City leaders recognised for services to business in New Year honours December 30, 2017 The Square Mile has weathered a turbulent year, and as 2017 comes to a close, business leaders have been recognised for their work to promote UK industry through a period of immense change. Business leader Ken Olisa, former Lord Mayor of London Andrew Parmley, and City grandee Anthony Habgood, have been given knighthoods. Vivian Hunt, [...]
Bank of England’s Mark Carney spreads Christmas cheer with Brexit assurances for EU banks December 20, 2017 The governor of the Bank of England (BoE) has attempted to spread a little festive cheer after the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator insisted that a financial services deal was off the table. In response to Michel Barnier’s position (which saw him dubbed “Scrooge” by City lobbyists yesterday) Mark Carney has assured EU banks that they [...]
London office bonanza as City deals drive record take-up December 15, 2017 Businesses continued to flock to the capital in last month, leasing a staggering 1m sq ft of new office space, according to new figures – boosted by the highest take-up in the City since 2004. Data by CBRE showed the amount of office space leased in central London rose 36 per cent in November compared [...]
The Labour danger: Pricing in the possibility of a Corbyn-led government December 12, 2017 It has been 18 months filled with political surprises, and at a time when nothing seems to be off the cards, the possibility of a Corbyn-led government perhaps isn’t as farfetched as some of us imagined. While many businesspeople are praying this never comes to light, it’s still a risk that can’t be ignored. [...]
11 tech startups to watch according to top insurers in Startupbootcamp’s insurtech accelerator December 11, 2017 Nearly a dozen startups looking to disrupt the insurance industry with technology such as artificial intelligence have been chosen for the latest cohort of a London programme, backed by Lloyds Banking Group, Allianz, Scottish Widows and Confused.com among several high-profile financial firms. The 11 early stage startups from nine countries around the world will join [...]
HSBC, JP Morgan and American Express back cyber startup Menlo Security in $40m series C | City A.M. December 11, 2017 A cyber security startup has won backing from several top financial institutions amid the growing threat of hacking and data breaches. HSBC, JP Morgan and American Express’s venture arm are among investors in a $40m series C funding round for Menlo Security, a Silicon Valley startup which provides protection against malware. Ericsson Ventures also participated, [...]
Businesses feel confident in their future but consumer confidence slumps to the low recorded post-Brexit vote November 30, 2017 Confidence in business prospects has risen to its highest level since April 2017, while consumer confidence has dipped to the lows recorded in the wake of the Brexit vote, according to new figures out today. Lloyds Bank’s business barometer for November found that business confidence dipped two points to 24 per cent, and economic optimism [...]
Focus On Pimlico: Twenty per cent cheaper than its neighbours and still central, house prices are increasing in SW1P November 23, 2017 Pimlico must be pretty quiet at the weekends. It’s been London’s pied a terre hotspot since the mid-Noughties, meaning many of its inhabitants escape the area for their country retreats every Friday night. “A third of homes sold in SW1V so far this year have been bought by a second home owner, more than anywhere [...]
The opening shots of ‘Brexodus’? November 22, 2017 On Monday came two announcements that Britain was losing two European agencies. Two European agencies plan to relocate post Brexit The first was the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which will relocate to Amsterdam after Britain leaves the European Union (EU) in 2019, with the loss of an estimated 900 jobs. The second was the European [...]
Goldman Sachs will have two EU hubs after Brexit, says Lloyd Blankfein November 20, 2017 Goldman Sachs will have hubs in both Paris and Frankfurt after Brexit, the bank’s boss has said. In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Lloyd Blankfein said the bank will have centres in “the two largest European economies”, according to the Financial Times. “We will have more employees on the continent,” he said. “After [...]