When you’ve just started up your small business, it can be easy to think you won’t need insurance. After all, you’re only a small business – what’s the worst that can happen? But, many business owners think they don’t need insurance and get caught out when they least expect it. In fact, 44% of business owners in the UK have no commercial insurance, and 47% of these say that their business is “too small” to take out a policy. But, as an SME, it’s crucial to separate fact from fiction to protect your hard work. A new guide from the business insurance experts at…
Author: sme-admin
University admissions have declined for the third consecutive year as rising costs leave young people searching for alternatives. While students may worry about career prospects without a traditional degree, new research from Cambridge Advance Online suggests a more positive outlook for future leaders: 47.4% of managers, directors and senior officials in the UK do not have a degree, equivalent or higher qualification which demonstrates the opportunity to succeed through non-traditional routes. Over half (53.6%) of current job listings that specify educational requirements do not mandate any type of degree, highlighting more flexible career entry points. To uncover these insights, Cambridge Advance Online analysed a…
It is estimated that over 90% of hybrid and remote employees use a personal device for work every day. But as more people use their smartphones or laptops to access company resources the security risks for organisations increase dramatically making it unsurprising that more than half of UK businesses experienced some form of cybersecurity breach or attack last year alone. Simple admin tasks such as sending a work email from a personal device can create vulnerabilities in an organisation’s network. Whether instituted as a formal policy or as an adaptation to the pandemic, bringing your own device (‘BYOD’ ) opens…
Solicitor Emma Ford, in leading law firm Blandy & Blandy’s Corporate & Commercial team, explains the key stages of the process when selling your business. The sale of a business is an important and rewarding milestone for business-owners, yet the process can appear complex to navigate. With many factors to consider from the outset, such as current market conditions and obtaining a suitable valuation, we would advise that professional guidance is sought to establish a suitable course of action. Our Corporate & Commercial team is highly experienced in such matters, advising on the legal aspects of business sale transactions from the early negotiation…
With late payments costing SMEs £22,000 a year and 56 million hours in lost productivity, new research has revealed the UK sectors most affected by late payments.1 The FSB has described late payments as one of the “biggest problems” facing small businesses. As a result, the government has announced plans to crack down on late payments with stricter laws to help smaller businesses and grow the UK economy. With this in mind, the business finance experts at money.co.uk business credit cards have analysed data from the Department for Business and Trade to show how late payments affect UK businesses. Rank Industry* Median days…
Attara—a firm dedicated to simplifying hedging solutions for SMEs—has recently launched its inaugural trends report, The World at Unrest. Founded by former Bank of America and Barclays FX trader Richard De Meo, Attara aims to equip businesses with the tools to manage price volatility effectively. This comprehensive report unpacks the key forces shaping commodities markets in 2025. In this article Richard De Meo shares his expert insights and predictions, offering a deep dive into the trends that will impact industries worldwide. The economic outlook for the year ahead is painted with a brush of uncertainty. The hopeful group consensus is…
According to data, the average small business energy bill in the UK can surpass £3,600 each year, and with rising energy costs crippling businesses around the country, how can business owners get the best energy deal possible? Business energy experts, Utility Bidder, have shared 6 factors business owners should consider before switching to a new energy deal, including the best time of the year to switch. 1 – Don’t wait until the last minute One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is leaving a new deal until the last minute, which can often result in their current deal renewing and potentially rising in…
Romantic relationships aren’t just for Valentine’s Day – Brits are also keen on partnering with their other halves professionally, according to new research from Three Business. Nearly 9 in 10 Britons credit their significant other as vital to their career achievements, while 50% are open to starting a business together, confident that love and work can thrive side by side. Additionally, almost half of Brits say they’d prefer to work in a couple – romantic or otherwise – to striking out solo (46%), as shared responsibilities (36%) and decreased pressure (23%) were highlighted as key benefits of having a business…
When Cold Town Beer was founded in Edinburgh in 2017, its vision was to combine tradition and innovation, crafting small-batch artisan beers that honour Scotland’s rich brewing heritage while pushing the boundaries of modern brewing. Named after Edinburgh’s Calton Hill – historically known as “Caltoun” or “Cold Town” – this brewery quickly became a local favourite, celebrated for its commitment to quality, sustainability and community. Today, Cold Town Beer continues to create a meaningful impact, not only with its craft beer but also through initiatives such as Doddie Beir. Honouring Doddie Weir with Doddie Beir Doddie Beir is more than…
Exotec®︎, a global warehouse robotics provider, has today announced the commercial launch of the Next Generation of its Skypod®︎ system, offering higher performance, improved storage density, and advanced software features. The Next Generation of Skypod comes with a number of design improvements, including a new and more compact Skypod robot, a workstation for robot-to-robot picking, a high-throughput exchanger, and denser storage. These redesigns, combined with new software features, improve the throughput at a single workstation by 50%, while enhancing storage density by up to 30% compared to the previous generation. The key differentiator for the Next Generation of Skypod is the ability to…