Free-from food company, Creative Nature, has recruited a new staff member to help the company with digital marketing and administration. Caitlyn Ward from Walton-on-Thames, is settling into her new role. “It can be quite fast-paced, but in a fun, challenging way instead of overwhelming. I’m never afraid to ask questions if I’m not sure what I’m doing and everyone has been super supportive.” Caitlyn is a former student of Rydens Enterprise School (now the Three Rivers Academy) and she has worked part-time from her teenage years within the service and hospitality industry as a waitress, kitchen assistant and some office work.…
Author: sme-admin
Clean Transport Accelerator launched by NatWest and University of Warwick to help SMEs fast-track their innovations. With transport being the largest carbon emitting sector in the UK, a partnership between NatWest and WMG at the University of Warwick has led to the launch of the Clean Transport Accelerator. It will support businesses which are part of the mobility sector to develop products and services that will play their part in achieving the UK’s net-zero goals. The first cohort of the programme will help 10-15 businesses through education, events, networking and coaching. They will also have access to experts and equipment…
Lovevery, the early childhood brand, loved by parents around the globe, invests in the UK, opening Logistics Centre in The Midlands. The expansion and investment into the UK sees its first local Fulfilment Centre, as a part of the expansion plan by supply chain expert, Bleckmann, who provides end-to-end logistics solutions for retail and lifestyle brands, such as Lovevery, open in The Midlands Gold Triangle; Magna Park Lutterworth. The move by startup, Lovevery, to join other recognisable brands at Bleckmann including Gymshark, follows its successful US $100m Series C raise, announced last October. To date, all Lovevery product shipments into the UK have been processed via its European HQ, based in the Netherlands, which at times became challenging, due to Brexit and Covid19. The strategic move to shift all UK…
The Office has been off air since 2013, but we can’t help but wonder how Dunder Mifflin employees would navigate present-day life. Would Michael spend more time switching up his Teams background, than managing his actual team? Would Angela turn up in a hazmat suit? And how would one of television’s most dysfunctional work families stay connected and keep sales alive while working remotely? Here, Douglas Mulvihill, UK marketing manager at Cloud communications software developer Ringover, explains how he’d keep Dunder Mifflin pushing paper. The Office taught us many lessons about the importance of company culture — but not so…
Small businesses will have heard the warnings of “watch out for silly spelling mistakes” or “consider adding a hyphen if the domain you want is taken”, but there are still bumps in the domain road that keep catching even the most clued-up SME out. While you don’t need to be a domain name expert to create your own website, arming yourself with the right knowledge can help you make the right decision and avoid any costly mistakes down the line. Georgia Themistokleous and Chris Spencer, domain specialists at Fasthosts, share their expert insight into what small businesses should look out…
Neil Jurd believes anyone can learn to lead. You don’t need to be a ‘born leader’, subscribe to complex academic theories or get up at 4am to brainstorm ideas in a cold shower. This simple, concise, highly practical book “THE LEADERSHIP BOOK” offers a step-by-step guide to excellent leadership. Neil believes “Leaders achieve things far beyond what they could do alone, by engaging others intellectually and emotionally in pursuit of a clear and compelling purpose.” Why this Book Matters 52% of leaders have doubted their ability to lead during the pandemic* – leaders are facing ever more complex challenges…
Britain’s tech sector continues to break records as new government data shows more than 1,800 cyber security firms generated a total of £10.1 billion in revenue in the most recent financial year, a 14 per cent increase from the previous financial year. The DCMS Annual Cyber Sector Report, which tracks the growth and performance of the UK’s cyber security industry, reveals the sector contributed around £5.3 billion to the UK economy in 2021, rising by a third on the previous year from £4 billion – the largest increase since the report began in 2018. Employment across the industry rose by 13…
Anthony Hughes from RVA Surveyors answers some questions SMEToday asked regarding what 2022 will bring for business rates. What are your predictions for 2022? It’s going to be a bit of a strange year, with many businesses getting back to normal or the new normal trading conditions. With almost all of the Covid support ending in March and the start of the final year of the current rating list, there will be uncertain times for some who will be faced with having to pay business rates for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. This will be a…
Following the success of our International Women’s Day Afternoon Tea and Networking in 2020, we’re bringing it back for 2022! About this event Every year, we celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March to recognise the incredible, strong women in our community. This year is no different and the theme is #BreakTheBias, raising awareness about how we can create a gender-equal world. Join us at the Wyvern Theatre from 11am – 2pm and enjoy women-only networking, the chance to make new connections and of course, a delicious Afternoon Tea with a glass of Prosecco!- Women Only. Up to x5 stands…
At the start of 2021 there were 5.5 million small businesses, but this was down by 6.5% on the previous year[i]. Retiring is one of the most common reasons for selling a business, and after the challenges of dealing with the pandemic, many business owners may wish to retire and sell during 2022. For some who have had their business for many years this can be an emotional and complex task. It can be difficult to know where to start, and it’s something most will need help with as there are many important legal and financial considerations. They will need…