BT today has launched a new all-in-one networking and security service backed by industry leading Fortinet technology to transform how businesses manage their connectivity across multiple sites. The launch enables BT’s UK business and public sector customers to bring together SD-WAN, SD-Branch and security into one place, fully managed by BT’s expert team – as well as reducing cyber risk and supporting customers moving data and applications into the cloud. It is ideal for supporting digital transformation, such as businesses embracing hybrid working and providing better experiences for staff, including clearer video calling. The service is purpose-built to support retailers better meet customer…
Author: sme-admin
Studies have shown that micromanagement has a detrimental effect on employees — the Journal of Experimental Psychology reported that employees who feel they are being micromanaged perform at a much lower level. Luckily, there are more engaging ways of using employee performance data to benefit businesses. Here, Ross Slogrove, UK and Ireland country manager at Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) software provider Ringover, explains how productivity monitoring can help an employee’s progression, not hinder it. Remote and hybrid working has caused physical distance between employees and their managers. To compensate, some managers are micromanaging their staff at every opportunity. What is…
The Bank of England has raised interest rates once again today, Thursday 11th May, in a move to combat inflation. Although March’s decrease in inflation suggests that the Bank’s efforts to tighten the economy are paying off, we must acknowledge that businesses are still grappling with high rates of inflation and interest rates, which are adversely affecting their sustainability and growth. SMEToday asked some of the UK’s leading financial experts to comment: Michael McGowan, Managing Director, Bibby Foreign Exchange comments “Today’s interest rate rise is little surprise. Once again, the Bank of England is following the lead of the ECB…
Fear is something that comes up in every conversation with new clients, no matter how much progress they’ve made so far. And that’s because we’re much more aware that some of the language and beliefs we consumed growing up, are likely to be out of date today. So, everyone is worried about saying or doing the wrong thing or being exposed as someone who doesn’t have all the answers, and that can feel scary. The truth is that none of us will ever be fully confident, as we’ve each only lived our own lives and there’s 8 billion people on…
April 2023: The feel-good PR agency reveals that Brits are working 94 fewer hours annually than 30 years ago. This suggests that employees are prioritising work-life balance and their personal happiness over working long hours. Lem-uhn analysed 30 years of ONS data to discover that the average person is working 5% fewer hours than in 1993. This equates to 93.6 hours fewer annually, 7.8 hours fewer per month and 1.8 hours fewer per week. The weekly average for working hours had remained relatively steady prior to the pandemic. In January – March 2003, 2013 and 2019, the average working hours…
Artificial Intelligence is making a profound impact on human capabilities. It is the digital equivalent of the Industrial Revolution when machines replicated the work of humans, often doing it faster and with greater efficiency than a human ever could. In a similar way, businesses are using AI to automate human processes like those dull, time-consuming, menial tasks that are prone to human error. Not only can AI perform these tasks at speed, but it can also support customers journeys, product development, and enhance service delivery, and ultimately reduce costs. Machine Leaning, Speech & Voice Recognition, and Virtual Assistants, are just some of the top features of…
Mental Health Awareness Week takes place 15 – 21 May, and this year’s theme focuses on anxiety. Most people can relate to feelings of anxiety around a social activity, be it a family gathering, big work meeting, or starting a new job. Social anxiety disorder (or social phobia), however, can be far more debilitating than the ‘normal’ nervousness that we can all experience, and it can have a significant impact on the wellbeing and relationships of those it affects, as well as those around them. Dan Kentley asks what can impact these difficulties and how we can best support those…
Consulting for equity is a practice that has gained popularity in recent years, particularly in the startup world. However, when executed in everyday, established SME’s it can have a huge impact on scaling a business from a small local company into an industry leader. In this article, we’ll explore some of the benefits of consulting for equity and how it benefits both the business owner and the consultant. What is consulting for equity? Essentially, it involves a consultant or advisor offering their services in exchange for a stake in the company. This can be an attractive option for both parties,…
Paul Day, technical director of Berkshire-based document management specialist company Filestream, is taking part in the world’s first-ever Skyscraper Challenge in London on Saturday September 9. The challenge takes place at two iconic skyscrapers – The Cheesegrater and The Gherkin. All participants will run up the 42 floors of The Cheesegrater, followed by the choice of either abseiling 200 metres back down to ground level or taking a zip wire across the London skyline to The Gherkin. 600 people taking part in the event will be raising money for Tommy’s, a charity committed to saving babies’ lives by funding pioneering…
Looking to new tech to help your business grow? You’re not alone. But without giving your IT team the right support, you may find the road ahead tricky. Simon Pollard, Product Category Lead for Mobility Solutions at Virgin Media O2 Business, explores how specialist support can help you get the best bang for your buck. Responsible for employing over 7.5 million people and turning over almost £1.4 trillion a year, medium-sized businesses are the engine of our economy. Despite the economic turbulence of 2023, SME owners remain optimistic. Recent research has found that just under half (47%) expect their revenue…