Major sporting events can present employers with a number of employee relations challenges. With the Euros kicking off in a matter of days, Angela Carter, Director of Legal Services at employment law and HR consultancy firm, WorkNest advises on how employers can ensure workplace harmony during the tournament and avoid any employment law own goals. Let’s be honest. Wherever possible, employers should consider embracing the football fever that is set to sweep the nation once again, as it can provide an opportunity to bring teams together through a shared sense of excitement, camaraderie and competition. Adopting a flexible approach, for example…
Author: sme-admin
In what seems like no time at all, AI has evolved from a futuristic science-fiction dream to an everyday tool that’s very likely to be installed in most households over the next ten years. Here, Kate Farrell, Head of Design at Sherbet Donkey, an award-winning digital marketing agency, explains how AI is transforming digital marketing practices. As digital marketers, we’re always looking for new ways to hit our KPIs and for things that will make our job easier. Many agree AI could be both of those things, so you’re probably familiar with the Large-Language-Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Copilot,…
In the workplace and office environments, sometimes it can be tough to get enough time outside and reap the mental benefits. Outdoor team building activities can sometimes be overlooked, but CJ Cardenas, CEO at Bear Grylls Survival Academy explains why they should be considered to improve your team’s wellbeing. Stress reduction with a connection to nature Leading mental health charity Mind says that spending time outdoors in nature has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and depression, with exposure to green spaces and sunlight proving to have a calming effect. Outdoor team building activities provide the perfect opportunity to connect your employees…
Cascade Productions, the thriving brand experience agency based in Manchester, has been awarded a spot on the Sunday Times Best Places to Work List 2024. The Sunday Times’ Best Place to Work list ranks companies based on a number of factors such as employee satisfaction, workplace culture, benefits, leadership and growth opportunities. Cascade Productions, based in Wythenshawe, provides attendee-first event management services. Collectively, the team has over 25 years of experience working in the entertainment industry – experience they leverage into crafting engaging experiences for clients and attendees. With a distinct focus on prioritising visitor experience, they develop authentic and immersive events for…
Nicola Peake, a dynamic entrepreneur, is launching Peakefest, a unique business festival designed to inspire and rejuvenate founders with a blend of serious business insights and fun experiences. The event will feature prominent speakers, including Sara Davies MBE from BBC Dragons’ Den and Bianca Miller-Cole from BBC’s The Apprentice. Nicola, 45, from Bridgnorth, Shropshire, has founded 6 figure businesses, sold them, and grown them again from the ground up, experiencing both the highs and lows that go with this entrepreneurial journey, and later this year she’s set to achieve one of the biggest challenges of her career to date, bringing…
According to the British Retail Consortium, retail theft continues to surge, with retailers losing £1.8 billion across 16.7 million incidents in 2023, rising from £950 million and just under 8 million incidents the year before. Despite retailers implementing security enhancements, such as extra guards, body cams and dummy products, the issue of stolen goods continues to plague the retail industry. A common misconception is that the most effective way to resolve this issue is investing in expensive cybersecurity systems, however small loss-prevention retail solutions are arguably equally effective in deterring criminals and making theft more challenging. Retailers do not need to splash…
Quarterly results from the Europcar Mobility Group UK electric vehicle (EV) barometer reveal how attitudes vary between private drivers and those who drive for work. Infrastructure and cost are significantly bigger challenges for private drivers than for company drivers. Those who drive for work believe the lack of model options and vehicle availability are bigger issues for their employers. In Q1 2024, almost two in three (63%) private drivers surveyed by Europcar were put off making the switch by the purchase and maintenance costs. Half saw the lack of charging infrastructure as a barrier. In contrast, 40% and 34% of…
There’s something many SME owners think about but never say out loud: the frustration they feel with their lawyers and accountants for giving generic advice, rather than advice that is honed to their business. It would be far more helpful if lawyers and accountants took the time to understand the risk appetite of their clients, what businesses are and aren’t bothered about, and provided tailored advice instead. So, what can businesses do to get the most out of the lawyers and accountants they instruct? Simon Walsh, Partner at Oury Clark offers some useful tips: Choose a lawyer / accountant that…
Subscription businesses have grown in popularity in recent years, with Lidl recently launching their own beauty subscription box worth £70 for just £2. SMEs have also been jumping on this popular business model in recent years, with startups gaining traction in a range of categories including beauty, food, pet care, and more. But what should entrepreneurs consider before embarking on this type of business model? Experts at money.co.uk business insurance have spoken to the founder of a beauty subscription box business to find out. Rebecca Allison, Founder of The Indy Box, said: “I founded The Indy Box during the pandemic while on furlough from my…
As it’s announced that assaulting a shop worker will be made a criminal offence in England and Wales as part of a government response to a wave of retail crime, Alan Stephenson-Brown, CEO at Evolve Business Group, looks at how forecourt operators can harness new tech to combat crime and the key role of connectivity. The retail sector is notorious for incidents of abuse towards staff, and it’s a problem that’s not going away. In fact, earlier this year it was reported that violent and abusive incidents against shop workers rose by 50% in 2022-23. Separate figures suggest the vast…