Category: Articles

A majority of British adults are falling through an 'advice gap' by not making use of financial advisers, according to new research from unbiased.co.uk and MetLife. The research also reveals that those who do use advisers are often failing to seek advice about the most important issues. The 2015 Value of Advice research indicates a growing financial awareness among the younger generation, with many actively seeking advice, but also shows that a large proportion of adults are still not advised for the most crucial stages of life.

The UK's inflation rate fell to 0% in February 2015 from 0.3% in January.

UK businesses are not planning how to manage and deploy human capital, according to a poll conducted by Corporate Research Forum, in conjunction with KPMG. Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) includes taking actions to acquire, retain, develop, motivate and deploy human capital. Increasingly since the financial crisis, SWP has been utilised by businesses looking to improve performance and manage future challenges. However, this research indicates that there is substantial room for improvement.

Activity in the manufacturing sector remained broadly steady in March, according to the CBI's latest Industrial Trends Survey.

Last year 81% of large UK businesses and 60% of small companies suffered a cyber security breach. A report published on 23 March by HM Government and Marsh, one of the UK's leading insurance brokers and risk advisors, announces new joint initiatives between government and the insurance sector to help firms get to grips with cyber risk; to establish cyber insurance as part of firms' cyber toolkits and cement London as the global centre for cyber risk management.

The value of the UK's lakes, reservoirs, marshes, bogs, canals and rivers has risen by more than a quarter in five years according to the first ever analysis of freshwater ecosystems from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

In line with CBI lobbying Budget 2015 saw a reversal of the 2011 windfall tax on oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea and some comforts for energy intensive industries. As we edge closer to the election it's essential that government takes a holistic view of the UK Continental shelf aimed at maximising recovery.

British Land announces it has completed a £733 million property exchange transaction with Tesco. Under the terms of the transaction, British Land has sold its 50% interest in a joint venture portfolio of 21 stand-alone foodstores to Tesco and acquired Tesco's 50% interest in two joint venture portfolios predominately comprising Tesco-anchored shopping centres and retail parks.

SMHCA Capital Advisors, Inc. (SMHCA) is a privately-owned, value-oriented investment manager based in Fort Worth, Texas, specialising in fixed income management. Dwayne Moyers, Morgan Neff, and Daniel Rudnitsky make up the portfolio team. The firm, which was founded in 1989, has a global clientele, catering to individuals, high net worth individuals, investment companies, pension and […]

Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, comments on the penny cut in beer duty just announced in the Budget:

Almost one quarter (23 per cent) of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) think that a Government led implementation of stricter payment terms would have a significantly positive impact on their business over the coming 12 months, according to an npower Business survey of SMEs in the UK.

A new joint venture business has been created to host government computer servers. Crown Hosting Data Centres is a new joint venture between the government and the SME Ark Data Centres Limited, and will provide public bodies with a physical space to host their computer servers and systems that aren't in the cloud.

Open Garden's Off-the-Grid Messaging App Wins "Innovation in Connecting People" Category

"Trade with China dominated the Chancellor's coverage of exports in his 2015 Budget. He promised to double UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) resources to support exports to China, and posed the reminder that the UK is the first Western country to seek to become a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Bank in Beijing.

The Barclays Employers' Survey 2015, which questioned over 660 UK businesses*, has revealed that mid-size businesses will be leading on job creation and wage growth in 2015.

Smart use of technology in physical stores creates a personalised shopping experience to improve customer service and loyalty

Following years of global experience working within the travel sector, data forensics and information security experts Foregenix has launched a specialist airline security team to assist airlines, airports and service providers and aviation businesses to ensure their data is secure, including customer and payment details.

Responding to the announced increase in the minimum wage the Communication Workers Union welcomes an increase but says far more needs to be done to tackle low pay and pushes for the Living Wage to be applied by employers.

The accountancy landscape is changing – new technologies, competition, regulations and client expectations are making the future of the profession uncertain, says ICAEW.

Banks such as Santander are raring to lend to UK businesses – indeed, there has never been a better time to seek financing.

Minimum Wage Workers Will Be Hit by Chancellor's Cuts, Says TUC

Despite lower gas prices and reduced unemployment, most Americans are taking advantage of their savings at the pump to cover basic needs and pay off debt, according to the data released this week by The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) and National Journal.

Zurich have launched their 'Security and Privacy' policy and 'DigitalResolve' an innovative cyber-protection policy and a global breach response service that will support companies facing cyber risks.

The CBI has reiterated calls for the Chancellor to focus the Budget on supporting the UK's medium-sized businesses to grow.

Fraud detection and prevention has been cited as one of the biggest fraud challenges faced today and in the near future in a poll of delegates who attended Experian's recent Future of Fraud and Identity event. Nearly a third (31%) believe this to be the case.

Politicians who continue to claim that three million jobs are linked to our EU membership should be publicly challenged over misuse of this assertion. Jobs are associated with trade, not membership of a political union, and there is little evidence to suggest that trade would substantially fall between British businesses and European consumers in the event the UK was outside the EU.

Ahead of the first ever World Money Transfer Day on Sunday 15 March 2015, research from online money transfer service Azimo reveals the latest trends in how people choose to send their money abroad.

Greater access to capital and increasing confidence in market conditions is driving a surge of activity in the global real estate market, reigniting investor interest in less traditional sectors, according to new research by KPMG.

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, today announces it has been appointed as the civil contractor for an integrated team that will deliver the ten-year Thames Estuary Asset Management Programme for CH2M Hill, on behalf of the Environment Agency, and anticipated to be worth up to £250 million to Balfour Beatty.

The total number of passenger, light and mini commercial vehicles in China is likely to reach 282 million by 2021, opening up opportunities for the automotive aftermarket in the country. To tap into this potential, however, aftermarket participants must address the challenges stemming from fragmented distribution networks, regulatory uncertainty, and the presence of counterfeit parts.

Leading from the top, determination and setting achievable goals are essential to creating a diverse workforce, finds a new guide published today from Inspire, the global business network for senior Board-level women.

The Colour Cosmetics Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% between 2014 and 2019 to reach $47 Billion by 2019, a new report by marketsandmarkets.com has found.

BP today announced that it has signed the final agreements of the West Nile Delta project to develop 5 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas resources and 55 million barrels (mmbbls) of condensates with an estimated investment of around $12 billion by BP and its partner. The project underlines BP's commitment to the Egyptian market and is a vote of confidence in Egypt's investment climate and economic potential.

Daylight Saving Time means longer spring days and more work for businesses like landscapers, but according to the Merchants Payments Coalition, landscapers’ profits are getting mowed down by banks and their excessive fees on merchants for processing card purchases.

"Wind Turbine Composites Material Market by Fiber Type (Glass Fiber Composite, Carbon Fiber), Resin Type (Epoxy, Polyester, Polyurethane, Vinyl Ester, Etc.), Application (Blade, Nacelle, Etc), and by Region - Global Trends & Forecast to 2020", defines and segments the global composite market for wind turbine with an analysis and forecast of its global volume and value.

Health and employment services should intervene earlier, involve key stakeholders and ensure they work together in order to help people with mental-health issues find work and stay in a job, according to a new OECD report.