Business-to-business (B2B) Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) is on the rise. An entirely separate model to the much-maligned consumer financing model, it is highly regulated and allows businesses to spread the cost of purchases, growth and internal investment. But there is still some confusion between B2B and B2C BNPL, leaving many businesses unsure of whether it’s the right financing solution for them. So, what is B2B BNPL, how does it work, how does it differ from its consumer cousin, and is it a good option for scaling businesses? What is B2B BNPL? B2B BNPL is a form of trade credit…
Author: sme-admin
Is finance as male-dominated as it was? No, there have indeed been improvements but there is still a long way to go to reach real equality across the sector. Some of the factors behind the lack of diversity across the industry are ingrained social issues. Bias around education, training, opportunities, and recruitment all play a major role in constraining women in finance. Ultimately, this leads to significantly reduced career progression for those women who have pursued a career in financial services. I have worked in finance for over twelve years, starting in consulting and banking operational roles. In 2019 I…
By Laura Brown, head of demand generation at Esendex The closure of many brick-and-mortar stores and the increase in online demand has led to customer relationships becoming somewhat strained over the past few years as businesses try to navigate the unique challenges brought on by the pandemic. One such challenge companies are facing is in how to replicate the one-on-one connection you typically get in-store, prompting questions such as ‘how can I continue to provide such a personalised experience online?’ and ‘which platform is best for this?’. The reality is, there is now a plethora of communication channels available to…
When it comes to posture and sitting correctly at our desks and on the commute it’s something we all know we need to improve on, but it’s hard, despite knowing the benefits. What if I told you that there is something you can do anywhere, any time, that would help with maintaining your physical, mental and emotional health, and is as relevant today as it was in the time of Confucius. Enter the ancient art of Chi Kung, rooted in Taoist philosophy. As humans we are well practised in using our grey matter to solve problems and find solutions but…
The ‘gloss’ of hybrid working will soon dull if business leaders do not know how to successfully keep their teams engaged and motivated whilst working at home. In 2020, Global Workplace Analytics administered the Global Work-From-Home Experience Survey, where it was found that 76% of global employees want to continue working from home, with more than 77% saying they felt more productive. The Office of National Statistics found that in 2021, 85% of remote workers wanted their businesses to implement a hybrid approach in the future. With the introduction of hybrid working, people feel better about working from home part time,…
Recent data has shown that we are busier than ever, even working longer hours than we did before the pandemic. As a result, our diaries are busier than ever. Conversations that used to happen naturally while in the office now require a deliberate, scheduled call. Some weeks it can feel as though your day is jam packed with little room for deep work. As a result, you may dread opening your calendar on Monday morning. It doesn’t have to be this way. Calendars are a powerful tool to help manage workloads. However, many of us simply don’t use them as…
March 2022: London-based retailer agnostic mobile app Slip announces its £750k pre-seed fundraise to revolutionise the retail experience for both consumers and retailers ahead of its summer launch. Founded in 2021 by Tash Grossman and Eddy Herman, Slip aims to innovate and simplify the retail experience for customers by allowing its users to receive digital receipts via QR codes, view and manage their omnichannel spending and receive exclusive discount offers and personalised content based on their buying habits. The software behind the app sets out to support retailers by providing powerful data and insights around consumer trends at the product…
Flexible, remote working was the first change to working patterns ignited by the pandemic, but its impact continues on. As final restrictions are lifted, and the new way of work becomes normal, the Great Resignation has begun. With so many people resigning, what does it mean for businesses, and what can companies do to mitigate its impact? Here Doug Mulvihill, UK and Ireland marketing manager at business phone system provider Ringover, investigates. The Great Resignation has swept the UK job market over the last year — in the final quarter of 2021, job-to-job moves reached a new record. According to…
As the last vestiges of pandemic restrictions lift in the UK, many small-and-medium enterprise (SME) business owners are left facing a long recovery back to full health. As they do so, the new reality of doing business in post-Brexit Britain will start to bed in. Emma Lovell, Chief Executive of the LSB (Lending Standards Board), explores how lenders can support these firms, as government-backed support ebbs away. At the start of 2021 there were 5.5 million small businesses operating in the UK, accounting 99.9 percent of the UK’s total business population. These firms – with fewer than 49 employees –…
Terry Blackburn, award winning entrepreneur and author of his new book Be A Lion provides 5 ways to have an unstoppable mindset when it comes to setting up a business: With everything in life, I believe you should enjoy what you’re doing. What do they say: work is two-thirds of your life or something crazy? Work is a huge part of your life – you can’t escape that. So why not do something that you enjoy? If you don’t, then change it! I strongly disagree with all these online training companies saying, “Leave your job and start a business.” It’s not…