Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation: Scotland’s long road towards independence

By Professor John Bryson Department of Strategy and International Business, University of Birmingham Nicola Sturgeon has dominated Scottish Politics and the Scottish National Party (SNP) since she became First Minister of Scotland on 20 November 2014. Her role in shaping the SNP’s political agenda dates back to 2004 when she became deputy leader of the … Continue reading “Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation: Scotland’s long road towards independence”

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How can employee welfare help newly listed firms’ prospects?

By Dr Eilnaz Kashefi Pour, Associate Professor in Finance, Birmingham Business School; Professor Sofia Johan, Florida Atlantic University; Professor Shima Amini, Leeds Business School; and Professor Abdul Mohamed, Leeds Business School When looking at staff, many organisations see their employees as human capital, a resource to be used. Could a focus on employee welfare and wellbeing help companies … Continue reading “How can employee welfare help newly listed firms’ prospects?”

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Cash is back but who should pay for it in a digital banking world?

By Professor Andy Mullineux Emeritus Professor of Financial Economics The cost of living crisis has encouraged an increase in the usage of cash for household payments, following a period in which card and digital payments increased substantially. Contactless payments, in particular, proliferated during the Covid pandemic, whilst cash payments were shunned. This encouraged banks to … Continue reading “Cash is back but who should pay for it in a digital banking world?”

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Balancing the Grid: Understanding the National Grid’s Demand Flexibility Service

By Dr Annum Rafique, City-REDI, Birmingham Business School What is it? In October 2022, the National Grid warned Britain that the country might face blackouts during the winter and, if the current energy crisis continues, then there might not be enough power for the whole country. To prevent this, they introduced a scheme dubbed the … Continue reading “Balancing the Grid: Understanding the National Grid’s Demand Flexibility Service”

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Becoming label literate: shop sustainably this christmas

By Professor Ian Thomson and Dominic Bates Director of Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business With people becoming increasingly more literate about sustainability and the range of ethical products and eco-labelling growing ever wider, conscientious consumers are likely to face even more shopping confusion in future. Trying to buy Christmas gifts that are sustainably … Continue reading “Becoming label literate: shop sustainably this christmas”

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The true price of winter warmth

By Professor Andy Mullineux Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, Emeritus Professor of Financial Economics Making suppliers offer pay-as-you-use, one month in arrears, direct debit contracts would in turn encourage more parsimonious energy usage. Both could make heating our homes this Christmas a little less stressful and easier to manage financially. With UK temperatures … Continue reading “The true price of winter warmth”

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Christmas, business and the cost-of-living crisis

By Dr Jennifer TyreeHageman and Dr Scott Taylor Birmingham Business School Decisions about how we make Christmas happen, whether we choose to support smaller local businesses, and the way they are leading us towards a different future, might even reduce some of those tensions we face. The British Christmas holiday is always a time of … Continue reading “Christmas, business and the cost-of-living crisis”

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The season for spending

By Dr Sarah Montano Birmingham Business School Shopping malls and retail parks are still going to be busy this year, so get ready to squabble over the last pack of sprouts while listening to Wham on repeat! It is that time of year again! For TV channels it is the time of small towns and … Continue reading “The season for spending”

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Why a hit to the wealthiest could prolong any recession and its impacts for all of us

By Professor Andy Mullineux Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, Emeritus Professor of Financial Economics Much of the analysis following the Autumn Statement (AS) on 17th November focused on the impact of the rising cost of living and the stealth tax effects of inflation on household discretionary incomes (i.e. income after tax). With wage … Continue reading “Why a hit to the wealthiest could prolong any recession and its impacts for all of us”

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