Entrepreneur & property developer Mandy St John Davey has been awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to Working Women Award-winning businesswoman, landlord and property developer Mandy St John Davey has been awarded an MBE for Services to Working Women, Mandy who lives in Aberdare in South Wales, is a well-known property developer and champion of women in business, particularly in property and construction. She said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this award and humbled that I have received it for supporting working women. “Throughout my own career I have worked in mainly male…
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The Employee Ownership Conference, which took place at the Arena and Convention Centre (ACC) in Liverpool recently, revealed why employee-ownership is the future for increasing numbers of businesses to ensure their customers are satisfied about the ethical practices of the companies they choose to patronise. The conference, which was spread over two days, brought together more than 700 delegates from the employee-owned (EO) sector, including business leaders, employee owners and professional advisors. It showcased keynote talks and panel discussions from EO experts, provided networking opportunities, and hosted the Employee Ownership Awards at a celebration dinner. Chris Maslin, who is an…
Britain’s entrepreneurial spirit endures according to new research, which today revealed two thirds (66%) of small business founders are confident their businesses will be in a stronger financial position in six months’ time – but to get there, the government needs to step up. Nearly a quarter (24%) of the more than 450 new business founders polled* said government policy hasn’t created an environment for their businesses to thrive. The bi-annual Founder Barometer by Virgin StartUp also revealed a strong sense of inequality, with fewer than one in five (18%) male founders saying that government policy hasn’t created an environment where their business…
In a world full of technology and the pursuit of increased productivity, making smart tech decisions is key. It’s not just about meeting current challenges but paving the way for a smarter future. Marco Costa, CEO at Exclaimer provides SMEToday’s readers with some guidance on how to future-proof your business by embracing technology for long-term growth One step at a time Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds great promise and is often seen as a solution to simplify our lives and enhance our jobs. But businesses relying on personal connections and human touchpoints should approach with caution. Don’t consider AI as a…
A new study has revealed the most impactful Christmas advertisements of the 21st Century – with John Lewis’ 2013 ad “The Bear and the Hare” crowned number one. Christmas advertising is a staple of the holiday season, with many brands vying to create the most effective and memorable ad possible. They are an effective marketing tool and have become increasingly elaborate over the years in response to the buzz they generate. QR code generator and marketing experts at QRFY.com analyzed the total number of YouTube views and, where applicable, the total number of Spotify plays, before calculating an average number…
Richard Blundel, Director of the Centre for Social and Sustainable Enterprise, at The Open University, discusses what SMEs of all kinds can do to develop their ESG skills and use them to move their organisations forward. ESG (standing for ‘Environmental, Social and Governance’) may not be the catchiest of business terms, but it has become a hot topic in corporate boardrooms around the world. The British Business Bank has described ESG as, ‘a set of standards measuring a business’s impact on society, the environment, and how transparent and accountable it is.’ Sceptics see it as ‘woke’ and naïve, while supporters…
UK Businesses Optimistic as Inflation Falls to 3.9%, Eliciting Calls for Policy Adjustments In response to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures revealing a drop to 3.9% in the year to November 2023 – the lowest in two years – business leaders express relief and optimism for the economic landscape. , National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: “The decrease in inflation is a whisper of relief to small firms as we end the year. The reduction marks a significant shift from the staggering 10 per cent figure this time last year at the peak of…
December marks the start of advent. For many this a period of joy. However, it also tends to be an incredibly busy, stressful, and worrying time with financial concerns, time pressures, and workload issues proving problematic. So how can employers best support their workforce in the run up to Christmas and over the Christmas break? Dr Julia Lyons, Senior Counselling Psychologist at Onebright looks at when stress and worry become a problem and how this might impact individuals in the workplace. When does stress and worry become a problem? We all have our own worries and moments of stress-induced pressure. It is a…
Empathy is viewed as an important leadership trait and yet only 51 per cent of U.K employees believe their senior leaders are empathetic. Plus, when leaders do express empathy, just 52 per cent say it’s accompanied by meaningful action and support. These are the findings from O.C. Tanner’s 2024 Global Culture Report which gathered data and insights from more than 42,000 employees, leaders, HR practitioners, and executives from 27 countries worldwide including 4,818 from the U.K. “Progressive organisations often champion the importance of leaders being empathetic, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others” says Robert Ordever, European MD…
In this article, director-led performance marketing agency outbloom will explore the reasons why TikTok is an essential platform for businesses and provide you with nine actionable tips to effectively promote your brand, engage with users, and harness the power of TikTok marketing to beat the competition in 2024. TikTok’s rapid growth and immense popularity make it a powerful platform for reaching and engaging with younger audiences. It has a massive user base, with over one billion monthly active users, TikTok offers access to a broad demographic, including Gen Z and millennials. For businesses that sell products, there is live streaming…