Author: Ben Thompson, CEO of Employment Hero The UK should be congratulated on its new law promoting flexible working, which gained Royal Assent a few weeks ago. This new law gives a variety of protections to employees who are keen to work flexibly, and ensures that employers take on these requests in good faith. After so much change in working behaviour brought about by the pandemic, this act looks to arrange some of that attitude shift into law. It doesn’t force businesses to just allow people to work in any way they want – but it does require that requests that…
Author: sme-admin
Daemon, a UK-based digital transformation consultancy with a vision to use technology to make the world a better place, announced today that it has appointed Peter Ironside as Chief of Markets. In this position, Peter will be responsible for continuing to grow the business in line with its ambitious plans to scale up its operations, both in the UK and internationally. Peter spent eight years at KPMG as a Director, before moving onto a Managing Partner role at Gartner for three years. At Gartner, one of Peter’s main focus areas was to increase collaboration between Gartner Consulting and Research, developing…
Switching your business comms system, or due an upgrade? When it comes to moving to a new unified communications (UC) solution, businesses have two options — to host these services on-site, or to have them hosted in the cloud. But what are these options, and crucially, what’s the difference? Here, Kristian Torode, co-founder of hosted UC provider Crystaline, explains. Communication is crucial for any organisation, both internally and with its customers. To facilitate more effective communication, businesses are increasingly turning to unified communications (UC) solutions. UC encompasses a host of different channels, including voice, video, messaging, conferencing, and content sharing…
Following the announcement from the Government that funding for Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in England will be withdrawn, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) National Chair Martin McTague said: “Even though we knew this was on the horizon, the decision to remove all funding from LEPs is still disappointing. With economic growth stuck in the doldrums and small firms beset on all sides by cost pressures and falling demand, going ahead with this decision seems especially badly timed. “LEPs are a key ingredient in many local business ecosystems, providing resources, know-how, and practical solutions to small firms. The value they provide in return for their…
By Roy Lauder, Director and Co-Founder, Harrison James Partnership Growth has been a bit elusive recently and with inflation rising, the Bank of England is trying to squeeze demand out of the market with interest rate rises. Hopefully we are near the peak of these. At times like this businesses come under pressure. A temptation is to batten down the hatches blame the government and try to wait it out. However this is an opportunity to get ahead of your competition especially if they are hiding. Here are four areas with key considerations for you to take on board that…
It was revealed this year that almost every UK company that took part in the world’s biggest four-day week trial, organised by ‘4 Day Week Global’[i] has decided to continue with the reduced working hours model, with 92% of the 61 participating companies confirming the policy is a permanent change[ii]. While this shift towards a better work-life balance is promising, Adrian Lewis, Co-founder and Global Lead at Activ People HR advises caution to firms looking to follow suit and ensure they have the right systems in place to make this a success. Adrian says, “The four-day working week is something many employees…
In a time of economic uncertainty, how can medium-sized businesses drive productivity and do more with the tools they already have? Virgin Media O2 Business expert Simon Pollard shares 4 simple steps to unlock the full potential of your tech. Untap the potential of your tech in 4 simple steps In today’s economic landscape, productivity is king. As medium businesses juggle their bottom lines and a rapidly advancing technological landscape, finding ways to unlock efficiencies and do more with what you already have is crucial. Technology is the key to making that difference. In fact, 48% of medium business leaders…
For many years, small businesses and the local high street have been considered the lifeblood of our communities, with a long history of providing a ‘friendly face’ and exceptional service that satisfies repeat customers and contributes value to the economy in turn. From the high street newsagents that welcome regulars with their choice papers ready on the counter, to the local plumbers known for their reliability and no-nonsense advice, small businesses are often characterised by the care, quality and bespoke service they can provide. And it was really encouraging to see the ‘shop local’ movement inspire many consumers to reaffirm…
As the workforce landscape evolves, companies must adapt to the expectations of the newest generation of workplace professionals, Gen Z. Gen Z brings a fresh set of values and needs to the workplace; therefore, to remain competitive in attracting and retaining this digitally native and socially aware generation, businesses must alter their office spaces to meet the needs and preferences of the Gen Z workforce. Studio Alliance, a European alliance of workplace experts, has provided a list of 5 office space design trends that will help encourage Gen Z into the office. Smart Technology Integration: Gen Z is tech-savvy and appreciates an office equipped with…
Author: Hannah Pettit, Associate at Ashfords LLP In our digital era, globalisation is an inevitable phenomenon. This is due to the internet playing an increasingly crucial role in our daily lives, enabling easy access to global content and services from across the world. As a result, expanding internationally has become a vital aspect of many businesses’ growth strategies, allowing them to capitalise on larger global markets. Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a significant transformation in our work patterns. The adoption of remote working during this period has proven that physical location no longer hinders recruitment. Businesses are now…