Italian low-carbon energy company Cogenpower to float on Aim February 11, 2016 An Italian low-carbon energy company will float on the London Stock Exchange's alternative investment market (Aim) tomorrow, as it seeks to expand into the UK. Cogenpower wants to raise £1m by listing 5,000,000 shares at 20p each, giving it an anticipated market capitalisation of £10m. Cogenpower's power plants and district heating networks deliver cheaper, cleaner heat and energy to nearby communities [...]
In defence of “tax havens”: Why the world would be much poorer without offshore finance April 8, 2016 Offshore financial centres (OFCs) have taken a bashing in the press in the last few days following the Mossack Fonseca leaks. But the truth is that the major OFCs are extremely well regulated and have been so for many years. It is far harder to set up a company in Jersey than in the UK, [...]
Britain needs an industrial house-building revolution to tackle housing market failure January 14, 2016 The world is moving from uncertainty to instability. Economic, political and social “flashpoints” include the United States, EU, China, North Korea and the Middle East. While the UK has sensible economic goals – 2.5 per cent growth, 2 per cent inflation, £1 trillion of exports by 2020 and improved public finances – progress is mixed. [...]
London house prices: Thousands of London homes are left vacant long-term February 21, 2016 Despite a chronic housing shortage in the capital, tens of thousands of homes in London are left vacant on a long-term basis, according to new data. More than 22,000 homes have been left empty by their owners for more than six months, despite soaring rents and property prices, data obtained under Freedom of Information by the [...]
What’s in a name? isobel’s Paul Houlding talks independence, supercharging and bacon April 11, 2016 Sometimes in advertising, you need to be wrong to be right – to produce a tension,” says Paul Houlding, managing partner and co-founder of independent creative shop isobel. It’s that kind of thinking which led him and his three partners to christen their agency with the middle name shared by their daughters when they started [...]
UK housing crisis: Build to Rent investment to triple by 2020 December 5, 2015 Investment in Build to Rent will triple to £50bn by 2020, helping it swell from two to five per cent of the private rental sector, and providing minor relief to the UK's growing housing crisis. It's pertinent as the number of first time buyers and young homeowners are declining, at a time when private rental stock is [...]
Ryanair’s corporate jet plans show the value of excelling in a few areas, rather than trying to please all of the people all of the time March 10, 2016 Ryanair has made its name with its no frills, low cost approach – selecting to prioritise cheap fares over in-flight luxuries. The carrier has made steps to shake off its budget tag in recent years, with the launch of Ryanair Business Plus and renewed focus on customer experience. But the airline is taking its move upmarket to new [...]
City Moves for 29 January 2016 | Who’s switching jobs January 29, 2016 Marsh Rob Powell has been appointed claims advocacy international leader at insurance broker Marsh. Based in London, Rob will report to Michael Poulos, global head of Marsh’s client advisory services. He joined Marsh in 2014 as a managing director in the international claims advocacy practice. Before joining, Rob was global chief claims officer at Torus [...]
Why equity crowdfunding is about more than just money March 17, 2016 The UK’s “alternative finance” market has doubled in the last 12 months and hundreds of British entrepreneurs have embraced crowdfunding to launch and grow their businesses. While the US has only just got round to legalising equity crowdfunding, the UK is leading the world. And from next month, hundreds of thousands of investors are expected to jump [...]
London’s biggest banks will struggle to reach sustained profitability due to bad debts and regulatory fines, IMF and KPMG warn April 14, 2016 A toxic mix of bad debts and regulatory fines will see some of London’s biggest banks struggle to reach sustained profitability, according to two major new reports from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and KPMG. The hard-hitting reports have prompted city analysts to predict looming job cuts in the Square Mile and Canary Wharf, while [...]