The UK is facing a fresh economic challenge as official figures released this morning show inflation rising to its highest level in 10 months, reaching 3% in January. Contributing factors include soaring plane fares, food prices, and significant hikes in private school fees, all adding pressure to households already grappling with the cost of living. Leading industry experts have offered their insights into what this means for both consumers and businesses. Rob Morgan, Chief Investment Analyst at Charles Stanley said “It’s unwelcome news for households struggling from the upswing in the cost of living in recent years, although the resilient…
Author: sme-admin
The 2024 Forrester Customer Experience [CX] Index paints a concerning picture of the current state of CX, with performance continuing to drop for the third consecutive year. This is particularly evident in key areas such as effectiveness, ease, and, notably, emotion. As customer experience becomes a key competitive differentiator for brands, the question emerges: why are so many failing to truly connect with their customers on an emotional level? The emotional gap in CX In the Forrester report, one of the most troubling insights is the decline in the emotional aspect of CX. This is the component that influences customer…
The Swinton Estate has launched Nourish – a new corporate partnership programme that delivers a platform for positive environmental investment on its 20,000-acre estate in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. The scheme is aimed at business owners wanting to understand and reduce their carbon footprint, improve biodiversity and achieve their sustainability goals. Nourish partners can invest in the Estate’s Carbon Plus credits, BNG units from their habitat bank, Environmental Investment schemes and local community projects. Membership benefits include enrolment at the Climate Action Academy and nature-based welfare schemes designed for the benefit of the workforce. As Nourish is based…
Kiwa, one of the country’s leading product safety certification providers, has further extended its electrical safety certification service with the addition of two new significant IECEE CB scheme test standards. The company now offers manufacturers access to product safety certification support for audio/video, information and communication technology equipment under the IEC 62368-1 standard, as well as IEC 61010-1, covering electrical equipment for measurement and control, and instruments within a laboratory. The two new product categories add to Kiwa’s well-established expertise in the electromagnetic capability (EMC), radio and product safety testing area, and will deliver an enhanced capability to support manufacturers’ ambitions to access global…
When you’ve just started up your small business, it can be easy to think you won’t need insurance. After all, you’re only a small business – what’s the worst that can happen? But, many business owners think they don’t need insurance and get caught out when they least expect it. In fact, 44% of business owners in the UK have no commercial insurance, and 47% of these say that their business is “too small” to take out a policy. But, as an SME, it’s crucial to separate fact from fiction to protect your hard work. A new guide from the business insurance experts at…
University admissions have declined for the third consecutive year as rising costs leave young people searching for alternatives. While students may worry about career prospects without a traditional degree, new research from Cambridge Advance Online suggests a more positive outlook for future leaders: 47.4% of managers, directors and senior officials in the UK do not have a degree, equivalent or higher qualification which demonstrates the opportunity to succeed through non-traditional routes. Over half (53.6%) of current job listings that specify educational requirements do not mandate any type of degree, highlighting more flexible career entry points. To uncover these insights, Cambridge Advance Online analysed a…
It is estimated that over 90% of hybrid and remote employees use a personal device for work every day. But as more people use their smartphones or laptops to access company resources the security risks for organisations increase dramatically making it unsurprising that more than half of UK businesses experienced some form of cybersecurity breach or attack last year alone. Simple admin tasks such as sending a work email from a personal device can create vulnerabilities in an organisation’s network. Whether instituted as a formal policy or as an adaptation to the pandemic, bringing your own device (‘BYOD’ ) opens…
Solicitor Emma Ford, in leading law firm Blandy & Blandy’s Corporate & Commercial team, explains the key stages of the process when selling your business. The sale of a business is an important and rewarding milestone for business-owners, yet the process can appear complex to navigate. With many factors to consider from the outset, such as current market conditions and obtaining a suitable valuation, we would advise that professional guidance is sought to establish a suitable course of action. Our Corporate & Commercial team is highly experienced in such matters, advising on the legal aspects of business sale transactions from the early negotiation…
With late payments costing SMEs £22,000 a year and 56 million hours in lost productivity, new research has revealed the UK sectors most affected by late payments.1 The FSB has described late payments as one of the “biggest problems” facing small businesses. As a result, the government has announced plans to crack down on late payments with stricter laws to help smaller businesses and grow the UK economy. With this in mind, the business finance experts at money.co.uk business credit cards have analysed data from the Department for Business and Trade to show how late payments affect UK businesses. Rank Industry* Median days…
Attara—a firm dedicated to simplifying hedging solutions for SMEs—has recently launched its inaugural trends report, The World at Unrest. Founded by former Bank of America and Barclays FX trader Richard De Meo, Attara aims to equip businesses with the tools to manage price volatility effectively. This comprehensive report unpacks the key forces shaping commodities markets in 2025. In this article Richard De Meo shares his expert insights and predictions, offering a deep dive into the trends that will impact industries worldwide. The economic outlook for the year ahead is painted with a brush of uncertainty. The hopeful group consensus is…