British skiwear disruptors OOSC Clothing are set for global expansion with a government deal which secures them a £1.4 million export finance package. OOSC was started by two friends from Swansea University and now exports to over 110 countries from their regional websites including sales to 49 separate US states. UK Export Finance has supported HSBC UK in financing OOSC to continue ramping up sales in key markets like the EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Launched in 2015, OOSC is an online retailer of retro-styled skiwear, swimwear and gymwear made from recycled plastic bottles and sea waste like…
Author: sme-admin
As entrepreneurs, we invest not only money but years of hard work, dedication, and passion into building our businesses. Therefore, embarking on the journey of selling is a significant milestone and can be marked by a mix of emotions, challenges, and opportunities. Selling a business can be a complex process but mastering the art of preparation can turn it into an exciting and rewarding adventure. Here are some key strategies to make the sale of your business a thrilling and seamless experience. Early preparation is key Early preparation is key when selling a business, and delaying the start of the…
In the hustle and bustle of our professional lives, it’s easy to overlook the significance of workplace health and well-being. Yet, with the average person spending a staggering 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime, according to Andrew Naber, industrial-organisational psychologist and data scientist, nurturing our health while on the job has never been more crucial. To shed light on this vital topic, instantprint, the largest UK-based online printer conducted a comprehensive survey of over 1,000 UK adults, aiming to uncover insights into workplace health habits and their impact. Additionally, they sought guidance from Olivia Bell Macdonald, Head Coach &…
The barriers to unlocking increased social mobility, highly skilled workforces and economic growth have been uncovered by new research today, which reveals over a fifth (22%) of the UK’s top 100* universities still don’t deliver degree apprenticeships** The study was conducted by the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) which has over 90 university members and examined the range of job roles*** students can train for when completing a degree apprenticeship. Analysis across the 100 universities found that more work is needed if the UK’s higher education (HE) system is going to be in a position to offer every available degree apprenticeship to…
Charlie Coode, Founder and CEO of Culture15 highlights why one of the most serious missteps company leaders can make is to prioritise productivity and profits over culture. The shared values, behaviours and beliefs that define an organisation, its decisions and its interactions have more of an impact than CEOs think, with Gallup reporting that employees who feel connected to their organisation’s culture are 3.7 times as likely to be engaged at work, 5.2 times more likely to recommend the company to other candidates and 68% less likely to leave due to burnout. In other words, company culture is your ticket to a…
Whilst some consider it playing with food, others feel on-plate photography is a restaurant staple. Like it or not, the snap-happy group may well be onto something. Far from a childish fad, it seems the foodie trend is here to stay – visible for all eyes to see. In fact, with over two-billion regular users on Instagram according to the platform, 250 million of whom run food-based accounts, serving up something that’s just as stimulating for the eyes as it is for the tastebuds has become a permanent ingredient in hospitality success. Flavour meets filters If science is anything to…
Surrey business woman Julianna Ponan MBE, founder of Creative Nature, has been named as one of the members of the new government-led Small Business Council. Ahead of their first meeting this morning, Julianne will join other invited small business voices from across the UK. She said: “I’m very humbled to be invited to be part of this initiative and I hope to be able to make clear the needs of small businesses at the highest level, reminding decision-makers how vital we are to the UK economy.” The Small Business Council is aimed at listening to the voice of the SME sector.…
The Department for Business and Trade is offering six standout UK emerging tech companies the opportunity to supercharge their entry into the German market and grow their customer base as part of a new government-backed UK Tech Accelerator programme based out of Stuttgart. Hosted at Stuttgart-based future industries hub CODE_n, the programme will offer a five-month immersive experience for the selected companies. Successful applicants will benefit from a tailored support package, including introductions and visits to key global corporates and venture capitalists such as Bosch, BMW and ZF. The city of Stuttgart is the capital of the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg…
Thales Alenia Space, a joint-venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), harness students’ curiosity for space, science and life on Mars with the launch of MARSBalloon 2024. Led by Thales Alenia Space graduates and apprentices in the UK, MARSBalloon is a hands-on science project for primary and secondary students and shows how exciting and varied career opportunities in space, engineering and science can be – without putting on a space suit. Students work together to create experiments to test the response of electronics, materials, plants and even food to the harsh conditions in space. Experiments fit inside a small capsule…
DesignSpark, RS Group’s fast-growing online community for engineers, has announced the launch of a new podcast series: Mission Responsible. Co-hosted by engineer and broadcaster, Dr Shini Somara, and physicist, Dr Simon Clark, the series explores how responsible engineering can accelerate the journey to making a better world.The DesignSpark community platform supports students, pro-creators and professional engineers with the design tools, knowledge and resources they need to innovate responsibly and ignite the extraordinary. The new podcast series sees Drs Shini Somara and Simon Clarke shine a light on the revolutionary inventions helping the charge towards a better planet – from Mumbli, a hearing wellness…