Xero, the global small business platform, has today launched a report revealing overall small business owner wellbeing is currently below that of the general population, serving as a reminder of the myriad of challenges small business owners are dealing with in 2023 – including high inflation, slowing economic growth, concern about staff wellbeing and general uncertainty about the future. The report, The global state of small business owner wellbeing, found that of the seven countries surveyed from November 2022 through to February 2023, small business owners in the UK reported the lowest levels of wellbeing and life satisfaction. The report…

Reflecting on a partnership — and friendship — of almost 20 years, co-founders of Contact Center as a Solution (CCaaS) leader Ringover, Renaud Charvet and Jean-Samuel Najnudel, sit down to discuss the company’s journey from a tech start-up to a global cloud calling powerhouse.  Where it all started Ringover was founded by Renaud Charvet and Jean-Samuel Najnudel, who met at ESCP, one of the most prestigious and selective business schools in France. There, Charvet and Najnudel developed a common interest in business startups. “When I first met Jean-Samuel, he knew that he wanted to do something big in telecoms, but…

As it stands, living costs in the UK are not expected to return to their 2021 levels in real terms until 2027. The cost of living crisis has seen inflation and food shortages, with wages struggling to keep up with rising costs. Notably, rents are now at their highest rate on record, alongside rising energy bills. For those seeking to live alone at such a time, weathering the storm relies heavily on addressing this factor. With that in mind, chartered surveyors Stokemont analysed the 20 biggest cities in the UK to answer the question – which UK cities are the most expensive to live alone in?…

It’s no secret that AI is a trending topic. However, with the release of ChatGPT, and Machine Learning continuously evolving, cybersecurity service providers, ramsac, are advising businesses not to blindly jump in with AI. From malicious code to leaked data, using an LLM (large language model) could be detrimental to your organisation if used improperly. The dangers of AI for businesses With the media storm around ChatGPT, the site currently has around 100 million users and is visited 1 billion times every month. As an LLM it uses deep learning to provide answers to queries, statements or requests in a human-like manner.…

A Sheffield based engineering company, which is helping businesses recoup thousands of pounds in energy costs, is turning up the heat on its future growth plans after calling on help from Finance For Enterprise and the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. Headquartered at Sheffield’s Century Park Industrial Estate, Saphex manufactures, designs and repairs a wide range of industrial heat exchange units, which are typically used to help businesses regulate temperature during the manufacturing process.  Recognising that the primary purpose of a heat exchange mechanism is to remove excess temperatures typically generated during the manufacturing process, Managing Director Wayne Nelson began exploring…

The modern business world can be brutal, with a ‘dog-eat-dog’ culture that focuses more on stats, turnover and competition rather than purpose, positive messaging and adding genuine value to society. A company whose purpose is driven by sustainable and ethical practices will not only minimise its environmental impact through maintaining a 100% ethical production and supply chain, but also ensure fair wages, safe working conditions and reasonably priced, quality products/services. Understanding where your organisation has the most potential to make a tangible and positive difference, and then aligning your operations with this, is key to creating real positive impact. What…

Co-working spaces have boomed since the pandemic and the associated normalisation of hybrid working. These businesses offer a sensible solution that makes good economic sense to businesses that want to reduce their overheads. If your staff aren’t in the office for even 3 days a week, you can see why getting rid of the office entirely and instead renting a desk somewhere, no-strings-attached, might be tempting.  But this has created a new market, and these co-working spaces are competing. One of the benefits of this competition is a new trend: the hotelification of the office. You can already see the…

Sustainability has now become a driving force for businesses as they face increasing pressure to lower their carbon footprint and fulfil Environment Social Governance (ESG) objectives. Time is ebbing away, as is the hope of achieving NetZero, but it’s a race which can still be won if organisations, including SMEs, actively work towards that goal by pledging their green commitments through setting targets and measuring their environmental impact. Take manufacturing for example, an industry historically known for its overproduction and waste which have been significant contributors to emissions. However, manufacturers are now taking crucial strides to reverse this trend by setting…

Hannah Pettit, Associate in the Technology Sector team at Ashfords looks at the issues surrounding the fine issued at the start of this year by the Irish Data Protection Commission (the “DPC”) to WhatsApp Ireland Limited a €5.5 million fine for: incorrectly seeking to rely on performance of a contract with its users in order to process their personal data for the purposes of service improvements and security (the “lawful basis infringement”); and infringing the GDPR fairness principle (the “fairness principle infringement”). This might not seem like a particularly high value fine when you take into account the significant turnover…

Creative Nature, one of the UK’s leading top-14 allergen free snack brands, based in Surrey, has appointed Lance Hayward as their new non-executive director. Lance has over 30 years of industry experience with a focus on organisations of all sizes to succeed. He’s the MD and founder of The Hayward Partnership which launched in June 2014. The Hayward Partnership is a group of independent industry experts from around the world providing a range of services including global consultancy, recruitment and interim management services to the travel catering and retail sectors.  Lance said about his appointment: “‘I was delighted to be…

A rise in demand for bespoke, handcrafted shepherd huts has led to the expansion of Somerset based company Greendown Shepherds Huts. The team of 15 – led by founders Richard Hodges, Harry Long and his brother-in-law, director Jordan Franklin – have seen such a rise in demand for their luxurious products that they’ve had to move their operation to larger premises. Now they are based at Zeal Green Business Park near Keynsham, giving them the space to expand and grow their brand.  Greendown Shepherd Huts are in their seventh year and production is projected to increase to two huts per…

The past three years have forced a re-think for many manufacturing businesses in the UK, as supply chain networks have faltered. Luke Smoothy, Founder and Director of manufacturing specialist Get It Made, looks at how SMEs can boost their resilience through harnessing technology and other key strategies. Improve supply chain monitoring A recent report by Make UK shows that 93% of manufacturing businesses agreed that supply chains will remain under pressure through 2024 at least. While businesses have evolved their supply chains by necessity, they can seize further opportunity through further improving strategies and harnessing technology. While 82% of manufacturers…

SME leaders from across the country are benefitting from the 90% funded business growth course, Help to Grow: Management. Delivered in collaboration with industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs, the course enhances leadership and management skills, helping to drive economic growth nationwide. Launched in 2021, the Help to Grow: Management course has been created to provide the management tools needed to help talented business leaders innovate and grow their business. Designed to be manageable alongside full-time work, the 12-week blended learning course includes modules that cover financial management, digital adoption, leading high-performance teams, and responsible business practices. Having held the Small…

Your business’s brand lets you speak directly to your target audience and be seen and thought of in exactly the way you wish – it is the personality of your company and vital for business success. To create a positive image, collaboration is key. By working with your employees to define and build your brand, you can create a strong and impactful approach for your organisation both internally and externally. Why Is Collaboration Key For Building A Brand? Working together as a team means improving how the team works – how it achieves deadlines and delivers to a high standard,…

Now, perhaps more than ever, looking after your mental health at work is crucial. It’s been a really tricky few years with many challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic, political instability, and now the cost-of-living crisis. The truth is, our mental health is impacted by all parts of our life. And as we spend more than a third of our time working (for small businesses owners that time is likely to be higher) taking care of your wellbeing at work has never been more important. And the good news is, it doesn’t have to be difficult. Making small changes can have…

The IPO is launching a questionnaire for SME, small-cap and mid-cap businesses on Standard Essential Patents.The Government wants to hear views from SME, small-cap and mid-cap businesses on the current Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) framework. This will help the Government ensure that the ecosystem around SEPs is functioning effectively and striking the right balance for entities involved.They particularly want to hear from those involved with the development or production of interoperable products or services that use technical standards. This will inform on issues such as: Do you have sufficient information on how your innovation relates to SEPs? Is the current system fair…