A new blockchain powered technology that protects ownership and tackles the growing blight of counterfeiting has been quickly adopted by businesses keen to protect themselves and their customers. UK based DNA, who officially launch their tech solution this week, create unique digital passports which prove authenticity and ownership of jewellery, collectibles, art, rarities and luxury goods. The technology makes virtually any physical product instantly verifiable, storing every historical transfer of ownership, and other information about the product, on a unique DNA digital passport (Native Asset) which is then safeguarded on the Kadena blockchain platform. DNA is built for mass adoption and…
Author: sme-admin
It’s that time of year again, and the festive shopping season is just around the corner. Whilst the majority of small retail businesses will already have a plan in place for Christmas shoppers, there’s still time to make some last-minute adjustments to help boost sales. Larger businesses and retailers often start planning their festive marketing for the coming year as soon as Christmas ends to give them plenty of time to prepare their ads (we’re looking at you, John Lewis). It’s a good practice to get into as it saves you time down the line when you need to be…
Cloud-based business phone system, CircleLoop, has released the ‘Recession-proof Index’, a new ONS data analysis which finds that businesses launching within the Health industry are likely to have the best chance of surviving the current recession, according to trends uncovered during the 2008 recession. According to the data, by 2009 in the immediate aftermath of the last financial crash, start-ups in the South West and East of England saw the joint-lowest rate of business failures across all regions, at just 23%. This was closely followed by the South East at 24% making these regions the most recession-proof for new businesses.…
A new report by UK consultancy firm Alchemmy found three in four (75%) Gen Z consumers make purchases based on their values. This compares to only 67 percent of the general population. The report Future of Retail: Is Generation Z leading the way? explores consumer retail behaviour of all generations. It found three in five (58%) Gen Zers are more likely to buy products with sustainability claims, compared with just 45 percent of all consumers. The study gives further evidence of how the retail industry will have to adjust in the future as Gen Z increases its spending power and…
Most likely, an SME’s decision to use an accountant is based on a recommendation or price, but few will have asked about qualifications and membership of a professional body. If you’re an SME owner looking to strengthen your finance team or hire an accountant, look for the designatory letters that indicate planning and compliance expertise and professional body membership, eliciting benefits that equate to real value for your business. Future-proof your business Now more than ever, companies of all shapes and sizes around the globe need the right support and assurance as they look to recover from the pandemic and…
The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, alongside a host of other Oxfordshire-based organisations, recently headed to London to take part in Fusion 22 – a major event that aims to bring greater awareness as to the potential of fusion energy, and there’s good reason as to why the county will be represented so heavily in the capital. Held at the world-famous Science Museum, event organisers aimed to bring together the ‘whole fusion industry’ to demonstrate the sector’s incredible potential and how it can be the cornerstone of clean future, as well as highlighting the need for further, innovative collaboration. It’s only right to say that…
Feeling stressed every now and then is perfectly normal, especially with a changing work climate. Research shows a moderate amount of stress can actually make you stronger and better at managing stress in general. The problem is when you have so much to work on, that stress becomes hard to manage. In these cases, you’re more likely to feel burnt out. Burnout is a chronic level of stress that can leave you feeling physically and emotionally exhausted, detached and extremely negative. It’s often experienced by employees who have too much on their plate, expect too much of themselves, or feel inadequate. This…
With women in the UK making up just a quarter of employees in the tech industry, female-founded social media app Frog shares how it attracts more diverse talent. Recent statistics have also revealed a wider problem with ethnic diversity in the UK tech industry as just 2.6% of ethnic minority individuals hold leadership positions on boards. Founded in 2020, instant video messaging social media app Frog has a 70-30 female-male split with females making up 70% of all leadership positions. With a 40-strong team and staff based around the world, 40% of staff are also from non-white backgrounds. Across the…
There are enough hurdles for SMEs to get through when starting out without website speed slowing down business growth. However, a few quick fixes can improve site speed. From the size of web content like images, videos and text, to the version of WordPress you’re using, there’s a whole host of ways that SMEs can boost loading speeds and improve user experience, resulting in better conversions and SEO rankings. Here, SEO Manager Joseph McKeown and Senior Product Owner Dan Smale, both from Fasthosts, discuss the link between having a light, fast website with high conversion rates, and how to achieve a…
ENTREPRENEURS and friends Lorraine Clark and Sam Day, of Peterborough, are celebrating the third anniversary of their wellness and health product company Hapihemp. The pair set up their brand, which specialises in CBD products, after researching the use of CBD and using it individually to help them with their own health issues. Life had been challenging for many years for the two mothers who got talking about CBD in the school playground. Lorraine had had trouble with hormones from puberty and was eventually diagnosed with PMDD (Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder) which led to her having a hysterectomy in her 40s (is that…