Cyber-attacks have more than doubled since the pandemic, and smaller businesses without the support of a large IT department are often among the easiest targets for hackers. Latest government research found that 22% of small businesses have experienced cybercrime in the last 12 months. While you might not frequently read about these types of attacks in the media, they’re happening every day across the UK. The perpetrators are no longer simply bored teenagers in the far corners of the world; there are vast and powerful armies of bots designed to exploit online vulnerabilities by any means possible. These attacks are…
Author: sme-admin
The FSB, the UK’s biggest business group has unveiled a package of new measures to help transform life on our ever-evolving high streets for the millions of small firms based on them. Supporting pop-ups and temporary use initiatives for new businesses, creating mobile phone-based loyalty programmes, and showcasing local high streets in major tourism campaigns are some of the recommendations set out to revive the UK’s village, town and city centres, in a landmark new report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The Future of the High Street report, published today (Monday August 5), builds up a picture of life…
Most people don’t relish the thought of difficult conversations and research from the Chartered Management Institute found that 57% of managers would do almost anything to avoid one[i]. According to The OCM, a leading coaching firm who works with clients across all sectors, tricky conversations could be around performance discussions with a line report, salary increases, giving a peer confronting feedback or challenging a superior on a decision. Jon Horsley, Consultant Coach-Mentor for The OCM highlights the need to steer challenging conversations effectively in order for teams and individuals to perform better, and how coaching skills can help. Here he…
Although ghost broking is one of the most common, and lethal forms of insurance fraud, research has found that only 17% of people have ever heard of the term. David Woodfield – Chief Insurance Growth Officer at Bionic – has created a guide which contains all SMEs need to know when it comes to Ghost Brokers, including: How the scam technique works & the signs to look out for What to do if your business falls victim to a ghost broking scam The most common ghost broking scams David Woodfield: “ghost broking is a type of insurance fraud which involves fraudsters posing…
According to BT, almost 60 per cent of business owners claim their smartphone is the device they use most to run their operations. Yet, smart phone sales are slowing, with many companies shifting to a bring-your-own device (BYOD) policy to utilise employees’ existing mobiles. Here, Kristian Torode, Director and Co-Founder of business mobile provider Crystaline, explores the changing role of business mobile and advises resellers on how they can attract new customers. The rise of business mobile took place in the mid noughties with the insurgence of BlackBerry. Its encrypted messaging function BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) introduced the concept of business…
Research and innovation are crucial drivers of economic growth and societal progress. In Wales, the R&D landscape is ripe with potential, yet it faces several challenges that hinder its full potential. This article, written by Dayne Hodgson, Co-Founder and Director at RedKnight Consultancy, explores the current state of R&D funding in Wales, identifies key challenges, and outlines strategic opportunities for enhancing its impact and efficiency. By adopting a multi-faceted approach to improve engagement with funding mechanisms, infrastructure, and talent retention, Wales can strengthen its position as a leader in innovation within the UK and beyond. Current State of Research and…
In 2023, Statista found that around 850,000 UK businesses turned over up to £250,000. At the £1 million turnover mark, however, this number dropped to just over 123,000 businesses. Hitting that elusive 7 figure mark is not just a huge milestone in business development – it’s also a tricky endeavour requiring forward planning, the right vision, and a willingness to step outside of one’s comfort zone to take the business to the next stage. In this article Sam Stoffel, the CEO and Founder of Outplayed.com, a matched betting subscription service, outlines the key lessons he has learned while reaching that…
Understanding consumer behaviour in greater depth has become crucial for marketers today, as ever-increasing competition means this is a much-needed advantage. In this competitive industry, behavioural science—which delves into the underlying psychological factors driving human actions—offers invaluable insights into the reasons behind consumer choices. By leveraging these insights, marketers can go beyond traditional methods, achieving a deeper and more nuanced understanding of their how their audience will respond to communications. Here, Roger Jackson, marketing expert and founder and CEO of SenseCheck, explores how brands can harness the power of behavioural science to develop better marketing strategies that not only capture…
The prescriptive maintenance market is surging, with forecasts suggesting that this sector will increase in value by a quarter each year over the course of the next decade. The closely related field of predictive maintenance is experiencing a similarly steep ascent, projected to grow annually by more than 30% until 2031. Both maintenance strategies are effective ways of improving operational efficiency and minimising downtime, but there’s a distinct difference between the two: predictive maintenance uses data analytics and machine learning (ML) to anticipate equipment failures before they happen, while prescriptive maintenance goes a step further, offering actionable recommendations to pre-empt and prevent future…
New research has revealed which towns and cities have the best job opportunities for the people living and working within them. The study, conducted by HR software provider Ciphr, compared employment data for 100 of the UK’s most populated towns and cities to determine which locations offer the best potential for job opportunities and good salaries. Winchester came in first place, ahead of Warrington in second, and St Albans in third. Chelmsford, Sevenoaks, Preston, Cheltenham, Guildford, Aberdeen, and Reading also made the top 10. Towns and cities were rated (out of 100) across multiple factors, such as average full-time earnings, recent pay…