The next frontier for insurtech is reinventing insurance itself January 8, 2018 In 2015, when I first invested in an insurance technology startup, the term “insurtech” hadn’t been coined, and the explosion of investment in insurance was yet to begin. Fast-forward three years, and the landscape has changed immeasurably. Over $230m was invested in insurtech globally in 2015, growing to over $500m in 2016. Despite the fanfare, [...]
BT share price rises as regulators raise wholesale price caps February 23, 2018 BT investors were buoyed this morning by a regulatory announcement on the price it can charge its rivals to use its network. With shares rising almost four per cent, BT was one of the FTSE 100’s biggest gainers. Ofcom said it would not regulate the prices charged by infrastructure arm Openreach on its fastest broadband [...]
London will remain tech hub of the world January 30, 2018 The eyes of the world were on London earlier this month, as the city’s most iconic buildings were lit up in an array of colour as part of the world-class light festival, Lumiere London. More than 50 works of art were created by artists across the world, showcasing the strength of international collaboration. This doesn’t [...]
Financial services firms expect to step up the pace of hiring over the next quarter September 25, 2017 Financial services firms are expected to up the pace of hiring towards the end of the year, according to the latest Financial Services Survey from PwC and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Headcount is predicted to be stable in banks and fall in building societies, but increase in all other sectors. Firms are also [...]
Carluccio’s appoints Goals Soccer Centres boss Mark Jones as CEO January 9, 2018 Deli and restaurant chain Carluccio's has announced that Mark Jones of Goals Soccer Centres is to become its new chief executive. Having announced his intention to leave Goals in October, Jones will take over at the chain of Italian eateries "in due course". He commented: "I am excited to be joining Carluccio's at this important [...]
Marc Vlessing, CEO of Pocket Living on his mission to provide affordable compact homes for young Londoners December 8, 2017 Marc Vlessing’s eyes were first opened to millennials’ struggle to get on to the housing ladder when he was working in theatre. As CEO of Crescent Entertainment, which went on to become the largest group of theatres and cinemas in the UK, he was surrounded by passionate, hard-working people in their 20s and 30s, “but [...]
Mmusi Maimane means business: Why South Africa’s Democratic Alliance opposition leader wants to cut the Rainbow Nation’s red tape | City A.M. July 16, 2018 In his first state of the nation address in February, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa was adamant when he pledged that “a new dawn” was upon the country. There was reason to be hopeful; the former deputy president in the African National Congress (ANC)-led government had run on an anti-corruption platform and smoothly taken the [...]
London’s technology powerhouse needs to look in the mirror and promise to do better April 19, 2018 As Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the hot seat in the US Congress to provide evidence on the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, the tech industry once again found itself under scrutiny, scorn, and suspicion. Was this the death of the stereotype of the eternally optimistic and ambitious tech entrepreneur? 2017 was cited as the annus [...]
Theresa May doubles tech talent visas for non-EU foreign workers after Brexit to woo industry November 14, 2017 Theresa May is seeking to reassure the UK’s flourishing tech industry amid ongoing concerns over the impact of Brexit on hiring top talent. The Prime Minister and chancellor Philip Hammond will meet with top entrepreneurs and investors on Wednesday and is promising a flurry of measures to support startups across the country. “It is absolutely [...]
Asia is as key to Britain’s future success as Europe February 9, 2018 It has been another frustrating week for those hoping for a decisive Brexit roadmap from the government. But while battles over the customs union continue to rage, we would do well to remember that the UK should be setting its sights far beyond the borders of Europe. Last week, the Prime Minister was in China, [...]