Exclusive: Half of all UK bosses plan to hire new tech staff this year January 31, 2022 Digital transformation is a key focus for UK businesses in the coming months. While costs have been a deterrent to innovation over the past year for many firms, the majority are looking to funnel investment into new technology projects in 2022. Nearly half of those polled admit that the cost of development has impeded their firm [...]
UK tech special: The rocky but unstoppable rise in startup valuations January 30, 2022 The accelerated growth of startup valuations has sparked debate around the world, particularly in the markets where this has been reflected in the most significant raises and the speediest unicorns. Despite ongoing pandemic uncertainty, a quarter of the UK’s 116 unicorn tech companies became unicorns during 2021. Investment climbed significantly, up to £26bn in 2021 [...]
Long fraud trial looms for tech tycoon Mike Lynch as Priti Patel approves extradition to US January 29, 2022 The extradition of British technology tycoon Mike Lynch to the United States to answer criminal fraud charges has been approved by Home Secretary Priti Patel. “On January 28, following consideration by the courts, the extradition of Dr Michael Lynch to the US was ordered,” a Home Office spokesperson said last night. “Under the Extradition Act [...]
UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch fails bid to delay US extradition ruling January 26, 2022 British technology tycoon Mike Lynch, who is facing extradition to the US after being accused of fraud, has failed to delay a decision by the Home Office this morning. US authorities accused Lynch of being involved in a multibillion-dollar fraud over the sale of his software company, Autonomy, to Hewlett-Packard in 2011 for £8.5bn, which [...]
Sales and productivity have jumped since move to four-day work week, says London tech firm January 25, 2022 A London-based tech company has seen a 30 per cent boost in sales since moving to a four-day work week, the agency told City A.M. Since the change to a four-day, 32 hour working week, implemented in October of last year, technology consultancy company THRYVE ahas also seen its productivity go up by 20 per [...]
Wise stock makes comeback after sudden share dive following Citi note that urged clients to dump fintech January 11, 2022 Shares in fintech company Wise are making a comeback this afternoon after they tumbled in London yesterday afternoon and this morning following an analysts at investment bank Citi urged clients to dump the stock yesterday. The downgrade was driven by analysts batting away Wise’s forecasts for revenue, saying the stock now priced in “excessive long-term [...]
Tech Special: The jobs, sectors and countries most at risk of automation and robotics in 2022 January 5, 2022 Digital change and automation are driving enormous productivity gains in the world of work. However, the rapid changes mean many individuals, businesses and even entire nations will be hugely impacted by automation and tech, with some roles and jobs to be replaced by robots altogether. Many of the industries that are most at risk of [...]
2021: Best year ever for UK tech sector with £26bn in VC, 116 unicorns, record London listings and more jobs December 28, 2021 The UK tech sector looks back on its best year ever, raking in £26bn in venture capital, record London listings, more jobs and the number of British unicorns climbing to 116. Success feeds cities outside London as Cambridge has become the leading regional tech city in the UK thanks to its combination of high levels [...]
Online auctioneer ATG posts strong revenue in first full year results since London IPO December 2, 2021 Auction Technology Group this morning said that its full year revenue rose 34 per cent to £70.1m from £52.3m a year earlier, outperforming expectations set out at its February IPO as bidders and auctioneers continued to rally online. Adjusted EBITDA hit £31.8m, a margin of 45 per cent and a 43 per cent increase on [...]
China hands out new fines to tech giants in anti-monopoly crackdown November 20, 2021 Chinese tech giants including Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings have been fined for failing to report corporate acquisitions, adding to an anti-monopoly crackdown by the ruling Communist Party. The companies failed to report 43 acquisitions that occurred up to eight years ago under rules on “operating concentration”, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation. [...]