The latest annual State of Prospecting Report has just been released, revealing a host of must-know insights and trends that will define the B2B sales and marketing landscape this year. The report, created by the lead generation and sales engagement experts at Sopro – a global multi-channel prospecting service for B2B businesses – dives into the developments and challenges shaping industry strategies. The fifth annual report features insights from more than 400 senior B2B decision-makers, analysis of 126 million emails, and more than 25 million multi-channel touchpoints and intent signals, paired with strategies from today’s leading outreach experts. You can view the full State of…

The Level Up Leadership podcast has been awarded Gold in the Leadership Coaching category at the 2026 AVA Digital Awards. This international competition recognises excellence in digital communication, highlighting the most effective and creative work in the industry. Level Up Leadership was established to provide grounded, practical advice for managers and executives navigating organisational change. Since its launch, the program has focused on human-centred tools rather than abstract theory, addressing topics such as team resilience and leading through disruption. ‘Winning this award is a significant milestone for the show,’ says Lee Whitmore. ‘The podcast began as a space for honest…

Recent changes to Capital Gains Tax on Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) sales have prompted concern among business owners. However, the reality is proving far less disruptive than first feared, according to expert Chris Maslin, founder of Go EO. When the November 2025 Budget confirmed the capital gains tax exemption on qualifying EOT sales would be reduced, some questioned whether this would undermine employee ownership as a viable exit route. Several months on, experience suggests otherwise, with EOTs continuing to attract founders who value long-term stewardship and the future of their business and staff once they have left ‘the room’. “In…

Leading UK technology consultancy urges precision-led transformation in 2026 as the defining measure of business value. As businesses move into 2026, technology transformation has shifted in priorities from a discretionary improvement programme to a defining test of organisational quality and resilience. A greater premium is being placed on organisations that can demonstrate resilience, adaptability and clarity of operations, especially against a backdrop of accelerated technology cycles and economic uncertainty. According to Jon Bance, chief operating officer at Leading Resolutions, businesses that embed transformation from inception are now measurably more resilient, more investable, and more valuable than those that treat it as a…

By Nick Smith, Reward Funding Group MD We always believe funding, and the lenders behind it, should be more than a source of money. They should be a key partner that supports ambitious businesses. Now that we’re in 2026, it is clear that the alternative finance landscape is evolving faster than ever. Technology and approaches are changing and client expectations are increasing. Here are five key trends we expect to see in the industry this year. Alternative finance becomes a mainstream SME funding channel Throughout 2026, we expect to see alternative finance move from its current position as a ‘backup…

Men are putting their health at risk because they fear a diagnosis could harm their job security, career prospects or reputation at work, according to new research from Bupa. Although over half of men (56%) say they would feel comfortable telling their manager about cancer-related tests or a diagnosis, many still worry about what an illness or health problem could mean for their working lives. Almost one in five (18%) fear they’ll be treated differently or pitied, while the same proportion are concerned about job security or being viewed as unreliable. A further 15% are anxious about becoming the subject…

Britain’s medium-sized businesses – the “growth engine” of the economy – are scaling at pace, but many property developers say they were unprepared for the pressure that comes with expansion, according to new research from Shawbrook. While the UK’s mid-market continues to outperform on productivity and job creation, the study highlights the human and financial strain that often sits behind that success. Nearly a quarter of developers (23%) reported moments of isolation during their scale-up journey and a fifth (20%) experienced higher stress levels as operational demands grew. Many also invested heavily in their business’s potential. Nearly half (46%) used personal savings or remortgaged…

Written by leadership expert John B. Gearing, whose 25+ year career has included leadership roles at Adidas, UFC Gyms and VF Corporation, this bold, ruthlessly honest new book shines a light on the blind spots and ego traps that quietly cripple leaders the world over. All too often, CEOs and founders are celebrated for their bold ideas, relentless ambition and magnetic charisma. But behind the spotlight, many leaders fall victim to illusions – such as boardroom politics, unchecked ego and the myth of the charismatic founder – that offer a façade of outward success, while quietly eroding the foundation of…

For Self Assessment taxpayers, January is often the dreaded month with annual tax bills and the first payment on account needing to be paid before 31 January. But for those struggling to meet their tax payments in full before the deadline, help is at hand in the form of a Time to Pay arrangement. Time to Pay arrangements allow you to organise an affordable monthly payment plan. To set this up, you will need the relevant reference number for the tax you cannot pay, such as your unique tax reference number, your UK bank account details and details of your…

By Tom Glason, CEO of ScaleWise, the go-to-market and talent partner for fast-scaling B2B tech firms. Most growing businesses don’t stall because leaders hold too little control. They stall because leaders hold on to the wrong kind of control for too long. In research conducted by ScaleWise, we found that 50% of startups still rely on the CEO to lead go-to-market. That approach can work early on. But as complexity increases and scale demands new capability, founder-led GTM quickly becomes a bottleneck. In response, many leaders try to step back by adding layers of targets, dashboards and training, while still doing the…

~ The steps your business needs to take in 2026 to prepare ~ When the clock stroke midnight on 1 January 2026, every small and medium-sized business in the UK should have had one resolution at the top of their list: preparing for the PSTN switch off. Here, Kristian Torode, director and co-founder of business communication and PSTN switch off specialist Crystaline offers a complete checklist of everything your business needs to review as we ring in the new year. For decades, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) has been the backbone of UK business communications. But its time is…

Following the government’s recent announcement of a £10 billion AI investment push, new research has revealed the current state of AI automation trends in UK business. These statistics from the experts at B2B lead generation agency Sopro, reveal the widespread deployment of automation and the measurable returns businesses are achieving as a result. You can view the full report here: https://sopro.io/resources/blog/ai-sales-and-marketing-statistics/ AI automation trends in business: More than half of all corporate AI budgets go to sales and marketing automation Sales and marketing functions receive the largest share of corporate AI investment. More than half of all AI budgets are now directed…

Small businesses are facing a tough start to 2026 as confidence slumps and growth plans stay out of reach, new research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) reveals. The Small Business Index (SBI) plunged to -71 in the final quarter of 2025, meaning far more businesses were struggling than succeeding. This is down from -58 in Q3 and the lowest it’s been since the outbreak of Covid in 2020, when it dropped to -143. The hospitality accommodation and food sector is the worst hit, recording a confidence score of -104 – with 46 per cent of those small firms planning to decrease staff between January…

In response to reports that the United States may introduce a 10% import tariff under proposals linked to Donald Trump’s trade agenda involving Greenland, Dr Jonathan Owens, Senior Lecturer in Operations Management at the University of Salford, has shared expert insight on what this could mean for UK businesses and supply chains. UK businesses are facing renewed uncertainty following reports that the United States may introduce a 10% import tariff. If enforced, the tariffs could have a significant ripple effect across UK supply chains, particularly for manufacturers, exporters, and logistics providers with strong transatlantic links. The US is one of…

Most business owners believe the difference between a £1-2m company and a £10m company is scale: more people, more customers and more products. While that’s partly true, the real differentiator is less visible but far more powerful – It’s financial clarity. At Insight Associates, we’ve spent over 30 years helping ambitious businesses replace reactive, ‘make-do’ financial management with clear, decision-driving insight. Time and again, we see the same pattern: businesses don’t stall because they lack opportunity, they stall because their numbers aren’t giving them the answers they need to grow. Behind every fast-growing, well-run £10m+ business sits a leadership team…

January has long been known as a peak month for jobseekers updating their CVs and looking for a fresh start in their careers. But new data suggests the new year reset isn’t just happening at an individual level, as the ripple effects of this annual shake-up are now being felt by businesses, particularly when it comes to office space decisions, according to serviced office provider WorkWell. Recent Google Trends data shows UK searches for “serviced offices” have spiked by 59% in the past week*, signalling a growing reluctance among businesses to commit to traditional office leases at the start of…