Deloitte opens digital office in the capital’s technology district April 28, 2014 DELOITTE has followed KPMG, Tesco and William Hill by moving its digital operations team into the heart of London’s Tech City with a new office in Clerkenwell. The business services firm said it will move 170 staff from its 400-strong UK digital division into the new office on Clerkenwell Green. “If you look at how [...]
Tech hiring and business activity outstripping wider UK economy April 28, 2014 HIRING in the technology industry is close to its strongest for over three years and remains stronger than the UK private sector average, according to the latest industry report from KPMG and Markit. Hiring intentions for the sector rose to 56, according to Markit’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for the first quarter of 2014, above [...]
Tobacco plain packaging braced for legal showdown at the WTO April 28, 2014 The battle over Australia's law compelling the standardised packaging of tobacco is set to come to a head after two years of procedural wrangling. The case will now be settled in court by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) after five countries brought the action against Australia arguing the law was a restriction on intellectual property [...]
FTSE firms set to face investors over pay plans April 28, 2014 A CLUTCH of Britain’s biggest companies will this week face their investors, following bruising protest votes at Barclays, Pearson and AstraZeneca last week. FTSE 100 oil explorer Tullow is under the spotlight on Wednesday for its plans to change share awards for directors. Investor advisory group Pirc has said shareholders should oppose the changes, which [...]
Any Other Business – 25/4 April 25, 2014 THERE’S hardly a firm in the City that doesn’t know what it’s like to make cuts and when Balfour Beatty was faced with making 20 per cent reductions, it turned to management consultancy Boxwood to help. Last night it reaped the rewards, or more, the awards – as they won Project of the Year at [...]
The Cleggs show their cojones April 23, 2014 WHEN Nick Clegg showed up to KPMG for the launch of Cityfathers yesterday, he presumably hoped he’d escape difficult questions. But having spoken about the importance of fathers taking paternity leave, the first question from the hall was relating to Cameron’s Christian country comments. “Ah here we go,” he said exasperated. One of the next [...]
Here’s how government policy fuelled a booming black market in tobacco April 23, 2014 The illegal tobacco market continues to thrive in a country with one of the strictest tobacco control regimes in Europe, according to a report released by Japan Tobacco International (JTI). Ireland's illegal tobacco trade has grown to a point where non Irish duty paid cigarettes make up 28 per cent of the market. JTI's research [...]
Card Factory to deliver £700m float in London April 22, 2014 CARD Factory boss Richard Hayes said yesterday that it hopes to emulate the success of other value retailers such as Poundland after announcing plans for float that could value the group at around £700m. The budget greetings chain, which has 700 stores, intends to raise £90m through an initial public offering that will allow its [...]
City Moves for 17 April 2014 | Who’s switching jobs April 16, 2014 KPMG David Brown has been appointed a non-life actuarial partner in KPMG’s insurance practice. With almost 20 years’ actuarial experience, he joins from Direct Line Group, and will advise clients in the retail general insurance sector. Brown is also a fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. BNP Paribas Investment Partners Cynthia Sweeney Barnes [...]
Regulation of ecigarettes will be one of tobacco’s greatest saviours April 16, 2014 Yesterday, Imperial tobacco announced it would be shutting its factories in England and France. The maker of French tobacco favourites such as Gauloises and Gitanes will be moving production to Spain. Declining sales and a hostile regulatory environment have been the dominant story of the tobacco world for the past decade. However, there may still [...]