David Sapsted

Businesses applaud opening up of UK to US/EU travel

Business leaders have welcomed the government's decision that travellers from the US and Europe will no longer have to go into ten days of isolation after arriving in Britain.

Vaccine disparities hurting global growth, says IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that vastly different Covid-19 vaccination rates across the world are splitting the global economic recovery into two.

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

Pressure grows on companies over climate change

Global asset managers Fidelity International has said it will hold company directors to account next year if they fail to deliver on issues of climate change and boardroom gender diversity, according to a report in the Financial Times.

Vacancies jump as jobseeker numbers drop again

Businesses in the UK are confronting a "critical dearth of talent", according to the latest analysis of jobs statistics by Broadbean Technology, the world’s largest network of job boards.

Firms told: accept hybrid working or lose staff

Companies in the UK that fail to offer continuing opportunities for flexible working have been warned they do so "at their peril" because they could end up losing valued staff.

Boom in UK tech investment from Asia, Middle East

Investment this year in UK tech startups from Asia and the Middle East appears on course to reach a new high, according to a new report.

'Urgent' need to change workers 'isolation rules'

The English economy became free of most pandemic restrictions on Monday but business leaders warned that the government must do more if the recovery was to regain momentum after 16 months of lockdowns.

Leap in Indian applications to UK universities

The number of Indian students applying to British universities this year has seen a 30 per cent jump on the 2020 total.

UK businesses call for visa easing as vacancies soar

Job vacancies in the UK in the second quarter of the year surged past the total available before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, according to official figures published on Thursday.

Prime property prices rising globally

Prime real estate markets in cities across the globe are on course to see price rises over the course of this year, according to international estate agents Astons.

UK firms expanding hiring, spending plans

Amid surging confidence as lockdown restrictions come to an end, major British companies are pushing ahead with ambitious investment, acquisition and hiring plans, according to a new survey.

Business boom in UK financial services

Business volumes in the UK's financial services grew at their fastest pace for four years in the second quarter of this year, according to the sector's latest survey.

Call to ease visa rules to tackle skills shortage

One of the UK's largest business organisations is calling for a more flexible and affordable immigration system after a survey found companies are facing mounting problems hiring the skills they need.

Digital leads global rush in M&A deals

The global record for mergers and acquisitions was smashed in the first half of this year as the business world began to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, according to data from financial intelligence firm Refinitiv.

Skills shortage as UK vacancies surge

An increasing number of professional vacancies in the UK is not being matched by the number of jobseekers applying for the posts, according to a report from leading jobs board CV-Library.

Now Vauxhall's electric future gets a boost.

The future of the Vauxhall car factory at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire was secured on Tuesday with the announcement it was to be transformed into a plant producing electric vehicles.

Supply problems hit German factory output

Global supply chain problems and a slump in overseas orders have been blamed for unexpectedly large slump in German manufacturing orders.

UK boosted by digital Singapore and 'Gigafactory'

The past week has seen two announcements that have the potential to significantly enhance UK economic growth over the coming decade.

EY to create 3,000 jobs across EMEA/India

An additional 3,000 financial services jobs are to be created over the next three years by EY, one of the UK's 'big four' audit firms.

Lord Karan Bilimoria, Chairman, Cobra Beer Partnership, UK

CBI head calls for UK visa overhaul

Changes to the post-Brexit immigration system are being demanded by the head of the UK's largest business organisation.

Financial services facing skills 'timebomb'

The vast majority of HR executives in financial services believe their companies are facing a tech skills shortage, according to a new report.

Businesses applaud UK bid to join CPTPP

Business leaders in the UK - particularly in financial services - have welcomed this week's opening of formal negotiations for the nation to join a free trade alliance of Asia-Pacific countries.

Post-pandemic surge in UK tech vacancies

An unprecedented 132,000 tech vacancies in Britain were recorded in one week last month, according to an analysis carried out for the government's Digital Economy Council.

India leads rise in searches for UK jobs

Interest among overseas workers in jobs in Britain have almost recovered to pre-pandemic levels, according to new research by Indeed, the world's largest jobs site.

Australia and UK to ease business travel

A pledge that a new trade deal agreed between Australia and UK will encourage people to travel and work in each other's country has been made by the two governments.

Blurred motion of vehicles moving on street with 30 St Mary Axe in background. Illuminated towers are in city. View of downtown district at night.

"Digital central to future trade deals," says City

Agreements to facilitate digital trade between nations should be made central to any future trade deals the UK enters in to, according to a new report from the City of London Corporation.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with Scott Morrison

UK-Australia agree 'proper' post-Brexit deal

The UK and Australia have agreed the broad outline of a free trade deal - the first, truly independent agreement negotiated since Brexit.

Photo illustrating an article about fintech in the UK

Surge in UK fintech, manufacturing and vacancies

A "massive" increase in professional vacancies in the UK, a record high in manufacturing output and an optimistic forecast for the nation's fintech sector are all being reported this week.

Mixed reaction in wake of G7 summit

The conclusion of the G7 summit on Cornwall has left business leaders and campaigners in the UK agreeing with many of the leaders' sentiments but questioning if sufficient practical steps had been agreed.

UK economy 'poised for record growth'

The latest economic forecast is predicting the UK will experience the strongest GDP growth this year since records began more than 70 years ago.

Call to G7 to reopen global travel

The G7 heads are facing calls to restart air travel across the world to spur a global economic recovery.

'Eye-popping' growth in UK's services sector

Activity in the UK's all-important services sector recorded its largest growth in 24 years last month, according to an international business survey.

Brexiteer calls for simpler EU visas

One of the most outspoken advocates of Brexit - including supporting the end of freedom of movement - is now calling on the government to introduce relaxed visa requirements for EU workers.

UK recovery 'to be even stronger than expected'

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has substantially increased its forecast for economic growth in the UK this year and next.

A group of men and women work in an open plan office

Flexible working exposes sectoral differences

Remote working is very much here to stay in the post-pandemic era, according to a survey of more than 900 firms conducted by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Union Jack flag waving in front of the UK Houses of Parliament in London

Optimism surges in UK service sector

As the pandemic loosened its grip across the UK this spring, confidence in the service sector - which accounts for more than three-quarters of GDP - surged to new highs, according to a new survey.

Flexible working 'here to stay', surveys show

The profound way that the coronavirus pandemic has affected working practices across the UK has been reflected in the publication of two new surveys.

CBI launches plan for 'dynamic' economy

The UK's leading business organisation published its blueprint on Monday aimed at making the nation "the most competitive, dynamic and future-focused economy in the world".

UK 'poised to rival silicon valley'

The UK's tech industry has experienced a tenfold expansion over the past decade and is "set to challenge Silicon Valley" in the next ten years, according to a new analysis.

Vacancies surge as UK jobs market recovers

Job vacancies in the UK are at their highest level since the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic last spring, according to official figures released on Tuesday.

Taiwan remains top pick among expats

For the third year running, Taiwan has been adjudged the world's best country for expats in an annual survey of more than 12,000 people living and working abroad. Which other countries are at the top of the list?

Most UK firms 'looking abroad for tech talent'

The shortage of indigenous digital skills in the UK has become so acute that four-fifths of UK businesses in a new survey say they will need to recruit overseas talent in the coming 12 months.

Global businesses agree a G7 'wish list'

Global business groups have agreed a set of proposals to promote economic recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which will be put to next month's G7 summit in the UK.

Businesses applaud UK skills 'revolution'

Business leaders have welcomed government proposals for a skills "revolution" in the UK, focused on education and training for older teenagers and adults of all ages.

Tech vacancies lead UK jobs surge

The easing of lockdown restrictions in the wake of the successful rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations has led to a marked increase in the number of professional vacancies in the UK, according to two surveys.

Ease travel restrictions, urge businesses

Trade groups in the UK have expressed concerns that the government's 'traffic lights' system, which allows unrestricted journeys to and from countries deemed to be safe from Covid-19, is too narrow to allow essential business travel.

UAE ups its appeal to post-pandemic talent

The UAE is developing a long-term strategy to make the Gulf state more attractive as a place for global talent to live, work and retire.

New India-UK migration route for young professionals

The UK and India have agreed to introduce a new "bespoke" immigration route that will allow thousands of young professionals from each country to spend up to two years working in the other's nation.

Illustration of the skyline of Leeds, England

Finance chiefs hail BoE move to Leeds

The Bank of England's decision to relocate staff in London to a new northern hub to be created in Leeds should be a first step towards greater involvement in the UK's regions by financial services firms, according to the sector's trade body.

Vaccine success boosts appeal of UK universities

The UK's successful rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine has made British universities more appealing to overseas students than those in the US, Canada, Australia and Germany, according to a global survey.