Latest
9th July 2024
How to Avoid a Car Crash Interview – For Both Sides
“Death will be a great relief. No more interviews,” so said the late great Hollywood leading lady, Katherine Hepburn.Fortunately, interviews don’t have to be a matter of life or death. Though, admittedly, they can be strangely painful for both sides.Face-to-face interviews are a test of nerves and wit, of preparation, manner, and often even sense of style. But they are...
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4th July 2024
Global Competition for Talent – Opportunities for UK Universities and Research Institutions
While there has been no shortage of comment over recent months on the unprecedented challenges facing UK universities and research institutions, particularly regarding financial sustainability, there have been some recent signs that optimism is returning to the sector, and we see real opportunities for institutions to capitalise on this change in sentiment to attract and...
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29th January 2024
Corporates can outpace the politics on DEI
…but only by holding focus on the long-term.DEI has become a lightning rod for America’s disagreements over what constitutes progress. UK corporates can lead by example if they accept that success will require careful organisational change rather than just funding and the desire to do the right thing.The US was the birthplace of the modern push for diversity, equity...
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24th January 2024
Delivering growth in 2024
2023 was a challenging and uncertain year for UK businesses. High levels of inflation, stubborn energy prices, high interest rates and forecasts of a contracting economy all created investment caution. An inflation rate of around 9% created a gloomy start. Consensus forecasts of the economy contracting by ¾% added to the supply chain problems resulting from the war in...
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18th October 2023
For Real Assets investors, agility can make the difference amid scarcity of opportunities
You can have too much of a good thing, especially when it comes to real estate investing.Global private equity dry powder, which includes real estate funds, soared to a record $2.49 trillion by mid-2023, an 11% increase compared to six months earlier, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence and Preqin data.Investors are clearly struggling to deploy the funds they’ve...
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3rd October 2023
Cyber expertise is essential for UK boards in the information age
The remit of UK boards is expanding as the world becomes more complex.Where once financial acumen, sectoral expertise, and the ability to lead were the most vital characteristics, today’s boards must be equipped with a broader array of skills, particularly as companies reposition amid the rise of ESG.But while companies are making good progress on those fronts, the emergence...
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2nd October 2023
Is Private Equity experience a vital component of successful leadership teams in PE backed businesses?
Proven management teams that successfully deliver for their private equity owners often have common attributes and a unique set of skills. They are also a rare commodity. Whether or not private equity (PE) experience is a key component in an effective leadership team has been a point of industry contention for years.Many investors insist on it when appointing...
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22nd September 2023
Fostering resilience: a multifaceted approach to board diversity
UK companies have made gains on gender and ethnic diversity, but through our work with clients we’re consistently finding that companies are struggling to gather diversity at board level in the broadest sense. The solutions are often hidden in plain sight.The fog of uncertainty that has clouded the UK economic outlook is clearing. UK inflation is now falling meaningfully and...
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18th July 2023
Utilising talent to offset the private equity deal drought: four key themes
Global private equity dealmaking volumes dropped 51% in the first six months of 2023 compared to the same period a year earlier. Successful PE firms are utilising talent to navigate the scarcity of deals and gain a competitive edge.The world is in the grip of a deal-making drought.Global M&A tumbled 38% to $1.3tn in the first six months of 2023, the lowest deal volume...
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1st June 2023
McLean welcomes Maisie Soundy as the new Team Assistant
McLean Partnership are delighted to welcome Maisie to the team as our new Team Assistant. Maisie joins us from Baker Botts LLP, and will be supporting the McLean team with administration, diary management, office management and general support. We look forward to working with you...
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