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David Sapsted

David Sapsted

Chinese firm set to rescue British Steel

Chinese firm set to rescue British Steel

Thousands of jobs in the UK and Europe to be saved as Chinese firm bails out the British Steel group.

The UK avoids a recession with Q3 rise in growth

UK avoids recession with Q3 rise in growth

A slight but steady increase in GDP during July and September has kept the UK from entering a recession.

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

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Government promises fast-track health visas

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has outlined plans for fast-track visas for health professionals as part of the points-based immigration system the government plans to introduce after Brexit.

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Rate cut a possibility as global growth stalls

The Bank of England surprisingly held out the prospect of an interest rate cut on Thursday as it downgraded the UK's economic growth forecasts because of Brexit and the global economic slowdown.

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Businesses say 'cut visa salary threshold'

A coalition of employers' and business organisations is demanding the UK government slash the minimum salary for overseas workers to £20,000 in its post-Brexit immigration plan.

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Demand for IT staff continues apace

Advertised vacancies for IT staff by UK companies surged to more than 165,000 over the third quarter of the year, according to a new survey.

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City backs Boris - but not his Brexit deal

A majority of financial services chiefs in the City of London are supporting Prime Minister Boris Johnson's re-election bid in the December 12 general election - but not his Brexit deal, according to a new poll.

CBI demands urgent action on climate change

CBI demands urgent action on climate change

The UK government needs to take urgent action to unlock business investment in clean growth, advises the CBI.

Chief executives behind new automation drive

Chief executives behind new automation drive

The UK's chief executives are increasingly taking personal responsibility for driving the business case for intelligent automation to boost productivity and growth, according to new research.

Finance sector promised access to overseas talent

Finance sector promised access to overseas talent

The success of the UK's financial services depends on the nation's continued ability to "attract and retain the best talent and skills" from around the world, a government minister has stressed.

landscape image of the Houses of Parliament in the distance

Businesses hope election will end Brexit logjam

Business chiefs in the UK have given a lukewarm welcome to parliament's decision to back Prime Minister Boris Johnson's bid to hold a general election on December 12.

Grandparents with grandchildren

Family ties stop most Brits from relocating

Almost a third of British workers would refuse to relocate for work because of a desire to stay near members of their family, according to a new survey.

Survey finds that expat staff are 'more committed' to company goals

Expat staff 'more committed' to company goals

A major study has shown that globally-mobile employees display "significantly higher levels of engagement, satisfaction and productivity" than staff who do not take foreign assignments.

Australia as seen from space at night

Aussie migration scheme 'not working properly'

The UK government's determination to adopt a post-Brexit immigration regime based on an Australian-style points system could be undermined by new research by the University of Adelaide, which indicates the system is not working as it should.

A map of the UK superimposed over a Union Jack flag

'Scrap immigration barriers in Ulster' says CBI

The UK government's current Brexit plan would add 'huge cost and complexity' across some of the UK's industries. The CBI suggests a digital skills action plan for Northern Ireland to overcome skills gaps.

With the UK’s Brexit negotiations still hanging in the balance, businesses are struggling to make workable contingency plans going forward.

Businesses' frustration over Brexit grows

With Brexit negotiations still hanging in the balance, UK businesses are struggling to make workable contingency plans going forward.

Graphic of a UK flag with illustrated people in front of it

New visa system 'must prioritise creative industries'

The UK's post-Brexit immigration system must be tailored to meet the needs of the nation's highly successful creative industries, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has demanded in a new report.

Migrants to be main drivers of UK population growth

Migrants to be main drivers of UK population growth

The population of the UK is projected to increase by three million to almost 70 million over the coming decade, driven principally by increased immigration.

Dublin riverside at night

Dublin still favourite for financial relocations

There has been a 23% increase since the spring in the number of UK financial services firms relocating to the EU27, according to a new survey.

Big Ben, UK and EU flags

Cautious welcome from business to Brexit deal

UK business leaders have reacted with caution to what Prime Minister Boris Johnson claims is an "excellent" Brexit deal agreed with the European Union.

Chinese and American flags over a background showing financial markets

China opens its financial markets to foreigners

China's continuing trade dispute with the US appears to have prompted Beijing to accelerate moves to open its financial sector to foreign institutions next year.

UK houses in a row

House prices pick up - inflation stays low

UK house prices picked up in August while the nation's inflation rate last month stayed at its lowest for almost three years in September.

Workers and other Londoners walking over London Bridge

London bucks stutter in UK jobs market

The number of people employed in the UK took an unexpected dip in the three months to August, according to official figures released on Tuesday.

Queen Elizabeth II addresses Parliament in 2016

Queen's speech - political logjam worries business

Business groups in the UK have welcomed many of the legislative proposals outlined in the Queen's Speech but have voiced concerns about whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson's minority government will ever be able to deliver them.

The Queen of England driving to Parliament in a carriage

UK commits to vague "Aussie-style" visa points system

The UK government's pledge on Monday to introduce a new, points-based immigration system from the beginning of 2021 has done little to clarify in employers' minds what the future scheme will look like.

Clifton Extension Bridge, Bristol

Migrant plan 'sounding alarm bells' in regions

A startling conclusion that up to three-quarters of EU27 migrants would not have been eligible to work in the UK under the government's post-Brexit immigration plans has emerged from a case study by a leading think-tank.

Image of a mobile phone screen showing multiple apps including Facebook and Apple

CBI hails global tax plans for tech giants

Proposals by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for a global crackdown on tech giants' avoidance of corporate tax bills have been welcomed by the UK's largest business group.

EU and UK Union Jack flag

EU settled status scheme tops two million

Plus, a series of government-sponsored events to provide information about the scheme are to take place in across the UK. David Sapsted reports.

Graphic illustrating big data

Finance sector facing data access problems

Almost two-thirds of financial services firms in major centres across the globe have real problems storing, accessing and sharing data, according to a new survey.

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City chiefs in U.S to boost banking links

As optimism continues to drop in the UK financial services sector, City of London Lord Mayor Peter Estlin and policy chair Catherine McGuinness fly to the US to meet with senior banking and finance executives.

Union Jack in background with a digital map of the EU superimposed on it

Reports highlight mounting skills shortage

Two new reports have highlighted the difficulties firms across Britain are facing because of a shortage of suitably skilled staff.

Canary Wharf and workers

New Brexit plan prompts business unease

Business leaders in the UK have expressed unease over Prime Minister Boris Johnson's new plan to reach a Brexit deal with the EU.

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Microsoft urges UK business to step up AI use

UK businesses must be more diligent in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence if they want to compete effectively on the global stage, according to a report from Microsoft.

House for sale in the UK

UK house price rises 'almost grind to a halt'

Weak global growth and Brexit uncertainties have resulted in annual house price growth in the UK remaining below 1% in September for the tenth month in a row, according to a new index.

Carolyn Fairbairn CBI Director General

Businesses worried over living wage increase

Why are UK business groups uneasy about spending plans proposed by Chancellor Sajid Javid?

Business focuses on climate after UN summit

Business focuses on climate after UN summit

A flood of pledges from multinational companies to slash their greenhouse gas emissions accompanied last week's UN Climate Action Summit in New York.

Landseer lions in Trafalgar Square with the Houses of Parliament in the distance, London

London rated 'most dynamic' city again

Why has London topped the list? Which other cities make the top 10?

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Make foreign workers welcome say recruiters

The UK must get back to creating an environment where overseas workers with badly needed skills are made to feel welcome, according to a new report from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

Image of the London skyline at night, featuring the Houses of Parliament and London Eye

Skills shortages top concern of London bosses

Although four in five companies see London as an attractive place for business, companies worry that London's position will weaken due to Brexit, globalisation and international protectionism. Another worry is skills shortages. What else worries the business community?

European motor industry warns of Brexit harm

Motor manufacturers across Europe have united to warn politicians of the "devastating" effects on the industry of a no-deal Brexit.

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Firms 'not ready' for new immigration curbs - CIPD

The bulk of UK employers are "simply not ready" for the post-Brexit restrictions on immigration being proposed by the government, a major survey has found

The river Liffey in Dublin at night

Brexit job moves from London 'far below predictions'

Why haven't more financial services jobs left London in the run-up to Brexit? Also, which are the most popular EU destination for firms that do leave London? David Sapsted reports.

Pound coins with an arrow illustrate an article about inflation rates lowering

UK inflation rate lowest in 32 months

Why has the UK's annual inflation rate fallen to just 1.7% last month, its lowest level since December 2016?

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon met with The Republic of Poland Ambassador to the United Kingdom Ambassador Arkady Rzegocki

Poles urged to return home amid Brexit disquiet

The Polish ambassador to the UK has written an open letter to more 800,000 Poles living in Britain urging them to "seriously consider" returning to their home country because of Brexit.

Board showing different currencies for an article about foreign exchange FX

London extends global FX lead despite Brexit

Despite dire predictions of a Brexit downturn, London has strengthened its position as a pre-eminent global hub for financial trades since the EU referendum, according to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

Tech sector fearful over retaining EU staff

Tech sector fearful over retaining EU staff

The UK's burgeoning fintech sector is "getting on with business as usual" despite continuing uncertainties stemming from Brexit, according to a new survey.

Company relocations grow over Brexit fears

Company relocations grow over Brexit fears

Industry and business groups in the UK are increasing pressure on the government to reach a Brexit deal with the European Union (EU) as companies begin stepping up relocation plans.

Radcliffe Camera, the science library, at Oxford University

Asian challenge mounts to US-UK university supremacy

British and American continue to dominate the top spots in the Time Higher Education (THE) rankings of more than 1,300 universities across the world, although they are facing mounting competition from Asian institutions.

Panorama of workers walking in London

UK economy produces still more jobs, higher wages

The UK's employment rate has reached a new high while employees' wages are rising at the fastest rate in 11 years, according to official figures released this week.

Graduands from Clare College Cambridge process to their graduation ceremony

Wide support for extension of foreign student stay time

Business leaders and educationists have welcomed the government's decision to allow international students to remain in the UK for two years after graduating so that they can find work.

The customs and immigration queues at Gatwick airport

UK must get immigration policy right, warns CBI

The head of Britain's largest business group has said that the priority for a post-Brexit immigration system must be the contribution a migrant makes to the country, not what his or her salary might be.

Pound coin on a background showing financial downturn

Recession fears grow over no-deal Brexit

Leaving the European Union without a withdrawal agreement could lead to the UK economy shrinking by 1.5 per cent next year, according to a report on Monday from KPMG. What specifically will cause the downturn?

US and UK flags illustrate a news story about US/UK trade relations

US-UK digital services set for post-Brexit boost

While Donald Trump and Boris Johnson enthuse about the possibility of a US-UK free trade agreement (FTA) after Brexit, a new report has claimed the digital services market could be boosted well before any such broader deal was agreed.

The rooftops of the iconic neo-Gothic Houses of Parliament buildings in London England

Brexit clouding new spending plans, say businesses

Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid's declaration that the UK had "turned the page on austerity" as he set out plans for £13.8 billion of extra spending has received a lukewarm welcome from business groups.

Arrivals from the EU enter the UK

UK scraps plan to end freedom of movement

EU immigration U-turn from new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government. What is the latest on freedom of movement for EU citizens living in the UK?

Brexit relocations push up EU house prices

Brexit relocations push up EU house prices

Brexit relocations are pushing up the prices of prime real estate in several cities in continental Europe, according to the latest Prime Global Cities Index from property consultancy Knight Frank.

Map of Europe and UK illustrated using visa stamps

Regulator bans 'misleading' EU settled status ad

Misleading, unclear UK Home Office immigration status advert banned by the Advertising Standards Authority.

Houses of Parliament and the Thames at night

Lord Bilimoria urges reform of immigration plans

Why is the well-respected, independent Crossbench peer insisting the UK government scrap the proposed salary threshold for skilled immigrants to the UK?

A woman scientist at work in the lab illustrates an article about UK R&D investment and tax credits

Widen tax credit to boost R&D, says CBI

The UK government is being urged to "turbo charge" the current programme of research and development tax credits to help the nation meet its R&D investment target by 2027.