Volkswagen car emissions scandal: VW’s crisis shows the cost of having unclear values September 23, 2015 The scandal surrounding Volkswagen’s rigged emissions tests, which may affect 11m vehicles, has rightly caused outrage. The carmaker is in crisis, its chief executive has resigned, consumers are shocked, and Volkswagen’s share price has dropped by nearly a third. The company announced that it is setting aside almost £5bn to cover the costs, although [...]
Lord Browne: Saving the corporation – it’s time to reconnect September 17, 2015 Criticism of big business has long been a favourite pastime of the left. From Jeremy Corbyn to UK Uncut, such campaigners dominate discourse on the disconnect between companies and society, and the solutions proposed to deal with this issue consequently often have a punitive edge, from jailing bankers to renationalising industry. Enter one of [...]
London housing crisis: There’s a practical way to boost home-building – release surplus public sector land in the capital September 16, 2015 I congratulate Sadiq Khan on being selected as the Labour candidate for London mayor. However, Khan seems to be long on analysis of the problems Londoners face but short on practical solutions. London’s housing crisis is clearly the leading issue at the moment, but all he offers are “new teams” at City Hall without [...]
Deloitte helps graduates on its scheme with East Village flats in London September 10, 2015 Deloitte, one of the Big Four accountancy firms, is helping its new graduate intake navigate London's housing crisis by reserving more than 40 flats in the former Olympic Athletes’ Village. The firm has joined forces with Get Living London, owner and manager of privately rented homes at what's now the trendy East Village, to help junior staff [...]
EU Migrant crisis: Prime Minister David Cameron to outline UK plan for refugees September 7, 2015 As MPs return from the summer recess, the Prime Minister is set to outline details of government plans to accept more refugees into the UK, the BBC has reported. Cameron is expected to say how many people will be accepted in more detail and who exactly will be accepted, as well as outlining plans of [...]
EU migrant crisis: Prime Minister David Cameron announces Britain will accept “thousands” more refugees in Syria U-turn September 4, 2015 David Cameron has announced that Britain will accept "thousands" more refugees, having bowed to pressure over the humanitarian crisis in the last few days. The Prime Minister, who has been criticised on all sides for failing to act, today committed to provide resettlement for "thousands more Syrian refugees". He said Britain would act "with our [...]
EU refugee crisis: Boris Johnson says London should help as Mayor of Liverpool offers sanctuary to 100 Syrian refugees September 3, 2015 As scenes of refugees making their way from Syria across Europe become more harrowing, the Mayor of London has said the capital should face up to its "moral responsibilities". On the question of whether to take in Syrian refugees in particular, Boris Johnson said London should "take people fleeing persecution and those plainly in fear [...]
EU refugee crisis: Prime Minister David Cameron signals U-turn as he promises Britain will fulfil its “moral responsibilities” amid growing pressure to accept more refugees September 3, 2015 Did David Cameron just signal a U-turn on his stance over the escalating refugee crisis? On the back of growing criticism the UK's Prime Minister said this afternoon that the country would fulfil its “moral responsibilities”. Cameron said “as a father I felt deeply moved” by the pictures of Aylan Kurdi, the three-year old Syrian [...]
India Martin: Former JP Morgan COO on why she left to start a nailcare business August 31, 2015 Do I feel like quitting? Yes, every single day,” says India Martin, founder of luxury nail polish firm Only Fingers and Toes. But she won’t. Not only does she know the value of her business, but when you talk to her, you know this is one of the most tenacious people you’ve ever met. [...]
The economic risks looming for small firms – Investec Comment August 31, 2015 Last week’s sharp sell-off in equity markets, apparently sparked by fears over the health of the Chinese economy, dramatically highlighted the risks to the global economic outlook. But the UK is still likely to enjoy moderate growth for at least the next two years. The CBI last week upgraded its UK forecasts for 2015 and [...]