Full-time employment is going backwards following the Government’s disastrous decision to go after employers in its budget. Employment Hero’s SmartMatch Salary Report uses real-time data from 90,000 employees across small businesses with 1-500 employees in the UK. Collected at the end of November, the first real-time data reflects the impact of the Government’s Budget in late October, where employer NICs were increased by 1.2%. Employers appeared to immediately react to the changes, which are not due to come into force until April, slashing hiring and letting some staff go. Overall the amount of people in full-time employment shrunk by 1.2%…

Andy Ramsbottom, Director of Global Strategic Accounts at Escode, discusses how to protect investments through software escrow In today’s volatile financial landscape, safeguarding investments has never been more crucial for venture capitalists (VCs) and private equity firms (PEs). The recent turbulence in global markets underscores the importance of being proactive in protecting capital, particularly when investing in the tech sector. With the UK’s tech funding showing signs of recovery, now is the time for investors to take decisive steps to make sure their investments are sound. One of the most effective tools at their disposal is software escrow—a crucial mechanism…

New research from Simply Asset Finance highlights the challenges UK SMEs face following the Labour Government’s first Budget and the rise in employee National Insurance contributions. Half of UK SMEs (50%) expect the policy to hinder business growth, with 31% saying it will hinder their own business specifically, according to new research from Simply Asset Finance. Just 34% of businesses say that they don’t need to do anything in response. While most sectors are similarly impacted, it is among the Agriculture, construction, and manufacturing sector that the biggest challenge is being faced. Here, just 11% say they won’t need to…

In August 2024, The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act came into force across the European Union. Ahead of the anticipated introduced of an AI Bill in the UK, Ed Rea from technology lawyers Arbor Law assesses the changing regulatory landscape and advises businesses on how they can prepare for what lies ahead.  A world first On August 1, the European Commission’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act came into force, marking the first comprehensive AI law in the world. The AI Act applies to every company supplying AI systems within the EU and providing output from an AI system in the EU. Systems and practices…

A CARING company is spreading Christmas cheer across North Wales after scooping an illustrious national industry award. Colwyn Bay-based Enhanced Healthcare visited care homes across the region delivering festive arts and crafts sessions to hundreds of residents. With more set to take place in the coming weeks, the recruitment agency – named Health and Wellbeing Initiative of the Year at the British Business Awards – has cemented its place among the leading and most caring names in the sector. With more than 170 employees delivering temporary staffing solutions to a range of health and social care services, founder Chanel Williams…

Quadient (Euronext Paris: QDT), a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections, has announced a new integration with Sage 50 for its Accounts Payable (AP) solution. The partnership will make Quadient’s market-leading AP solution widely available to the 500,000 small and medium size businesses in the UK and Ireland that already benefit from Sage 50. These users will have the opportunity to manage their financial operations more efficiently, so they can focus on the unique challenges of running an SMB. The integration will enable Sage 50 customers to seamlessly synchronise their invoice data, eliminating the need for manual data importing and…

It’s fair to say that Environmental, Social and Governance issues probably aren’t the first things that come to mind when you are considering selling your business. The short list would include ensuring financial records are up-to-date, supplier and customer contracts collated, legal and compliance review completed and a realistic valuation in mind. Yet linked to the inevitable aspects of due diligence, preparing an ESG due diligence ahead of your potential sale is likely to pay dividends. Tom Otley, Sustainability Director at Oury Clark explains why. Why an ESG Due Diligence pays dividends Risk Mitigation: just as when selling your house you’d…

Venturing into the world of investing can be daunting, especially for first-time investors who fear losing money, therefore, venture capital group Oxford Capital have shared insight on how novice investors can experiment with small investments before committing on a larger scale, and provided actionable tips on how to maximise investments. Mark Bower-Easton, Head of Distribution at venture capital group Oxford Capital, shares his thoughts on how to experiment with small investments: Research “If you’re new to investing, start by learning the basics and getting familiar with how the market works. Take time to read about how different investments grow your money, and stick to trusted sources for…

2025 is fast approaching, and with over 50% of UK consumers factoring environmental concerns into their choices, and greenwashing proving highly damaging to brand reputations when exposed1, sustainability is no longer optional for businesses. To help business leaders stay ahead of the curve, George Curtis, Director at sustainability consultancy Carbon Neutral Group, highlights three key areas to focus on in the coming year to build customer trust and credibility. Green claims: As consumers become increasingly informed, they are demanding more information about businesses’ sustainability practices, products, and services. Transparent communication will be essential in 2025. Businesses must clearly substantiate their claims, influenced…

The past four years or so have brought with them a range of financial, economic, and systemic shocks. While everyone is hoping for a steadier future, with interest rates and inflation falling and economic growth and wages rising, it is more important than ever to be mindful that for your employees it may not be that simple. With the festive holidays approaching, a time that often brings added financial stress, Dr. Glenn Mason, Head of Adult Psychological Therapies at Onebright, has explored practical, impactful ways employers can support their teams during these challenging times. We are seeing debt and other financial…

Sales Intelligence is the latest product launched by GlobalData as part of its vision to boost productivity and success across the world’s largest industries with AI-powered solutions.  GlobalData, the trusted intelligence partner to the world’s most successful organisations, has launched Sales Intelligence, a data driven, AI-powered, and expert curated platform that supports and guides B2B sales activities and effectiveness in real time.  Sales Intelligence is underpinned by GlobalData’s proprietary data and insights, leveraging more than 100 million data points and the collective expertise of over 2,000 analysts, data scientists and consultants, with deep sector and domain specialisms. GlobalData continuously sources…

A month on and the dust is still settling from the outcome of the US Presidential Election, with Republican candidate Donald Trump emerging victorious for the second time, making him the USA’s 47th President. As the transition begins, questions remain about how Trump’s second stint in the Oval Office will shape global trade in the months and years ahead. During his action-packed campaign Trump pledged to impose tariffs of up to 20 percent on imports from overseas countries, including the UK, and significantly higher duties on BRIC nations. In principle, this promise was made with a view to protecting US…

Startups are exciting, but as you’re spinning many plates when bringing your idea to life, it can be easy to miss out steps along the way. However, there are a few elements to your business where cutting corners should never be an option. In today’s world, as cyber attacks are becoming more complex and sophisticated each day, the right cybersecurity measures are crucial to the longevity of your startup. The following guide from domain and hosting experts Fasthosts offers 6 essential security tips that every startup must know. The importance of cybersecurity Here’s why cybersecurity should be a core focus of any…

More than eight in ten (81%) UK small businesses are prioritising new initiatives to boost their overall growth prospects for 2025. Increasing new business sales (43%) and reducing fixed costs (24%) are priority areas business owners want to focus on – but there’s also evidence the recent changes to employers’ National Insurance could significantly impact hiring plans for 2025. Nationally, only 7% of small businesses surveyed are prioritising making senior hires for 2025 – and only 9% of small business owners plan to hire young people that they can train and develop. The findings are from the quarterly Business Barometer study by…

Two-thirds of employees admit feeling the December productivity dip [1], with just 22.8% of work completed in winter, compared to 27.3% in autumn [2]. Additionally, Reboot Online discovered Google searches relating to productivity hacks, planners and coaching are all up 5,000% this month as many try to avoid the slump. So, how can you help employees stay productive over the winter period? To help business owners reduce the winter dip, HR experts at digital PR agency Reboot Online provided actionable tips on keeping employees motivated over the Christmas period. 1. Make Yourself Available Managing time and workload is important for all employees in an organisation, especially management.…

As the season for annual office Christmas parties kicks-off, employers are being warned to remember new responsibilities on them brought in by the recent additions to the Equality Act.  “The Duty Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 came into force on 26 October 2024, and requires employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their workers,” explains Emma-Louise Hewitt, Head of the Employment Law team at law firm Sydney Mitchell, which provides employment law advice and solutions to local and national businesses.  “Previously there was no proactive obligation on employers, but they are now required to actively consider the…