University education can’t deliver the skills we need for the economy of the future March 1, 2022 TOO many jobs, wage inflation, and an abundance of flexible working opportunities. Compared to the threat of mass unemployment when the pandemic began two years ago, these feel like better problems to have. But labour market figures released last month revealed one serious problem: an exodus of older workers. Since March 2020, the number of [...]
Reforming fiscal regime is no taxing issue March 1, 2022 Amid the surplus of analysis devoted to improving the UK tax system, debate over whether the government’s current and future level of spending sometimes slips by. With interest rates expected to climb as the Bank of England leans even further into hawkish policy and inflation already hitting near 30-year highs, the cost of borrowing will [...]
Irish accountancy watchdogs raises concerns over Deloitte and EY audits February 28, 2022 Ireland’s audit watchdog has said flagged issues with audits carried out by Big Four accountancy firms Deloitte and EY, after carrying out its annual review of auditors. The Irish Auditing & Accountancy Supervisory Authority (IAASA) said audits completed by Deloitte and EY required improvements, after sampling six sample audits carried out by the firms. By [...]
Is it time a decentralised world created a scoring system for accurate information? February 26, 2022 Dr Chris Kacher examines how our industry can help to purify accuracy in the freedom of expression we crave.
Worst January since 2009 for UK automotive production February 25, 2022 Last month was the worst January since 2009 for the UK automotive production, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed. Car production fell 20.1 per cent to 68,790 units – 17,262 vehicles down compared with the same time last year. Domestic and overseas production slumped to 30.8 and 17.5 per cent, [...]
UK fraudsters extend their reach after taking advantage of two-thirds more victims during Covid February 24, 2022 The number of UK fraud cases worth more than £100,000 jumped by two-thirds (66 per cent) between 2020 and 2021, according to new figures from KPMG’s UK Fraud Barometer. The figures show fraudsters took a splatter-gun approach to financial crime last year, in defrauding a larger number of victims for smaller sums of money than [...]
KPMG ditches golfer Mickelson over Saudi breakaway tour row February 23, 2022 KPMG has terminated its long-standing sponsorship of Phil Mickelson in the wake of the US golfer’s comments supporting a proposed Saudi-backed tour. Mickelson apologised on Tuesday for remarks in which he pushed the case for a new circuit despite acknowledging Saudi Arabia’s “horrible record on human rights”. KPMG on Mickelson’s cap has been one of [...]
Wood swallows over £73m charge on Polish anti-missile project February 22, 2022 The John Wood Group is set to swallow a $100m (£73.6m) charge on a project in Poland, which has prompted investors to duck out of the stock today. Wood’s share price plunged more than 11 per cent to 200p per share by early afternoon, making today its shakiest day of London trading in almost two [...]
The demand for renewable energy investment will survive the cost crunch February 22, 2022 Earlier this month, Ofgem announced they would raise their consumer price cap by 54 per cent as global gas prices continued to jump. Against this backdrop, it’s easy to dismiss the strength of the appetite for investment in UK renewables. The value of “green” energy projects started in 2021 and was on track to exceed [...]
January retail sales boosted as cost of living crisis looms February 18, 2022 January retail sales volumes lifted 1.9 per cent last month while retailers prepare for consumers to limit spending as bills soar. According to the latest retail data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), sales volumes marked the largest monthly increase since April 2021 when non-essential retailing reopened. An increase came after a four per [...]