Britain’s tech stars rally against Brexit immigration curbs in open letter October 18, 2016 Britain's top entrepreneurs leading the country's hottest startups have called on the government to ensure they can hang on to their access to talent and skills from abroad so they can remain competitive after Brexit. Zoopla boss Alex Chesterman and founder of fintech unicorn Funding Circle, Samir Desai, are among nearly 50 leaders of the UK’s most promising and successful [...]
“You talkin’ to me?” Why language skills remain vital to businesses November 16, 2016 Global sales and marketing solutions provider, Televerde, is living proof of why companies are drawn to Scotland's rich talent pool and thriving business process outsourcing sector. Scotland's cabinet secretary for the economy and jobs, Keith Brown, has visited the US-founded firm in Glasgow to endorse the company's business plan of growing in Scotland. Mr Brown will take a 'look behind the scenes' [...]
A lack of digital prowess in the finance sector is hindering growth November 24, 2016 Lack of digital prowess in the finance sector is hindering growth. Here’s a sobering statistic. The average client-facing professional in the financial industry achieves a score of 20 on LinkedIn’s Social Selling Index (SSI.) The maximum score is 100. LinkedIn’s SSI measures the promotional competence of individuals, companies and industries on the networking site. The [...]
Housing benefit going to private landlords has doubled to £9.3bn over a decade August 20, 2016 The amount of housing benefits being paid to private landlords has doubled over the last 10 years, with the cost to taxpayers greatest in London and the South East, and housing associations blaming a shortfall in social housing. According to figures from the National Housing Federation, almost one in three housing benefit recipients now live in a privately rented [...]
Foxtons shares have fallen again as the mean streets of London continued to take their toll January 11, 2017 Estate agent Foxtons said tougher stamp duty rules and harsh trading conditions in London caused earnings to almost halve last year. The figures In a trading update this morning, Foxtons said revenues hit £133m in the year to the end of December, down from £150m the year before. Meanwhile, quarterly revenues fell to £26m, from £35m the year before. Adjusted earnings before interest, [...]
City Moves for 1 December 2016 | Who’s switching jobs December 1, 2016 NEON Neon has appointed Geoff Riddell as its new non-executive chairman. Geoff brings with him over three decades of experience in the international and London insurance markets. He is currently chairman of Pool Re, having joined its board in 2015. He previously held several senior managerial roles at Zurich, where he was chief executive and [...]
Bob Diamond takes interim chairman role at Africa-focused banking firm Atlas Mara October 11, 2016 Former Barclays boss Bob Diamond has been appointed interim chairman of African banking firm Atlas Mara. He will step in to the role when current chairman Arnold Ekpe stands down on 1 December. "It has been a privilege to serve as chairman of Atlas Mara," Ekpe said. "What the team has achieved in establishing and [...]
Oil price rally pushes stocks up around the world as US indices hit multiple record highs November 22, 2016 The continuing rally in oil prices led stocks around the world higher as a succession US indices hit all-time record highs at the close. Oil prices are rising on expectations that oil production cartel Opec will cut production at the end of the month. It meets on 30 November. The US oil benchmark, West Texas [...]
City Moves for 22 November 2016 | Who’s switching jobs November 22, 2016 TROWERS & HAMLINS International law firm Trowers & Hamlins announces the expansion of its real estate team in Exeter with the return of partner Georgina Savill James. Georgina was at Trowers & Hamlins between 2000 and 2015, and joins the firm again after a short time at Foot Anstey LLP. She specialises in acquisition and [...]
Weak pound, strong manufacturers: UK manufacturing PMI hits its highest since June 2014 October 3, 2016 UK manufacturers are having a ball, it seems, after a closely-watched survey hit its highest since June 2014. Markit's UK manufacturing PMI rose to 55.4 in September, up from 53.4 in August. Any figure above 50 denotes growth. Markit said the rebound in sentiment since the EU referendum was "sufficient to make the third-quarter average (52.3) the [...]