Latest news with #AtomBank
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
North East tech companies with hundreds of jobs available as industry booms
North East tech companies are hiring as the sector continues to grow in the face of a critical skills shortage. Major employers including Sage, Tombola, Atom Bank and Bede Gaming are currently advertising a wide range of roles across the region, from entry-level positions to specialist technical jobs. The North East tech sector is now valued at more than £2 billion and supports over 35,000 jobs. Atom Bank, Sage and Tombola are among the global names headquartered in the region, while companies such as Just Eat and Accenture have also invested in the area. (Image: Supplied) However, the industry is facing a critical skills shortage, with many employers struggling to fill vacancies. One issue is that many people outside the sector are unaware that their existing skills and experience could transfer to tech roles. There is also a lack of awareness about entry-level opportunities and training schemes that could help individuals start a career in technology. Sage, based in Newcastle and employing more than 1,200 people at its Cobalt headquarters, is currently recruiting for a range of roles. The company offers software and services that support small and medium-sized businesses with accounting, finance, HR and payroll. Current vacancies include positions in administration, customer service, app development and technical Tombola, which began as the Edward Thompson stationery shop and now runs the world's largest online bingo site, is also hiring. Based at its Sunderland campus on Wylam Wharf, the company is recruiting for roles including Cloud Security Engineers, Test Leads, Information Security Analysts, a Head of Game Studio and various developer Atom Bank, the UK's first app-based bank and winner of multiple employer awards, is looking to fill roles in testing, engineering, DevOps, change management, service management and Bede Gaming, which supplies gambling platforms and software to regulated online casinos, bingo operators and lotteries, is advertising vacancies for a Principal Data Engineer and a Staff Software LM Global specialies in providing communications and business technology systems and is now actively recruiting for app developers, engineers, sales executives and solutions Tharsus, which supplies cutting-edge robotic and strategic machine engineering, is recruiting for several software engineering-based positions at its Blyth Accenture has invested heavily in its Newcastle office at Cobalt Business Park over recent years. Roles currently available at the headquarters include data engineers and technical Headquartered in Newcastle, Partnerize is a leader in Partnership Automation for some of the world's largest and most innovative brands. The company is currently recruiting across several roles, including customer support and systems Kromek Group is a leading developer of radiation detection solutions and is currently recruiting for several technical positions at its global headquarters based in Sedgefield, County
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How choosing the right mortgage lender could allow a first-time buyer to borrow £124,000 more
First-time buyers may be pushed into buying smaller, cheaper homes in less desirable areas if they pick the wrong mortgage lender, new analysis has revealed. Mortgage broker Trinity Financial entered details of a fictional typical first-time-buyer couple into nine mortgage lenders' online calculators to find out how much they could borrow. It found that mortgage lenders offer different loan amounts to applications with identical circumstances due to their varying mortgage affordability assessments. Based on a joint income of £80,000 and a 25 per cent deposit, the research uncovered a near £124,000 difference between the most and least generous maximum loan amounts. It means those who don't shop around for their first mortgage may end up compromising on the home they buy, not knowing they could potentially borrow more elsewhere. The analysis found that Nationwide Building Society and Atom Bank are the most generous towards first-time buyers. Nationwide offers to lend up to six times annual income, via its Helping Hand scheme, which is available to eligible first time buyers with its five and 10 year fixed rate mortgages. Securing a Helping Hand mortgage with Nationwide on a five-year fix with a 25 per cent deposit could mean a couple earning £40,000 each (£80,000 combined) could borrow up to £480,000. This means they would be able to buy a home worth £600,000, which is more than the average property price in London. At the other end of the spectrum, the analysis found that the same first-time buyer could be limited to borrowing £356,000 if they chose Santander. With a 25 per cent deposit in place, this would mean they might end up buying a property worth £445,000. Aaron Strutt of Trinity Financial, said: 'Many first-time buyers do not realise that the amount they can borrow ranges so significantly depending on the lender they apply to for a mortgage. 'It does pay to shop around when it comes to mortgage affordability and borrowing the amount you need. 'Most lenders use completely different calculations to determine how much their customers can borrow, and as a result, the maximum loan sizes can vary significantly. 'Lenders can also offer surprisingly large loans to joint applicants with clean credit histories and strong incomes.' A string of mortgage lenders have been relaxing their affordability rules and launching products that could benefit first-time buyers in recent months. Yesterday, Nationwide announced it will be offering first-time buyers the chance to get a 5 per cent deposit mortgage when buying a new-build. The day before it was announced that first-time buyers with at least a 20 per cent deposit can now buy with an interest-only mortgage via lender Gen H. Since March, multiple high street lenders have loosened their mortgage rules, allowing people to borrow more when buying a home. And only last month, two smaller lenders announced they are now offering people the chance to buy a home with a mortgage covering the entire purchase price. April Mortgages and little-known lender Gable Mortgages are both providing the home loans which don't require the borrower to put down any deposit. 'The mortgage market is quite complex these days, and lenders are keen to attract first-time buyers, which is why there are numerous products designed to help them get on the property ladder,' adds Strutt. 'Generally speaking, the largest lenders offer the most competitive rates, while smaller lenders charge more, especially if they are offering a more bespoke product. 'Just because a lender offers high income multiples, it doesn't mean borrowers need to max out their borrowing - it's simply good to know the options they have available to them.' How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Chase Bank launches top 5% easy-access savings deal
Chase Bank has launched a best buy easy-access savings deal for new customers who open its current account. The app-based bank has boosted the rate it pays on its easy-access saver to 5 per cent to customers who open a Chase current account from today. The 5 per cent rate includes a bonus of 2.25 per cent which lasts for 12 months on top of an underlying rate of 2.75 per cent. It has vaulted its way to the top spot for the best easy-access account rate, overtaking Atom Bank which offers 4.75 per cent Customers can't have held an account before 9 June if they want to get this 5 per cent easy-access deal. Withdrawals are unlimited so savers will not face a penalty for accessing their money. It can be opened with a deposit of £1. To get the 5 per cent easy-access deal, savers must open a Chase saver account within 31 days of opening a Chase current account. Chase's easy-access rate is linked to the Bank of England's base rate and tracks 1.15 per cent below it. That means if the base rate falls, so too does the rate Chase pays customers. Markets are currently pricing in two cuts to the base rate by the end of the year. But the bonus will remain fixed for 12 months even if the underlying rate is cut. The Chase current account is app-based and comes with 1 per cent cashback on shopping, fuel and everyday transport capped at £15 a month in their first 12 months of being a customer. Chase overhauled its cashback deal in March making it far less attractive for customers. Previously customers could earn 1 per cent cashback on all debit card spending, up to £15 a month. Eligible spending was also confined to the UK where as before customers could earn 1 per cent cashback on overseas spending. Savers can deposit up to £3million in total in the savings account, though only £85,000 will be protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if anything goes wrong. How does it compare to other easy-access deals? For savers who have been Chase customers since before 9 June or who don't want to get a Chase bank account to get the easy-access deal, there are still competitive easy-access deals to be found. Savers can still bag a 4.75 per cent deal from Atom Bank, though this also contains a bonus rate for savers who don't withdraw money from the account. Savers who withdraw money in any given month will get a rate of 2.5 per cent. Santander-backed Cahoot has an easy-access deal paying 4.55 per cent, which includes a 3.41 per cent bonus for 12 months. Meanwhile Coventry Building Society is offering 4.5 per cent on its easy-access account, which allows customers to withdraw money twice in a 12-month period before the rate drops to on a third withdrawal. Savers looking for an easy-access account should also consider a tax-friendly cash Isa to keep as much of their savings tax-free as possible. These accounts allow you to funnel up to £20,000 per tax year into them and all of the interest is free from tax. Moneybox offers an easy-access cash Isa paying 5.46 per cent, which includes a 1.51 per cent bonus for three months, while CMC Invest offers a cash Isa with a rate of 5.44 per cent including a 0.85 per cent bonus for three months.
Sky News
05-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Regular savings rates fall - and you need to keep your eye on the small print
For this week's guide, Anna Bowes, personal finance expert from The Private Office, looks at where rates are falling... Savings rates have resisted the Bank of England's base rate cut in recent weeks, but the top rates on offer have now begun to fall - and the terms and conditions for some of them have changed. Atom Bank's Instant Saver Reward account, for example, is offering the top rate at 4.75% AER, but if you make a withdrawal, the rate falls to 2.5% for the month that follows. "It's important to double-check the small print, as many of the top rate accounts have either restricted access to the cash, which means that if you make some or too many withdrawals, you could earn less interest than you were expecting - or there may be a short-term bonus," Bowes says. Here are the best rates available... Fixed-rate bonds The fixed-rate bond market looks different, with rates across all terms increasing slightly as markets expect no changes to be made to the base rate for a while. While the new rates are only marginally higher, it does mean that savers have more inflation-beating options to choose from. "Choosing a longer-term bond could be a way of hedging against any further base rate cuts that are still expected to happen over the next year or so," Bowes adds. Here's a look at the best rates available. All of these accounts can be opened online and can't be accessed during the term... Easy access cash ISAs Unlike fixed-rate cash ISAs, which haven't changed over the past week, competition is fierce among easy access cash ISA providers. Yet a few rates have been cut this week, which may indicate the start of a lull. The top easy access ISA is 4.85% with Plum, while a week ago Chip was offering 4.99% on its Chip Cash ISA. Those who opened the account before this latest rate cut will still continue to earn the higher rate - for the time being at least. "Currently it would appear that the best paying cash ISA on the market is the Moneybox Cash ISA, paying 5.46%. But this rate includes a bonus of 1.51% for just three months, after which the rate will fall to 3.95% - this account also restricts the number of penalty free withdrawals," Bowes explains. "The advice would be to check the interest you are earning on your savings and switch, where possible, if you can improve your returns - but watch out for any tricks that might catch you out." Here are the best rates on the market...
Entrepreneur
04-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Kevin O'Leary: Four-Day Workweeks Are the 'Stupidest Idea'
O'Leary is a remote work enthusiast who often does television interviews wearing a suit jacket paired with pajama bottoms and flip-flops. AI is already changing the workplace, from taking on the tasks of junior employees to creating PowerPoints in your place. Some experts suggest AI could help eliminate wasteful work time and, in turn, cut an entire day from the workweek. And it isn't such a far-fetched idea anymore. After examining 245 businesses and nonprofits that piloted a four-day workweek over the last three years, a new study found that working one less day a week improved employees' mental health and boosted the businesses' bottom line. Moreover, Iceland adopted a four-day workweek in 2019, and Australia and France have piloted programs. Atom Bank in the U.K. has a four-day workweek — and employees can even be fully remote, if they choose. Related: Here's How Eliminating a Workday Without Cutting Pay Impacted Hundreds of Businesses But don't tell this to Kevin O'Leary. Despite being a remote work enthusiast who often does interviews from his hotel room in pajama pants, eliminating a day of work during the week is out of the question. "That's the stupidest idea I have ever heard," O'Leary said on "Outnumbered" on Fox News after being asked for his thoughts on four-day workweeks. "There's no such thing as a work week anymore anyway, in a digital economy." That's the stupidest idea I have ever heard. I think we should let the French go to a two-day work week and then kick their ass internationally. There's no such thing as a work week anymore anyways on a digital economy. I look at my staff, 40% of them work remotely all around the… — Kevin O'Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) June 1, 2025 O'Leary said about 40% of his staff "work remotely all around the world" and that "it's project-based," noting that he only cares about the work getting done, not where or when his staff is working on it. "Can you get it done by the 15th of June? 'Yes, I can.' I don't care when you do it, four-day, three-day, five-day," he said. Related: AI Is Dramatically Decreasing Entry-Level Hiring at Big Tech Companies, According to a New Analysis We don't expect the new study data to change O'Leary's mind, either. Last year, Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor told O'Leary that his employees and their four-day workweek (adopted in 2021) are "very productive," and engagement is up 50%. It doesn't look like O'Leary was swayed.
