Good for equality? Good for the economy March 22, 2021 DiverCity® Podcast · The Changing Shape of Female and Inclusive Entrepreneurship International Women’s Day is a catalyst for a wealth of discussions on experiences, equality, and the opportunities to realise gender parity, but this year, the backdrop of COVID-19 has brought new issues to the fore. For the International Women’s Day episode of DiverCity podcast, [...]
Authentic Brands in talks over double swoop for Arcadia and Debenhams – report December 13, 2020 US retail giant Authentic Brands is planning an audacious double swoop for collapsed Arcadia and Debenhams in a deal that would transform the high street. The firm, which recently took over historic New York department store Barneys, is in talks with the administrators of the two companies this weekend. The Sunday Telegraph reported that the [...]
Saturday essay: It’s easy to hate social media, to truly make it work we need to learn to love it July 3, 2021 It’s fashionable to be irrationally critical of social media. Almost every policy relating to social media serves to restrain, rather than nurture it. The image of online platforms, amongst politicos and policymakers, is often that it is nothing more than an inflammatory cesspit of trolls and creeps who debase every conversation with racist and sexist [...]
Vodafone: Pandemic-induced remote working hit women hardest May 20, 2021 Nearly half of all women who leave the workplace for over a year suffer from a loss of confidence, according to a new report today, which urged employers to further support employees as they flock to offices once again. As Covid restrictions are being eased, the study published today by Vodafone, found that women can [...]
Chelsea confirm Thomas Tuchel appointment as German former PSG manager replaces sacked Frank Lampard January 26, 2021 Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of former Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel as manager. Tuchel, 47, has signed a contract until the end of next season, with the option of a further year. The German replaces club record scorer Frank Lampard, who the club sacked on Monday after 18 months in charge. “I would [...]
Olympic chiefs expected to press ahead and draw up plans for Tokyo 2020 Games in summer 2021 despite Covid-19 concerns January 26, 2021 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will meet tomorrow to draw up plans for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games, despite persistent speculation of a Covid-enforced cancellation. Wednesday’s video meeting of the IOC’s executive board is expected to focus on how it will ensure the vaccination of athletes, manage international visitors and accommodate spectators. The Japanese government, [...]
Weekend Read: Ailing business investment will dampen the economy’s post-Covid prospects August 21, 2021 The good pandemic-related news continued to emerge last week. Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics shows output jumped 4.8 per cent in the second quarter of this year, driven by the lifting of Covid restrictions on sectors that rely on face-to-face and social contact to generate income. The services industry – which accounts [...]
Lengthy audits cut into BDO profits as firm defends use of furlough scheme December 10, 2020 Audits carried out during the coronavirus pandemic have taken between 5 and 10 per cent longer than they would typically, creating extra expense for clients and smaller profits for BDO. Profits at the audit and consultancy firm suffered somewhat in the 2019/20 financial year, with the firm making a profit of £137m, down from a [...]
BDO eases promotion pause and makes 20 new partners January 6, 2021 Some 20 employees at BDO have finally been promoted to partner at the firm, having had their promotions delayed for six months because of Covid-19. The new partners work across the audit firm’s tax, audit and advisory teams and their promotions are effective from 1 January. A total 470 staff that were due promotions in [...]
‘Risky’ FTSE firms could be shunned by worried auditors fearing backlash May 29, 2021 There are worries that the crushing weight of public criticism combined with record-breaking fines could see perceived ‘risky’ FTSE companies shunned by auditors. Following large-scale collapses like Carillion and Patisserie Valerie, the audit sector has faced harsh criticism, having come under both the media and government’s spotlight for failing to do their jobs properly. According [...]