Author: sme-admin

TWC IT Solutions, one of the leading IT companies for SMEs in London with more than 300 clients across seven industries, operating in 24 countries, celebrates its 10-year anniversary and launches industry-based IT support packages, tailormade to the needs of each sector to help businesses thrive in the post-COVID-19 era. Key benefits of the new IT Packages are: Tailored packages for the financial market, recruitment industry and CRM telephony services Comprehensive managed services within the regulatory, GDPR and FCA compliant framework, enabling greater focus to grow your business A suite of applications including Cybersecurity, IT Support, Telephony, Business Grade Internet…

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There has been a wave of entrepreneurialism’ as 726,000 new UK startups opened in Covid year. The number of new businesses started in the UK increased by 14% in the last year despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, outpacing the global average of a 6% increase in business start-ups, shows a new study by UHY, the international accountancy network (see table below). UHY’s study shows that there were almost 726,000 new businesses created in the UK in 2020 compared to just over 636,000 in 2019. The UK ranks in the top 5 out of 22 countries studied in UHY’s…

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Additional time on people’s hands as a result of the pandemic has prompted the average British worker to pick up a range of good habits for their careers, according to a new study by Hitachi Capital Business Finance. The poll of 1,500 British workers in small businesses, made up of remote, hybrid, outdoor and workplace based respondents from a range of sectors, revealed that three-quarters (74%) have developed new rituals during lockdown, with the average worker picking up at least two new habits. Asking about their intentions to continue these habits for at least the next 12 months, 91% of…

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Managers, directors and senior officials are just a few of the roles that are instrumental in businesses being successful and growing. Now, a new report has revealed an increase in the number of positions filled across the UK – signalling a boom in innovation. The trade trends report 2021 released by Skills Training Group has analysed 16 years worth of data from the Office for National Statistics to assess the state of the UK workforce. In the report, it revealed a boom in the number of c-suite job roles, with managers, directors and senior officials increasing by 35.88% over the…

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Now that just about everything happens online, cyber security has taken on a new significance. Unfortunately, hackers and other nefarious actors have leapt at the opportunity of the pandemic, and cybercrime is on the rise. According to government statistics, 39% of UK businesses have experienced a cyber security breach in the past year. Perhaps most alarmingly, a recent study found that malware attacks increased by 358% globally in 2020. Small businesses can often feel immune to cybercrime. The reality is that in our increasingly digital world every business is vulnerable to it, no matter what their size. Despite the risk, 80% of…

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Lee Underwood, Channel Manager UK&I at Snom Technology GmbH talks to SMEToday about the impending ISDN switch off and what business can do to ensure seamless migration. In the age of hybrid and remote working, having the technology in place to ensure you never miss a call from a potential business enquiry is crucial. To achieve this, millions of SMEs still rely on an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) telephone line, which allows multiple callers to phone into the same local number and avoid an engaged tone. They are vital to reception areas, customer service lines, doctors’ surgeries – really,…

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New data reveals that almost one in five (17%) of small business owners expect their revenues to grow by 10% in the first six months after lockdown guidelines are completely relaxed. The data released by Xero, the global small business platform, in its Future of Small Business Report found that 39% say they will focus on growing relationships with their customers over the next three years, while a quarter (27%) plan to build consumer trust. Digital adoption is also a key area small businesses plan to tap into to drive growth according to the findings. 40% of retail revenue is…

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China accounts for nearly 15% of the global trade, and if you are an importer it is highly probable that you are already trading with China or are planning to do so in the future. However, navigating cross-border trade with China through the coronavirus pandemic has proved challenging. Prices have surged due to factors like the rapid price increases for raw materials and freight costs have skyrocketed to historical highs, coupled with adverse exchange rates due to a strengthening Renminbi (“RMB”). Whilst these factors are largely outside the control of SMEs in the UK and Europe, there are some useful…

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Lockdown start-up ‘Total Words’ has launched a digital library of books and learning resources to encourage children to read more. The specialist books, written by an educational psychologist and designed to be read at school or home, are about real-life topics, from blue whales to tsunamis. Co-founder Kiri Mellalieu says: “We’re on a mission to create a nation of confident readers who are as passionate about books and learning as we are. Britain is in the grips of a literacy crisis thanks to lockdown – government figures reveal that an estimated 200,000 pupils will start secondary school this autumn without…

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As the pandemic struck, four savvy Liverpool entrepreneurs knew they needed to adapt fast to survive. By taking a risk to transition from live arts to digital arts overnight, they created their own rhythm to success.  The Liverpool Arts Bar was opened by best friends Alex Medlicott, Ben Cosgrove, Tom Wilson and Jordan Bucknall on Hope Street in Liverpool in June 2019. The business was quickly established as a fresh, creative space designed to support and champion the local artistic scene, showcasing diverse talent from the worlds of music, poetry, theatre, comedy and film. When the UK went into lockdown…

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