Rolls-Royce launches partnership with engineering giants Amec Foster Wheeler, Nuvia and Arup to build fleet of mini nuclear reactors January 8, 2017 FTSE 100-listed engineering giant Rolls-Royce has teamed up with a raft of British engineering groups to design and build a fleet of mini nuclear reactors. Amec Foster Wheeler, Nuvia and Arup will work with Rolls-Royce, together with the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, in the effort to make small modular reactors (SMRs). The engineering partnership [...]
Budget 2017: Four things pensions experts have had to say about the Budget March 8, 2017 Former chancellor George Osborne will be remembered for monkeying around with pensions, in particular for ushering in pensions freedoms that were announced in 2014 implemented the following year. Philip Hammond didn't do too much on pensions in his Autumn Statement in November. So what was he up to today? 1 – Quiet day Beancounters EY [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: Tax credit changes off the table, George Osborne announces November 25, 2015 George Osborne has taken controversial changes to the tax credits system off the table in one of his first major announcements during today's Autumn Statement. The chancellor said he had "listened to the concerns" about changes previously proposed, with many urging that changes should be phased in to ease the transition. "However, given the improvement [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: Here’s where departmental budgets were cut last year November 25, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne will show the full force of his axe today, with up to 40 per cent in cuts for a number of departments expected, all in the name of reducing the deficit by £20bn. With over half of public spending now ring-fenced from cuts, however, Osborne has had to engage in tough bargains with [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: Changes to bring in £5bn a year from tax avoidance November 25, 2015 The government is aiming to bring in £5bn more a year through tackling tax avoidance by 2019-20. In the Autumn Statement chancellor George Osborne confirmed £800m more would be spent on tackling evasion and non-compliance through to 2020. The government is also set to build a digital tax system to help fight avoidance and to [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: Here’s everything we know about London Help-to-Buy November 25, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne has announced London Help-to-Buy, aimed at helping people in the capital get a loan to help them buy a home. Along with this, the chancellor said Help to Buy shared ownership will relax the rules around shared ownership, ensuring more people can take advantage of the scheme. Read more: Osborne to double government housing [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: Businesses back deficit reduction plans but the public remains split November 23, 2015 The vast majority of business directors want chancellor George Osborne to hold his nerve on budget deficit reduction when he delivers the Autumn Statement this week, new survey figures reveal this morning, while the general public remains split on the issue. The Institute of Directors (IOD), a business group, said 85 per cent of 1,211 members [...]
Government slammed as dysfunctional as Philip Hammond admits cabinet has had no “end state” Brexit discussions – and reveals the Spring statement date December 6, 2017 Philip Hammond has admitted there have been no specific discussions of the country’s “end state” after Brexit, drawing criticisms that the government is “breathtakingly dysfunctional”. Speaking during a Treasury select committee hearing this afternoon, the chancellor admitted that conversations had not gone beyond “general discussions”. “The cabinet has had general discussions about our Brexit negotiations, [...]
Nimbyism in decline as housing shortage bites February 2, 2017 The construction of new homes is now a top five priority for voters, with increasing numbers of people willing to support housing projects in their local area. A report by the Centre for Policy Studies, a think tank, suggests attitudes to new builds have changed dramatically over the last ten years. Citing a British Social [...]
The cost of talent and housing threaten London’s digital crown March 2, 2017 The government yesterday unveiled its digital strategy – an action plan for growing the digital economy and making the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a digital business. This ambition is undoubtedly very welcome. London is already the best place in Europe for digital startups and scaleups, boasting excellent access [...]