Business and Economics

By Valentina Magri It was mid-September when the two major economic events that have irreparably changed our lives occurred: the Northern Rock bank run in the UK (13th September 2007) and Chapter 11 for Lehman Brothers in the US (15th September 2008). In the Eurozone today Italy and France are sick and Germany does not feel very well. The UK is out of recession and the economy is in better shape than its European counterparts, even if some labour market issues have not...

By CEO of Mettl, Ketan Kapoor Even though hiring activity has improved in recent months many executives have reported how difficult it’s been to fill highly-skilled and upper-management positions. Employers who seek out stronger talent end up eliminating employees who bring little to the table, in exchange for new employees who require additional time and training. I believe we can fix this gap in skill level without always resorting to more hiring and firing, if we start by investing in the...

Britain is in the midst of an entrepreneurial boom with more individuals than ever looking to banish the chains of large corporations and go at it on their own. But starting your own business is a daunting task, which is why the people at Intuit  have devised this infographic to help you navigate through the mire of questions and make your dreams and reality.  

By Mark Somers, Technical Director at 4most Europe  The economic risks of a more fragmented banking system… Big banks are in decline. That’s what many politicians are trying to achieve and what some experts are predicting will happen in the near future; whether that speculation will ring true, only time will tell. But for the UK, a more fragmented banking system brings with it many implications both positive and negative in terms of the economy and of course, the consumer....

By Tim Furdui, Senior Research Analyst at Atomik Research Market research is a fundamental prerequisite of international expansion for business. Without it, businesses expanding into overseas markets risk marketing their products and services blindfolded and to an unresponsive audience. As global trade becomes more important, insight will become paramount. According to annual investment figures from UK Trade and Investment for 2013 to 2014 the UK is becoming a truly global economy attracting the most inward investment projects since records began...

By Ikràn.M.Omar @IkranM Confronted with e-commerce and evolving shopping habits the future of the British high street has never been so clouded. Today the high street is no longer the only destination. Both e-commerce and the allure of behemoth out-of-town shopping centres have irreparably altered consumer habits placing high streets across the country in an empty grey void, ghosts of their former selves. First hit hard by the recession then by the austerity which hit the poor harder than the rich, Britain's...

By Chris Brown @vivabrownie Chris argues why you should give the often maligned sport a chance this season If you switch the television on and catch the beginning of an opening NFL game, just stop what you’re doing and allow yourself to absorb the scene for a moment. Notice the colour, the fireworks, the cheerleaders, the smoke, the razzmatazz - this is big time spectacle sport, this is the NFL. Some people will watch the NFL and be unperturbed by...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor SMEs are the first businesses hit by a recession but also the first to see improvement after the hard times. The BBC today (2/9/14) ran a news piece on the growth of the SME sector and their findings are supported by Bibby Financial services research. They found the majority of small and medium sized enterprises in Greater London expect to invest in their businesses this quarter. The independent funder surveyed 1,000 businesses with a turnover of up...

British foreign direct investment (FDI) into Lithuania has doubled ahead of the country’s entry into the Eurozone, which is set to be completed in just over four months. According to the latest figures from Statistics Lithuania, the official agency responsible for compiling investment data, British FDI in Lithuania has gone from £95 million in 2010 to £175 million in 2013. This makes the UK the second-largest investor in the country with heavyweights such as Barclays, which established its Technology Centre...