Triple Point, the purpose-led investment manager and Ethical Power, the utility-scale solar and battery storage company, have agreed a debt facility of £7 million to support Ethical Power’s development of early-stage Solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) projects in the UK. The £7 million debt facility is the start of a new partnership between Triple Point and Ethical Power. The funding will support expansion of the UK’s green energy infrastructure therefore ultimately contributing to keeping energy costs down and balancing the electrical grid. Triple Point has a long track-record of providing unique debt financing for energy transition asset developers that support the renewable…
Author: sme-admin
New research from Twilio reveals UK consumers have lost an average of £95 each in the last year by giving up on ‘brand admin’ – i.e. tasks to manage their accounts or interactions with brands, like doing returns, following up on product faults, or questioning incorrect bills. Over half of consumers (54%) have lost their patience or become emotional (47%) with brands wasting their time, and 37% now expect companies to use AI to deliver more efficient services. That’s according to new research from Twilio, the customer engagement platform that drives real-time, personalised experiences for today’s leading brands. While mundane household tasks, like cleaning, food…
Former CEO of the Football Association, Martin Glenn, opens up about the rewards and challenges of transforming sport in England, in a recent interview aired by podcast, Culture De-Cooded. Hosted by strategy, culture and leadership consultant, Charlie Coode, the passionate conversation reveals how Marin successfully transitioned from the world of beverages and biscuits to national sports. Referring to his entry into the FA as his “delayed midlife crisis”, Martin emphasises the universal principles that underpin all successful organisations, highlighting the importance of a clear purpose, understandable strategy, and sense of urgency to score. Unpacking the hurdles to be overcome, Martin…
High-functioning anxiety is a broad term for those who live with generalised anxiety disorder but identify as functioning reasonably well and, in some cases, extremely well. It is often overlooked due to its subtle presentation. It’s deceptively difficult to understand the condition as individuals with it typically look like they have a successful work and private life, however, below the surface of a perfect exterior, they are fighting a constant battle with anxiety. High-performance cultural paradox In the ever-evolving landscape of modern workplaces, the pursuit of excellence has birthed what many refer to as “high-performance cultures.” While aimed at driving…
For growing organisations, finding the right level of IT support can be something of a headache. Having to outsource help every time a laptop gets a virus or the server running your customer database makes strange noises can be time-consuming and unreliable, while committing to an in-house team may be an overstretch. Managed IT support can be a happy medium – one that allows you to ramp up and down, safe in the knowledge that you can call on help whenever it’s needed. But how can you find the right fit? After all, finding the right partner can be the…
One in ten highly skilled freelancers are currently out of work due to the impact of controversial reforms to IR35 tax legislation, according to new research. A survey of more than 1,300 contractors in highly skilled roles found that 21% are not currently working, with half of them attributing this to the impact of reforms to IR35 tax rules. Meanwhile, 55% of contractors said they had rejected an offer of work in the past 12 months due to it being deemed ‘inside IR35’ by the client. Furthermore, 24% said they intend to seek contracts overseas this year to escape the…
Following last weekend’s unseasonably strong winds, one of the UK’s largest insurance providers has revealed a 449% increase in flood claims over the past 12 months, and issued guidance on how to prepare for more adverse weather expected this month. Simply Business, insurance providers to over 900,000 small businesses and landlords, examined all claims submitted between the period March 2022 to March 2024 to discover the uplift. Storm Kathleen, the 11th of the season and named by the Irish Meteorological Service on Thursday, rolled in with blustery conditions on Friday. Flights across the UK and Ireland were brought to a…
Half of all UK adults have experienced imposter syndrome at work, and employers aren’t doing enough to tackle the issue. Imposter syndrome needs to be brought into the spotlight in workplace conversations, says Jill Whittaker, Managing Director of The Executive Development Network. By knowing the symptoms and which colleagues may be more at risk, employers can better support and empower their employees with tools to combat the condition. Given how widespread the condition is, not enough of us are talking about imposter syndrome. That sinking feeling of worry and anxiety, that others see you as a fraud while at work,…
The start of the new financial year is the ideal time for businesses of all sizes to establish a marketing budget for the coming twelve months. A dedicated marketing budget is essentially a comprehensive list of all money you will allocate to your marketing efforts. Formalising your marketing spend in this way is vital to tracking and measuring your return on investment [ROI], and ensuring your budget is only going towards the most effective activities. Robert Konzon, Director of Finance at Climb Online explores the key considerations for creating an effective marketing budget in the new tax year. Set objectives…
Businesses and individuals are switching to electric vehicles in ever-increasing numbers. Latest figures show there were more than 1 million fully electric cars registered in the UK in February 2024 on top of a further 56,000 electric vans and 620,000 plug-in hybrids. Now, with a government ban on the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars due to come into force in 2035, more and more businesses and employees will be trading in their polluting fossil-fuel company vehicles for a zero-emissions electric model. From salary sacrifice schemes to tax benefits, business car insurance specialists, Keith Michaels has weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of driving an…