Taxman’s revolution: HMRC is setting the pace in digital government reform September 8, 2014 JUST like innovative private sector organisations, the government, as a provider of services to the nation’s citizens, needs to reflect and respond to the changing demands of those it serves. This is especially relevant to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which must provide effective, efficient and impartial services to its 41m individual and 5m [...]
Why I left the City for a startup – and why you should too September 5, 2014 If there’s a reason I left my finance career to build startups it’s probably this: vomit. It happened one night at 10 or 11pm on the 33rd floor of a gleaming investment bank. It wasn’t unusual that I was there so late – in fact, it was mostly the norm, and I’d been run haggard [...]
SuperGroup gets ready for a hot autumn with “broadest and best range of jackets” September 4, 2014 SuperGroup boss Julian Dunkerton declared yesterday that sales were back in shape after the colder weather and the approach of autumn drove customers back into its stores. The owner of the Superdry fashion brand posted a 3.7 per cent decline in like-for-like sales in the first quarter of the year to 27 July after facing [...]
Co-operative Group is back in profit as it confirms Richard Pennycook as chief executive September 4, 2014 The troubled Co-operative Group has made interim chief executive Richard Pennycook will take on the role full-time. Pennycook was promoted from his position of chief financial officer in March after the surprise resignation of Euan Sutherland. His appointment is likely to give the group's investors – including the hedge fund owners of its banking arm [...]
The nap debate: Is an afternoon kip a good idea? September 3, 2014 The cosy, pro-sleep consensus is showing signs of breaking. The nap is in – there’s no doubting it. Once associated with laziness (consider the saying “caught napping”, or “sleeping on the job”), a growing body of research touting the health benefits of an afternoon kip has seen the practice receive endorsements from Google and [...]
Armed men occupy offices of leading Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk September 3, 2014 "Armed men" have occupied the offices of Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk, according to a news story posted to the club's official website. The story claims that Shakhtar offices in Donetsk have been occupied and requests all official correspondence be redirected to an alternative address in the city. The club states that "circumstances of [...]
Top startups in call to keep London #1 European tech hub September 2, 2014 London's top startups and venture capital firms will today urge the UK government to relax rules and taxes in order to maintain the capital’s status as the top European tech hub. The so-called Startup Manifesto – written by policy group Coalition for a Digital Economy (Coadec) led by former government adviser Guy Levin – [...]
Vice Media to sell 10 per cent stake to A&E networks for $250m August 30, 2014 Vice Media has revealed they are nearing the sale of a 10 per cent stake to A&E Networks, after a period of negotiating with various suitors. A&E Networks is jointly owned by the Walt Disney and Hearst Corporation, and will invest $250m (£150m) in Vice, valuing the growing international media company at $2.5bn. Vice has [...]
AA is driving forward with a new leader Bob Mackenzie August 28, 2014 Motor icon AA yesterday crowned the mastermind behind its £1.4bn market debut as leader of the group after its current boss quit after just eight months. Bob Mackenzie, who used to run Britain’s car park operator NCP, has emerged as the most powerful figure at the 110-year old institution after incumbent boss Chris Jansen’s departure. [...]
Samsonite makes case for new CEO Ramesh Tainwala August 27, 2014 Luggage giant Samsonite yesterday announced the appointment of Ramesh Tainwala as chief executive as sales reached a record $1bn (£600m) in the first half of 2014. The Hong Kong-listed company said Tainwala, the group’s chief operating officer, would take over when current CEO Tim Parker stands aside on 1 October. His appointment comes as Samsonite [...]