Avoiding the financial perils of divorce November 29, 2017 If your marriage has broken down, the emotional strain can take its toll. But splitting your finances can make the divorce process a lot tougher. Last year, the number of divorces among opposite sex couples increased by 5.8 per cent compared to 2015, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. But worryingly, [...]
Protectionism means UK export growth will slow next year despite weak pound says report November 27, 2017 The growth in British exports will slow next year as protectionist measures take their toll, in spite of a weaker pound boosting competitiveness, according to research published today. UK exports will increase by £20bn in 2018, slower than the £50bn predicted for 2017, according to forecasts from trade credit insurer Euler Hermes. The chemicals industry, [...]
Private equity still forking out for payments businesses as Inflexion investment values Radius at £800m November 27, 2017 London-based private equity firm Inflexion has today taken a £150m minority stake in payment services business Radius, in a deal showing payment technology is still in hot demand. Radius, which was valued through the deal at £800m, provides card services (such as fuel cards) to smaller businesses with vehicle fleets. This affords these small and [...]
What will innovation look like in 2018? Bird & Bird’s Digital Innovators tell us all about the year ahead November 24, 2017 In a year when quantum computing made major leaps forward and using your face as a password became a reality, you’d be forgiven for being hard pushed to imagine just how much further technology can take us. But 2018 will certainly be a year for driving even more innovation for the 50 up-and-coming companies chosen [...]
The opening shots of ‘Brexodus’? November 22, 2017 On Monday came two announcements that Britain was losing two European agencies. Two European agencies plan to relocate post Brexit The first was the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which will relocate to Amsterdam after Britain leaves the European Union (EU) in 2019, with the loss of an estimated 900 jobs. The second was the European [...]
How the Budget could affect your personal finances, and what you should do if it does November 22, 2017 Philip Hammond hasn’t got it easy. Putting a Budget together is difficult at the best of times, but with Brexit looming large over the UK, producing a financial plan for our economy is now a hell of a lot harder. In such an uncertain time, how can Hammond hope to offer the stability the [...]
Let’s make London the green finance capital of the world November 15, 2017 The prospect of Brexit threatens to cause serious damage to the UK’s financial services industry. Paris, Frankfurt, Dublin and even Luxembourg are circling like hungry jackals waiting to pick off the weakest members of the herd. London will need to develop a distinctive and competitive offer to investors. I believe we can find it, in [...]
These are the least stressed workers in the UK, according to Axa November 15, 2017 Myth-busting research released today has found that self-employed people are the least stressed workers in the country. Research by Axa Insurance has found that those working for themselves have a better work-life balance and more improved well being than others. The research pinpointed other myths, including that self-employment is more precarious, less well-paid, and is [...]
David Davis sets out post-Brexit vision for financial services November 14, 2017 David Davis has committed to protecting talent within financial services after Brexit, as he gives his clearest indication of the government’s thinking for the sector yet. Speaking at UBS this morning, the Brexit secretary set out his vision of the City’s future relationship with the EU after March 2019, based on three key planks: protecting [...]
SSE teams up with Thames Water to lay fibre broadband in London’s Victorian sewer network November 14, 2017 A leading broadband provider believes it has hit the ideas jackpot in the battle to boost Britain’s broadband internet: it wants to lay fibre optic cables in London’s vast sewer network. Energy giant SSE, which has an established broadband infrastructure offering, has teamed up with Thames Water. It plans to tuck fibre cabling 10 metres [...]