Business leaders urge govt to restore ‘hard-won reputation for stability’ after rate rise and recession warning November 4, 2022 The government’s must restore the UK’s “hard-won reputation for stability” after this week’s rate hike and warning about a prolonged recession. A top wonk at the Confederation of British Industry responded to the Bank of England’s “bumper rate rise” to 3 per cent shows “the scale of the UK’s inflation challenge”. With inflation now over [...]
Q&A: Fintech boss Janine Hirt on how London can stay ahead of EU rivals January 26, 2023 Fintech is an increasingly vital part of the UK’s financial ecosystem – so it’s high time to chat with Janine Hirt, the CEO of industry body Innovate Finance, on the challenges that come with keeping the UK out in front of Europe While the UK has historically been a global leader in FinTech – receiving [...]
Top of the class: Virtual learning and adult ‘upskilling’ helps publisher Pearson boost sales to £3.1bn March 3, 2023 Publisher Pearson said sales of its textbooks and virtual learning offerings were boosted by increased demand for online learning, among adults and schools. Sales increased 12 per cent to £3,841m during the full year 2022 compared to £3,428m the previous year. Operating profit in the preliminary results were £271m, compared to £183m in 2021. This [...]
A crackdown on betting firms can stop profits from problem gamblers April 28, 2023 Yesterday's proposals for limits on gambling should help betting firms stop making money off of problem gamblers, but we must also be careful to avoid blanket bans, writes Neil Banbury.
HMRC digital transition set to cost £1.3bn – four times over budget – MPs warn November 25, 2023 Transitioning HMRC to a digital system is now expected to cost as much as £1.3bn - and has gone four times over budget, MPs have warned.
N Brown: Online retailers will ‘kick on’ again in new year following cost of living lull September 5, 2023 N Brown chief executive Steve Johnson said he expects online retailers to “kick on” again in the new year, following a lull period driven partly by customers returning to physical stores in order to shop around amid the cost of living crisis. Speaking to City A.M., Johnson, who heads up the business behind popular online [...]
UK financial watchdog cracks down on marketing of ‘high-risk’ financial products August 1, 2022 The UK’s financial watchdog has vowed to crack down on those using “unclear” and “misleading” information to sell risky investments after bringing in tough new rules around the marketing of high-risk financial products. The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA’s) “stronger” rules require firms to use clearer and more prominent risk warnings, and ban companies from [...]
Klarna’s UK chief on looming regulation – and why it might not settle the buy-now pay-later debate April 20, 2023 Klarna's UK chief talks a regulatory crackdown - and why the debate around buy-now pay-later products may continue
Begbies Traynor boosted by collapse of Paperchase and host of insolvencies February 27, 2023 Restructuring specialist Begbies Traynor Group says its finances have been boosted by the collapse of Paperchase earlier this year. Begbies Traynor was appointed as administrator after the struggling stationery chain failed to secure any buyers. The retailer’s 106 branches could face closure after Tesco agreed to buy the brand but not its stores or workforce. [...]
Plan to tackle fraud makes UK ‘less attractive’ for investment, payments lobby group warns June 26, 2023 The UK’s payments industry is under threat from proposals designed to tackle fraud, the main payments body has warned. In a letter to Lord Dominic Johnson, minister of state for investment, the Payments Association – which represents over 300 payments firms – warned “some regulators regulate in a way that stifles the growth of our [...]