Monthly Memo: February 2023

Monthly Memo: February 2023??

Welcome back to Evolution Partners' monthly newsletter, The Bottom Line. With this series, we hope to provide you with insights into the latest news this month, from finance and technology to ESG. We also provide updates on our team and company news.?

We'd love to know your thoughts - get in touch and leave a comment below. Tell us what struck a chord with you this month, and join the conversation.?

In the News this Month??

Surprise budget surplus??

After a period of considerable spending from soaring energy prices and EU payments, the UK government has revealed a “surprise surplus” in January. Economists have considered that this financial windfall may be attributed to “higher-than-expected” tax receipts. Although this was welcome news, chancellor Jeremy Hunt is still firm on continuing to reduce debt over the medium term as levels are currently at a record high since 1960.??

Chinese spy balloons??

In early February, a spy balloon closely linked to the Chinese government was discovered in Montana, USA. The area covered by the balloon floated over states house nuclear weapons in the event of war, prompting US officials to determine the intent of the balloon to be surveillance. However, other analysts are convinced the balloon was misdirected or alternatively, sent as a warning to Washington to “be on its guard”.??

Ukraine anniversary

The 24th of February 2023 marked one year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Joe Biden, the US president has demonstrated the “American commitment to Ukraine” with his surprise visit to Kyiv ahead of the anniversary. Ukraine has called on its Western allies to deliver weapons while Russia has been intensifying attacks and preparing for a “larger offensive”. Meanwhile, Biden and Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy have discussed the United States’ objective in continuing to support Ukraine alongside their other allies and partners.???

EP’s Trip to Warwick?

After launching our Student Ambassador Programme in November 2022, we recently recruited Ashna Goyal to join us as an Ambassador at the University of Warwick. On the 15th February, we were kindly invited to Warwick Business School’s Employer Engagement Day, having the chance to interact with both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Through this event, we were able to provide a larger insight into our firm, current career opportunities, and the company culture that we foster.?

A big thank you both Ashna and the career team at WBS’ help in organising and hosting us at this successful event! We look forward to attending more soon.?

Evolution Partners' Health and Wellness Series?

This month we've continued our Health and Wellness series, focusing on how financial services firms are well positioned to help improve their customers’ physical, mental, and financial health. Our latest episode of Evolutionary Exchanges features Hong Kong Managing Partner and Head of Health & Wellness, Bob Chapman, plus Consultants Alexandra Murray-Tacon and Emily Capon, as they discuss the opportunities and challenges wearable technology presents for financial services, as well as the ways in which firms may go about solving these issues.?

The rapid development of wearable technology is revolutionising the healthcare industry. The rich real-time data which wearables can now gather allows firms to adopt a customer-centric approach and can transform the way in which they interact and provide care to their customers. However, the speed at which this technology is evolving can pose some challenges as firms struggle to keep up and find the right talent and expertise to innovate and integrate wearable technology quickly and successfully.?

All these issues and more are discussed in this week’s Health and Wellness episode.?

10 Questions with the EP Team” New Series?

We have also begun our new podcast series this month, “10 Questions with the EP Team”. In this, we are asking all our Consultants and Analysts 10 questions about their career paths, interests and hobbies outside work to get to know our team better.?

Analyst Sita Raja kicked off the series by speaking to consultant Emily about her time at EP, what she wanted to be when she was younger, her love for Radiohead and the TV series ‘The White Lotus’, as well as her dream to go to the Maldives.?

We hope this series presents the opportunity to get to know what makes our EP team members tick and provides a greater sense of what working at Evolution Partners is like. So look out for the next episode where we'll be chatting with Hong Kong Managing Partner Bob Chapman.?

Get in touch with us??

Follow The Bottom Line for monthly updates and find us online at: www.evolutionpartners.global??

For more information about what Evolution Partners can do for your business, or for careers information, email us at: [email protected]?