Flood defences will put people first, says the Environment Agency chief executive Sir James Bevan January 2, 2016 After hundreds of people were forced to leave their homes in Yorkshire and Lancashire, the Environment Agency's chief executive has said "people will always come first" in the fight to defend the UK against flooding. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Sir James Bevan said: "If we have to choose between people and wildlife, we [...]
Unemployment numbers up and wage growth down: Why the UK labour market has started to stutter April 20, 2016 Jobs and wages figures released today raised questions over whether the UK economy could be losing steam. Analysts were quick to point to a host of factors that could be at play, as well as what the numbers mean for everything from interest rates to Brexit. The figures The headline unemployment rate came in unchanged [...]
Electra Private Equity forced to shake up its strategy now activist investor Edward Bramson is on the board January 25, 2016 The board of Electra Private Equity has announced it is reviewing its investment strategy just a few months after activist investor Edward Bramson joined the board. Bramson was finally voted on to the Electra board in November with 53.5 per cent of shareholders voting in favour, along with Ian Brindle, former PwC boss and a [...]
UK house prices: Generation rent to fall further from the property ladder as only one in four will own a home by 2025 November 17, 2015 In ten years time only 26 per cent of so-called “generation rent”, those aged between 20 and 39, will own their own homes according to a study by accountants PwC. In 2013, 38 per cent of those in that age group had bought a house. The amount of 20-39 year olds renting privately by 2025 [...]
The IT skills gap is growing: It’s not all about startups and Silicon Roundabout February 4, 2016 Amid all the pleas and promises to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of the digital revolution we need to remember that it is not all about startups and the "Silicon Roundabout". A more pressing problem of not having enough workers to fill the jobs in IT departments across Britain is now confronting the [...]
Investment banking revenues plunged to financial crisis levels in 2015 – and a greater drop is expected this year May 17, 2016 Global investment banking revenues dropped to their lowest levels since the financial crisis last year. And they are expected to plummet even further this year, according to a new report. Analysis in the Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) Capital Markets 2016 report predicts 2016 investment banking revenue to total $212bn (£147bn), down seven per cent from [...]
Oil and gas firms are struggling as the industry braces for fresh job cuts June 6, 2016 The UK oil and gas sector is planning further cost cutting to absorb the impact of lower oil prices, putting more jobs on the line. Almost half (43 per cent) of UK oil and gas firms intend to cut costs, new research from the Bank of Scotland has today revealed. Nearly a third (32 per cent) of businesses [...]
Fintech is about to lead the financial services sector into a new era January 18, 2016 I have been leading our firm's involvement in the CBI/PwC Financial Services Survey for several years now. It has been very interesting to see the ebb and flow of the financial services sector during this period. I have observed the doom and gloom of the financial crisis, the spike of optimism shortly after, the reality [...]
Business and the unions: We both back a third Heathrow runway – now get on with it March 10, 2016 We often read in the press about the latest bust-up between the unions and the business community. Yet there are any number of policies we agree on, especially those that help to deliver high-skilled quality employment and sustainable growth. Equally, we both get disappointed when the government falls short of the mark, particularly when the [...]
UK climbs one position to 15th place in a ranking of effective business tax systems, but drawn-out compliance times stop it from placing higher November 19, 2015 The UK has claimed 15th place in a ranking of countries with effective business tax systems, climbing up one position from last year, according to a report published today by the World Bank Group and professional services firm PwC. The league table, which assesses countries on how easy it is to pay taxes based on [...]