As energy bills rise and regulations tighten, more homes and commercial properties are being upgraded with better insulation, cleaner heating systems, and sustainable materials.  However, these essential changes are driving up rebuild costs and widening the underinsurance gap, according to a revealing new report: ‘Energy efficiency retrofits, rebuild costs, and underinsurance’ by RebuildCostAssessment. Sharon Masters, Surveyor & Technical Lead at RebuildCostAssessment, commenting on the findings of the report said: “These upgrades add costs but if the insurance cover stays the same, the risk of underinsurance increases, and with most UK buildings already underinsured, the gap is widening fast. “A £50,000 energy…

With research showing that seven in ten job hunters are using Google search for jobs and researching potential employers, new data has revealed the most desirable countries to work in according to Google searches.  The UK is the world’s most desirable country to work in according to Google!   The research comes from the financial experts at online money transfer service Remitly, who analysed data from over 40 popular city destinations globally, to determine which destinations have the most annual searches related to working in that country in 2025. You can view the full research here, Top 10 most desirable destinations to work…

Football legend and entrepreneur Gary Neville joins Sage to champion the small businesses powering the English Football League community. Sage, a global leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll software for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) has announced a new long-term partnership with the English Football League (EFL), becoming its Official Accounting Software Partner. With this partnership, Sage strengthens its commitment to the 3.5 million small and medium-sized businesses in the UK who play a key role in EFL football communities up and down the country – the pubs, cafés, shops, and suppliers that bring matchday to life. Already working…

Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) is reshaping business, particularly in customer service, where traditional interaction models are being revolutionised. This new generation of AI technology isn’t limited to basic automation; it’s capable of understanding complex queries, personalising interactions, and responding with near-human intelligence. Whether deployed as AI agents on platforms like WhatsApp or embedded directly into conversational websites, Gen AI solutions are setting new standards for customer engagement. Dvir Hoffman, CEO of CommBox and an expert in AI-powered customer engagement and digital transformation, outlines how instant, conversational support can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty and free up human agents for complex…

International speaker and bestselling author Stefan Thomas, based in Oxfordshire, will return to the Best Businesswomen Awards in 2025. Having sponsored the Best Networking Group category in 2024, this year he continues as sponsor and joins the judging panel for the first time. Stefan, who has authored three books on business networking, including Business Networking for Dummies, is well known for helping entrepreneurs and business professionals build confidence in making meaningful connections that lead to genuine opportunities. This marks his second year supporting the awards. In 2025, he has also been invited to judge, a role he has embraced with…

Divorce is never straightforward—but when a married couple also runs a business together, things can quickly become more complicated. In this article, Lisa Payne, Associate, and Madeline Scott, Paralegal, in the Family Law Team at Wilsons Solicitors LLP, outline the main considerations SME business owners should keep in mind before starting divorce proceedings. There were approximately 5.491 million SME’s currently operating in the UK as of 2024 according to gov.uk (Business population estimates for the UK and regions 2024: statistical release – GOV.UK). Those statistics, paired with the current divorce rates, is likely to transpose into a high proportion of…

Established businesses are turning towards fractional employment for their C-suite needs as the demand for in-depth industry knowledge increases.   However, many startups are still choosing not to acquire part-time expertise.   Midlands fractional employment consultants Champions (UK) plc is encouraging young businesses to not overlook flexible executive additions – their Managing Director, Matthew Hayes, has spoken about embracing this instead.   What are the benefits of fractional employment for businesses today?   He began: “I think there are a number of factors behind the growth of fractional employment. It’s partly about the size and scale of a business, but it’s also about flexibility…

Rob Morgan, Chief Investment Analyst at Charles Stanley discusses how to utilise dividends for personal finances.  The stock market is an uncertain place, and for many investors the ups and downs can be a source of stress and anxiety. Yet while share values fluctuate, dividends paid by profitable companies tend to be far more stable. That means investors who stay the course and ignore the day-to-day noise can receive an income stream that grows over time. This is especially valuable for those looking to produce a sustainable retirement income resilient to the ravages of inflation. John D. Rockefeller, the American…

With B2B buyer habits, priorities, and expectations constantly evolving, new research has revealed the latest trends that shape their decision-making. The sales engagement experts at B2B lead generation agency Sopro, have analysed a wealth of industry data to inform B2B marketing and sales strategies in 2025 and beyond. According to Sopro’s State of Prospecting 2025 report, 88% of B2B buyers want to hear from vendors when researching and evaluating their options, highlighting why businesses should engage buyers early. Top 10 B2B buyer statistics and insights Millennials and Gen Z now account for 71% of B2B buyers, up from 64% in 2022. Younger…

By Dr Julia Lyons, Principal Clinical Lead, Onebright Every parent holds hopes and dreams for their child’s life – from first words to first days at school, from birthdays to quiet moments of connection. When a child dies, these hopes are cruelly cut short, and the grief that follows is all-consuming. In this article, we’d like to recognise the profound impact of child loss, the silent suffering many parents endure, and the vital role we all have in supporting them, especially in the workplace. What grief means for bereaved parents? Grief is the mind and body’s natural response to losing someone deeply…

Research conducted in the wake of the UK National Insurance (NI) hike in April 2025 shows a missed opportunity for employees to minimise NI, boosting take-home pay and pension contributions at a time when personal finances are stretched and many are under-saving for retirement Howden, the global insurance intermediary group, has announced the findings from its survey exploring the impact of recent rises in fiscal demands on SMEs, and the effect it has had on workforce decisions and employee benefits strategies. The Howden Employee Benefits research, conducted in partnership with YouGov, reveals that 68% (1) of UK SMEs are not…

As everyone in SEO knows, there really are no set rules. And, even when we think we have cracked the code, the algorithm updates again, creating an ever-evolving world. In 2025, it’s simply not enough for brands to just show up in search. Today, the Google EEAT model is at the centre of success. But with every SEO specialist and agency having access to this information, how can you trust that your team of experts is really driving significant change and beating the competition? Here, Andy Beckwith, Head of Creative at Tall, shares four ways to stand out in today’s digital…

The House of Lords has voted to remove a key part of the Employment Rights Bill that would have given employees protection against unfair dismissal from their very first day at work. Instead, they supported an amendment introducing a six-month qualifying period before employees gain unfair dismissal rights. This amendment, put forward by Conservative peer Lord Sharpe of Epsom, was approved by 304 votes to 160 during the debate. Senior Employment Solicitor at law firm Harper James, Claire Cole, highlights what this means, especially for SMEs: “The House of Lords continues its Report stage scrutiny of the Employment Right Bill. The Bill originally…

Berkshire-based, Filestream Systems Ltd discuss how to prepare for the upcoming changes to Windows operating systems.    The tech industry is getting ready for a big shift on 14th October 2025, as Microsoft prepare to stop all support for Windows 10 from this autumn date.   Industry professionals across the world are starting to discuss the impacts of this discontinuing of support and sharing how people and businesses can prepare for this.   Filestream Ltd, a specialist innovative document management company, are calling out for people to get ready for this change. Operations Director, Layla Cockburn, is providing insight into how the closing of Windows 10 will affect many.   “Discontinuing Windows 10 support means that Microsoft will…

With cybersecurity being a priority in every boardroom, SME business leaders are particularly pressurised, with lower budgets than their larger counterparts. Threat levels are high, with as many as 43% of businesses and three in ten charities experiencing some kind of cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months. Beyond resources, there could also be another key barrier to SMEs taking adequate cybersecurity action. It seems friction amongst leadership is creating a divide in business with lack of a CISO or cybersecurity representative at board level being common. This cavalier approach may leave companies wide open to successful…

Setting a company vision is crucial to guiding a team or organisation towards a successful future. After all, if you don’t know where you are heading as an organisation, how will you know you are on the right path, or ever going to get there? Developing and embedding a well-defined company vision provides direction, inspires motivation, and ensures your team is working together towards one common goal with a united sense of purpose. Sue Carr, director of marketing and PR agency V Formation, provides advice on setting a vision for your company. What is a vision? A company vision is…