More Brexit blues: OECD halves UK growth forecast
Another day, another Brexit horror story, this time the OECD (The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) has cut the UK’s growth target in half, by a whole percentage point. These forecasts have been reduced due to the impact of Brexit and a wider weakness in the broader global outlook. The report states: “While markets have since stabilised, sterling has depreciated by around 10% in trade-weighted terms since the referendum. For 2016, GDP growth has been supported by a strong performance...
Travelling with a disability in London and beyond…one woman’s journey
My name is Beth Richards, I’m 32, I have a learning disability, and my coordination isn’t good. I recently travelled to London from Bristol as part of my job as an involvement assistant with charity Brandon Trust. I heard Transport for London (TfL) is looking at introducing a new ‘please offer me a seat’ badge for people with disabilities and hidden health conditions, after the success of the ‘baby on board’ badge for pregnant women. I think I’d prefer to...
What It’s Like Living ‘On Autopilot’
A report that looks set to send shivers down the spine of business owners everywhere has found that 94 per cent of Brits are drifting through their lives without any real thought of what they are doing. This state impacts performance and productivity at work, with 71 per cent claiming to have days where they carry out their day job without really giving it much thought. The report also found that many also check through emails without really taking them...
How London’s tech & business community is tackling youth homelessness
Alastair Brown, CEO of Lombard Risk and co-chair of Byte Night London, discusses how London's tech community is tackling youth homelessness. I have enjoyed a long career in London’s finance sector – I’m now the CEO of Lombard Risk and previously was with RBS, and I have been lucky enough to never have to experience homelessness. Unlike the 80,000 young people who find themselves in this situation every year in the UK. On 7 October I will be taking part in...
Is this a good way to spend YOUR money? BBC journos paid 40% more than commercial sector
Perhaps it is just personal jealousy on my behalf, but the pay levels at the BBC appear to be much higher than the rest of the industry. Having never worked at the Beeb, I can only dream of the bumper pay packets they receive compared to their commercial rivals. The leaked report by PwC has confirmed the disparity between the state funded broadcaster and the rest of the news market. The document indicates that BBC staff are paid up to...
The Rise of Cybercrime
"V for Vendetta" (CC BY 2.0) by hawken king Cybercrime is everywhere, it targets everyone and its threat is ever present. The only surprise is that we hear so little about it, but that is changing. The regularity with which high-profile websites and organisations are being hacked should be concerning, but often these hacks and the hackers are viewed as little more than an embarrassing inconvenience for the organisation targeted. Yet hacker networks such as Anonymous have the power to...
Syrian aid convoys suspended by UN after fatal attack
The UN has decided to halt all aid convoys in Syria due to an airstrike that hit a group of vehicles attempting to give much needed supplies to people trapped in Aleppo. The attack, on Monday, has left the UN with no choice but to stop aid convoys incase of attack, it is simply too dangerous for them to continue to operate. A fragile ceasefire, brokered by the US and Russia in Syria, has since collapsed due to Syrian bombing...
Review: Novikov Italian Masterclass
Like many of the glitzy restaurants that line Berkeley Street and the surrounding areas, it should go without saying that the food at Novikov is generally outlandishly expensive. Split into two main restaurant areas, an upstairs Pan-Asian space and a downstairs kitchen that focuses on mainly Italian food, it would be fair to state that Novikov, like nearby Nobu, Scott’s, and more recently Sexy Fish, is also very much a place to be seen. However, if your sole intention is...
Investment pours into Blackpool as ‘Brexit Boom’ continues
The post-Brexit boom continues in the UK with investors literally pouring cash into UK holiday resorts like Blackpool, Weston Super Mare and Skegness. This is despite UK and global markets tumbling at the very threat of Brexit, a weakened currency, and world leaders threatening to pull investment out of the UK should we invoke article 50 to actually leave the EU. The 'Brexit Boom' is a phenomenon being widely reported by the right-wing press despite most analysis suggesting the complete opposite....