The UK construction sector looked stronger in October November 2, 2016 Output in the UK's construction sector rose in October, thanks to another "solid" increase in the residential building sector. The Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index for the construction sector rose to 52.6, up from 52.3 in September. Any figure above 50 denotes growth. The rise was driven by activity in the housing market, but the figures suggested [...]
Opinion: If the Mayor of London wants to serve everyone, he’ll keep flexible tenancies November 15, 2017 Sadiq Khan recently announced his draft housing strategy, in which he hopes to use the proposed London Model for renting to improve the private rented sector. Initially, this will bring together tenants and landlords to consult upon reforms, including the proposal for longer term tenancies. All contract lengths are negotiable between the landlord and tenant [...]
Sexists in the City? Fewer than there were, but we can do better January 26, 2018 The Presidents Club will not be holding any more fundraising dinners, but the consequences of the last one will be felt for some time. The undercover expose by FT reporter Madison Marriage has been the talk of the Square Mile, with details emerging of women employed as “hostesses” at the event, only to be pressured [...]
Kano, the innovative coding and computer kit startup, raises $28m from Marc Benioff, Stanford’s VC arm, Index Ventures, LocalGlobe and more November 1, 2017 An innovative tech company that creates computer kits for kids to help teach them how to code has raised fresh investment. Kano has landed $28m in a series B round from a string of well-known investors, including Salesforce entrepreneur Marc Benioff and the venture fund of Stanford University’s engineering department, one of the most prestigious [...]
The Land Registry’s tapping tech startups to make property more digital with artificial intelligence and chatbots October 19, 2017 The government department in charge of the country's property and land records is turning to startups for technological innovation. Land Registry will work with three property technology, or proptech, startups as part of a new programme aimed at improving property transactions A startup using artificial intelligence to help conveyancers asses risk, Orbital Witness, and another [...]
We must lay the ethical groundwork for artificial intelligence now, before it’s too late November 7, 2017 Artificial intelligence (AI) is having an identity crisis. More specifically, the concept of AI is often wrongly portrayed as a thing, a noun, a sentiment being – which it is not. The danger of overhyping and objectifying AI is that we misunderstand the valuable opportunity that presents itself, fail to fully educate the global population, [...]
The CBI aims to drive UK manufacturing to fresh highs as it sets up new council with Ineos director Tom Crotty at the helm August 14, 2017 The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is setting up a manufacturing council in an effort to support the industry. The chief executive-level council will bring together dozens of the UK’s top manufacturers, and will be headed by chemical giant Ineos’ group director Tom Crotty. Crotty said: “A vibrant manufacturing sector is essential to the growth [...]
Transport for London wants access to Uber’s greatest competitive asset – the swathes of data that underpins its success February 22, 2018 Efficiently matching supply with demand is the bread and butter of tech platforms operating in the gig economy. AirBnb matches spare rooms with short-term renters. Deliveroo matches restaurants with hungry consumers, via a network of riders. Uber matches car owners with people who need lifts. Each transaction creates rich data. When processed, that data becomes [...]
Former Shawbrook duo launch new investment firm for speciality finance businesses October 11, 2017 A duo from challenger bank Shawbrook have embarked on setting up a new investment firm, focused on companies in the speciality finance sector. Marc Sefton and Kieran McSweeney have founded Aquilam Capital, which will focus on investing and lending to businesses in the consumer and small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) finance niches and in the [...]
‘Supermarket giants doomed’ – no, just history repeating February 2, 2018 Investors, analysts, journalists or other market commentators often become convinced some scenario or trend definitely will or will not play out. Check back a few years later, however – always anyone bothers – and that certainty may prove unwarranted. Three or four years ago, for example, many were arguing it was ‘game over’ for supermarket [...]