The Autumn Statement has been met with a mixed reception by self-directed investors – dubbed DIY investors, in that they actively choose their own investments – according to new research from the wealth manager, Charles Stanley. The highly anticipated Budget, which saw the Government take measures to raise tax and increase spending, succeeded in not causing market panic at the outset, though the longer-term effects of the changes to the UK economy remain to be seen. When asked whether they believe the announcements in the Budget will help UK investors in the long-run, respondents were almost split down the middle, with 38%…
Author: sme-admin
As another year draws in, 2024 has seen some notable changes to the way UK businesses operate and, ultimately, communicate. In this article, Kristian Torode, Director and Co-Founder of business telecoms services provider Crystaline, offers his reflections for the year. A flexible future This year, return to office orders from big name giants such as PwC, Tesco and Santander have continued to drive the home-office-hybrid debate. With it, we’ve seen the emergence of yet another workplace trend. Hushed hybrid refers to the term where managers discreetly allow employees to work from home, or more flexibly, despite official company policy stating…
Innovators from across the country can support the UK’s push to reach net zero by 2050 from today (Tuesday 19 November) as the UK government pushes forward the use of technology, including AI, to deliver new clean energy systems. Launching the second round of the Manchester Prize, teams of innovators, academics, start-ups and entrepreneurs based in the UK will be able to apply for funding to develop solutions which will decarbonise the nation’s energy grid and boost the UK’s energy security. These innovations could prove crucial in the coming years to support the government’s broader mission of transforming the UK into…
The United Kingdom and United States have joined forces at COP29 to speed up the deployment of cutting-edge nuclear technology to help decarbonise industry and boost energy security. The UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and US Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk have today (Monday 18 November) signed a new agreement while in Baku for climate talks that will help pool together billions of pounds worth of nuclear research and development – including the world’s leading academic institutions and nuclear innovators. The UK will take a leading role in the forum, which aims to support information-sharing on advanced nuclear technologies…
Four innovative tech scale up businesses tackling challenges from connecting cancer patients to clinical trials, to improving IT systems’ resistance to cyber-attacks, have been announced as winners of the Unicorn Kingdom Pathfinder Awards (UKPA) – DBT’s largest global awards for tech scale up companies. The awards, hosted by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), provide a unique opportunity to unearth the most promising businesses in tech and builds on the success of the UK’s Tech Rocketship Awards in 2023, which resulted in £67.4 million investment into the UK. The government is focused on transforming the UK into even more…
According to a recent survey, 65% of people felt imposter syndrome during their most recent onboarding process. Whether you are starting a new career or well established in your industry, getting to grips with a new workplace and team can be a struggle, especially when new lingo comes into play. With that in mind, the experts at Wix.com have delved into the most confusing business abbreviations to reveal the terms leaving Brits scratching their heads. Study highlights: KPI (key performance indicator) tops the list of the most confusing business abbreviations for Brits, with 662.4K searches per year. In second place, CRM (customer relationship management) generates 543.4K searches on average per…
Rogue research and development (R&D) tax advisors are running rampant and businesses claiming tax relief are risking getting in deep and costly trouble with HMRC, say leading audit, tax and business advisory firm, Blick Rothenberg. Ele Theochari, a Partner and R&D specialist at the firm, said: “HMRC have been cracking down on R&D claims to curb fraud and non-compliance, which they believe costs the Treasury around £1bn per annum.” She added: “While these measures have deterred some dubious R&D claims, as evidenced by the reduced number of claims being made in the last financial year, there is still a lingering issue:…
Anita Mavridis, VP of Product at Zivver, and Sue Musumeci, Director of Quality & Clinical Informatics at Chronic Care Staffing, explore practical strategies for empowering employees. When it comes to safeguarding data, are humans a vulnerability or an asset? The answer very much depends on how organisations empower and enable their teams to deal with the many regulations and policies that define their cybersecurity strategy. In the push to strengthen data security, many workers are beginning to feel disillusioned or overwhelmed by complex security rules that appear to serve the business rather than serve them as employees. When rules are enforced without…
Following the UK GDP announcement last week, experts have commented on the stagnating growth, highlighting concerns about the economy’s resilience amid mounting pressures on businesses and households. Rob Morgan, Chief Investment Analyst at Charles Stanley commented; “The UK economy barely increased in the third quarter of 2024, following an encouraging first half of the year. GDP is estimated to have increased by 0.1% in the July to September period following growth of 0.5% in the second quarter and 0.7% in the first. The subdued performance mostly stems from a downturn in industrial output and manufacturing, as well as a fall…
Free-from food company Creative Nature has seen its Magibles Christmas Cracker win gold in the Stocking Filler category at the Free From Christmas Awards 2024. Founded in 2012 by Julianne Ponan MBE, Creative Nature emerged from Julianne’s personal journey with multiple food allergies and anaphylaxis. The company’s dedication to creating delicious, safe, and inclusive food options has propelled it to the forefront of the industry. The Free From Food Awards, established in 2008, are the UK’s premier awards recognising excellence in the free-from food and drink industry. This year, Creative Nature’s Magibles Christmas Cracker was a gold winner in its…