The recent European airports cyberattack illustrates the systemic danger of siloed IT systems for organisations of all sizes. Businesses are investing more in digital technology than ever before, yet many are managing their IT services as disconnected pieces rather than as a single integrated entity. Connectivity, cloud, communications, print and security are often handled by separate providers, creating hidden inefficiencies and increasing exposure to risk. The recent cyberattack that disabled check-in systems at major European airports, including Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin, offers a stark illustration of the consequences when critical IT systems operate in silos. “The airport incident is a wake-up…

A new study from Tink, a market-leading open banking and payments platform, reveals that many UK consumers feel anxious about making mistakes when paying by manual bank transfer. This lack of confidence is driving abandoned transactions and undermining trust in the small businesses they buy from – while simple human errors continue to cause failed payments.   Tink refers to this consumer anxiety about some payment methods as the ‘Fear of Messing Up’ (FOMU). Meanwhile the ‘Cost of Messing Up’ (COMU) refers to the business impact of payment errors on sales, staff time and customer relationships. Confidence issues stalling payments  Just…

By Vivek Savani, UK Country Manager, iBanFirst How do you prepare for a swing in a major currency and its impact on your profit margin? That’s the question that global small and medium-sized enterprises have been forced to face this year, as economic volatility – driven by tariff confusion, geopolitical conflict and market nerves – has caused currencies to become unpredictable. Earlier this year, traditional safe-havens like the Yen and Swiss franc jumped notably following the announcement of sweeping US tariffs, and so businesses have had to grapple with the result of this volatility on their supply chains, investments and…

Meta has announced a major shift in how content is ranked across Facebook and Instagram, introducing new measures designed to reduce the visibility of unoriginal or duplicated posts. According to Sussex-based marketing agency PMW, the update represents an opportunity for brands willing to invest in creativity and original storytelling. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is updating its policies to deprioritise content that is repeatedly re-uploaded, re-shared or minimally tweaked without offering new value or commentary. This move follows a similar strategy by YouTube, reflecting a broader industry push toward quality and trust. Ben Luff, senior social media…

 The majority of finance leaders feel AI could eventually be a threat to senior finance roles, including their own. This is according to new research commissioned by cloud accounting provider iplicit, which surveyed 250 UK-based mid-market finance leaders on their AI readiness, usage and concerns. The survey found that over half (51%) feel AI is already a threat to entry-level finance jobs, with 52% claiming AI could eventually impact senior finance roles, too. This opinion was considerably stronger amongst day-to-day operational roles such as Financial Controllers (74%) vs. CFOs (48%) and VPs / FDs (45%). Personal and professional concerns The majority (92%) surveyed…

Verde Digital may only be a few years old, but the agency has already carved out a reputation in fashion, luxury and performance-driven SEO. Behind it is founder Joe Hale, who entered the industry long before he could legally order a drink at a bar. Now, with a fast-growing senior team, award-winning client work and a young family at home, he reflects on the rapid rise of Verde, the realities of building a business from scratch, and the role fatherhood has played in reshaping his priorities. Can you walk us through your career journey. What led you to founding Verde Digital?…

Salary sacrifice limits, state pension reform, dashboards consolidation and new investment rules are set to define UK pensions in 2026 As 2025 comes to a close, UK pension schemes are in a strong position. Defined-benefit (DB) pension funds are hosting an aggregate surplus of an estimated £223 billion, and scheme assets are exceeding long-term liabilities by 24–25%. Defined-contribution (DC) pension assets have also seen consistent growth, with DC assets under management recently increasing to £650 billion, rising by 40 % since 2019.  Chris Eastwood, CEO of Penfold, states, “Last month’s Budget brought welcome stability for pension savers. The National Insurance cap on salary…

By Lyn Hatch, Head of Student Experience at Health Coaches Academy As we head into a new planning cycle, we need to ask how to make 2026 people strategies more effective, not just on paper, but in practice. The latest Keep Britain Working report from the Government highlights the scale of this challenge. Ill heath is now the leading cause of economic inactivity, with over one in five working age adults neither working, nor seeking work because of health issues. The cost to employers is staggering, around £85 billion a year lost through absence, turnover and presenteeism. Employees are feeling the strain, hybrid working has…

With EV infrastructure now a board-level priority and installation failures costing UK organisations millions each year, Drax Electric Vehicles is urging fleets to get compliance right.  Naomi Nye, Head of Sales at Drax Electric Vehicles, advises on how to stay compliant . Installing electric vehicle chargers may seem simple, but your responsibility doesn’t end when you hire a contractor. Organisations commissioning EV charging infrastructure are legally accountable for the safety and compliance of those they hire. For fleet decision makers and facility managers, understanding this responsibility is essential. Getting it right isn’t just about avoiding fines. Safe, compliant installations protect…

Marketing has never been more accessible to small and medium-sized businesses. AI tools are widely available, social media requires no gatekeepers, and design software has become drag-and-drop. Yet despite all this accessibility, recent research by Creative Clique with local SMEs revealed something important – many business owners still feel unsure, overwhelmed or put off by the very industry designed to support them. Jo Alexander, CEO of Creative Clique, explains. Creative Clique surveyed SME owners and decision-makers to understand how they’re navigating marketing in 2025. What we uncovered was a picture that feels familiar far beyond our city. SMEs are confused…

By Dr Julia Lyons, Principal Clinical Lead, Onebright Grief can be treated in workplaces as a short, disruptive event rather than a life-changing psychological process. Compassionate leave is typically positioned as the main support an employee needs, yet the emotional, cognitive and physical impact of bereavement continues long after someone returns to their role. This year’s theme for Grief Awareness Week “Growing with Grief” reminds us that people do not “get over or come to terms with” a loss. Instead, they gradually grow around it, expanding their capacity to live alongside their grief rather than moving beyond it. For employers, this…

More than 1 million jobs have been cut this year across several industries, with many companies downsizing their teams, resulting in redundancies.  Redundancies can be incredibly challenging, and Ben Wright, Global Head of Partnerships at Instant Offices, has outlined the early indicators that one may be on the way and how employees can prepare in advance.   Budgets start disappearing  Suddenly, there’s no budget for training, software, travel, or development. When a company begins cutting these areas, it’s often a sign that they’ve entered cost-saving mode.  Hiring freezes  If a company stops replacing colleagues who leave who either on their own accord or are getting let go, it’s a strong indication that something is brewing. Hiring freezes are often…

The majority of Brits are not prepared for the lifestyle changes that occur when they retire, with 53% of people admitting they have planned financially but have not considered any other implications of retirement.  Almost half (45%) worry they will lose their sense of purpose, while 39% of people due to retire in the next 10 years are worried about the impact it will have on their mental health, according to new research from more than 1,000 UK employed adults, published by organisation development consultancy, h2h. The research ‘From Onboarding to Retirement: Rethinking Career Growth and Retention in Organisations in 2026…

Between corporate layoffs, office closures, promotions, rebrands and internal transformation, we experience endings every day. Despite this, very little attention is paid to processing these endings. In their new book Good Bye, top leadership coaches Alison Lucas and Lizzie Bentley Bowers argue that, by not giving space to the messy and uncomfortable feelings that come with an ending, we are unable to properly let go – often leaving both leaders and employees with scars that negatively impact our workplaces and careers. Good Bye reveals how leaders can manage endings with care, respect and emotional agility. This is key to creating better beginnings…

A new whitepaper from Crown Information Management reveals that Redundant, Obsolete, and Trivial (ROT) information is silently draining corporate budgets, with up to 50% of enterprise data sitting unused. This hidden burden drives up storage, backup, and compliance costs – yet most businesses remain unaware of its financial impact. The report, titled From ROT to ROI: How Sustainable Information Management Saves Money, outlines how eliminating ROT can deliver immediate ROI, with savings often appearing within the first year. In one case study, a regional construction firm reduced its cloud footprint by 110TB and destroyed 6,700 boxes of paper records, cutting costs and improving…

Recently, the UK government formally withdrew its plan to grant employees protection from unfair dismissal from their first day of employment under the Employment Rights Bill (ERB). Instead, ministers confirmed a new qualifying period — workers will only gain the right to challenge unfair dismissal after six months of service. Under current law, an employee generally must have worked for at least two years before being eligible to claim “ordinary” unfair dismissal at a tribunal, though exceptions apply (for automatically unfair dismissals such as those involving discrimination, whistle‑blowing or other protected reasons). The decision to adopt a six‑month qualifying period follows parliamentary…