Govt accused of ‘rank double standards’ as civil servants paid £30m in vouchers December 29, 2022 The Government has been accused of “rank double standards” after giving almost £30 million in high-street vouchers to civil servants amid a pay freeze prompted by the cost-of-living crisis. Sixteen Whitehall departments in 2021-22 paid out a combined total of £29.57 million to staff in the form of ‘reward and recognition’ vouchers, a third more [...]
The City in 2023: Real estate and infrastructure increasingly inflation-proof alternatives for investors December 29, 2022 Half of UK investors have either made alternative investments this year or are considering doing so in 2023 as they seek inflation-beating options. They primarily focus on investments in assets such infrastructure, real estate but also private equity and commodities. Two in five investors are more likely to consider alternative investments as a result of [...]
Wealthy Brits see inflation as biggest threat in 2023 with worst sleep for older millionaires December 29, 2022 High-net-worth-individuals see inflation as the most significant risk to their personal finances in 2023. While younger respondents remain fairly confident in the future of the UK economy and their own wealth, older HNWIs express significant concerns. Just a third (34%) of 55-64s and less than a quarter (23%) of over 65s say they feel confident [...]
Under the pump: Priti Patel among 29 MPs to back call for fuel pricing watchdog December 28, 2022 Priti Patel has joined almost 30 other colleagues in calling for a pump pricing watchdog to tackle the soaring fuel costs for motorists. The former home secretary signed a letter backing FairFuelUK’s call for an oversight body and commissioner to keep prices down, which is also supported by Dame Andrea Leadsom. This comes as motoring [...]
The year in City A.M. front pages December 28, 2022 As 2022 comes to a close, we look back on how the turbulent last 12 months were reported on from our very own newsroom. It would be fair to say the last year has been a tumultuous one. It started with the ending of pandemic restrictions and the onset of a cost of living crisis. [...]
EXCL – Sunak should lower national insurance in 2023, argues jobs chief December 28, 2022 With inflation having reached a 40-year high this year and the economy predicted to shrink in 2023, City A.M. zooms in on the volatile, hyperactive UK jobs market by checking in with Paul Farrer, the CEO and founder of London-based recruitment giant Aspire. Sitting down with this paper today, Farrer calls on the new Prime [...]
Bus and train strikes continue to frustrate retailers looking to cash in on Bank Holiday December 27, 2022 Holiday shopping may have to be put on hold once more as bus and train strikes continue to stall the London transport network. The national Network Rail strike ended this morning at 6am with services set to be disrupted throughout the day, in part due to the ban on overtime working. British businesses have urged [...]
Number of takeovers and mergers halved in 2022 but ‘bargain basement prices’ to turn tide in 2023 December 27, 2022 The number of big takeovers and mergers involving UK-listed companies nearly halved this year as investors were deterred by market volatility, political instability and recession fears. But the tide is set to turn in 2023, with buyers eyeing up quality British companies trading at “bargain prices”, experts said. There were 49 bids for London-listed firms [...]
As cyber risk intensifies, insurers must offer a better market to companies in need of protection December 26, 2022 From rising inflation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this year has yet again demonstrated the domino effect that occurs following a crisis, and the impact this has on businesses. There are many lessons to be learned as we move into the new year. If we take the war in Ukraine, the geopolitical crisis triggered sanctions [...]
Who’s winning the City’s talent war? The firms that paid the most in 2022 December 24, 2022 Where to find the best paid job? As strikes over pay have brought the country to a halt, it is notable that workers in one sector in particular have seen their pay packets bulge in 2022. Aside from criminal barristers, who carried out a month’s long strike this summer, those working in private sector legal [...]