Santander has teamed up with entrepreneur and footballing icon, Gary Neville, to help an SME with international ambitions get started in a new market. The bank showcased how with the right connections a business could go from Preston to Poland, in just 24 hours. Data from Santander3 shows that in the past 12 months, international businesses have improved their performance more (51%) than domestic only businesses (44%) proving that international expansion is key to growth for UK companies. Yet, despite 56% of SMEs having aspirations for international growth, 52% are still hindered by the fear of getting it wrong. Gary Neville, said: “I’ve started…
Author: Greg Robinson
It will come as no surprise that there is an undercurrent of uncertainty plaguing small business owners in the UK. A recent survey by messaging service Slack reveals that despite 71% of small business owners feeling cautiously optimistic about 2024, a significant 40% view this year as ‘make or break’. A volatile economy, a looming election, and persistent struggles with declining sales are just some of the anxieties weighing heavily on small business owners. And, when we look at how consumers are feeling, 36% say they are very likely to shop around for alternative service providers in the next six…
In UK health and safety there are recommended guidelines and official law, it is an employer’s responsibility to understand the difference and try to follow advisory practices from the government and HSE. Sometimes laws can be written which you would never believe to be true or vice versa you may be unaware of specific rules which are legal requirements in your workplace. To help educate staff and employers, or simply to refresh your memory if you are aware of safety law, Horizon Platforms has created a true or false quiz to test your knowledge. Take a look below and see how…
Whilst the key measures in Jeremy Hunt’s 2024 Spring Budget have been widely reported, taking the time to analyse these proposals can uncover the real impact on small and medium sized owner managed businesses. So, what is changing? R&D Tax Relief From 1 April 2024, there will be a single merged Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) scheme, removing the historically significant SME scheme, unless the company falls within the definition of being ‘R&D intensive’. HMRC is still increasing its enquiry activity around R&D generally to review and check claims, but the RDEC scheme opens up the opportunity for a…
BEP Surface Technologies, a leading electroplating and surface finishing specialist, has cut energy use by 20% after investing in control and automation technologies. The bespoke solution has transformed the Radcliffe-based manufacturer’s chrome plating process by enabling real-time visibility of critical operational parameters, enabling enhanced monitoring and data analysis. The two-year project, backed by skills support from Made Smarter, has cut energy use by 20 per cent, material use by 10 per cent, and labour use by 15 per cent. The scalable solution integrates with BEP’s grinding machinery to introduce predictive maintenance strategies and monitor hazardous materials to enhance safety. It is…
In these uncertain times for SMEs, insights from Camille Flores-Kilfoyle, Head of Marketing, EMEA, Reputation, offer invaluable guidance amidst the current volatility It’s no surprise that there are mixed feelings in the SME community about the prospects of 2024. Research from Slack last month revealed that 40% of small business owners see 2024 as a ‘make or break’ year – and 38% even said they were more worried about their business as they entered 2024 than they were at the same point last year. Even with some of the changes announced in the Spring Budget, such as the increase in…