From PwC’s chair to the boss of Vodafone: Here are the top 30 men helping to tackle gender inequality in the workplace March 10, 2017 Lloyds Banking Group’s chief executive of commercial banking and the chairman of PwC have been named among the top 30 men challenging the status quo and promoting gender equality in the workplace. The Women’s Business Council and Management Today have revealed their 2017 Agents of Change, listing 30 male leaders who are actively working alongside women [...]
Leading lobby group, the CBI, seeks to extend president’s stay to help see its members through Brexit March 9, 2017 An influential pressure group is looking to extend its president's term beyond the usual two years so he can help guide its members through Brexit. Sky News reported the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has written to its members to inform them it is seeking to change the bye-laws of its Supplemental Royal Charter to allow [...]
Theresa May steps up Brexit charm offensive, reassuring City chiefs at Downing Street and Morgan Stanley party March 9, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May has been stepping up a City charm offensive in recent weeks, hosting top bankers and asset managers at Downing Street, City A.M. can reveal. It is understood an hour-long meeting at No 10 in late February was attended by Aberdeen Asset Management boss Martin Gilbert, Schroders’ Peter Harrison, Barclays chief Jes [...]
Downing Street is refusing to rule out a u-turn on a National Insurance tax hike for the self-employed March 9, 2017 Chancellor Philip Hammond's plan to hike National Insurance contributions (NICs) for self-employed workers has continued to generate controversy, with Downing Street today refusing to rule out a review of the scheme. Hammond has been at pains to defend the plans today, but increasing numbers of Tory MPs have come out against the plan to up NICs [...]
Britain will need its aviation industry “more than ever” post-Brexit, says aviation minister Lord Ahmad March 9, 2017 Aviation minister Lord Ahmad has told the industry it will be needed "more than ever" with Brexit on the horizon, as airlines seek clarity on what lies ahead. Ahmad said the government has been clear in its plans and will be "negotiating for a new, comprehensive, free trade agreement" securing the "right access" to European aviation markets. [...]
BT unanimously backs Rio Tinto chair Jan du Plessis to deal with “continuing challenges” March 9, 2017 BT has announced Rio Tinto's Jan du Plessis will take over as chairman of the telecoms giant from November. Du Plessis succeeds Sir Mike Rake who will step down after 10 years in the job. He admitted it was "an important time" for BT while Rake highlighted the new chairman will face "continuing challenges". The FTSE 100 firm [...]
Industrial titans, BAE, Babcock and Rolls-Royce, come to aid of Sheffield Forgemasters, Britain’s oldest steel-maker March 8, 2017 Industrials heavyweights, BAE Systems, Babcock International and Rolls-Royce Holdings, have helped Britain's oldest steel-maker secure a multimillion pound funding package. Sky News reported the trio have agreed to continue to underwrite loans for the Sheffield Forgemasters, which plays a role in the supply chain for the Trident programme, for at least another year. The original guarantee for [...]
US cereal maker Post Holdings wants to have its Weetabix and readies £1.5bn bid, as the race to buy the breakfast brand narrows to just two bidders March 8, 2017 An American firm is lining up a £1.5bn bid for Weetabix, as it prepares to go head-to-head with another company interested in snapping up the breakfast cereal brand. According to Sky News, which first reported the story, Post Holdings, which makes Golden Crisp and Cocoa Pebbles, is one of just two bidders left competing to [...]
Former culture secretary John Whittingdale sees no problem with 21st Century Fox-Sky deal (but would refer it to Ofcom) March 8, 2017 Former culture secretary John Whittingdale has said he does not have a problem with 21st Century Fox’s Sky takeover and believes Channel 4 could thrive if sold off by the government. Whittingdale, who held the position until last year, was speaking at a time when his successor, Karen Bradley, is considering whether to refer Fox’s [...]
Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox tells government: Sky takeover is “in the interest of the UK” March 8, 2017 Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox has written to the government setting out why its Sky takeover is “in the interest of the UK, its creative economy and its consumers”. Culture secretary Karen Bradley is currently considering whether to refer the £11.7bn deal to broadcasting regulator Ofcom. Read more: Murdoch Empire 2.0 or socialist witch-hunt? MPs [...]