It’s no secret that retail has had a difficult few years, particularly on the high street. I was therefore interested to read about the clothing brand Hush and its plans to open its first standalone high street stores after 23…
I was recently invited to speak at an insurance industry conference in Birmingham to discuss the importance of driving the service agenda forward. The most striking moment came when I asked the audience what was keeping them up at night…
Two sets of figures caught my eye last week. Recent data from GfK show consumer confidence has risen to its strongest level in two years, while August has seen a boost in services activity according to the latest UK purchasing managers’ index. Taken together,…
Although we have all got used to volatility and unpredictability over the last few years, it feels like this year has been quite exceptional. Geopolitically it has been highly turbulent, mainly due to conflict in the Middle East and the…
A case was made in the Financial Times recently for a plan to save our high street, built on the creation of a new “National Trust” to spark a change in the way spaces are owned, invested in and run…
Less than two weeks into a new era of British politics, former Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s words remain enduring: a week is a long time in politics. Recent polling has revealed Labour ahead of Reform for the first time in…
As someone who is not a dedicated follower of the Beautiful Game, I need to be careful about dispensing any particular wisdom on this summer’s World Cup. However, Spain’s win over Argentina last Sunday should have been a fitting end to…
The Times recently reported that Britain is now home to 80 billion-dollar start-ups, more than any country except the US and China. With 23 new unicorns created in the past year, this is Britain’s highest-ever total - a welcome sign of the…
Against a backdrop of strained costs, low growth, disruptive technology and political dissonance, having clarity on what to expect and where to focus over the coming months will become increasingly important. As busy people, the ability to see the signals…
In recent weeks, much of Britain has faced a blistering heatwave that saw the government issue guidance on how to stay safe in the hot weather. It seems we’re not far away from the next one either. The strain on…