With office wardrobes under scrutiny and social media filled with “Get Ready with Me” videos, UK employees are debating how their outfits impact confidence and workplace perceptions. instantprint, the largest UK-based online printer has conducted a survey of over 1,000 workers to reveal the challenges of nailing the perfect work look and the hidden messages our clothes send. Are You Feeling the Pressure of Dress Codes at Work? You’re Not Alone! We kicked things off by asking survey participants whether their workplace enforces a dress code. Only 45% said their workplace does, and among those, nearly 75% admitted they stick…
Author: sme-admin
According to data from The Institute of Customer Service, 1.3 million over 65s in the UK have experienced poor customer service because of their age. For this year’s International Day of Older People, which takes place on October 1, customer-first SIM-only mobile operator spusu explores the dangers of relying on stereotypes, as well as the importance of choice in ensuring excellent service. The findings from the survey support anecdotal evidence that the customer experience industry is failing older people. Of those who reported experiencing bad service because of their age, 57 per cent felt patronised, while just under half claimed…
Two SMEs – Sawn to be Wild, an eco-manufacturing business, and Picture News, a teaching resource business that delivers news-based assets to schools – have been featured in a new online mini-series launched by NESCAFÉ® by Nestlé Professional and business guru Deborah Meaden to give practical support to the small businesses community. Katie Harrison, director of Picture News, and Patrick Ellis, co-founder of Sawn to be Wild, feature in the first episode of Let’s Partner Up for Good. The episode focuses on identifying and recruiting the right talent, scaling up and expanding a business without compromising on quality. With the…
Many companies have a talented workforce consisting of individuals with remarkable skills and insights, yet some may face challenges navigating the traditional office environment. One in seven people in the UK are neurodivergent. Neurodiversity refers to the unique ways that individuals’ brains process information, and neurodiversity in the workplace means that working environments are made up of many unique traits and talents. Challenges facing neurodiverse individuals Neurodiverse individuals may face multiple challenges at work. For example, a company may employ a talented employee with exceptional attention to detail and pattern recognition skills yet struggle with social interactions in the office.…
Experts are warning that Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) contractors are becoming a target for attention from the tax authorities. HMRC has started to issue letters to CIS contractors if its records indicate that the correct deductions may not have been applied. The letter prompts the contractor to verify the CIS tax status of their subcontractors to ensure that they have used the correct CIS deductions rate when calculating the deductions to withhold. Contractors are required to check their records within 45 days of receipt of the letter. Following this 45-day period, a compliance check may be started – whereby any…
The UK’s Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switch-off has been delayed until January 2027. Following the switch off, Openreach products such as broadband, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) and Shared Metallic Path Facility will reach the end of their life. PSTN’s switch off date was postponed to allow consumers more time to find a digital alternative, and businesses more time to reassess their communication network and update their IT and communication systems. However, with businesses across still not prepared for the switch-off, Geoff Campos, Customer Solutions Architect at M247 shares advice on how to future-proof connectivity and prepare…
In recent years, there have been growing reports of allergy tragedies as a result of food business negligence. Such tragedies include 23-year-old James Atkinson, a university student with a severe peanut allergy who passed away in 2020 after eating a slice of a pizza ordered through Deliveroo in Newcastle. An inquest into the incident in January uncovered that the restaurant in question had blank allergen sections in its food safety management documents. With these tragedies becoming all too common, many are pondering whether restaurants in the UK will remain compliant with Natasha’s Law in 2024 & beyond. Natasha’s Law was…
Business success requires taking a risk, or two. But have you ever bet the house on a seemingly good idea only for it to become a bad business decision? And why is it that some business leaders seem to be able to take long shots, and still come up trumps? Now a fascinating new book Risk Roulette from leading journalist Graham Ruddick, reveals the surprising reasons why some businesses work, and others fail. As a journalist with the Telegraph, Guardian, The Times and now Business Leader, Graham Ruddick has spent more than fifteen years researching and interviewing leaders, including the founders and chief…
Hushed hybrid is a workplace phenomenon sweeping the nation, involving some of the UK’s biggest companies such as Barclays, Tesco and Dell Technologies. However, HR managers warn hushed hybrid encourages insubordination and could lead to isolation if team members are not treated equally. Here, Kristian Torode, director and co-founder of specialist IT services provider Crystaline, explains how investing in suitable telecommunications systems can help your business avoid the trend’s consequences. Though the pandemic saw a shift towards remote working, companies across the UK have announced return to office (RTO) orders in recent months. Rebelling against these mandates, managers are hushing…
A post-mastectomy lingerie brand in the Midlands, an independent dog store in Leeds, a Super Car and motorsports events company in the Northeast, and a sustainable sportswear brand in Northern Ireland are among 14 businesses announced as Start Up Loans’ 2024 Ambassadors. The annual Start Up Loans Ambassadors programme, now in its ninth year, celebrates inspiring UK business owners who have launched an enterprise using funding from the government-backed scheme. The Ambassadors have been selected as they demonstrate the resilience, creativity, and determination required to make a smaller business successful, and to provide inspiration for entrepreneurs across the UK. This…