How transparency and psychology can help us bridge the diversity gap October 14, 2014 BUSINESSES in the City have long been struggling to bridge the divide between the diversity we see in our clients and society and the make-up of our own staff. We need to change, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because the future prosperity of our businesses depends on it. At [...]
Enthusiastic UK shoppers boost growth hopes as spending on cards increases October 13, 2014 Shoppers are splashing out more in almost every area of spending, Barclaycard numbers showed yesterday, indicating there is more life yet in the economic recovery. Overall, spending on cards last month was 4.8 per cent higher than it was in September last year – the fastest annual increase since May 2013. Spending in restaurants jumped [...]
U2’s Bono backs Ireland over corporation tax: How does the UK compare? October 12, 2014 In an interview with the Observer, Bono, the lead singer of U2 defended Ireland's corporation tax approach, even as the war with the EU intensifies. Ireland's corporation tax, at 12.5 per cent, is one of the lowest rates going. Companies like Apple and Google have been quick to identify the benefits of operating out of the [...]
Balfour Beatty share price falls despite sale of Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospital stake October 2, 2014 Balfour Beatty’s £61.5m sale of its stake in Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospital will not be enough to buoy shareholder confidence following the firm’s profit warning on Monday, analysts have said. The company disposed of its 50 per cent interest in the public-private partnership (PPP) yesterday, selling to an HCIL subsidiary, and also announced three new [...]
Carillion trading in line with expectations as Balfour Beatty announces three new projects October 2, 2014 The proposed mega-merger between Carillion PLC and Balfour Beatty failed to materialise, yet neither company is wasting any time licking their wounds. In August, Carillion reported a five per cent drop in half-year revenues shortly before the deal hit the rocks, but insisted it was “well positioned” to target revenue growth for the full-year. [...]
City Moves for 1 October 2014 | Who’s switching jobs September 30, 2014 JLL The real estate-focused professional services firm has appointed Virginia Rothwell as UK HR director. She has previously worked as group HR director at Phoenix and Tribal Group, and has also held senior positions at BT. Rothschild Group Trevor Manuel has been appointed senior adviser to the financial advisory group worldwide and deputy chairman of [...]
Investor fury at Balfour Beatty profit warning September 29, 2014 SHAREHOLDERS are angry and concerned over the latest trading update from beleaguered construction firm Balfour Beatty. The update, published yesterday, is the company’s third in five months, and revealed a £75m profit shortfall in its construction services UK business. Balfour’s share price fell by 20 per cent after the report and closed down 15.3 per [...]
Downton actor Jim Carter stars as Hacks outshine Flacks in charity cricket match September 29, 2014 City spinners showed up in their droves to take on journalists and ex-England international cricketers in the annual charity Hacks verses Flacks cricket and rounders matches at the weekend in aid of Chance to Shine. Flacks from the likes of Deutsche Bank, KPMG, PwC, Deloitte and JLL all donned their whites to hit some [...]
City Moves for 30 September 2014 | Who’s switching jobs September 29, 2014 KPMG Sanjay Thakkar has been appointed head of the professional services firm’s transactions and restructuring practice in the UK. He began his audit career at KPMG in 1991, became a UK partner in 2005, and led its transactions and restructuring business in India between 2008 and 2011. Rathbones The investment management firm has appointed Andrew [...]
Balfour Beatty share price nosedives it issues its fifth profit warning this year September 29, 2014 Shares in Balfour Beatty plunged more than 20 per cent in early morning trading, after it issued its fifth profit warning this year. The company said its construction business is likely to show a £75m profit shortfall at the end of the year, but added that trading for the rest of the group remained in [...]