Fractional leaders are transforming business growth by providing flexible leadership support at a fraction of the cost of full-time executives. Sara Daw, Group CEO of The CFO Centre and The Liberti Group, is a leading expert in this field. Currently pursuing a PhD in fractional leadership, she has also published research on the subject in her book Strategy and Leadership as Service. In this article, she delves into the rising trend. For many organisations looking to scale up, fast growth is the Holy Grail. There are many reasons for this; rapid growth can help a business capture a larger share…
Author: sme-admin
The myth that older people are more prepared for retirement is just that – a myth – according to new research from independent consultancy Barnett Waddingham, which shines a light on the lack of preparedness in the over-50s for shocks. Ill-health and care Only a fifth of all savers in the UK (19%) have fully considered getting a serious illness in their retirement plan, Yet surprisingly, it’s the under-50s driving this; 25% have prepared, versus just 16% of over-50s. 43% of this older age group have ‘thought about it’ but not included it in their retirement planning, and almost a…
Full-time employment is going backwards following the Government’s disastrous decision to go after employers in its budget. Employment Hero’s SmartMatch Salary Report uses real-time data from 90,000 employees across small businesses with 1-500 employees in the UK. Collected at the end of November, the first real-time data reflects the impact of the Government’s Budget in late October, where employer NICs were increased by 1.2%. Employers appeared to immediately react to the changes, which are not due to come into force until April, slashing hiring and letting some staff go. Overall the amount of people in full-time employment shrunk by 1.2%…
Andy Ramsbottom, Director of Global Strategic Accounts at Escode, discusses how to protect investments through software escrow In today’s volatile financial landscape, safeguarding investments has never been more crucial for venture capitalists (VCs) and private equity firms (PEs). The recent turbulence in global markets underscores the importance of being proactive in protecting capital, particularly when investing in the tech sector. With the UK’s tech funding showing signs of recovery, now is the time for investors to take decisive steps to make sure their investments are sound. One of the most effective tools at their disposal is software escrow—a crucial mechanism…
New research from Simply Asset Finance highlights the challenges UK SMEs face following the Labour Government’s first Budget and the rise in employee National Insurance contributions. Half of UK SMEs (50%) expect the policy to hinder business growth, with 31% saying it will hinder their own business specifically, according to new research from Simply Asset Finance. Just 34% of businesses say that they don’t need to do anything in response. While most sectors are similarly impacted, it is among the Agriculture, construction, and manufacturing sector that the biggest challenge is being faced. Here, just 11% say they won’t need to…
In August 2024, The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act came into force across the European Union. Ahead of the anticipated introduced of an AI Bill in the UK, Ed Rea from technology lawyers Arbor Law assesses the changing regulatory landscape and advises businesses on how they can prepare for what lies ahead. A world first On August 1, the European Commission’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act came into force, marking the first comprehensive AI law in the world. The AI Act applies to every company supplying AI systems within the EU and providing output from an AI system in the EU. Systems and practices…
A CARING company is spreading Christmas cheer across North Wales after scooping an illustrious national industry award. Colwyn Bay-based Enhanced Healthcare visited care homes across the region delivering festive arts and crafts sessions to hundreds of residents. With more set to take place in the coming weeks, the recruitment agency – named Health and Wellbeing Initiative of the Year at the British Business Awards – has cemented its place among the leading and most caring names in the sector. With more than 170 employees delivering temporary staffing solutions to a range of health and social care services, founder Chanel Williams…
Quadient (Euronext Paris: QDT), a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections, has announced a new integration with Sage 50 for its Accounts Payable (AP) solution. The partnership will make Quadient’s market-leading AP solution widely available to the 500,000 small and medium size businesses in the UK and Ireland that already benefit from Sage 50. These users will have the opportunity to manage their financial operations more efficiently, so they can focus on the unique challenges of running an SMB. The integration will enable Sage 50 customers to seamlessly synchronise their invoice data, eliminating the need for manual data importing and…
It’s fair to say that Environmental, Social and Governance issues probably aren’t the first things that come to mind when you are considering selling your business. The short list would include ensuring financial records are up-to-date, supplier and customer contracts collated, legal and compliance review completed and a realistic valuation in mind. Yet linked to the inevitable aspects of due diligence, preparing an ESG due diligence ahead of your potential sale is likely to pay dividends. Tom Otley, Sustainability Director at Oury Clark explains why. Why an ESG Due Diligence pays dividends Risk Mitigation: just as when selling your house you’d…
Venturing into the world of investing can be daunting, especially for first-time investors who fear losing money, therefore, venture capital group Oxford Capital have shared insight on how novice investors can experiment with small investments before committing on a larger scale, and provided actionable tips on how to maximise investments. Mark Bower-Easton, Head of Distribution at venture capital group Oxford Capital, shares his thoughts on how to experiment with small investments: Research “If you’re new to investing, start by learning the basics and getting familiar with how the market works. Take time to read about how different investments grow your money, and stick to trusted sources for…