NORTH EAST headquartered eQuality Solutions Group (eQS) is celebrating the success of its immersive apprenticeship programme, which ensures apprentices don’t just learn – they thrive, with the aim of becoming integral members of the company. As National Apprenticeship Week highlights the crucial role apprenticeships play in shaping future workforces, eQS is reinforcing its commitment to growing talent from within. With ten apprentices currently developing their careers at eQS, including two who have already transitioned into full-time roles, the focus on building confidence and skills is proving successful. Employing 30 people at its Hebburn head office and an additional 60 across the UK, eQS showcases the exceptional growth…
Author: sme-admin
The upcoming rise in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) is set to cost UK businesses an additional £28bn this year, based on conservative estimates, with the actual tax burden potentially being much higher. New data from Novuna, one of the UK’s leading financial services companies, highlights the steep cost increases businesses face due to rising NICs. The basic rate band, comprising over three-quarters of the UK workforce, will rise by 12% equating to £566 per employee, costing businesses an additional £16.7 billion alone. For the two million employees earning the National Living or Minimum Wage in the UK, employers will see contributions rise…
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) recently called on the government to support the creation of 500,000 new small businesses by 2028 following research into the growing number of self-employed individuals helping driving economic growth in the UK . The organisation has subsequently drawn up a list of recommendations to assist those wanting to start their own business, and identified the barriers to entry for new entrepreneurs. These included: Reform of Universal Credit Better Access to Maternity Allowance – significantly lower than Statutory Maternity Pay Claiming tax relief for training Doubling the trading allowance from £1000 to £2000 The research also identified…
65% of professionals admit to using AI platforms for work-related tasks. AI has evolved immensely over the last few years, helping with efficiency and decision-making, however, there are major concerns regarding AI tools in professional environments. The application security SaaS company, Indusface has therefore uncovered the most common data that professionals are sharing with AI and the implications this can have on individuals and businesses. 1. Work-related files and documents: One of the most common categories of information shared with AI is work-related files and documents. Over 80% of professionals in Fortune 500 enterprises use AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to assist with tasks such as analysing numbers,…
A new study by Markel Direct, the specialist insurer of tradespeople, has highlighted the loss of earnings construction workers experience due to injuries sustained whilst at work. The survey, which asked over 300 tradespeople, who had experienced workplace injury, about the impact of workplace injuries and illness revealed that half of respondents had lost income or a contract as a result of their injury. Of those asked, 35% miss 1-2 weeks of work a year due to work-related sickness or accidents. Based on the average day rate of £238, those that have had to take up to two weeks off work would be losing over…
With almost two-thirds (65%) of B2B businesses reporting tighter buyer budgets as one of their biggest challenges last year, a new report has revealed the top sales and marketing challenges in 2025, as well as how to tackle them. The report, created by the lead generation experts at Sopro – a global multi-channel prospecting service for B2B businesses – dives into the trends and challenges shaping industry strategies. The fourth annual report features insights from more than 400 senior B2B decision-makers, data from 97.9 million emails and 21.6 million multi-channel touchpoints, as well as innovative strategies from leading outreach experts. Some of the…
Rachel Exton, vice president of Marketing for Pearson, explores how balancing brand identity with regional nuances can help deliver strong results for businesses. In today’s increasingly connected world, brands must strike a delicate balance between global consistency and local relevance—a balance I call “Glocal.” As someone who has worked in both global and local roles throughout my career, I’ve seen both sides of the coin. The common tension is familiar to many marketers; the global team feel local markets aren’t following brand guidelines, while local teams feel that their region isn’t fully understood by the global team. Each side has…
In a September 2024 study, Vodafone found that 47 per cent of UK-based small- to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) use WhatsApp as their primary business communication platform. While its convenience is undeniable, the platform’s use poses significant data privacy and security risks. Here, Kristian Torode, Director and Co-Founder of business communication specialist Crystaline, explains why unified communications (UC) offers a more secure solution. WhatsApp was launched in 2009 as a simple messaging app, but its user-friendly interface, ad-free design and cost-free messaging over the internet quickly caused it to gain popularity. In 2025, it is estimated that WhatsApp will reach 3 billion monthly…
As the UK fitness sector grows, exercise is becoming more community focused. Workplaces can capitalise on this trend of social fitness, which can have significant benefits both for employee wellbeing and overall organisational performance. Research consistently shows that physical activity improves mental clarity, reduces stress and boosts productivity—all things that can directly impact employee wellbeing. Time spent during the work week prioritising physical wellbeing even has a correlation with increased productivity. “An active space doesn’t necessarily mean a ‘fitness space’. It’s a flexible space away from the standard workspace that can be utilised to take a break from work or encourage physical…
Online dating has become a phenomenon in recent years and has led to many happy marriages and new relationships. However, it’s also allowed the catfishes of the world to rise up and scam those looking for romantic connections. Remember the Tinder Swindler documentary? That showed the destruction that online dating can bring, and the importance of staying safe while online dating. This Valentine’s, cybersecurity experts ramsac have released some key ways that you can stay safe while online dating in the lead up to the most romantic day of the year. Watch out for fake profiles Fake profiles are rampant on dating apps,…