Workplace bullying has been a grey area in UK employment law for some time. While harassment linked to protected characteristics, such as age, disability, race, sexual orientation, and others, is covered under the Equality Act 2010, employees who experience workplace bullying that falls outside of discrimination currently have no legal standing to make a claim. However, the newly proposed Bullying and Respect at Work Bill aims to change this by introducing a statutory definition of bullying, creating a Respect at Work Code, and granting the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) greater enforcement powers. Rob Rees, Divisional Director of Markel Direct,…
Author: sme-admin
As 2026 begins, HR leaders are bracing for a period of rapid transformation shaped by AI, evolving employment rights, and increasingly global ways of working. From the rise of AI-driven role redesign and real-time people analytics to borderless cultures and renewed focus on leadership and wellbeing, the coming year promises a fundamental shift in how work is organised and managed. Here, leading HR experts share their predictions on the workplace trends set to define 2026—and what businesses, particularly SMEs, need to prepare for now. Khyati Sundaram, CEO of debiased AI hiring experts, Applied, predicts that “2026 will be the year of…
Article by SME-focused law firm Harper James 2026 is set to be a busy year for UK SMEs, bringing some of the most significant legal and regulatory shifts in recent times – including tighter payment rules, new transparency standards and digital-first tax and reporting reforms. For many businesses, that means adjusting quickly to stay compliant and competitive. But it also offers a chance to refine how you work, strengthen your foundations, and build deeper trust with customers and partners. Change can be challenging, but it can also be the spark for progress. Below, we’ve rounded up the key changes every…
Blockchain rails are cutting out legacy intermediaries, accelerating cross-border transfers, and unlocking new levels of transparency The cross-border payments industry is undergoing its most significant infrastructure shift in decades, as blockchain-based settlement rapidly emerges as a faster, more transparent, and more capital-efficient alternative to traditional correspondent banking. Stablecoins and on-chain settlement rails are now processing trillions of dollars annually, prompting major financial institutions to reassess how value moves across borders. International transfers that once took 3-5 days and passed through multiple intermediary banks can now settle in seconds. Growing enterprise adoption, combined with new regulatory clarity across the U.S., E.U., and Global South,…
By Daljeet Kaur, Chief Operating Officer at Valda Energy One in seven UK businesses doesn’t fully understand what makes up their energy bills. That’s not just an inconvenience; it’s a direct risk to profitability. According to Ofgem’s 2025 research, more than half of UK businesses (53%) have low energy literacy, and these owners with less understanding of energy are much more likely to struggle with payments. When you’re already handling rising National Insurance contributions, inflation pressures, and tight margins, the last thing you need is to overpay for power because you couldn’t decode your contract. But that’s exactly what’s happening. More than a third (37%) of micro businesses believe business energy has the same terms and…
There has been a fair bit of uncertainty around the UK’s financial landscape of late, and UK businesses, especially SMEs, have had to navigate hikes in NI contributions, the national minimum wage, inflation, and volatile energy and supply chain costs. But amidst all this, this year’s autumn Budget has actually delivered something many business owners have been waiting a long time for, says Rory Crisp-Jones of Jones & Co Finance. After two years of economic hesitation, SMEs finally have a more predictable fiscal landscape and with it, a genuine incentive to invest. The combination of a steady corporation tax rate, improved…
Consultancy Intralink urges innovators to act now to steal march on competitors India, Vietnam and South Korea will be the most dynamic global growth markets for UK tech companies in 2026, according to a British business development specialist. Jonathan Cleave, Group Managing Director at international business development consultancy Intralink, says he expects significant commercial openings for UK firms across Asia next year and highlights India, Vietnam and Korea as the most promising markets. He says that UK tech has only “realised a fraction of the potential” of these markets so far and risks “losing ground to fast-moving rivals” unless companies accelerate…
By Richard de Meo, CEO and Founder of Attara For many small and medium-sized businesses, the annual budgeting cycle has long served as a financial anchor. It’s a structured exercise that sets expectations, allocates resources, and provides a reassuring sense of order for the year ahead. However, in today’s volatile economic climate, that reassurance can be deceptive. A static budget offers structure but not protection; relying on last year’s assumptions in a situation where input costs can shift overnight is flying dangerously close to the wind. The reality is that the role of the CFO is shifting, particularly within SMEs.…
Globally, manufacturers are facing rising expectations from regulators, customers and investors to reduce emissions, address supply chain impacts and demonstrate credible sustainability performance. To help address this, leading sustainability consultancy Tunley Environmental has released a new free Guide to Sustainable Manufacturing. Sustainable manufacturing has become a strategic priority across high-impact sectors, including engineering, automotive, medical devices and consumer goods. The latest guide from Tunley Environmental is designed to equip businesses with the tools needed to redesign processes, reduce emissions and improve operational efficiency in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. It covers: How to identify environmental hotspots within manufacturing processes. Practical steps…
The recent European airports cyberattack illustrates the systemic danger of siloed IT systems for organisations of all sizes. Businesses are investing more in digital technology than ever before, yet many are managing their IT services as disconnected pieces rather than as a single integrated entity. Connectivity, cloud, communications, print and security are often handled by separate providers, creating hidden inefficiencies and increasing exposure to risk. The recent cyberattack that disabled check-in systems at major European airports, including Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin, offers a stark illustration of the consequences when critical IT systems operate in silos. “The airport incident is a wake-up…