We need to talk about race February 3, 2020 We need to talk about race. Because it directly affects the bottom line—and then some. Look to the much-quoted McKinsey study on ‘Why diversity matters’ and firms in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35 percent more likely to outperform their median peers. Some estimate that we could add £24bn to the [...]
DEBATE: Has the classic British cup of tea fallen out of fashion? February 3, 2020 Unilever could be selling its PG Tips and Lipton tea brands. Has the classic British cuppa fallen out of fashion? YES, says Jeff Young, founder of the London Coffee Festival, which celebrates its tenth anniversary on 2–5 April 2020. Britain is becoming a nation of coffee drinkers. This journey started 20 years ago with the [...]
Businesses and young people should embrace the apprenticeship revolution February 3, 2020 If you are looking for a business leader of the future, look no further than Jamilah. Her peers are yet to graduate from university, and this brilliant digital marketeer already has a qualification and a role at Google on her CV. Jamilah, and thousands like her, are taking advantage of new apprenticeship opportunities, shaking up [...]
Education secretary urges parents to rethink apprenticeships February 3, 2020 Gavin Williamson has urged parents to move on from “outdated” stereotypes of apprenticeships. A new survey by the parent website Mumsnet found that too many parents are unaware of the range of opportunities apprenticeships can offer. According to the research published today, over 60 per cent of parents of children aged 13-18 surveyed said they [...]
France 24-17 England: Four things we learned as Les Bleus dazzle in Six Nations opener February 2, 2020 If France were seeking a performance to answer sceptics who suspected their latest fresh start might prove another false dawn, then this resounding Six Nations defeat of England ought to silence most. Les Bleus married their trademark attacking flair with uncharacteristically resolute defending as they swept into a 24-0 lead on Sunday at the Stade [...]
Uncle Vanya at the Harold Pinter Theatre review: Toby Jones delivers an acting masterclass January 31, 2020 Just as Dickens charted the plight of the underclass in Victorian England, Chekhov chronicled the slow collapse of the Russian aristocracy at the end of the 19th century. In Ian Rickson’s production of Uncle Vanya, adapted by award-winning playwright Conor McPherson, this breakdown is made literal, with trees winding through broken windows and vertiginous bookcases [...]
Property of the Week: Old or new? Take your pick on Portobello Road January 31, 2020 It may be home to the world’s largest antiques market; but Portobello Road in Notting Hill is surely just as renowned for its property. Tourists and influencers alike make the pilgrimage to W11 to take pictures with the row of brightly coloured Georgian houses, which have become such a symbol of London that they feature [...]
Six Nations preview: England can heal World Cup scars while youthful France will spring a surprise January 30, 2020 The Six Nations kicks off on Saturday and, although there are some question marks around them, England are still red-hot favourites to win the tournament. On the face of it, they come into the competition facing a few issues. Sunday’s match in Paris is their first since losing the World Cup final in November. Can [...]
Exclusive: Politicians slam House of Fraser for continuing to sell Presidents Club clothing line January 30, 2020 Politicians, businesswomen and equality campaigners have called on House of Fraser to stop selling a clothing line appearing to reference the Presidents Club dinner where businessmen allegedly groped hostesses. The Presidents Club annual dinner was plunged into scandal in 2018 after details emerged of attendees’ behaviour and revealing dresses hostesses were told to wear. The [...]
Cyber success is vital to the UK’s future January 30, 2020 From the Bletchley Park codebreakers to Tim Berners-Lee and the invention of the World Wide Web, the UK has a rich heritage of computing technologies. We see this pedigree coming through in our cyber businesses. Take Darktrace, the UK’s first cyber firm valued at over £1bn, which is changing the way businesses protect critical data [...]