Revive that entrepreneurial spirit and get Britain building again February 8, 2019 Politicians have recently become fond of talking about how to tackle our alarming housing crisis. Yet little is delivered – and what is achieved focuses on inflating demand, with schemes like Help to Buy which do nothing to address the underlying supply shortage. In the third quarter of 2018, building on 46,930 new homes began [...]
Macron feels the heat as protests ramp up December 2, 2018 When Emmanuel Macron landed in Paris after the G20 summit in Argentina his motorcade delivered him straight to the Arc de Triomphe, where he was confronted with a vivid depiction of the anger felt by many of his citizens – and of his own place in this crisis. One of the country's most famous monuments [...]
Toy maker Hamleys blames Brexit, terrorism and rising retail costs for £9m loss October 12, 2018 The UK's oldest toy store Hamleys revealed a record loss today with profits dropping a staggering 500 per cent over the past 12 months. The iconic toy-maker blamed Brexit, macroeconomic factors and the threat of terrorism for the downturn in its fortunes. The retailer announced a £9.2m loss for the year to 31 December 2017, having made a £1.7m profit [...]
The Conservatives must not be afraid to stand up for free markets November 12, 2018 Today’s younger voters were born after the Berlin Wall had fallen and the battle of ideas over economics and the role of the state had been won for a generation. Since then, the world has changed. The Labour party has fallen under the control of people who do not believe in markets, free enterprise, or business. [...]
Mental health issues can be difficult to discuss – here’s how staff and bosses can broach this thorny subject October 11, 2018 Of all the conversations you can have with your boss at work, having one about mental health is arguably the most difficult. However, with 48 per cent of people having experienced a mental health problem in their current role, it’s a conversation that we have to get more comfortable having. While yesterday’s World Mental Health [...]
Britons’ income from work surged in August as low unemployment made its mark August 20, 2018 Britons’ work income rose at its fastest pace on record in August, as historically low levels of unemployment helped household finances cope with inflation pressures. Data from IHS Markit’s published today showed the tenth consecutive month of employment income gains, in spite of an increase in the feeling of job insecurity. The figures will be [...]
Off road: Is the car industry in reverse? January 14, 2019 The automotive industry faces recession and decline. Driverless cars are on the horizon, but has the moment for motors already passed? The first Model T Ford rolled off the production line in 1908. Available in “any colour… so long as it is black”, in the words of magnate Henry Ford, the car marked a breakthrough [...]
Capital gains: London shrugs off Brexit blues with jobs boom August 8, 2018 London's economy has remained buoyant, with first quarter job numbers reaching an all-time high, a major new report has found. Job numbers in the capital reached 5.9m at the end of June, up 1.9 per cent on last year and the highest since records began. It compares favourably to the rest of the UK, where the [...]
Centre for London: Capital maintains buoyant economy despite Brexit – but housing crisis and quality of life are causing a brain drain | City A.M. August 8, 2018 London’s economy has remained buoyant, with first quarter job numbers reaching an all-time high, a major new report has found. Job numbers in the capital reached 5.9m at the end of June, up 1.9 per cent on last year and the highest since records began. It compares favourably to the rest of the UK, where [...]
Administration filings tumble despite major retail insolvencies August 18, 2018 The number of firms falling into administration fell dramatically in the second quarter of the year, despite a series of high profile insolvencies hitting the headlines in recent months. A total 302 companies entered administration in the three months from April to June, marking a 13 per cent fall from the previous quarter. However, the figure [...]