Samuel Barber is the founder and inspiration behind Ochien, the UK’s first ocean conservation pet products brand producing high-quality, sustainable pet products made from over 95% recycled ocean plastics. Samuel, a sustainability consultant and entrepreneur with a background in scaling sustainable start-ups and advising businesses from a variety of sectors on sustainable solutions launched Ochien in 2022. Working alongside a range of innovative recycling and environmental organisations across Europe, all of the Ochien product range is produced in Cornwall. As the company grows it aims to become the leading sustainable pet products brand in Europe. SMEToday had the opportunity to…
Author: sme-admin
’Permacrisis’ was declared the word of 2022 by Collins Dictionary, defining last year as one marred by ‘an extended period of instability and insecurity, especially one resulting from a series of catastrophic events’. And as we begin a new year, you may well be concerned about what 2023 has in store for SMEs. Working as part-time General Counsel for a number of businesses, the team of senior lawyers at The Legal Director regularly scan the horizon for the hot topics and key issues for the SMEs they support. Kirstie Penk, Director at The Legal Director gives her summary of some…
Allergy campaigner and award-winning businesswoman Julianne Ponan, founder of top 14 allergen free brand Creative Nature, has been awarded an MBE for services to business, exports and to people with allergies in the New Year’s Honours List. Julianne, who lives with her husband Matthew in Walton-on-Thames, has had to keep the honour secret for several weeks. “I am honoured and humbled to be recognised with the award of an MBE in the 2023 New Year’s Honours list – made exceptionally special as it is the first year of the awards under the reign of our new King. “When the news came…
Gold medallist Chris Hunt Skelley MBE PLY is looking for sponsors to help cover the costs of training and vital equipment ahead of his bid to become the first double Paralympic champion in 25 years. Chris is attempting to retain the judo title he won at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, but this time in a new weight category, as his previous weight category was removed this year following changes in IBSA classifications. He is seeking support from businesses keen to be part of his attempt at creating history in Paris 2024. “Training camps for judo tend to be held around the world.…
As an SME, you may consider engaging your own in-house lawyer as unnecessary given your size or an extravagance you can ill afford. I am here to dispel those misconceptions. Banging the drum for General Counsel, I’ll show you why they’re the perfect solution for addressing your business’s legal needs and let you know about some of the increasingly popular options for smaller businesses to access in-house support in a way that suits them. Limitations of external law firms Private practice law firms serve their purpose. If you need help with specialist legal issues or if you’re in dispute and…
Rachel Matwiejczyk Booth, the sales and marketing director of digital news and marketing hub Total Swindon has been named Networker of the Year in the South West Business & Community Awards. Rachael, who lives in Swindon with her family, is well known in Swindon, Bath and Bristol for her positive approach to collaboration, support and success across the South West and she was given her award at a sell-out gala event in Swindon at the Doubletree Hilton (December 8). The awards are organised by the Great British Expos. “I feel humbled and honoured to be recognised in this way. It…
Chief Technology Officer of Scrive, explains the preventative measures banks should be implementing to protect their customers In the first half of 2021, criminals stole a total of £753.9 million through fraud, which represents a 30% increase compared to H1 2020. While advanced security systems managed to prevent a further £736 million from being taken[1], it does raise questions about what other preventative measures banks should be putting in place to further protect their customers. When blockchain technology is spoken about, most people tend to associate it with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. However, we are increasingly seeing Blockchain…
SME Business confidence has improved for the first time in over 12 months, a new survey from specialist finance provider Capify has found. Released today, the Q3 Business Confidence Survey revealed that SMEs were more bullish than in the previous quarter, despite the looming recession. The Survey which canvassed the insights of 318 SME business owners on areas of business performance, outlook, and investment intentions, uses the data to produce an overall confidence score between -10 (very unconfident) and +20 (very confident). The confidence score now sits at 5.64, a 7-point increase on the Q2 2022 score of -2.70. John…
Joe Miller, General Manager at Pocketalk Americas and Europe shares some of his predictions for 2023. With a new year comes a refreshed outlook. So, as we welcome in 2023, it’s a good time for SMEs to prepare for the challenges that the next year may present and identify opportunities that can be utilised. Here are three trends I believe SMEs should watch out for in 2023. A global talent pool We will see a continued skills shortage across most industries in the UK with many businesses looking at talent overseas. The UK has shown more willingness to utilise international workers…
For many, this year will be the first in-person office Christmas party since 2019. It’s the first opportunity to bring everyone together and finish the year on a high, but for employers, there’s potential for a hangover that lasts far beyond the next morning. Bringing together a large group of colleagues outside the usual work environment and adding alcohol into the mix can be a recipe for disaster. Unfortunately, some employees will also see it as an opportunity to air frustrations they have sat on all year. Corinne Curtis, Head of HR – Third Sector at WorkNest, provides SMEToday’s readers with some…