘name-blind’ recruitment for their graduate roles to tackle discrimination, the Prime Minister will announce later today. Organisations signing the pledge, who employ 1.8 million people between them, include bank HSBC, professional services firms Deloitte and KPMG, the BBC and NHS England. The [...]
City Moves for 26 October 2015 | Who’s switching jobs October 25, 2015 KPMG Catherine Grum has been appointed head of the professional services firm’s family office. She joins from Salamanca Group, where she was head of the private office. Grum has also previously worked as head of wealth advisory, for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, at Barclays Wealth & Investment Management, and for the private client [...]
Challenger bank Virgin Money replaces KPMG with PwC as auditors for 2016 October 25, 2015 Virgin Money announced on Friday that it is appointing PwC as auditor, provided shareholders approve of the move at the 2016 annual meeting. The appointment of PwC will replace the Virgin Money’s current auditors, KPMG, who have audited the bank since 2004. In Virgin Money’s notification of change of auditors, Norman McLuskie, chairman of Virgin [...]
Tax gap falls to record-low, revealing the failings of Corbynomics, claims secretary to the Treasury David Gauke October 22, 2015 The UK's tax gap has fallen to an all-time low, prompting Labour's critics to ramp up their arguments against Corbynomics. Figures released today by HMRC reveal the tax gap – the difference between the amount of tax that should be collected against what is actually collected – in 2013/14 fell to a record low of 6.4 per [...]
London property prices: Business bears the cost of the government’s housing failures October 20, 2015 London's housing crisis is a human tragedy. The London Poverty Profile, released today, shows that housing costs are the major driver of a big increase in the number of Londoners who are in work but still living in poverty. But the housing crisis is also an economic tragedy. It is damaging the competitiveness of businesses, [...]
Interview: City A.M. talks to Mark Britnell, chairman of global health at KPMG October 16, 2015 As chairman of KPMG’s global health practice, Mark Britnell understands the changing face of healthcare better than almost anyone. With over 20 years' experience in healthcare, Britnell has overseen the largest new hospital build in British history, established the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine and worked as director general of the NHS (2007-2009). His book ‘In Search of the Perfect [...]
UK retail sales bounced back in September after miserable weather hurt August spending – BRC October 13, 2015 UK retail sales bounced back in September after the miserable weather in August brought summer to an abrupt end. Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG this morning show that like-for-like UK retail sales were up 2.6 per cent in September compared with the same month last year, when they had decreased 2.1 [...]
PwC to be investigated over audit of collapsed company Connaught October 12, 2015 The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has decided to act on complaints against accountancy giant PwC and its senior statutory auditor Stephen Harrison over the auditing of social housing maintenance firm Connaught. Connaught went into administration in September 2010. The FRC's report accuses the company and the account's lead audit partner Stephen Harrison, who retired in summer 2010, of "fail[ing] to [...]