Economy

Accompanying the launch of the Higgs Review report into the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors, MORI has carried out a major survey of company directors.

City analysts and investors are increasingly judging companies on their honesty and integrity, according to a new report by MORI. The report, commissioned by the Investor Relations Society (IRS) shows one third (34%) of analysts and almost half (46%) of investors judge senior management on these criteria, a rise of 11 percentage points and three percentage points on last year respectively.

Twice as many senior business executives see the UK as an attractive place to invest, than see it as unattractive, according to new research by MORI. The survey, commissioned by the CBI, shows more than half (54%) feel positive as opposed to a quarter (24%) who feel negative. However, two thirds (66%) say the UK has become less attractive as a place to invest/do business than five years ago, and more than half (58%) expect this trend to continue.

Most people do not think directors of large companies in the UK can be trusted to tell the truth, and three-quarters believe they are paid too much, according to new research by MORI.

Research by leading life and health insurance specialist Scottish Provident, the protection brand of Abbey National, has revealed a picture of far-reaching complacency through the country when it comes to people protecting their financial future.

More than three-quarters of adults in Great Britain believe secondary schools should do more to prepare children to deal with personal finance planning in later life.

People in Great Britain are increasingly aware the state is not going to provide for their retirement or pay for their children to go to university but few appear to be taking financial steps to prepare for these key moments in life.

Most people in Britain still prefer to use traditional banking methods for their savings, rather than more modern, tax efficient facilities.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) schemes are proving a popular business tool, even though just one in 20 businesses (six percent) are measuring their effectiveness.