As the CES tech show closes in Las Vegas, what will be the most exciting consumer development in 2017? January 9, 2017 Alex Wood, founder and editor of The Memo, says Amazon's Alexa. Amazon’s Alexa is about to take over the world, in a good way. The home of the future is filled with internet-connected devices but, until now, no one has figured out how we’ll manage all these bleeping and blooping smart machines. In Las Vegas [...]
Amazon’s Alexa totally infiltrated CES this year January 5, 2017 Amid gimmicky gadgets that may never make it to the shelves (smart whistle, anyone?) Amazon's Alexa artificial intelligence voice assistant has stealthily become the stand out winner of the Consumer Electronics Show. The technology which first appeared in Amazon's own smart home speaker Echo and Echo Dot made surprise appearances almost everywhere, from fridges and cars to robots and baby monitors. [...]
Tata leadership race must show open mind December 16, 2016 Trump, May, Modi: protectionism takes many forms, and has many masters (and mistresses). In India, a curious case of economic nationalism is quietly unfolding at the country’s most significant conglomerate. In one sense, that’s unsurprising – India’s track record of foreign ownership restrictions in industries like insurance, banking and technology, is a lengthy one. But at [...]
Uber treats drivers like Victorian “sweated labour”, says Frank Field in gig economy report December 9, 2016 Frank Field might be more commonly known as one of the thorns in Sir Philip Green's side, but Uber might now have a bone to pick with him too. The Labour MP and chair of the Work and Pensions Committee has uploaded a report to his site analysing the working relationship between Uber and its drivers, [...]
Britain must look beyond trade deals to turbocharge exports December 9, 2016 In 1860, the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty, widely regarded as the first international trade agreement, was signed at the Foreign Office. French duties on British manufactured goods were slashed and, in return, British duties on French wine and brandy were cut, ushering in three decades of expanding trade – and, presumably, considerable joie de vivre in Britain’s [...]
The London mayor’s ploughed £2.5m into startups since Brexit November 28, 2016 The Mayor of London has ploughed more than £2.5m into the capital's soon-to-be star startups since the vote for Brexit in a bid to show the world the city's "open for business", as he unveiled a new line up of advisors drawn from the UK's ranks of top entrepreneurs and business leaders. Sadiq Khan hailed the London Co-investment [...]
Autumn Statement TL;DR? Here’s our at-a-glance guide November 23, 2016 Chancellor Philip Hammond spoke for around an hour while delivering today's Autumn Statement. If you don't have time for that, here's our at-a-glance overview of the announcements you need to know: Economics, public spending and politics The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast for growth increased to 2.1 per cent, up from two per cent, for 2016, but [...]
Autumn Statement 2016: Planned fuel duty rise scrapped by Philip Hammond in seventh consecutive year of freeze November 23, 2016 Fuel duty has been frozen for the seventh consecutive year, chancellor Philip Hammond announced in today's Autumn Statement. "It is a tax cut worth £850m next year and means the current fuel duty freeze is the longest for 40 years," Hammond said. The duty cancellation will save the average car driver £130 a year and [...]
Salary sacrifice schemes hit in Hammond’s first Autumn Statement November 23, 2016 Employee salary sacrifice schemes such as gym memberships will no longer be tax-free, the chancellor said today. Philip Hammond said in his Autumn Statement that certain benefits employees enjoy tax-free at the moment will no longer be exempt. The Treasury said that the tax and employer National Insurance advantages of salary sacrifice schemes will be [...]
City Moves for 15 November 2016 | Who’s switching jobs November 15, 2016 Harrods Bank Harrods Bank has appointed Mark Stephens as its new chief executive officer. Mark joins Harrods Bank following seven years at Aldermore Bank, most recently in the role of deputy chief executive and group commercial director. Mark will be responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the bank as it enters an exciting [...]