Let me, Fiona Scott, a feature writer, and media consultant, introduce you to Julianne Ponan, MBE. Back in the summer of 2017, during my annual break in a French caravan site, I received an unexpected call from a young woman. We had met briefly at a business show, but the connection wasn’t immediate. She got my number through a mutual contact and wanted advice about her upcoming Dragons’ Den appearance. The young woman was Julianne. Little did I know, that call marked the start of an ongoing collaboration. Julianne, honoured with an MBE in 2022 for her contributions to exports…
Author: sme-admin
2023 was a big year for workplace trends taking centre stage on TikTok. With new phrases and terminology filling up our social media feeds, flexible office space provider Instant Offices has delved into TikTok revealing some unprecedented insights into today’s workforce based on the trends they are most interested in. The top 10 most popular TikTok workplace trends from 2023 Ranking Trend Views 1 Act Your Wage 655.7M 2 Lazy Girl Job 38.5M 3 Quiet Firing 26.4M 4 Quiet Hiring 8.7M 5 Rage Applying 6.1M 6 Bare Minimum Mondays 2.6M 7 Quiet Quitting 1M 8 Career Cushioning 672.7K 9 Boomerang Employee 101.9K 10 Resenteeism 32.9k Understanding Employee Discontent: ‘Act Your Wage’…
Kyle Holmes, co-founder of Black Nova Design, a Wiltshire-based firm specialising in web design and IT solutions, shares insights into the ever-changing tech industry. As the tech landscape evolves rapidly, Holmes and the team at Black Nova Designs actively stay ahead of the curve. Their open and collaborative environment encourages the sharing of thoughts and ideas, positioning them to address tech challenges and provide timely insights into industry changes. Here Holmes shares seven key insights that he believes are crucial for navigating the tech industry in the coming year. 1. The switch-off of PSTN and ISDN services Did you know both…
In a perfect world, it would be enough for your business to set up a quality digital marketing strategy. But even the best of plans can sometimes fail. The good news is that, by identifying the key reasons why your digital marketing strategy isn’t working, you can fix those problems and find new ways to improve your results. That said, if your digital marketing strategy hasn’t been improving your company’s bottom line like you had planned, here are six potential reasons why your strategy isn’t working and what you can do instead. You Don’t Know Your Audience You may have…
Rising costs forced young people to use buy now, pay later (BNPL) to afford Christmas this year as a quarter (23%) of young people* admitted they were planning on buying their Christmas dinner this year using BNPL, according to new research from responsible lender, Creditspring. Many were also reliant on BNPL – an unregulated form of borrowing – to buy gifts for loved ones, with three in ten (28%) 18-34 year olds saying they will use BNPL to buy their Christmas presents this year. The data comes in the wake of research** from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which shows that…
Paul Day, technical director of specialist document management company Filestream, is an expert in GDPR and supports his document management clients around cyber-security and keeping their data safe. Filestream works with companies including Anglia Farmers, University of Hull, Kingsley Health Care, Carnival UK, Scania and BNP Paribas. In this article Paul gives cyber security tips for the New Year. As 2024 arrives, the threat around cyber attacks, ransomware and hackers grows ever greater. Understanding the risks and legal responsibilities around personal data will become even more important. It’s predicted that there will be increasing threats in 2024 around the increased use…
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…
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…