GlaxoSmithKline gives shareholders £4bn windfall after Novartis deal March 2, 2015 GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is delivering a £4bn windfall to shareholders following the conclusion of a three-way deal with Novartis. The deal comes in the wake of a dreadful 2014 for the British drugmaker in which turnover fell by 10 per cent and profits slumped 15 per cent after declining sales in the US and a bribery [...]
What’s in store for London’s financial services sector? February 27, 2015 With the onslaught of regulation post-financial crisis, and the rise of other financial centres like Hong Kong, many have been left wondering what's in store for the future of London's financial services sector? It's an important question. London's financial sector Financial and related professional services contributed £174bn to the UK economy in 2012, accounting for 12.6% [...]
Here are the 40 wealthiest ex-apprentices February 26, 2015 Anyone who wants to be rich is typically told to go to university, but apprenticeships can offer another route, with a number of ex-apprentices making it to the top of their trade and becoming multi-millionaires in the process. As demand for skilled workers rising – to the extent that some can ask employers for higher [...]
After the record high FTSE falls on Weir warning – London Report February 25, 2015 THE FTSE 100 yesterday retreated from the previous session’s record high, with engineer Weir Group leading the market lower after warning about a significant drop in its revenue in the current year. The blue chip index closed down 14.25 points, or 0.2 per cent at 6,935.38 points after setting a new record high of 6,958.89 [...]
Creativity makes a vast contribution to business: We ignore it at our peril February 25, 2015 The Academy Awards have become a (not especially accurate) measure of the UK’s cultural standing in the world. Thanks to Eddie and co, the Brits officially had a good Oscars, with four wins from nearly 40 nominations, but we need not obsess over the results of this dubious annual assessment. Our film stars are just [...]
Development Securities chief exec Michael Marx steps down February 24, 2015 Development Securities chief executive Michael Marx will be stepping down after 21 years, the company said yesterday, consoling shareholders with a £10m special dividend. The FTSE 250 property developer said that Marx, 65, will retire from the board at the annual general meeting in July. However, he will remain on the board as a non-executive [...]
Rediscover the art of conversation at work in easy steps February 22, 2015 Making an effort to build new relationships pays big dividends. How often do you walk into your office and it’s quiet enough to hear a pin drop? Are your colleagues constantly plugged into their headphones, heads down, and cracking through their to-do lists? Do you even know their names? While we all need space [...]
City watchdog in investment banking probe: What will the FCA do and who’s involved? February 19, 2015 Big investment banks may be too dominant in some areas of the industry, limiting competition and hurting companies and consumers, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warned yesterday. Prices are not always transparent enough to allow firms to compare banks effectively, the FCA said. The watchdog has received complaints that shares in major deals are allocated to [...]
Why competence will always beat charisma at work February 19, 2015 In an age when soft skills are all that matter, Elena Shalneva still prefers ability and rigour. A headhunter calls about a job. It’s in Amsterdam, starts next month, requires fluent Dutch and pays about half of what I used to earn when I last worked in an office. The job is fairly basic, but [...]
Why the soft skills generation is an asset – ACCA Comment February 18, 2015 It’s easy to criticise the young for their lack of business savvy but we may be missing a trick. Our young people aren’t up to the job. They just don’t have what it takes.” It’s a familiar refrain, isn’t it? Hardly a day goes by without a high-profile business leader expressing grave concern that the [...]