Trainees take on business
The subscription business model - a lockdown trend or here to stay?
Demand for online shopping skyrocketed during the pandemic, with online shopping sales in the UK rising by 48%. Whilst consumers were forced to stay at home, many were left with time to fill and a desire to find entertainment from the comfort of their lockdown abodes. At the same time, retailers and other hard-hit industries, such as restaurants, found that they needed to diversify in order to make an income whilst they were closed.
Read more'Popping to the shop' a thing of the past?
Have you noticed that overnight, seemingly every poster on London's streets and billboard in its tube stations advertise a service that will magic groceries to your front door in an impossibly short timeframe? These are signifiers of the battle being fought in the instant grocery delivery space.
Read moreEscaping Reality Through Reality TV
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I have run-around the upper East side of New York City with a bunch of wacky housewives, stayed in a luxury villa in Mexico and sashayed down the runway with 12 other queens. And this summer I will be returning to Majorca for a long, hot summer!
Read moreTale as old as time: music ownership, is it time for industry-wide change?
Taylor Swift's battle with her former record label, Big Machine Label Group, and its buyer, Ithaca Holdings LLC, has been widely documented in the press over the last few years. This saga is another example of the exploitation that is rife within the music industry, but will Swift's experience finally bring about change? Fellow 'Swifties' and I hope so.
Read moreDelays expected: why high-speed rail projects are failing worldwide
Throughout history, railways have been a universal symbol across the world of prosperity and innovation. From the steam railways spanning swathes of the American West in the 1800s, to the futuristic bullet trains of Japan, for centuries nations have invested heavily in the construction of new trainlines to embrace modernity and connect various far-flung cities. As rail journeys become more and more ubiquitous, with 463 million rail journeys undertaken in the UK in 2019-2020, high speed rail seems to be the logical next step to make rail travel faster, more efficient and greener…in theory.
Read moreA meaty debate: traditional vs lab-grown alternatives
This January, a record 500,000 people pledged to eat only plant-based food as part of Veganuary, but avoiding meat may not be the only way to eat sustainably.
Read moreThe science of cross-cultural small talk – Don't treat others as you want to be treated
Leaders and scholars of business ethics often espouse the benefits of the "golden rule" - treat others as you would want to be treated - but it could be a risky way to approach cross-cultural business relationships.
Read moreWhat have you been watching during the pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen dramatic shifts in the content and media we consume, and the way in which we consume it. That is not itself surprising, but how and to what extent has our media consumption actually changed?
Read moreInsect protein, a market ready for metamorphosis
Mealworm arancini to start, followed by Mezcal worm tacos with guacamole and grasshopper bacon bits. For dessert, cricket flour brownies. All washed down with a delicious Mezcal margarita.
Read moreBuild Back Greener? Environmental policies post COVID-19
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus and the difficult year that has ensued, many have pointed to the environment as a potential silver lining.
Read moreWheeling and Dealing: how e-scooters could spin opportunities for insurers
E-scooters, or "Personal Light Electric Vehicles," have become increasingly popular on a global scale over recent years.
Read more"Always look on the bright side of life" - even when life has been turned upside down
Seeing the coronavirus in a positive light
Read moreCatastrophe bonds: a storm in a teacup or a floody good opportunity?
Catastrophe bonds are a type of insurance-linked security. They offer an alternative to reinsurance policies and allow insurers and reinsurers to offload a proportion of their risk. As the name suggests, they are often triggered by damage that an insured suffers as a result of a natural catastrophe such as a hurricane, earthquake or flood, but can also be designed to respond to events such as a pandemic.
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Trainees Take on 2020
RPC's trainees had mixed fortunes in attempting to predict the major events of 2019. As can be seen from our 2019 predictions blog, Theresa May's departure was correctly predicted, but the trainees were well wide of the mark in forecasting Beto O'Rourke as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for the US Presidency: Beto suspended his campaign on November 1 2019, a full four months before primary season. No one foresaw the UK's first December general election since 1923 either, which is perhaps more forgivable.
Read moreCoronavirus and its damage to the health of businesses
Coronavirus (nCoV) has dominated the headlines since the first case was confirmed on 19 January 2020. The virus has spread to every region in mainland China. Cases have also been reported in Australia, France, the US, the UK and Japan, among other countries. As the death toll continues to rise and scientists work under pressure to create a vaccine, it is evident that the world is facing a health crisis. But what about the impact it is having on business?
Read moreBetween a rock and a card place - the changing nature of professional introductions
To what extent is the humble business card being affected by changes in how professional introductions are made? With details of our professional lives now often available online, there are fewer opportunities to introduce ourselves through our business cards
Read moreUnpacking Christmas Ads: A British Retailer's Christmas Miracle?
This blog discusses what makes Christmas ads "successful" both through the eyes of the public at large and from the perspective of the British retailers themselves. In some cases, popular Christmas ads lead to an increase in sales over the festive period. However, as some retailers have experienced, festive ads are not always a retailer's Christmas miracle and come with their own limitations.
Read moreDoes workplace recycling deserve to be binned?
It has been a big year for action on climate change - from Greta Thunberg's impassioned speech at the UN, to the Extinction Rebellion's pink yacht, which blockaded Oxford Circus. In a number of ways the British public are making greater efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. Over the past two decades, the rate of household recycling has risen from 11% in 2000 to 45.2% in 2017/18.
Read moreEquine law - not just horsing around
Equine law as a practice area has become increasingly prominent, with a growing number of legal issues requiring firms to skill-up; but is there a clear definition of what 'equine law' is?
Read moreIs it time for a three day weekend?
Reducing the number of days in work was an idea first explored by John Maynard Keynes in 1930 when he predicted that in the next 100 years the working week would only be 15 hours. Whilst his prediction has yet to come to fruition, an increasing number of businesses are switching to a four day week in light of claims of increased productivity and staff happiness.
Read moreSleeping on the job
Given an increasing interest in wellness, sleep is a hot topic for both individuals and businesses. With sleep-related productivity issues estimated as costing the UK economy up to £40 billion, this article takes a look at the impact that sleep has on businesses – as well as the opportunities that it presents.
Read moreRoma wasn't built in a day; how Netflix conquered the Oscars
In 2017, at the Cannes Film Festival, the film 'Okja' was debuted. It was produced by Brad Pitt's production company 'Plan B' and starred Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal. It also featured a giant CGI pig, whose capture and treatment raised issues on animal welfare, and whose - spoiler alert – rescue, made the hairs on the back of one's neck stand up.
Read moreWho was best dressed at the Oscars?
Always popular, often outrageous, and unfortunately sometimes sexist; the best and worst dressed lists have been must-have articles for publishers around award season since 1940. But does success or failure on these lists have any impact on the brand of the celebrity, or the designer?
Read moreWhen does an Oscar speech become defamatory?
In recent years, it has become the norm for presenters and winners alike at the Oscars to use their stage time to make political statements. However, politics at the Oscars has not always been so accepted. We take a look here at the shifting attitude of the Academy towards politically-charged speeches, and whether they may cross the legal line into defamation.
Read moreCan you sell an Oscar?
An Academy Award (an Oscar) is one of the most prestigious accolades which a person in the film industry can receive. The awards symbolise tradition, exceptional quality and exclusiveness. Leaving the film reviews to the Academy itself, we focus on what is behind the Oscars brand: what the brand stands for and the steps the Academy has taken to protect the brand's integrity.
Read moreHyper-Personalisation: the brands who want to know your name
In a modern day society widely dubbed as 'The Digital Age', corporations must compete like never before to capture a fluid market seeking instant gratification.
Read moreLook to the future: Trainees take on 2019
The trainees didn't fare too badly with their 2018 predictions. They doubted England's ability to make it past the group stages of the World Cup, but foresaw how Brexit would dominate the news agenda. They over-optimistically predicted the introduction of automated bundling, but came very close on the value of Bitcoin. Read on to see this year's predictions.
Read moreTrainees took on 2018: did we predict the unpredictable?
2018 certainly will not be forgotten in a hurry, and what a year it was. Brexit negotiations dominated headlines, Theresa May's 'Dancing Queen' routine went viral, and England made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup! No, we didn't predict that either.
Read moreNDAs: Not done with after all?
Non-Disclosure Agreements are currently under significant scrutiny following various public scandals in which they have been used to silence employees who were allegedly subjected to harassment by their employers. In light of this recent controversy, this article explores the current debate surrounding NDAs.
Read moreSpeech is golden
With voice shopping projected to rise to £3.5 billion in UK sales by 2022, we consider how smart speakers are making waves and breaking barriers in the retail sector.
Read moreMeet your new loss adjustor: the drone
Listed by Lloyd's in 2016 as an 'emerging risk', drones have caught insurers' attention in the last few years. However, the potential benefits for the industry go further than the new capital received from premiums.
Read moreThe Retail empire strikes back
Like Rocky in Rocky I, II, III, IV, V and "Rocky Balboa" (yes, there were really that many) the retail sector has taken a bit of a battering of late. However, like any prize fighter, the industry could be on the verge of another evolution and fighting back. The general perception is that traditional bricks and mortar retailers have struggled, those with a strong online offering have fared better, but retailers that have fared best are those dominating the online retail space. With so many traditional stores and household names in trouble, why are businesses still investing in physical stores?
Read moreHas Instagram made it cool to be sensible?
Recent studies suggest that teenage rebellion is a thing of the past. The post-millennial age group, a.k.a. 'Generation Sensible', is apparently more interested in studying and family-time than ever before. Social media has been cited as a contributing factor, as it reduces the need for face-to-face contact between friends. But has it had a more active role in this behavioural shift?
Read moreMicro-investing: from small acorns…
With the number of card payments overtaking cash for the first time, spare a thought for the piggy-banks of the nation. Where once they were full to the brim with coppers, they now lie forgotten and unused. So what are people now doing with their spare change? Not investing, it would seem…
Read moreBike sharing: running green or running riot?
The two largest Chinese bike sharing companies, Ofo and Mobike, both started operation in the UK last year. Unlike the local schemes, their users are able to park the bikes at any appropriate location, rather than a designated parking dock. Though these "dockless" schemes emerged in a bid to promote a greener life, they have attracted increasing concern because of the environmental and economical hazards they create.
Read moreBig Data in Insurance
Big data is creating change in the insurance industry both by leveraging historic insurance data and by using new data sources to create exciting new opportunities.
Read moreA Royal comparison: who did it best?
Now that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have returned to London to begin their new lives as a Royal couple, we take a look back at how their wedding compared to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011.
Read moreThe ‘Meghan effect’: its impact on retailers
The right people endorsing a brand can have a significant impact on its popularity. For example, brands that have been associated with Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have seen a huge surge in their profile.
Read moreThe "I dos" and don'ts of Royal marketing and merchandise
While most Royal subjects prepare the bunting and the sandwiches, many businesses will be looking for ways to capitalise on the hype and goodwill generated around the occasion. But how can brands ensure that they don't crash the wedding?
Read moreRaise a glass to Harry and Meghan
Pub licensing hours across England and Wales will be extended on the weekend of the Royal wedding. This will undoubtedly provide a much needed boost to the British beer and pub sector. However, what has caused the traditional British pub's decline and how can the sector be turned around?
Read moreA royal impact on the economy?
This week will see another Royal wedding when Prince Harry marries American actress Meghan Markle. These celebrations arguably raise the international opinion of the UK, lift the national mood and lead to an influx of tourists. But how do events such as a Royal wedding actually impact the economy?
Read moreUnlocking blockchain in the insurance industry
While many tout blockchain networks as being the biggest technological breakthrough of a generation, we take a look at whether the technology is ready to take the insurance industry by storm.
Read moreA Virtual Reality Check
Article exploring the growth of virtual reality (VR) and the legal issues which are emerging including product liability, data and privacy risks, and the 'laws' of the virtual world as a jurisdiction in itself.
Read moreCan the WTO assist British trade post-Brexit?
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has been in the press recently perhaps more than it would like, with concerns being raised about whether its rules would be sufficient to maintain British trade in the event of a "hard Brexit". But what is the WTO, and how does it deal with disputes?
Read moreOpen Banking: a slow revolution?
The European Commission's Revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2) was implemented on 13 January 2018, with little fanfare. However, the ideas that PSD2 seeks to promote look set to change the face of banking, both for service providers and for customers. Amongst other requirements, PSD2 obliges banks to allow authorised Account Information Service Providers (AISPs) and Payment Initiation Service Providers (PISPs) access to customer account data, where the customer has given both the bank and the AISP or PISP permission for them to do so.
Read moreThe Gig Economy: a Pressure Cooker of Problems
What do companies such as Deliveroo, Uber and Handy all have in common? They have all become hugely successful in the era of the gig economy. But what is the gig economy and what problems does the market face in today's society?
Read moreICOs in Hong Kong
We have all seen the rise in the price of Bitcoin in the last year, and may also be aware (at the very least) of the existence of ICOs. But what are ICOs? And what legal framework do they operate in? ICOs in Hong Kong.
Read moreTrainees Take on 2018: can we predict the unpredictable?
Despite the rollercoaster that was 2017, our trainees did fairly well in predicting its twists and turns, including that Trump would continue without restraint on Twitter. In an attempt to continue our success, the trainees have submitted their predictions for 2018. Disclaimer: we failed to foresee the rise in Bitcoin last year (and therefore must continue to work), so please do not rely on the below for your investment advice! Read on to see our bets on Brexit, US Politics, the World Cup and 'automated bundling'!
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