Fintech 100: UK dominates KPMG’s global list of top fintech firms of 2015 with Transferwise, Funding Circle and Atom Bank December 14, 2015 As if you needed more proof that the UK fintech scene is booming… The UK is dominating a list of top fintech firms, with more emerging firms than any other country in the world, according to KPMG’s “Fintech 100”. The list of the leading fintech firms of 2015 is made up of 50 established firms [...]
Almost half of pensions industry professionals believe pensions will become a less important part of benefits in the future December 14, 2015 Today's businesses might be able to use a generous pension package as a key selling point for top talent, but will that ring true in the future? A survey released today by Aon Hewitt has discovered that 42 per cent of pensions professionals believe pensions will form a less integral part of benefits in the [...]
Five ways London companies can recruit top talent to technology jobs December 14, 2015 1. It’s not all about the money We find 80 per cent of candidates accept interviews based on factors other than the highest salary offered, so take the time to promote what makes your company unique in order to engage candidates. For early stage startups that can’t compete with larger companies on salary, perks like flexible working hours [...]
Fielding expertise: WeFarm founder Kenny Ewan on mangoes, peer reviews, and foot and mouth December 14, 2015 Look on the We Farm home page, and you’ll see a feed of questions like, “please, I need a reason as to why my coffee leaves are changing into yellow”. Answer: “It’s mainly due to lack of nitrogen. Foliar spray with a good foliar fertiliser like Omex will help clear this.” Or, “what is the [...]
Cracking the emerging company finance problem – Invest Comment December 14, 2015 An important sector of the UK economy – private companies making profits of between £1m and £5m each year – is not getting the attention it deserves. These firms (also known as emerging companies) don’t grab the headlines like large FTSE 100 businesses. Nor do they receive the media coverage enjoyed by fast-growth startups. And [...]
Defined benefit pension schemes becoming less and less popular with FTSE 100 companies, as contributions for their provision falls by 13pc in a year December 14, 2015 Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes have fallen further out of favour among FTSE 100 companies, as payments for their provision have tapered off. Research released today by JLT Employee Benefits has revealed that ongoing DB pension provisions among FTSE 100 firms fell 13 per cent in real terms to about £7.2bn in the 12 months [...]
Fintech predictions 2016: Blockchain and bitcoin unicorns will give way to “thoroughbreds” December 13, 2015 More good news for bitcoin, and the blockchain technology that it builds upon: At least five startups with $1bn valuations are expected to emerge within the next year, according to M&A advisers Magister Advisors. The advisers have been gazing into their crystal ball for next year, and foresee good times ahead for bitcoin firms, predicting [...]
Shh … one in 10 people aged over-40 hide savings from their partner December 11, 2015 One in 10 people over the age of 40 have confessed to secretly hiving off cash and investments without their partner's knowledge, new research from insurer Prudential has shown. The annual survey found 10 per cent have secret savings, investments and/or pensions, each with an average value of £30,300. Perhaps more worryingly, 15 per cent admitted to having hidden debts, averaging [...]
I’ll drink to that: London start-up Taste Cocktails beats investment target on crowdfunding site Crowdcube December 10, 2015 If you don't fancy braving the wind and rain this December, new start up Taste Cocktails may have the answer. A subscription service, Taste delivers monthly boxes to your door with premium ingredients to mix bar-quality cocktails. Taste has now beaten its £60,000 crowdfunding target on Crowdcube with five days to go. The company has raised £63,620. It [...]
Which countries are London companies hiring tech talent from? San Francisco, even with the capital’s 37 per cent smaller salaries December 10, 2015 London's search for the top tech talent goes beyond the capital, and even the country, with a quarter of jobs filled by someone from outside the UK. Candidates in San Francisco, the epicentre of technology and home to Silicon Valley giants such as Google and Facebook, received more offers from London companies than those in any other location. [...]
