A new global study from Emergn, the global leader transforming the way people and companies work forever, reveals a dangerous contradiction at the heart of modern business: while transformation is seen as essential for survival, the way it’s being executed is burning out the very people expected to deliver it. The research, titled The Global Intelligent Delusion, was conducted across 751 global organizations and uncovers a workforce under siege—tired, confused, and increasingly fed up with constant change driven without clarity. “Too many companies are mistaking activity for progress. Transformation isn’t supposed to break people – it’s supposed to build capability. But…

In an era dominated by data analytics, AI and digital content platforms, an unexpected discipline that is finding new relevance in the world of marketing and focus groups is graphology – the study of handwriting. Once reserved for psychological profiling and recruitment, graphology is now being embraced by advertisers keen to uncover the deeper emotional and behavioural drivers of their audiences. “Handwriting reveals the layers of human personality that numbers can’t always reach,” explains Emma Bache, internationally renowned graphologist. “It offers marketers a window into how people feel, decide, and engage – all through the unique patterns of their pen strokes.”…

A tax expert has issued a wake-up call to business owners over looming changes to inheritance tax, warning that delaying action could threaten the future of generational family firms and cause widespread job losses. Karen Chadwick, who leads the private client tax offering at independent accounting and business advisory firm HURST, said there remains ‘a window of opportunity’ to act and emphasised it is vital to start the process now as the clock ticks towards next April, when the reforms will come into effect. Under current rules, family businesses and farms can be passed down to younger generations on death…

New research from Tesco Mobile reveals the UK’s side-hustle scene is thriving – and getting more inventive by the day as the nation turns passions to profit. From dressing up as a clown for children’s parties, ‘rent-a-friends’ and even being professional mourners, Britain’s micro-business economy is thriving in unexpected places.  Tesco Mobile has found that the majority (69%) see their hustle as a way to pay the bills, and over three quarters of those pursuing a side hustle (78%) say it is completely different from their day job, showing people are finding creativity and financial freedom outside the nine-to-five. Despite…

 “Hi, I’m ChatBot. I’m sorry, I didn’t understand that. Could you rephrase?”. For many customers, this is the familiar frustration of chatbot support. While AI promises speed and convenience, it can’t replace the reassurance, empathy and clarity that come from speaking to another person. Here, Kristian Torode, Director and Co-Founder of business communications provider Crystaline, explains why human phone support still matters and how businesses can effectively deliver it.  From retail and finance to healthcare, the surge in AI chatbot adoption is transforming customer service. Promising speed, 24/7 availability and cost savings, these tools help companies manage high volumes of…

12,804 retail businesses closed in the UK last year, with forecasts suggesting the number of closures could reach 17,000 in 2025. With business closures continuing to rise, the experts at insolvency practitioners Liquidation Centre were eager to provide essential insight on the most common mistakes leading to retail business closures and how to avoid them. Five scary mistakes retail businesses make just before closing 1. Neglecting customer service and feedback Providing excellent customer service is amongst the most integral parts of running a successful retail business, which is why it might come as no surprise that neglecting this area is one of the scariest mistakes made before a retail business…

Searches for ‘can I set fireworks off in my garden?’ have soared by 5,000% as bonfire night approaches (Nov 5). As many begin planning their own at home fireworks show, not everyone will be aware of potential damages that could be costly for homeowners. To advise homeowners, London rubbish removal company Clear It Waste have revealed their top tips to protect gardens and homes this bonfire night, as well as the costly mistake that many could make this November 5th. 3 mistakes that could cost you hundreds this Bonfire Night Burnt lawns and damage to patios  Cost of repair – £750-£1,200 Setting off fireworks repeatedly…

As Christmas party invites begin to circulate, a new survey by instantprint reveals the UK is far from united on what makes a great festive bash. In a poll of 2,000 UK office workers, 80% said the best time to plan the Christmas party is before the end of September, with delays leading to venue issues, budget burnout and last-minute panic. But the real divide? What the UK actually wants on the night. While “drinks and dancing at a city centre bar” came out top overall (42%), regional preferences vary wildly. Londoners favoured glam bar nights (68%) and black-tie dinners, while Yorkshire voted…

London-based entrepreneur, Reedah El-Saie, has successfully secured £30,000 funding from A-list Dragons’ Den stars, Sara Davies, Deborah Meaden, and Touker Suleyman for her educational gaming company, Brainspark Games. Reedah, who appeared on the hit show on Thursday, 23rd of October 2025 to pitch her multi-award-winning business, impressed the Dragons with her AI-powered, immersive educational mobile games platform. Part-funded by Innovate UK, the platform is designed to make learning enjoyable and accessible to all, including neurodiverse learners. Her passion and dedication to making education attainable for all made a big impression, and as a result, Sara Davies, Deborah Meaden, and Touker…

A powerful panel discussion at the Women in Tech Day at Birmingham Tech Week has shone a spotlight on the barriers that women still face in the tech sector, from unconscious bias to rigid working structures and a lack of visibility at senior levels.   Birmingham-based AI entrepreneur Davina Schonle (Founder, HumanVantage AI) shared her personal experience of being turned away from a high-profile industry event earlier this year, simply because she had her baby with her.   Davina said: “So many of us get unintentionally excluded due to subconscious bias. As a new parent and a business founder, I’m constantly navigating overlapping challenges, such…

Time is often treated as an expendable resource., with Founders wearing multiple hats, juggling endless tasks and convincing themselves that working longer hours is simply part of the job. But what if we’ve got it all wrong? What if the smartest move a founder can make isn’t hiring more staff or chasing funding, but buying back their time?   Time has quietly become the most undervalued asset in business.   In business, we talk about cash flow, profit margins and growth strategies all the time. But when do we ever ask how much time we’re spending on tasks that don’t actually move…

The Government recently announced plans for new V Levels qualification after PM pledged to get two-thirds of young people into higher-level learning.  Andrew McClusky, Managing Director, BEP Surface Technologies, comments on the Government’s new V-Levels announcement: “The Government’s plan to introduce new V-Level qualifications is a positive step towards rebuilding Britain’s technical skills base, but only if it’s backed by meaningful investment and real industry partnership. For decades, vocational training in the UK has been eroded by underfunding and poor infrastructure. Many engineering colleges have closed, and too few training centres have the modern machinery or experienced tutors needed to…

The latest research from Barnett Waddingham finds that as many as 1 in 6 UK companies could risk insolvency if an increase in employer minimum pension contributions were mandated. Just 17% said they would be able to afford the increase with minimum impact. Nearly a third of businesses would freeze hiring entirely (31%) if the Government mandated higher employer contributions Over two-fifths (22%) would look to actively reduce their headcount in response Just 17% would be able to afford an increase with minimal impact to their current business As the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) actively reviews the UK’s…

New data shows most firms expect to keep or grow their workforce despite AI threat Advancetrack’s Accounting Talent Index reveals just 13% of business leaders think technology will cut accountant numbers over the next five years Fears that AI and technology will replace accountants are being dismissed by business leaders, with new research showing the vast majority of firms expect to keep the same number – or even hire more people  – despite early  AI and automation advances. The Accounting Talent Index 2025, published by Advancetrack, reveals that most firms are planning no reductions in headcount ahead, with only a small minority…

By Tomás Dostal Freire, CIO & Head of Business Transformation, Miro As leaders, we all want our teams to be excited about and engaged in their work. While everyone loves the feeling of a big win, from a successful launch to a campaign that goes viral, we can make our teams even stronger if we zoom in and ask a simple question: what makes work meaningful for today’s workers? Or, more to the point, what are the ingredients of a great day at work? According to our new survey, the best days don’t come from a completed to-do list or…

From April 2026, the way thousands of sole traders and landlords manage their tax affairs will change forever. In this article, Mark Kearsley, Tax Partner at DSG, explores how the government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative will mean that manual record keeping and once-a-year tax returns become things of the past. Those with qualifying income above £50,000 will have to keep digital records and send quarterly updates through HMRC approved software. The threshold will fall to £30,000 in 2027 and £20,000 in 2028 which will bring many more small businesses and property owners into the new system. It is the…