A unified approach to combating economic crime and enhancing trust is needed, according to Umazi. As financial and economic crime continue to rise, the UK must take decisive action to enhance business transparency and security. This is according to Umazi, a leader in digital identity and verification solutions, which is calling on policymakers and businesses to prioritise the implementation of digital company IDs to strengthen the UK’s economic integrity. The call comes following the publishing of a new whitepaper from the Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT), Fighting Economic Crime Through Enhanced Verification, which highlights a critical solution: digital company identification. “Economic…
Author: sme-admin
Longevita, a leading provider of cosmetic surgery solutions, is calling for urgent regulatory reform in the UK’s cosmetic surgery sector to prioritise patient safety and ensure that clear industry standards protect those seeking procedures. Despite the industry’s rapid growth, regulations have not kept pace, leaving patients vulnerable to inconsistent standards of care and varying levels of practitioner oversight. Kagan Seymenoglu, CEO at Longevita, is calling for a government-backed online registry to track and regulate medical tourism providers. Similar to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and GMC registry database, this registry would list all practitioners and businesses offering services abroad, ensuring that…
A recent report has lifted the lid on the importance of degree apprenticeships to SME-size businesses by highlighting the critical role they play in driving productivity, social inclusion and tackling the skills gap. The findings come from Manchester Metropolitan University, a University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) member organisation, which conducted the study using data from over 5,000 apprentices and more than 600 employers. From a recruitment perspective, 93% of firms are investing in higher and degree apprentices to bolster their talent pipeline, whilst 91% agreed they help address skills gaps within their business. SMEs specifically regard them as vital, with 58% claiming they…
Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD), a leading innovator in gallium nitride (GaN) power devices, has successfully closed a $32 million Series C funding round. The investment was led by a strategic investor with participation from British Patient Capital and supported by existing investors Parkwalk, BGF, Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), Foresight Group, and IQ Capital. Transforming Power Electronics with GaN Gallium nitride-based devices represent a breakthrough in power electronics, offering faster switching speeds, lower energy consumption, and more compact designs than traditional silicon-based solutions. CGD’s proprietary monolithic ICeGaN® technology, which simplifies the implementation of GaN into existing and progressive designs, delivers efficiency…
Following the latest figures on the UK’s employment this week, Rob Morgan, Chief Investment Analyst at Charles Stanley offers comment. The UK remains in an economic funk of muted activity, waning confidence and above-target inflation. No surprise then that various market surveys indicate firms are reluctant to hire staff and in some cases are looking to make cuts amid planned increases in employer NICs and the National Minimum Wage. The ONS data to the end of December is not reflective of this trend with unemployment holding steady at 4.4% into the year-end compared with the previous month. Still low by…
After a turbulent few years, the economic landscape is showing signs of stabilisation for the UK housing market. With two base rate cuts, Labour’s victory in the General Election and the Autumn Budget, these changes are set to heavily impact the property market moving forward. Experts have predicted that this could be a strong year for the buyers’ market – from examining recent trends, legislations and the economic landscape, it is possible to forecast what buyers can expect from the property market in 2025. Impact of Stamp Duty changes Effective from 1st April 2025, Stamp Duty rates will rise, increasing…
A recent survey of business owners at small to medium-sized enterprises has highlighted that employee wellbeing will be their top area for investment in 2025, outranking product and technology development. The study, conducted by Skipton Business Finance asked almost 1,000 business owners and key decision-makers questions concerning business optimism and priorities over the next 12 months. Business owners ranked employee wellbeing as the top area for investment this year (27%), followed by product development (20%), technology innovation (16%) and the recruitment of top talent (12%). The study shows that the general outlook towards managing a business in 2025 is optimistic, with 75%…
Leading UK technology consultancy highlights why empathy and business-led solutions are creating success beyond their cookie-cutter, bloated approach counterparts. As heightened inflation and economic uncertainty around the UK persists, the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) have reduced growth predictions for consultancies. Originally forecasted at 11%, the MCA now predicts a 6.4% in 2025 and a small increase of 8.7% in 2026, suggesting trends including AI and digital transformation may take the backseat in business priorities. “It’s easy to focus on efficiency and overlook the importance of human connection, but in today’s whirlwind of business hustle, prioritising empathy can add to your customer service…
“The challenges to SME businesses seem to be increasing day by day”, commented Geoff Yates, Commercial Director of Espace Global Freight. “Whether the increasing costs of employment, the difficulty of trading internationally or the green agenda, UK businesses of all sizes are fighting a battle and those in the SME sector seem to be up against it the most.” Espace Global Freight, themselves a Midlands based SME, are a freight forwarder moving goods to every corner of the world for an array of clients from senior F1 teams to start ups. “We’ve been trading 25 years this year and we’ve…
UK’s £82bn wealth creators face ‘unfair’ mortgage rejection The UK’s self-employed workforce is sitting on nearly £82bn of disposable income – but despite their growing wealth, four in five entrepreneurs have struggled to get a mortgage. They face being locked out of the mainstream mortgage market, despite accumulating a combined wealth nest egg of £81.5billion, currently enough to fund the average first time buyer deposit 1.6million times over. Many say being unable to prove a steady, monthly income has limited their chances of getting a home loan, according to new analysis by specialist property lender Together, with 87% of workers…