Category Archives: Economics

A strange subject to write about for someone who sometimes struggles to add up. However this is economics as it applies to the social and cultural fabric of our lives together.

How to decide how to spend our money?

Posted on April 2, 2016 by ianchisnall

Budgeting in times of austerity is not easy, most people have got used to the challenge, even if the extent to which it impacts on them personally varies. I have no idea how hard it must be for George Osborne … Continue reading →

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The new Minimum Wage

Posted on April 1, 2016 by ianchisnall

The decision by the Labour Government to establish an Independent body to set a national minimum wage in 1998 and led to its introduction in 1999 was an important if contested step. However it was clearly a good thing to do, … Continue reading →

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Out of ideas and explanations

Posted on March 18, 2016 by ianchisnall

The Budget and subsequent speeches and media interviews by Nicky Morgan and George Osborne would suggest that they are helping to lead a Government that has run out of ideas. Put aside the EU referendum and we are left with … Continue reading →

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A few cheap ideas for George

Posted on March 15, 2016 by ianchisnall

As we prepare for tomorrows budget, there is a group of businesses that are bound to be ignored in everything that is announced apart from possibly the rhetoric itself. The small and micro businesses in the UK are rarely understood or … Continue reading →

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A Leadsom never changes her spots

Posted on March 4, 2016 by ianchisnall

The reports from the meeting  of the Energy and Climate Change Committee in the House of Commons on Wednesday that Andrea Leadsom lost her temper when questioned by MPs suggests that the real views of this Minister of State at the … Continue reading →

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Colin, your help is needed

Posted on February 17, 2016 by ianchisnall

This morning one of the news items on my radio is the report that nurseries and preschools are struggling to deliver the existing 15 hours a week of free education that 3-4 year olds are eligible for. It is significant … Continue reading →

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A damaging appointment

Posted on February 9, 2016 by ianchisnall

On Sunday the Government in the form of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced the creation of an independent review on increasing representation of women in the executive level of FTSE 350 companies. The review follows on from … Continue reading →

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The challenge for Micro and Small Enterprises

Posted on January 30, 2016 by ianchisnall

In a recent speech in the House of Lords Prof Lord Bhattacharyya who is Professor of Manufacturing Systems at the University of Warwick, explained how the University partners with the Jaguar Land Rover Academy to provide education for the workers in the … Continue reading →

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The problem with public procurement

Posted on December 17, 2015 by ianchisnall

Yesterday was a bit of a challenge for at least one small business in Sussex. A major public sector purchasing consortia has just published its criteria for a national framework agreement that we had been waiting for for several years … Continue reading →

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Who owns the despatch boxes?

Posted on December 15, 2015 by ianchisnall

The news that Christie’s are due to sell various items from the estate of Margaret Thatcher today including her Prime Ministerial despatch box, with an anticipated price of £5,000 and a number of other items that were given to the Prime … Continue reading →

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