Trainees take on business
Watch where you work
Recently, I attended a law fair on behalf of RPC and was asked an interesting question.
Read morePrecarious parties and general uncertainty – will the UK election lead to EU ejection?
The general election is fast approaching and once again it's causing headaches in the world of business. It's been the highlight of the political calendar since 1802, but it still manages to instil fear into the heart of every business leader. Why?
Read moreBond schemes or Bond cars?
For the ultra-wealthy, the path of pursuing traditional investments is well-trodden. From stocks and shares, to bonds and real estate, there is no shortage of ways and means to play the market.
Read moreShared parental leave: switching the boardroom for baby care
Nick Clegg’s new baby - shared parental leave - has been born and, would-be dads, it means you can now spend almost a year off work with your bundle of joy. Why then, are you all so keen to stay at the office?
Read moreTaking the parody?
In October last year, the time honoured British tradition of taking the mickey became enshrined within our legal system as the law was updated to include a parody exception to copyright infringement.
Read moreA perk too far?
Tech companies have become known for their unconventional benefits packages, which seem to attract envy and disdain from the general public in equal measure.
Read moreSharing is caring (with a fee)
Sleeping on a stranger’s sofa; sharing a ride; borrowing a dog for the day. These seem like rather strange concepts, but they are all examples of a huge new "sharing economy" where people rent beds, cars, boats and other assets directly from each other via the internet.
Read moreBrrr! Office chills getting you down? Why office temperature is a burning issue for business
Winter has settled in across the country and found its way into our workplace. Colourful sweaters, scarves and gloves adorn the office floor.
Read moreIt's just not plane sailing
"The world inhabited by airlines is a glamorous one and starting your own airline has never been easier".
Read moreOut of the frying pan, back to a FIRE economy…
We have just come through the 'Great Recession' where between 7 – 8% of our national GDP was wiped out and we witnessed the first true existential crisis of our current capitalist system.
Read morePutting all your eggs in one frozen basket
Doggy day-care, unlimited holidays, and personal trainers – some companies offer their lucky employees perks which see the rest of us stare into our pre-eight-thirty porridge in a jealous rage.
Read moreSuited. Booted. Recruited?
As Alex Hitchens in 'Hitch', Will Smith told us that "clothes make the man". Well-dressed though he is, Will Smith did not come up with this idea on his own.
Read moreYou're Hired! (Because I like you)
It is often said that a company's employees are its most valued asset.
Read moreContent Clergy, Satisfied Solicitors, and Bitter Barmen
A recent study by the Cabinet Office has found that the Solicitors' profession is the 44th most content in the UK*. We will all be pleased to hear that accountants trail behind at 45th.
Read moreContent Clergy, Satisfied Solicitors, and Bitter Barmen
A recent study by the Cabinet Office has found that the Solicitors' profession is the 44th most content in the UK*. We will all be pleased to hear that accountants trail behind at 45th.
Read moreUnlimited leave = unlimited productivity?
‘We should focus on what people get done, not on how many hours or days worked. Just as we don’t have a nine-to-five policy, we don’t need a vacation policy.’
Read moreUnlimited leave = unlimited productivity?
‘We should focus on what people get done, not on how many hours or days worked. Just as we don’t have a nine-to-five policy, we don’t need a vacation policy.’
Read moreHolding back the crowds: How regulators are stifling the crowdfunding industry
Crowdfunding is nothing new. Over the past few years, it has evolved from a little-known and rarely-used concept by which small businesses could raise money, to a truly viable alternative to venture capital.
Read moreHolding back the crowds: How regulators are stifling the crowdfunding industry
Crowdfunding is nothing new. Over the past few years, it has evolved from a little-known and rarely-used concept by which small businesses could raise money, to a truly viable alternative to venture capital.
Read moreHow to succeed in business without losing your mind
We have all been there. We have all felt that thud of dread when an email from that person drops into our inbox.
Read moreIs mindfulness good for business?
Ask yourself this question, when did you last take the time to sit still for one minute and completely quiet your mind?
Read moreThe end of 'excessive' executive pay?
Executive remuneration has been a long standing concern of shareholders as they believe the level of remuneration received by executives and directors can be 'excessive' and is not always aligned with the performance of a company.
Read morePrint your heart out
All chocoholics will know that feeling of overwhelming panic when, in desperate need of a chocolate fix, you discover the cupboards are empty.
Read moreThe latent costs of Osborne's pension overhaul
“No caps. No drawdown limits. Let me be clear. No one will have to buy an annuity."
Read moreIs your boss a psychopath?
In the very unlikely event that you have answered in the affirmative, that partner may form part of the 4% of senior business managers who are on the psychopathic spectrum.
Read moreBrutal Simplicity of Thought
"If you want your work to achieve the impossible, you will need 'Brutal Simplicity of Thought'."
Read moreGeographical indication: food for thought
Food manufacturers and retailers engage with consumers on a variety of levels in order to stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
Read moreGuard Your Reputation With Your Life
A rising trend of corporations who have suffered severe losses as a result of extreme and sometimes unjust adverse media has seen the emergence of a specialist insurance product in the Lloyd's market.
Read moreAre you sitting comfortably?
Do you work in one of the most hazardous workplace environments of the 21st century?
Read moreMore than just a Bitcoin on the side?
In the darkest days of the recent recession it was a mainstream view that the euro - the currency with the largest cash circulation in the world - might completely collapse and that the franc, deutsche mark and other abandoned currencies might re-emerge in its stead.
Read more“It is well enough that people…do not understand our banking system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.”
As another tale of market manipulation hits the headlines, one has to admit that Mr. Ford probably wasn't far wrong.
Read moreAre mobile devices making careless employees a bigger threat than cyber criminals?
According to the Mobile Operators Association, in 2000 half of UK adults owned a mobile phone.
Read moreThe end of 'blue-sky thinking'?
'If we use language the rest of the world doesn't understand, we diminish [our] reputation.'
Read moreTeleworking: the future or the past?
For as long as I can remember, pioneering companies such as IBM, Intel and Cisco have attributed their success – at least in part – to their decision to allow staff to work from home/a remote access device, or 'telework'.
Read moreGreater than the sum of their parts – Belbin’s Analysis of Teams
“Team Roles at Work” by Meredith Belbin is an almost scientific analysis of the different roles individuals can play in a team, how they interact with one another and how highly functional teams can be assembled.
Read moreNobody wants to buy sour milk
This folksy catchphrase is at the heart of the business model of the last decade's most wildly successful company: Apple Inc.
Read moreFamily Business
Family businesses contribute nearly a quarter of UK GDP (£1.1 trillion) and provide 2 in 5 jobs.
Read moreImprove or Surrender – Kaizen
After the Second World War, Japan was faced with the difficult task of rebuilding its industry.
Read moreMake it Stick
You’ve got what you think is the perfect idea. It’s relevant. It’s accurate. It’s comprehensive.
Read moreMaking your mark – The Intrapreneur
Being an entrepreneur isn't for everyone. You may have a knockout idea and the 'right stuff' (whatever that is), but starting your own successful business often requires a consternating cocktail of luck, timing, contacts, money, financial risk and personal sacrifice.
Read moreMaking money out of Jane Austen
The popularity of RPC's book group shows there are a fair few bookworms around the firm.
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