The C-Suite

Most of us lock our doors and close our curtains at night. We are aware of the physical threats to our privacy and security, and take great measures to protect them. If we think of our digital privacy as a house however, we are far less diligent. In many ways, we’ve left the doors unlocked and curtains open.

Over the past few decades, governments have sought to address the housing crisis by focusing on one primary solution – constructing new-build properties. While the construction of residential new-builds will naturally play a pivotal role in rectifying the current imbalance between housing supply and demand, commentators have criticised the targets set by the Government as being simply unattainable.  

When Chancellor Sajid Javid goes to the dispatch box to deliver the 2020 Spring Budget on 11thMarch, those of us involved in the UK property market will be watching on with great interest. This is the first budget of new parliament, and the first budget of a new decade. And unlike recent fiscal statements, this looks set to deliver some substantial reforms.

Regardless of the outcome, the UK’s 2019 General Election promised to be a pivotal event. After nearly a year of Brexit delays, political infighting and general market uncertainty, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to call a general election in December was seen as an attempt to deliver a majority government.

The last decade has brought about monumental change in how employers manage the mental health and wellbeing of their employers. We have seen businesses put increasing emphasis on work/life balance initiatives with the aim of alleviating some of the pressures of modern working and keeping their people engaged and productive.

New residential and commercial building developments are going up at impressive rates across the country, transforming the face of UK towns and cities. Beyond just boosting local economies and attractiveness of these areas, increased construction efforts are also working feverishly to support the growing demand for affordable and accessible housing.

Electric power production has been at the core of recent industrial revolutions. With the onset of the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions, this role will become only more central as even decision-making  becomes electrified. The rise of renewable energy is of central importance.

When we think of financial crime, few would consider procurement fraud to be one of the most pressing threats facing their business. Yet according to PwC, this form of fraud is the second-most commonly reported economic crime in the world, ranking above bribery, corruption and even cybercrime.

Utility regulators (URs) for the power sector often fail to implement well-designed policies because of legal, operational and political limitations. Continuously improving policy without addressing these limitations will lead to ineffective policy outcomes.