There is a direct correlation between accurate sales forecasting and a company’s success. Business leaders who have confidence in their forecasts can make more informed decisions when it comes to factors that impact revenue, such as setting targets, managing cash flow and recruitment. Vitally, this forms the basis of a strong reputation with investors and shareholders, too. Despite this, only 45% of sales leaders say they have confidence in their forecast accuracy today. After two years of disruption and now the prospect of a recession to overcome, it has never been more important for decision makers to understand the direction of their business. Andy…
Author: sme-admin
Inspirational business speaker, award-winning coach and author, Taz Thornton, has been named the UK’s Personal Empowerment Specialist Of the Year for the second year running at the 2022 Corporate LiveWire Innovation and Excellence Awards. “I’m honoured to be named the UK’s Personal Empowerment Specialist of the Year last year, it was a tremendous accolade. I want to empower people, to encourage them to break through the fears and beliefs that are limiting them. To be considered again was humbling and then to be recognised for a second year running is such an incredible feeling, especially as the nominations come from…
UserTesting (NYSE: USER), a leader in video-based human insight, has announced the availability of new test templates for the UserTesting® Human Insight Platform that enable companies to better understand their customers’ expectations, behaviours, and perceptions around inflation. UserTesting has designed test templates that help organisations adapt to changing economic trends by gathering customer perspectives quickly–and using the insights to make business and product decisions that keep customers loyal during an economic downturn. According to recent McKinsey findings, By collecting and understanding customer data and insights, companies can address their target customers’ needs to help maintain loyalty for the long term.…
Author: Daniel Fletcher, an associate solicitor specialising in intellectual property at Forbes Solicitors Intellectual property – it might not sound like the most exciting part of setting up and running a business, but it’s arguably one of the most important things to be considered and, wherever possible, protected in order to ensure the long-term success of a company. This is especially the case in increasingly competitive and squeezed markets. SMEs must be aware of the many and complex issues surrounding intellectual property – better known as IP – and be prepared to act to protect their business’ interests. An ounce…
Supply Chains disruptions are rife and it has became even more vital for firms to reduce inventory days. Laurent Descout, Founder and CEO at Neo, looks at how innovations in cross-border payments can simplify the process and reduce costs. A new report shows that supply chain disruptions could cost European economies up to €920 Billion, equating 7.7% of the Eurozone’s GDP by 2023. Factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the current geopolitical situation have compounded existing issues. A BDO survey of 600 finance leaders found that while “the pandemic exposed weaknesses in global supply chains, these issues were percolating well before.” Inventory…
Healthtech innovators, Quanta Dialysis Technologies were presented with the MacRobert Award by Princess Anne on Tuesday night, 12th July. Run by the Royal Academy for Engineering, the prestigious honour has been won by Quanta for developing a revolutionary new compact dialysis treatment. The revolutionary compact dialysis machine enables kidney failure patients to treat themselves at home and relieves pressure on over-stretched hospitals. The MacRobert Award is the UK’s longest-running and most prestigious award for UK engineering innovation. Joining previous MacRobert Award winners including Rolls-Royce, Arup and Raspberry Pi, Quanta was recognised for developing the SC+ system, a portable, easy-to-use, high performance…
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show that the total number of businesses registered within the UK as of March 2022 was 4,894,356, an increase of 3.8% when compared with the end of March 2021. However during that same time period 581,824 filed for dissolution proving that starting a business is often a lot easier than running one; at least when you don’t have the correct skillset. To help out budding entrepreneurs, in the age of the side hustle, Caunce O’Hara, the specialist insurance broker for freelancers and small businesses, reveal their Top Tips for success…
Despite the efforts of the former Chancellor, investment into UK SMEs remains stagnant according to new research from solution-led alternative finance provider Nucleus Commercial Finance (NCF). Aimed at bolstering the investments made by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), just 13% say they have increased investments as a result of the two year “super-deduction”. In fact, a greater percentage (16%) say they have in fact decreased investments in that period. A closer look at the findings reveals that medium sized businesses are most likely to have upped their investment following the announcement (25%). However, even within this cohort a similar number…
Recent research from the ONS has revealed shocking inequality amongst pensions across the UK – as a result of inflation and the rising cost of living – with one third of UK employees not expecting to have any pension provision beyond state pension when they retire. Those who are self-employed or on lower incomes will be impacted the most by pension wealth inequality. With the number of older workers steadily increasing over the last decade, Nick Jones – Head of Retirement Living at Lottie – warns of the impact the pensions crisis will have on older workers approaching retirement: “The…
With Boris Johnson’s resignation, speculation is rife with what he will do next – whether it’s a return to the world of business, or even sales. But despite being a good salesperson, it seems most businesses wouldn’t hire him as part of their sales teams. John Cheney, CEO of Workbooks gives a view on good practice when it comes to ethical selling. “If Boris Johnson were to re-enter the jobs market, could a career in sales be his calling? There can be no denying he knows how to sell. But would you hire him as a Sales Director at your…