No-click-to-buy apps are a risk, but the rewards will be worth it July 22, 2016 Payments have come a long way, fast. In April, Domino’s began offering “zero-click ordering”, which allows customers to re-order a pizza simply by opening an app, removing the need for in-app tapping. There are now so many payment methods – contactless mobile, card and watch payments, swipes and taps on a mobile screen – it [...]
Rarer than a unicorn? This venture capital firm just floated in London June 15, 2016 Draper Esprit, the European firm which has backed startups such as LoveFilm, Graze and Lyst has made its stock market debut in a rare move for a venture capital firm.. With a dual listing on Aim and Ireland's Enterprise Securities market (ESM), shares on London's junior market were up as much as four per cent on the [...]
Why investors shouldn’t ignore the hype about fintech April 11, 2016 Many investors (business angels, venture capital and private equity funds as well as family offices) are participating in fintech, and recognise value creation truly reflective of a “fourth industrial revolution”. However, others are somewhat sceptical and concerned about froth and hype. Either way, what’s interesting is that even the most sceptical aren’t willing to bet [...]
How you doing? The labour market may be stumbling, but not for everybody April 20, 2016 Economic data out this morning showed that the unemployment rate across the country was 5.1 per cent, wages grew by 1.8 per cent over the year and the number of people in work reached a new record high. But those are generalisations – the picture differs markedly across sections of the economy. So who has [...]
Salaries are soaring among building firms as pressure mounts to find skilled bricklayers, says Federation of Master Builders April 26, 2016 More than two-thirds of small UK building firms forecast a jump in salaries and wages over the next six months as competition for skilled bricklayers intensifies. Brickies are already able to command wages of up to £60,000 per year in London and around £45,000 a year in the north of England. However these salaries could be even higher in the future [...]
Meet the tech foals to watch if you’re looking for growth June 23, 2016 London is home to 14 billion-dollar valued tech firms, or unicorns. It is the digital capital of Europe, a hub unrivalled in Stockholm, Berlin, Paris or Tel Aviv. But long-term growth doesn’t come from high profile valuations, but the next generation of emerging businesses. In this year’s European Unicorn 2016 report, our analyst team has [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 charges into bull territory as investors cheer leadership certainty and the weak pound drives up profits July 11, 2016 Well, there it is. The FTSE 100 has swung from bear market territory to a bull market in just over six months. The twists and turns of the day's political events gave a fresh boost to the global FTSE 100, while the UK focused FTSE 250 also posted strong gains. Housebuilders, such as Barrat Developments and [...]
What will it take for the online lending industry to hit profitability? October 26, 2016 Online lending has been having its Uber moment. “Platforms spend as much as they physically can to dominate, with VCs behind them pushing for that growth. But now, a lot of VCs have left. Platforms will have to go out for funding again, and we’ll see massive down rounds,” says one platform founder, speaking on [...]
MPs call for post-Brexit digital plan – or risk UK’s fintech success July 18, 2016 The UK's position as a world leading centre for fintech is at risk if the government fails to address the issues facing the £20bn a year industry as a result of the vote to leave the EU, a leading group of MPs have warned. The government must act now to stop investor confidence in the UK's tech and [...]
Four extra-curricular career boosters that will make your CV stand out from the crowd September 20, 2016 What with algorithmic bosses and a Brexit-induced hiring freeze, how do job candidates stand out from the crowd in 2016? University qualifications are a given, not a bonus, and those working in the City will likely already have a depth of relevant experience. For employers, picking has never been harder. One technique that promises at [...]