Business and Economics

London’s property market has been booming in recent years, bouncing back after the recession far faster than anywhere else.  But for those in the capital who want to get onto the property ladder for the first time, affordability is a major issue, with the average cost of a new home currently at £639,774*. So it is no surprise then that a quarter (25 per cent) of Londoners who currently rent believe it will be at least ten years before they...

By Jack Peat, Editor of The London Economic  Every year since 1856, as the first leaf buds appear on trees and daffodils can be seen in terraced gardens and along the banks of public parks, Oxford and Cambridge eights race along the River Thames as part of the most watched university competition in the country between the two oldest and, for now, most respected institutions in the country. But could they about to be displaced by university colleges that reside...

By Pooja Ganeriwala, Content Manager at Mettl.com It's no secret that the economic benefits of obtaining an IT certification can be staggering; allowing IT professionals to earn nearly 8 - 13 per cent premium above a base salary. Factor in the compounding effect of annual pay bumps and increased chances for promotions and the incentive to earn certifications becomes all the more appealing. Which is perhaps why the industry deals with a high level of cheating fraud each year, mainly...

By Jack Peat, Editor of The London Economic  The internet has given birth to a new generation of consumer power. Whatever the product or service the web has become a platform upon which open letters of praise or grumble can be voiced, which means for better or for worse, there's no hiding from the wrath of public opinion. There was once a time when a recommendation or word of caution from a friend or family member would be enough to sway your evenings plans....

By Jack Peat, Editor of The London Economic  Boom and bust seems like a primitive economic state, but few would argue today that the harsh cyclical nature of the economy has seen its day. If anything, they've become more severe. Soviet economist Nikolai Kondratiev theorised in the early 20th century that the economy works in waves that range from forty to sixty years, with high sectoral growth leading to intervals of relatively slow growth. In 1939 Joseph Schumpeter suggested naming...

By Seb Dean from The Imaginaire Web Design. When it comes to running a business, especially in the early stages, you’re likely to be absolutely swamped with trying to stay in control of all areas of the business. Covering sales, fulfilment of orders, working with suppliers, billing and all of the other areas is commonplace and just thinking about it is enough to give you a headache! Luckily, those clever tech kids have been hard at work to help automate...

The London Economic has launched a new blog competition with a first place prize of £50 and a runner-up prize of £25. As a blog sharing platform TLE is looking to discover the best talent in the market, which is why we've launched this competition to give bloggers a chance of winning two cash prizes and get their work seen by tens of thousands of people. All entrants will have the chance to get their post featured on The London...

By Catherine Filmer We understand that when it comes to business, it’s always survival of the fittest. Implementing the right business software and your own business fitness regime will give you a competitive edge in 7 different ways. 7-a-day regime for business fitness Know what’s coming up - keep an eye on your order pipeline. Use software that allows you to manage diaries, workflows, dashboard reporting, and anticipate payment patterns. Access for everyone Having a ‘self-serve’ environment easily managed by...

By Jack Peat, Editor of The London Economic  There are very few big industries in existence today that are not overrun by big companies. Take a minute to count how many rail operators there are in the UK or mobile phone companies, banks or electricity firms and you’ll struggle to move past your first five fingers. In a world where corporate capitalism is allowed to run riot, understanding how to keep big firms in check has become of paramount importance....