Energy firms urged to lift lid on prices December 20, 2012 THE UK’s Big Six energy companies should be forced to reveal how much energy they have bought and sold from themselves, in a bid to increase transparency and customer trust, MPs said yesterday. The Energy and Climate Change Committee, headed by Conservative MP Tim Yeo, said there was not enough information about suppliers’ wholesale arrangement, [...]
Talking down the recovery won’t close the gap in SME lending perceptions August 28, 2013 IT’S AMAZING the difference just a few months can make. If we wind back to the spring, the news was dominated by economic doom, gloom, and concern about the UK entering an historic triple dip recession. Now the pendulum seems to have swung the other way, with survey after survey reporting increasing business confidence and [...]
How the geography of global innovation is rapidly changing September 12, 2013 Liam Ward-Proud investigates the cities that are attempting to foster new startup cultures WIKIPEDIA founder Jimmy Wales has called on Britain to extend its entrepreneurship visa scheme to make London more enticing to startups. He joked that “nobody wants to live in San Jose, California – it’s incredibly boring”. But the geography of global innovation [...]
How the geography of global innovation is rapidly changing September 8, 2013 Liam Ward-Proud investigates the cities that are attempting to foster new startup cultures WIKIPEDIA founder Jimmy Wales has called on Britain to extend its entrepreneurship visa scheme to make London more enticing to startups. He joked that “nobody wants to live in San Jose, California – it’s incredibly boring”. But the geography of global innovation [...]
Coalition hopes to fill UK energy gap with gas December 5, 2012 THE DASH for gas came a step closer yesterday as the chancellor talked up the importance of the fuel for Britain’s energy security. But there were fears that the incentives offered to gas producers would not be enough to tempt firms to generate enough power to bridge the UK’s looming capacity gap. In the Department [...]
DECC denies policy change October 11, 2012 The Department for Energy and Climate Change last night insisted it was still committed to meeting climate change targets despite reports the government was plotting to build new gas stations. The Times said this morning that the government would introduce a legal loophole to allow new fossil fuel plants to be built. Last night DECC [...]
A ban on zero hours contracts would be damaging to our economic recovery August 7, 2013 WE FEEL no need to excuse businesses that are doing all they can to create jobs. Those who have this week labelled zero hours contracts abusive have completely missed the point. In uncertain times, firms face tough decisions on the risks – on inventory, expansion, staff – they are willing to take. Employers will only [...]
No EU carbon cash for UK November 11, 2012 THE government will not get EU funding under the first round of a subsidy scheme for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects because it has failed to provide the required financing guarantees, EU sources said yesterday. CCS technology captures carbon emissions from power plants before they enter the atmosphere and stores them in long-term storage [...]
North Sea oil plan approved October 24, 2012 A £1.6bn project to develop mature North Sea oil fields has been approved by the Department for Energy and Climate Change. The Talisman Energy project is the first to be implemented as a result of HM Treasury’s brownfield tax allowance. The Montrose Area Redevelopment project will integrate established fields with two under developed oil fields. [...]
North Sea oil plan approved October 24, 2012 A £1.6bn project to develop mature North Sea oil fields has been approved by the Department for Energy and Climate Change. The Talisman Energy project is the first to be implemented as a result of HM Treasury’s brownfield tax allowance. The Montrose Area Redevelopment project will integrate established fields with two under developed oil fields. [...]