After many months of uncertainty and nervousness, the moment is almost upon us. The rise in employer National Insurance first announced in the Budget last Autumn is set to take effect in April.
New research from SME lender iwoca suggests that the impact on the UK business landscape and 'working peoples' lives is going to be huge.
It found that over 300,000 SMEs may cut jobs due to those rising employer National Insurance co... Continue Reading
The Oval Office meeting last week between President Trump, Vice-President JD Vance and the person without a suit....oh, yes, the leader of a nation in its third year of war, President Zelensky of Ukraine, conjured up a number of thoughts.
One of those was an email received near the tail-end of last year from business travel management platform TravelPerk. Its subject matter - that most workers would be willing to allow an AI avatar t... Continue Reading
Earlier this month news came through that Twin Path Ventures, the UK’s only dedicated pre-seed investor in AI-first startups had received financial support from British Business Investments.
Under the deal British Business Investments, committed to invest £10 million alongside Twin Path Ventures early-stage AI-focused investment fund and the fund’s existing angel and family office investors. The partnership will see British Bus... Continue Reading
US President Donald Trump's determination to scrap diversity and inclusion hiring strategies is so fierce that he has even linked the practice to the worst air crash in his country for two decades.
Although not directly blaming the US's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) diversity recruitment policies for the fatal crash between a military helicopter and a passenger airline over Washington DC, there was definitely a hint... Continue Reading
Donald Trump will officially become President of the United States for a second time on 20 January. His inauguration in Washington D.C. will be one of the most watched TV events of early 2025 and fire the starting pistol on the traditionally important first 100 days in office.
These first 100 days set the tone of an administration. The President and his team are full of energy and eager to make their mark with new policies and strate... Continue Reading
The Christmas and New Year period is a time for reflection as much as celebration. Looking back on the year just gone, the highlights and lowlights and thinking forward into 2025.
Even in those who are traditionally more half-empty than half-full, a glint of optimism is hard to resist. New start, new hopes, new dreams, maybe this time next year Rodney we’ll be millionaires…
The advice to those people however may be ... Continue Reading
A survey out at the start of December highlighted growing economic uncertainty amongst SMEs in the UK following the Autumn Budget.
It is a nervousness and caution, the survey found, that could put a halt to many growth ambitions and M&A in the months ahead. The focus of SMEs instead is likely to be on cashflow and financial robustness.
The research from small business lender iwoca, in its quarterly SME Expert Index, foun... Continue Reading
Whenever an acquisition deal is announced the only words we typically hear are from those at the top.
The Chief Executive is "thrilled and excited by the new deal and the opportunities it offers the company going forward," or "We would like to thank adviser a and adviser b for their professionalism and dedication."
Whenever employees are mentioned - unless, of course the business has become employee owned – it is more... Continue Reading
Ever since Donald Trump won the US Presidential Election earlier this week there has been a hefty barrage of column inches dedicated to the global impact of the 'decision of the American people'.
There has been a focus on what the return of Trump means for the Ukraine conflict, support for Israel in the Middle East, NATO, climate change legislation and the ‘special relationship’ between the US and a new UK government wh... Continue Reading
Any fan of the TV show ‘Dr Who’ will be well versed in the threat of Cyber. Well, cybermen – those less than fleet-footed, emotionless adversaries of the good Doctor – at least.
Those cybermen were bent on human destruction - very similar in fact to the cyber that businesses, organisations and ‘ordinary members of the public’ have become more accustomed to in recent years.
According to recent UK Government ... Continue Reading
A new study has found 85 per cent of bosses with HR responsibilities at British SMEs support staff having the “right to switch off”. The “right to switch off” empowers staff to disconnect from work outside of regular hours and over weekends.
The “right to switch off” was widely expected to be included in the new Labour government’s Employment Rights Bill. However, it was ultimately excluded, seemingly confirming repor... Continue Reading
As companies expand, it's common to focus on acquiring new assets to fuel further growth. However, a strategy that often goes overlooked is divestment—selling off parts of your business. While it might seem counterintuitive, strategic divestment can be as impactful as acquisitions when it comes to achieving long-term growth and stability.
At a time when many businesses are struggling to raise funds and may be considering stre... Continue Reading
Purchasing an existing business can be a strategic move that offers numerous advantages over starting one from scratch. With less risk, immediate access to revenue, and a foundation already in place, acquiring a pre-established company can provide a smoother path to success. One of the key factors that make this option particularly attractive is the opportunity to inherit a well-established brand. In today's digital age, where social media a... Continue Reading
Shifting your business operations to the cloud might initially seem overwhelming, particularly if you run a small enterprise. It’s easy to associate cloud technology with large corporations or tech giants, and to worry that it might complicate your existing workflows.
Yet, moving to the cloud can actually streamline your operations, enhance your competitiveness, and improve your data security. Below, we outline several key reasons... Continue Reading
In the current economy, small businesses can face a serious challenge in attracting the customers they need to grow and can often struggle to keep pace with the rapid change in customer requirements and expectations.
This can leave owners feeling that their business is in danger of becoming redundant and that radical change is required in order to reverse their trajectory. However, such a dramatic shift is usually not what is requi... Continue Reading
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