A new study by Vodafone suggests owners of small businesses around the country are bracing themselves for a turbulent and uncertain year ahead with more than a quarter (28%) of small and medium size businesses admitting they won’t be hiring any new staff over the next 12 months due to the current cost of living crisis. The research commissioned by Vodafone looking into the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on UK small businesses has found the rising cost of gas, electricity and fuel for business use is the greatest challenge for half of small business owners (53%), followed by staff pay…
Author: sme-admin
Speakers from Peterborough, alongside experts from across the UK and Europe, will step onto the stage at TEDxPeterborough, next Thursday (October 27). Part of the global TED brand, TEDxPeterborough is being run by a team of volunteers in the spirit of TED’s mission of ideas worth spreading. With a theme of ‘Building For The Future’, TEDxPeterborough aims to educate, inspire and spark deep discussion among the community. The ticketed event will take place at Peterborough College, Park Crescent, Peterborough from 9.30am to 5.30pm, with talks, TED talk videos and networking. Launched in 2009, TEDx is a programme of locally organised events that…
SMEToday asks Dean Challinor, General Manager at Distec, to explore the benefits of the fourth industrial revolution in manufacturing for our readers. The internet has provided the platform for a new generation of business models. Tech giants such as Uber, Deliveroo and Air BnB have disrupted the market by reshaping production, consumption, transportation and delivery systems. Age-old institutions such as governments, healthcare and transportation have had digital overhauls; forced into change from the digital world. On the societal front, a paradigm shift is underway in how we work and communicate, as well as how we express, inform and entertain ourselves through technology…
Small businesses have been some of the hardest hit by the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Industry experts have predicted a future market downturn which is set to add further strain to consumer behaviour, labour markets and supply chains, launching us further into the era of uncertainty. With my background firmly rooted in supporting small businesses, I have learnt that preparedness is the best protection against increased turbulence and volatility. Organisations must be able to rest on a solid foundation to bolster them against any unforeseen disruption. Undoubtedly businesses can navigate difficult times – whether a pandemic, economic crisis, or social…
News headlines are dominated by negativity at the moment. With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, climate change, the global repercussions of the war in Ukraine, and now the economic chaos around the mini-budget, you would be forgiven for being cynical about the prospects of building a business right now. With only 40% of startups surviving their first three years, the data doesn’t do much to detract from the pessimism. As a founder myself, I can empathise with the challenges that businesses are facing at the moment but in order to overcome these and achieve your objectives and business aspirations, it’s important…
Jodie Fraser, managing director of Fraser Allen Estate Management, has become an ambassador for the Hollie Gazzard Trust and has launched a campaign for better safety for lone workers, particularly in property management. In her role, Jodie will promote the use of the Hollie Guard app, which provides enhanced levels of protection for lone workers, those travelling alone or commuting. The Trust was set up by the family of Hollie Gazzard who was tragically murdered in Gloucestershire in 2014 at her place of work by her ex boyfriend, after months of obsessive behaviour, jealousy and harassment. Jodie said: “I have…
The notion of digital transformation has elevated from buzzword to business imperative since the pandemic. In 2022, the need to accelerate digital transformation and build greater agility into the business remains top of the agenda: according to the latest Workbooks CRM survey, it is still the number one challenge facing SME businesses. One way to gain speed and cut costs is to automate time-consuming processes and tasks – but is there a scenario in which digital transformation can be taken too far? How do businesses achieve digital transformation and still build meaningful relationships with prospects and customers? In a time of…
Is the cost of living crisis the final straw for free returns? With retailers under ever greater cost pressures, even nominal returns fees will not safeguard margins. But, while retailers may fear disenfranchising customers by increasing returns costs, many consumers are increasingly looking for sustainable products and businesses that embrace the circular economy. To combat this, retailers can combine highly efficient fulfilment and returns processes with effective ethical positioning to radically reduce costs, while also boosting customer perception, argues James Hyde, Chief Product Officer & Founder, James and James Fulfilment. Escalating Problem As retailers prepare for the golden quarter, the cost of…
Leading BAME fostering agency, Banya will once again be hosting the ‘Banya Breakthrough Awards’ this month to celebrate the achievements of foster children in their care. The Breakthrough Awards is a private event that was first held last year in London. The awards celebrate and honour children brought up in foster care and also those who care for them. For 2022, as a result of feedback from Banya’s foster carers, the awards are being held in several areas where Banya has a strong team of foster carers and looked-after children and young people including London, Hampshire, Birmingham, Eastbourne and Sheffield.…
Document management specialist Filestream has been shortlisted for an award in the prestigious Document Manager Awards 2022 – and winners will be revealed next month. The team, based in Berkshire yet working with brands, organisations and big businesses across the UK, has been shortlisted in the ‘low code/no code’ category of the awards for their new level software known as Filestream 5. The awards are run by Document Manager Magazine which is a publication with a 30 year history and the awards themselves have been running for 16 years. Paul Day, Filestream’s technical director is an expert on secure software…