Benefits of blood and breeding

Article Abstract:

The UK bloodstock industry is enjoying a renaissance in the 1990s as it slowly reclaims its former position as the world leader in the breeding and trading of thoroughbreds. The internationalization of the bloodstock trade, billion-dollar investments by wealthy Arabs such as the Maktoum brothers of Dubai, the coarsening of bloodlines in the US, and the doubling of breeding capacity with the transport of stallions between both hemispheres have all contributed to the improved fortunes of the industry. Reforms in UK horseracing, whose fate is intertwined with that of the horsebreeding trade, have also contributed to the bloodstock industry's renewed vitality. These reforms include the transfer of control over horseracing to the British Horseracing Board (BHB) and the BHB's program to improve race attendance. The growing popularity of race horses as an investment has also helped.

Horses and other equines, Horses, Horse and Other Equine Production, Livestock industry, Syndicates (Finance), Race horses, Racehorses, Horse breeding

Literally behind the times

Article Abstract:

The problems of the UK book industry are not solely the result of economic hardships but are also the consequences of shortcomings of the industry itself. Foremost of this is the resale price maintenance policy advocated by the Net Book Agreement (NBA). Reed Consumer Books reported that this system limits profitabality, as proven by the publisher's increased sale as a result of denetting the prices of its books after it bolted out of the NBA. However, some sectors continue to argue the practicality of such discounting schemes. Other issues include the sale-or-return system of ordering where books that are not sold are returned to the publisher and the failure of the industry to avail of technological innovations. The impact of different formats such as hardback, paperback, floppy disk, CD-rom and compact discs were also evaluated.

Book publishing, Book stores

The job brokers

Article Abstract:

A growing number of accountants in the UK are entering the field of recruitment consultancy. The lucrativeness of recruitment stems from the growing number of job applicants that began in the mid-1980s. By the late-1980s, competition within the recruitment consultancy market had encouraged accountants to integrate into their agencies a variety of complex marketing styles to enhance market share. However, the 1980's also brought along with it the disappearance of the less stable agencies and limited the number of jobs being offered as a result of work force reductions by most British companies. The increasing competition among recruitment agencies has made the selection of potential recruitment consultants even more exhaustive. The experiences of two recruiters provide insight into the challenges of this field of consultancy.

Employment agencies, Practice, Employee recruitment, Employment, Employment services, Accountants