Survey to measure confidence in Guernsey's economy launched
The IoD's last two surveys showed air and sea links, labour costs and availability, housing and skills shortages were the most prominent issues.In its October 2024 survey, business people said they were confident in the revenue of their individual businesses being successful, with an increase of 47% in that area.The survey also showed a net positive reading of -25% confidence in the local economy, which was lower than the -18% result in May 2024.That percentage was "considerably higher" than the UK which stands at -58%.The Economic Confidence Survey is open only to IoD members until Monday 26 May.IoD Guernsey's economic lead, Richard Hemans, said: "The third survey will include questions on economic growth, productivity, the fiscal deficit and entrepreneurship, areas expected to feature heavily in policy discussions as candidates set out their manifestos."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Nigel Farage is currently the only senior politician who is seen to be actually speaking for Britain - and doing so in a voice voters recognise: DAN HODGES
Nigel Farage isn't ready to be Prime Minister. And I know that not because of the complaints of his enemies, but what I hear from his closest allies. 'Nigel recognises we're not in a position to run the country yet', one told me recently.
Daily Mail
21 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
President George W Bush 'feared Saddam Hussein would attempt his own version of 9/11 terror attacks', newly declassified records reveal
President George W Bush was desperate to topple Saddam Hussein amid fears he might orchestrate a repeat of the 9/11 terror attacks, newly declassified records reveal. Private remarks from the US President in the months leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq underlined his commitment to 'ridding (the world) of evil-doers', according to the UK's ambassador in Washington. Sir Christopher Meyer said Americans broadly trusted President Bush's decision making on foreign policy, even if, in late 2002, the public were 'not keen to go to war with Saddam'. Documents released to the National Archives in Kew hint at Tony Blair 's initial reluctance to invade Iraq on the basis of Iraqi tyrant Hussein's claim that it had destroyed its WMDs (weapons of mass destruction). And the Ministry of Defence (MOD) also warned there would be 'significant levels of internecine violence' in the aftermath of any invasion. The UK joined the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, leading to Hussein being ousted, with images memorable of jubilant Iraqis toppling a statue of their overthrown former president in Baghdad. But an inquiry led by Sir John Chilcott later found Mr Blair's case for invasion was not justified, and that Hussein posed no imminent threat. Mr Blair stood by the decision to go to war - which many perceive to have tainted his modernist legacy - but apologised for mistakes made. The newly released documents show Sir Christopher, the UK's man in Washington, told Downing Street in December 2002 about President Bush's intentions - and his binary philosophy of good and evil. He wrote in an end-of-year dispatch: 'If Bush decides to invade Iraq in 2003, as looks increasingly likely, it will make or break his presidency. 'Much of the impulse for deposing Saddam Hussein comes from Bush himself. More than anything else he fears another catastrophic terrorist attack on the homeland, especially one with an Iraqi connection. 'His view of the world is Manichean. He sees his mission as ridding it of evil-doers.' The files also reveal how Mr Blair had travelled to Camp David in January 2003 to urge President Bush to allow more time for diplomacy work. But Sir Christopher warned it had become 'politically impossible' to draw back from war at this stage unless Hussein surrendered.
Times
26 minutes ago
- Times
British Business Bank back in black with £144 million profit
Britain's state economic development agency has returned to profit, and its investment portfolio grew by almost a fifth, as it prepares for a beefed-up role after recent government changes. The British Business Bank, established in 2014 to improve the flow of finance to private companies, generated a pre-tax profit of £144 million in its last financial year — after two consecutive years of losses, including a £131 million loss in the 12 months to March 2024 — boosted by the performance of its investments. The bank provides wholesale finance to equity and debt providers but can also invest up to £60 million directly in individual companies. • British Business Bank marks tenth anniversary of doing deals After the government's recent five-year spending review and industrial strategy, the agency's role has been significantly increased. The government committed £6.6 billion of new capital to the British Business Bank in June, taking its financial capacity to £25.6 billion. Ministers are seeking to stimulate investment in promising UK companies to help drive economic growth and productivity and enable companies to scale up at home rather than overseas, particularly in the US. The annual report for the bank, which has its headquarters in Sheffield, shows that its investment portfolio has increased in value by 19 per cent to £4.7 billion. It supported a total of £6.8 billion of finance for smaller businesses, made up of £1.2 billion deployed by the agency, £2.6 billion of lending guaranteed and £3 billion of private sector capital that it 'crowded in'. As a result, it said, 24,000 businesses that haven't previously been supported by the bank received funding, plus 4,000 that have previously benefited. Louis Taylor, chief executive of the British Business Bank and a former boss of UK Export Finance, the government's export credit agency, said its activities from the last year were forecast to create 38,000 extra jobs and £8 billion of gross value added 'over the life of the finance'. Taylor, 58, whose total pay was £460,800, added: 'We have undertaken a significant reshaping of our organisation to prepare for an expanded mandate and long-term ambitions. Having an economic development bank with permanent capital and a consistent risk appetite, underpinning the UK venture and growth market through its cycles, is a powerful and very positive development.' Despite the market volatility generated by President Trump's tariffs war, the agency said it did not expect 'any direct impact' on its investment portfolio given its UK focus and it not being concentrated in sectors most exposed to US tariffs. • Keir Starmer unveils 'targeted, long-term' industrial strategy The bank's expanded role includes the British Growth Partnership, an investment vehicle seeking to raise hundreds of millions of pounds from UK pension funds and other institutions to back British venture capital. For the first time, it will be managing capital on behalf of pension funds together with other institutional investors. Aegon UK, NatWest Cushon and London CIV, a grouping of local government pension schemes, have expressed interest in working with it.
