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David Sapsted

David Sapsted

Berlin skyline with Spree river

German expats rate it top for career prospects

Germany, the UK and Bahrain rated top 3 destinations for expat career prospects analysing factors such as work-life balance, acquiring new skills, work culture, fulfilment, benefits and earnings propects.

Germany flat in Berlin

Prominent Germans issue 'stay with us' plea to UK

High profile German's including business leaders, celebrities and politicians, including Angela Merkel's likely heir, sign a letter to Britons making a plea to avoid Brexit and remain in the European Union.

Former chief reporter at The Times and news editor and New York correspondent for The Telegraph among other journals, David Sapsted writes sharply observed news for Relocate.

David Sapsted

Car filling up at petrol pump

UK inflation at its lowest in two years

UK CPI inflation rate drops to 2.1 per cent helped by falling oil prices being reflected at petrol pumps, house prices increase outside of London and the south east. Results indicate Bank of England unlikely to raise interest rates.

UK Parliament at night

Business leaders condemn Brexit vote 'pantomime'

Business leaders express frustration and anger due to lack of clarity following no vote on Theresa May's withdrawl agreement, they say MPs must find a way to avoid no-deal to protect jobs and the economy.

City of London skyline

Hedge fund to relocate Singapore HQ to London

Singapore based hedge fund Orchard Global Asset Management with $5 billion in assets to relocate HQ to the City of London inspite of Brexit uncertainty, to take advantage of the City's top-class debt markets.

Young professional leaving train

'Uncertainty reigns' for UK workers in EU

Despite a lack of official statistics, research suggests significant numbers of mobile young British expats working across Europe with no clarity as to their long term status.

Immigration visa stamp

Abolish visa limits for skilled migrants, says IEA

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) think-tank release a report arguing that the government should ignore a cap on reducing net migration numbers and focus on types of migration and attracting high skilled workers.

Immigration line on uk road

CBI demands 'informed debate' over expat workers

The CBI say the government are not leading an informed debate over the benefits immigration brings to skill, innovation and enterprise in the UK and this is putting business at risk of a no-deal Brexit and immigration reform.

Uk and Japan flags

Shinzo Abe voices global worries over no-deal Brexit

Shinzo Abe emphasises the the high level of Japanese investment in the UK and its role as a gateway to Europe which increases the importance of avoiding a no-deal Brexit.

Architects study a drawing

Architects demand 'drastic' changes to visa system

The Royal Institute of British Architechs (RIBA), calls for 'drastic' reform of UK immigration post-Brexit to keep flow of skilled international architects which has dropped since Brexit vote.

London skyline

London's tech sector still rules European roost

In 2018 London was the leading European destination for venture captial funding in tech companies attracting £1.8bn, helping to secure talent for the future. Major growth is in 'Fintech' financial technologies.

Storm clouds over a city

World Bank sees 'darkening clouds' for global economy

The World Bank downgrade forecasts for economic growth citing risks such as trade tensions, weaker manufacturing and stress in emerging economies, whilst no-deal Brexit would impact countries to east and south of eurozone.

Bank coins against background of EU flag

Up to 7,000 city jobs 'set to relocate to EU'

Financial services companies look to establish European Union hubs post-Brexit however current political uncertainty requires planning for all scenarios.

Economic slowdown ahead sign

UK services growth subdued - French sector contracts

Brexit uncertainty and global economic slowdown cause the UK's services sector to experience its slowest growth since the Brexit vote, whilst in France the protests add to economic bad news.

House for sale sign on a street

Modest outlook for UK property in 2019

Slow UK house price growth in 2018 is expected to continue into 2019. Wealthy foreign buyers took advantage of a fall in the pound as luxury home sales are up and house sellers are accepting lower prices.

Staff working in a manufacturing workshop

‘Take us seriously on migration’ businesses tell ministers

Brexit and immigration uncertainty blamed as the manufacturing industry shows worst skills shortage since 1989. The British Chambers of Commerce and businesses frustrated as they can't attract the right skills.

Airplane flying over offices

No post-Brexit commuting, US banks tell London staff

US banks will not pay for London staff to commute weekly to offices in Europe after Brexit, thereby encouraging permanent to relocation to Frankfurt, Paris, Dublin and other EU cities.

UK visa form

CBI says immigration plan 'does not meet UK needs'

Josh Hardie of the CBI leads criticism of Immigration White Paper voicing business concerns over how reforms to low skilled and temporary workers, visas and minimum salary requirements would be bad for the economy.

Immigration reform book

Businesses uneasy over new UK immigration proposals

Business reaction to UK immigration policy white paper is mixed, with positive responses to reforms for skilled workers but fears over lower skill jobs, added EU visa red-tape and temporary workers.

Immigration sign at airport

UK set to abolish cap on skilled migrant numbers

The UK government has published it's post-Brexit immigration policy white paper which does not set in stone the £30,000 minimum salary limit neither give details of target immigration levels.

Investors in London

Investors eyeing post-Brexit opportunities in UK

Survey of investors shows confidence that PM May's Brexit withdrawl agreement and investment industry's skills base mean that sector will continue to grow and even bring in new companies.

Moscow

US bank to switch FX trading from Moscow to London

The sanctions placed on Russia in 2014 continue to reduce business causing intenational banks and financial services to move to the UK and the EU for a more business fiendly environment.

Apprentices in a workshop

New talent needed - but where will it come from?

London businesses expect to increase the number of high skilled employees but are concerned about skills shortages whilst countrywide there are calls for more vocational skills training at university.

UK and EU flags flying

'Now get on with Brexit deal' businesses tell MPs

Theresa May wins Conservative Party confidence vote giving some relief to uncertain businesses looking for progress on Withdrawl Act and negotiations of future relationship with the EU.

Cargo ship leaves port

Markets rally amid hopes of US-China trade truce

China makes concessions by reducing tariffs on imports of US cars from 40% to 15% which is good news for markets and US automakers showing an easing US China tensions.

Market in India

Ever-growing UK investment in India, report finds

Britain is single largest Western investor into India as President Modi's business reforms make it easier to do business in a country with a huge domestic market, growing middle class and skilled workforce.

One man waiting for interview

UK wages surge as staff shortages bite

Latest figures show that the UK labour market is tightening as the number of people in full-time work rises however increased employment means that it is getting harder for employers to recruit necessary skills.

Mount Fuji and Tokyo

Japan opens its door to 'flood' of expats

De-population and an ageing workforce means many industries face staff shortages leading Japan's government to intervene and offer many new visas to skilled foreign workers.

Manchester skyline

Foreign investors shunning Brexit fears

Latest figures show that in spite of concerns over Brexit foreign investment to the UK continues to be strong with financial services, manufacturing and cities seeing the highest levels of investment.

Two workers on handsets at a shipyard

Trade wars and Brexit bring eurozone slowdown

PMI economic indicators show Brexit and US China trade uncertainty contributing to slowdown across eurozone with services sector underperforming and political deadlock likely to extend uncertainty.

EU and UK immigration sign at an airport

Another delay over post-Brexit immigration policy

The Home Secretary Sajid Javid will not release the government's post-Brexit immigration policy until after parliment votes on May's Brexit deal drawing criticism from MPs on all sides.

Two large tanker ships carry trade cargo

Protectionism fears dominate G20 summit

While the G20 meeting yields little progress on global issues the US and China agree to a truce on increases in trade tariffs and May tries to build enthusiasm for future UK trade deals.

Imaging showing scales of justice

Global standing of UK legal services continues to grow

Britain's globally respected legal system and business environment allows the legal services sector to grow, settling more global corporate cases and drawing international law firms to the UK.

Passengers stand at airport immigration queue

Fall in EU net migration outweighed by non-EU arrivals

Overall net migration is stable at 273,000 as increasing non-EU immigration makes up for a 60 per cent fall in the number of EU migrants since Brexit vote.

Bank of England with Union Jack

Banks - if not businesses - ready for no-deal Brexit

Bank of England analysis shows the major banks are prepared for Brexit, however a no-deal scenario would have a devastating impact and could trigger a recession worse than the 2008 financial crash.

Two workers in a factory in hi-vis jackets

Treasury forecasts economic damage likely from Brexit

New long-term UK Treasury forecasts on May's Brexit deal estimate increases in government borrowing and reductions to GDP growth with figures worse under a no-deal scenario.

Diagram of. thinking minds connecting

Study finds lack of HR planning in workforce upskilling

A new report highlights the need for businesses to plan and invest in human skills to adapt to future automation whilst another indicates automation could fill a Brexit skills shortage.

Two girl cross Tower Bridge holding a Unit Jack flag

EU agrees Brexit deal... now for the hard part

EU leaders agree to Teresa May's Brexit deal but the PM now has the harder task of getting the UK parliament's support whilst new reports forecast negative economic impacts.

HMRC sign from offices at parliament square

Tax changes to spur fight on UK non-doms?

Changes by HMRC to the tax regime are influencing UK non-domiciled residents to move overseas in the short term with mixed impacts for the Treasurey and UK economy.

Bankers shake hands after making deal

Bonds bankers 'first to move from London'

Senior UK bankers are having to relocate to Europe and learn new language skills in order to win clients and prevent negative impacts to business caused by Brexit uncertainty.

Two researchers study a computer monitor illustrating an article about increased funding for R&D in the UK

UK business R&D spending and hirings hit new highs

Business spending on research and development in the UK has reached a new high, growing by almost five per cent in 2017 to £23.7 billion, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

millenial startup companies

UK SMEs grow apace 'but fail to appeal to young'

Small and medium enterprises in the UK have created three times more jobs over the past five years than larger businesses, according to an analysis of government statistics.

a photo of UK wind farms illustrates an article about new inward investment into the UK announced by Prime Minister Theresa May

May hails boosts to UK's industrial strategy

Inward investment into the UK is boosted by Airbus and Eutelsat orders. Plus, Equinix's total investment this financial year of £295 million is a "vote of confidence" in London's future as a premier financial hub.

May puts immigration at centre of Brexit deal

May puts immigration at centre of Brexit deal

Embattled Prime Minister Theresa May has put future UK immigration controls at the centre of her defence of the controversial Brexit withdrawal agreement she has negotiated with Brussels.

Brexit european union flag house of commons

Europe stands firm against Brexit deal revision

Chancellor Angela Merkel has said there is "no question" of renegotiating the terms of the draft Brexit deal as uncertainty continued to engulf British politics.

UK union jack and EU flag superimposed on an image of St Pauls

Cautious welcome from business to Brexit deal

As politicians locked horns over the draft Brexit deal, UK business leaders gave a guarded welcome to the proposals agreed between London and Brussels.

Illustration of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London illustrates an article on the latest Brexit deal presented to Parliament by Prime Minister Theresa May

Political turmoil follows draft Brexit agreement

Fresh doubts over the future of the draft Brexit deal struck between the UK and Brussels emerged on Thursday as Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and other ministers quit Theresa May's government in protest.

Predicted rise in UK inflation fails to materialise

Predicted rise in UK inflation fails to materialise

The UK's inflation rate remained unchanged at 2.4 per cent in October, surprising economists who had been predicting a small increase.

Up arrow indicating improved employment figures

Record drop in number of EU workers in the UK

The UK records the largest annual decrease in EU27 workers. Also, UK unemployment levels are at a historic low, though unlikely to fall much further given a slowdown in job creation.

Xi promises to open up China to the world

Xi promises to open up China to the world

President Xi Jinping has renewed his pledge to open up China’s economy and boost imports with a commitment to buy up to $30 trillion of goods and $10 trillion of services over the next 15 years.

UK GDP growth highest in almost two years

UK GDP growth highest in almost two years

The UK economy grew at its fastest rate since the end of 2016 in the third quarter of the year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed on Friday.

Image of a UK nuclear plant with trees with autumn leaves in the foreground

US woes force Toshiba to abandon UK nuclear plant

Struggling Toshiba's announcement to abandon plans to build a new nuclear power plant in Cumbria deal a blow to UK government plans to expand electricity generation. Why does Toshiba find itself in this position?

Uncertain future for Trump after midterm elections

The predicted 'blue wave' might not have materialised but the Democrats did enough to seize control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections in the US - a change that could spell trouble for President Donald Trump.

US and Iranian flag illustrates article about USA and Iranian trade conflict

EU nations vow to maintain Iran trade despite US sanctions

European nations have vowed to continue trading with Iran despite President Donald Trump's imposition of sanctions to put "maximum pressure" on the Tehran regime.

Two-thirds of UK firms fear future skills shortage

Two-thirds of UK firms fear future skills shortage

More than three-quarters of UK businesses expect to increase the number of higher-skilled roles over the coming years, yet the vast bulk of them fear there will be a shortage of suitably qualified candidates, according to a new report.

Banks step up plans for Brexit relocations

Banks step up plans for Brexit relocations

A growing number of banks are implementing plans to relocate staff from London to European hubs amid growing fears of a 'hard' Brexit next March.

UK and EU flags illustrate article about the latest tentative Brexit agreement

UK-EU 'reach tentative deal on financial services'

A tentative agreement has been reached between the UK and EU, based on 'equivalence' terms that would mean UK firms would have to conform to EU financial regulations.

Brexit prompts British rush for Irish passports

Brexit prompts British rush for Irish passports

The fast-approaching prospect of Brexit has resulted in the number of Britons applying for Irish passports reaching record levels.

Philip Hammond, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer in a official UK parliament photo

Businesses see Brexit as the elephant in the budget room

Despite individual positive measures, including those focused on tackling the UK’s long-standing productivity problems, business leaders remain cautious about the last UK budget before Brexit.