“A slippery slope to privatisation”: Network Rail shake-up draws mixed reactions December 6, 2016 Chris Grayling's plans to shake-up Network Rail's monopoly on track maintenance have already caused quite the stir. Service operators will be given a role in managing the tracks and Grayling wants the firms operating services to form a joint management team with bosses from state-owned Network Rail. He said on BBC's Today programme that he [...]
BBA chief calls for clarity for banks on Brexit to prevent “worst case scenario” planning October 20, 2016 The head of a leading City trade group has called on government to provide more clarity on its Brexit thinking for the sake of the future of the banking sector. Speaking at the British Bankers' Association's International Banking Conference, chief executive Anthony Browne said "banks need as much clarity as possible" so they could carry out plans [...]
M&A activity surge predicted in betting, airline and homebuilding industries after Brexit vote November 9, 2016 The UK’s Brexit vote is likely to increase deal activity in the betting industry, among airlines and between homebuilders, new analysis out today suggests. With the outcome of the Leave vote far from decided, “the only certainty is uncertainty”, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report noted. But the report, “Will Brexit hurt – or help [...]
More KPMG partners follow Richard Fleming to Alvarez & Marsal in a bid to break the Big Four’s stranglehold March 6, 2017 One year has passed since KPMG big-hitter Richard Fleming shocked the City by walking out on the consultancy giant. Fleming officially joins rival Alvarez & Marsal this month. The firm moved for him and two other partners in early 2016 after KPMG rejected a bid from Alvarez & Marsal for the Big Four giant’s restructuring business. Today, the [...]
Bovis Homes on track to deliver record revenues despite Brexit blip November 10, 2016 Housebuilder Bovis Homes said today that it's on track to meet expectations of revenue and profit growth for the year, despite uncertainty in the market following the EU referendum. The group said that aside from the weeks immediately after the UK's vote to leave the EU, sales during the year to date have followed a normal [...]
Increasing levels of cyber security will be vital as fintech approaches “watershed moment” January 12, 2017 In 1993, cartoonist Peter Steiner of The New Yorker coined the phrase: ‘On the internet, no-one knows you’re a dog.’ More than 20 years later, the issue of internet privacy and a user’s ability to send and receive messages anonymously, remains a significant barrier to building online trust. “The reality is, as individuals, if we [...]
TalkTalk hits out at ultrafast fibre network critics December 11, 2016 Broadband provider TalkTalk has shot back at rival BT over claims it would not be able to build its own fibre broadband network in the UK. A report by Analysys Mason, commissioned by BT, and submitted to regulator Ofcom found the development of a third ultrafast broadband network in the UK was “highly unlikely”. However, [...]
Investment by businesses is expected to be broadly stable or slightly lower over the next year, according to BoE agents (they’re not secret agents though) November 9, 2016 Business investment by UK firms is expected to slow over the next 12 months – but not by a lot. The Bank of England said a survey carried out by its regional agents pointed to broadly stable or slightly lower investment spending over the coming year. Uncertainty around future demand for goods and trading arrangements as the UK [...]
Sadiq Khan announces business representatives for 40,000 job Royal Docks development December 22, 2016 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has unveiled the strategy leaders for a major business enterprise zone in east London’s Royal Docks. Business representatives will include executives from Deloitte and Land Securities in the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone as part of the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP). The development is planned to create 40,000 jobs and [...]
Britain’s services trade can flourish outside the EU Single Market December 15, 2016 Negotiating sensible agreements on services trade with the EU, WTO and third countries may not be as difficult as many are suggesting. There are a number of options negotiators can pursue which would go beyond the existing arrangements and further liberalise services trade to Britain’s economic advantage. First, the issue of “passporting” will need to be [...]