Ingrid Gubbay and Anthony Maton: Time for collective action? Redressing the damaging effects of cartels on small businesses

10 September 2010: This paper, by Ingrid Gubbay and Anthony Maton of Hausfeld & Co LLP, examines some of the harmful effects of cartels on small businesses and discusses reasons why firms remain reluctant to claim for damages. The paper then moves on to highlight the affordable options open to SMEs for redress, and the opportunities for insurance firms to become the underwriters of collective action.

Election 2010 Special: What the parties say – Stephen Timms, Mark Hoban & Vince Cable

1 April 2010: We have compiled an election special as part of our regular CII Thinkpiece series. The three main parties – represented by the Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP for Labour, Mark Hoban MP for the Conservatives and Dr Vince Cable MP for the Liberal Democrats – set our their respective visions for financial services.

Clare Sheikh: Risky Business – Rethinking Risk

“Risky Business” Series No.4

1 October 2009: The economic down has affected people in many ways. One such example is the impact on perceptions towards risk, both in terms of businesses and individuals. In the final paper of the ‘nturRisky Business’ series Clare Sheikh, Group Director of Strategy, Marketing & Customer for RSA, explores the ways in which attitudes have shifted and what this might mean for the future.

Steve Besley: Progress on the skills agenda: are we making enough?

4 September 2009: Despite the economic downturn the issue of skills has remained at the top of the political agenda – highlighting its importance to the prosperity of the nation. The present Government has invested heavily in skills, however the landscape is a crowded one. In this Thinkpiece, Steve Besley of Edexcel takes a look at the skills system, its development since the Leitch report and what might happen in the future.

David Cavell: Retail financial services: success through branch led-strategies

10 October 2008: British bank branches are often far behind the levels of innovation and service demonstrated by their international counterparts. British banking expert David Cavell argues that the way forward means coming to terms with flexible markets and an ever-changing customer base, while committing to practical, straightforward solutions that will lead to better served consumers—and better branch bottom lines.