Networking is often overlooked as more and more people are becoming time-poor. Despite this, the value of connecting with like-minded individuals inside and outside of business is unmatched. In a LinkedIn survey, as many as 80% of workers said that they considered networking important to their career success. Helen Pethybridge has been at the helm of Chiltern Coaching for a decade, helping SME owners grow their organisations. Before she became a business coach, Helen spent over two decades in HR roles at well-known companies such as PepsiCo and Diageo. Her extensive experience in the HR sector has helped her build…
Author: sme-admin
Two thirds of family business owners (66%) intend to pass their business on to a family member, according to a survey by Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth. When it comes to making their wishes a reality however, only a third (34%) have formal succession plans in place. Although encouragingly nearly half (46%) are in the process of developing plans, as many as a fifth (19%) have no succession plans, at any stage of development. The lack of succession planning for so many family businesses is a concern, claims the financial wellbeing firm. The research from Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth examined the challenges that…
With Debt Awareness Week taking place this week and recent SME debt concerns prompting an eight-week government review, the business finance experts at money.co.uk business credit cards have offered their tips on responsible lending and repayments. Joe Phelan, money.co.uk business credit cards expert, comments: “For many SMEs and entrepreneurs, navigating business debt can be both challenging and stressful. However, when managed responsibly, borrowing can be a powerful tool, helping businesses launch new products, expand into new markets, and scale sustainably. “Of course, poorly planned debt can lead to costly short-term loans and repayment struggles. That’s why financial planning and best practices are essential.…
Samsung pay homage to Hollywood Hits in new A series Enterprise Edition Campaign SME’s would lose nearly £300k a year due to business tech issues New research found businesses lose over two weeks a year (98 hours per week) due to misfiring tech equalling to 61,509 years lost across all of the UK’s 5.5 million SME businesses* The poll of 1,000 SME owners highlighted they spend £3,200 each year on repairs and updates as it’s revealed they would lose over £200k if their work tech was inaccessible Film posters have been unveiled to dramatise the issues that arise when business…
Solicitor Dayna Rodrigues, in law firm Blandy & Blandy’s Employment Law team, explains an employee’s rights in relation to pregnancy, maternity leave and childcare. Managing childcare needs and work can be stressful or a source of worry for parents. Below, we have set out our summary answers to a number of commonly asked questions and scenarios that employees may find themselves in. Please note that situations involving maternity/pregnancy/flexible working rights (and possible claims under the Equality Act) are often complex and are very fact specific. Accordingly, the summaries below should not be relied upon as a substitution for taking full legal…
Author: Mattieu Leroux, AI Sales Lead, UiPath As AI further advances, it’s important ethical considerations and our collective intelligence are implemented as part of its innovation. As AI technology is adopted across a wide pool of industries, reshaping how they operate, now is the time to take stock of the impact AI will also have on society. Although AI presents a significant number of benefits to productivity, disadvantages remain. One of the biggest challenges though is that AI models are trained on vast quantities of public data which presents a greater risk of strengthening existing biases in training data. As…
Research by employee appreciation specialist O.C. Tanner reveals that emotional intelligence (EQ) can be taught and cultivated among employees, with the giving of recognition key to nurturing an emotionally intelligent workforce. U.K. employees who “often give recognition” are 7 times’ more likely to be emotionally intelligent, and those who “often receive recognition” from leaders are 5 times’ more likely to be emotionally intelligent. U.K organisations that make recognition an integrated part of their everyday culture have the highest probability of developing an emotionally intelligent workforce – employees are 8 times’ more likely to have high EQ and leaders are 14 times’ more likely. These are the findings…
Since the shift to working remotely in 2020, hybrid working has reshaped the modern workplace, offering employees greater flexibility while redefining the office’s role. With fewer full-time employees in the office, companies are redesigning workplaces to meet the evolving needs of hybrid workers. No longer just a place for daily desk work, offices are evolving into dynamic hubs where collaboration, creativity, and well-being take centre stage. With employees splitting their time between home and the office, businesses are rethinking their workspaces to ensure that in-office days are productive. These changes reflect a broader shift—where businesses focus not just on where…
Mauro Cozzi, CEO and Co-founder, Emitwise As sustainability regulations tighten and customers demand greener supply chains, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) believe that decarbonisation is a challenge reserved for big corporations. SMEs make up 99.8% of all enterprises in the UK and provide almost 60% of private sector jobs. Yet, only 7.7% have formal sustainability reporting programmes. A recent survey by the SME Climate Hub also found that only 17% of SMEs had been asked to reduce their emissions by their corporate customers. But the truth is, SMEs play a crucial role in decarbonisation, and procurement is one of the…
From the Mini Cooper to Formula 1 dominance, the UK has a history of shaping the automotive world. But the industry has changed, and past success, though impressive, is no guarantee of future leadership. As other nations charge ahead with aggressive investment in innovation, the UK faces a stark choice: adapt and compete, or risk being left in the dust of others. Where Does The UK Currently Stand In The “Automotive Innovation Race”? Patent filings are a reliable indicator of innovation in any industry, but a recent study from R&D tax credit specialists Source Advisors presents an uncomfortable truth: the UK accounts…