Venture capital prospects are a bright spot for the UK economy January 29, 2025 Despite fears about the Budget and Donald Trump, venture capital rebounded strongly in 2024 and the view is looking optimistic for the years ahead, says Nicole Lowe It is fair to say that 2024 was a rollercoaster year when it came to venture capital (VC) investment. Major elections and political shifts on both sides of [...]
Glaring contradiction at heart of government growth agenda January 28, 2025 In the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act of 2013 (stay with me) the Competition Commission and the Office of Fair Trading were abolished, and in their place emerged the Competition and Markets Authority. The 2013 Act enshrined the regulator’s remit and responsibilities, with a hefty focus on protecting consumers. On the CMA’s website, they summarise [...]
Zuckerberg’s transition from geek to jock heralds the dawn of the alpha age January 28, 2025 Zuckerberg’s masculine makeover is emblematic of how Silicon Valley – previously the bastion of Californian idealism – has fully pivoted towards the Trump era, says Eliza Filby Back in early 2019, before the world had any inkling of what lay ahead, I attended a conference called: Disruption. It took place in a futuristic, windowless dome, [...]
The AI divide: How do the UK and US strategies stack up? January 28, 2025 Safety-first vs shooting for the stars, the UK and US's approaches to AI appear worlds apart. But can they come together?
Five airport expansions at once? London’s economy is finally ready for takeoff January 28, 2025 London’s airports are an economic success story for the whole UK. Increasing capacity is a no-brainer, writes BusinessLDN chief John Dickie.
Security theatre makes life more miserable and no safer January 28, 2025 The accretion of metal detectors and half-arsed pat downs from security guards are making life more inconvenient for no obvious reward, says Emma Revell The first duty of the government is to ensure the safety of its people. Unfortunately, whether measured by the security of our borders or our ability to maintain law and order [...]
Bigger airports will get growth off the ground January 27, 2025 Anyone who believes in growth should applaud rumours that Rachel Reeves will allow London’s airports to expand, says Jasper Ostle Rachel Reeves is rumoured to be throwing her authority behind the expansion of Britain’s airports, particularly Heathrow, Luton and Gatwick. It’s a courageous effort to accelerate necessary development: she will face opposition from colleagues, local [...]
Elon Musk is wrong – we must never ‘move beyond’ the Holocaust January 27, 2025 Elon Musk addressed an AfD rally on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day and said there was too much focus on Germany’s past. The rise of populism combined with the consolidation of the power of big tech should worry us all, says Jack Mendel This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day falls in the immediate aftermath of [...]
Scotland’s fintech hub is key to the UK’s growth mission January 27, 2025 I may be the cheerleader-in-chief for Canada, but there's a lot we can learn from Scotland too, writes Lord Mayor Alastair King.
This government has proven woefully naive. Just look at the ‘Office for Value for Money’ January 27, 2025 Reeves' failing Office for Value for Money showcases just how naive this government is, writes Eliot Wilson.