Fiona Scott of Scott Media talks to a couple from Texas who have invested in Wiltshire – in the town of Malmesbury to be precise.  What was the appeal, for an American couple, of this market town with its roots so intertwined with Anglo Saxon England? What on earth had brought them 5,000 miles from their home to this little Cotswolds corner of the UK?  I recently met with Whit and Kim Hanks, successful American entrepreneurs, to find out. We met in the Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury which they now own.   Who are you and what do you do? …

DeepL, a global leader in Language AI, has unveiled its latest offering tailored for businesses, DeepL Write Pro. This new release—DeepL’s first service powered by its own LLM—changes the game for knowledge workers writing any type of business content. From critical internal employee communications to customer-facing messages and contracts, DeepL Write Pro helps enterprises communicate accurately and securely on a global scale. Unlike common generative AI tools that auto-populate text, or rules-based grammar correction tools, DeepL Write Pro acts as a creative assistant to writers in the drafting process, elevating their text with real-time, AI-powered suggestions on word choice, phrasing,…

Bury-based cruise provider Cruise Club UK have recently begun a full-scale digital transformation, with Manchester digital agency BANC managing the project from start to finish – and beyond. Using the agency’s extensive knowledge and experience, Cruise Club UK’s evolution will see them undergo an across-the-board revamp to increase digital presence and drive business online. Known for their very loyal customer base, the timing of the work couldn’t be better. The developments in the cruise market in recent times – something that’s seen more and more of its audience going online – mean that Cruise Club UK have a huge opportunity…

In today’s fast-evolving marketplace, business owners face unique challenges in navigating payments and consumer preferences. By understanding these facets, businesses of all sizes can better position themselves to meet customer needs, optimise their payment processes, and harness the opportunities presented by digital transformation in the financial landscape. Worldpay empowers businesses of all sizes to make, take and manage payments. Whether online, in store or mobile, you’ll find Worldpay at the heart of great commerce experiences globally. The Worldpay Global Payments Report, now in its ninth year, can also shed valuable light on customers’ shopping patterns and preferences, both in-store and…

Intuit Inc.  the global financial technology platform that makes Intuit TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp,  today released a new report, “The Science of Loyalty,” focused on the drivers behind consumer behaviour and tangible insights that marketers can take to build loyalty and cultivate meaningful relationships between their brand and its customer base. Brand loyalty is often depicted as devotion – a narrative of customer affection and fidelity. However, the findings revealed a deeper truth. Sourced from a survey of 4,000 consumers across the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK—including 1,000 consumers in the UK—the results revealed that re-purchasing behaviour is not merely a manifestation of…

A historic Devon pub is here to stay thanks to an enterprising loan from Reparo Finance. The owner and landlord has big ambitions for the award-winning 17th century pub.  Now a £350k structured loan is funding a huge renovation project at the family run pub and restaurant, modernising rooms upstairs to provide state of the art bed and breakfast facilities. The loan was facilitated as part of the sale and purchase of the pub from a partnership to a limited company. A complex deal of this nature is often impossible using traditional lenders. However, Reparo Finance are experts at providing bespoke finance…

Best selling author and business networking expert Stefan Thomas has marked the 10th anniversary of his acclaimed book “Business Networking for Dummies” by sharing ten ways in which the world of networking has changed since 2014. In that ten years, Stefan has attended over 1,500 face to face networking events in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and has seen the world of networking evolve literally in front of his eyes. With over 10,000 book sales under his belt, Stefan’s book continues to serve as guidance for professionals navigating the intricate world of business connections.   Stefan lives in Oxfordshire and is a professional speaker,…

Countless tech brands risk disappearing into the ‘Sea of Same’ because they haven’t invested in developing a distinct brand narrative which sets them apart from their competitors. While investing heavily in R&D, tech businesses without a compelling narrative risk becoming indistinguishable in the race for market share and when tender lists are drawn up, they are forgotten, if, indeed, they were ever recalled at all.  Many businesses fall into the trap of using generic platitudes and common hygiene factors, mistakenly believing in some way they are unique or distinct. A closer look reveals the exact same generic phrases, spattered across…

When your startup is ready to grow, you need the right financial tools to help you achieve your business goals.  After initial investments are made in your company (including by family and friends), there are broadly two ways to raise capital – equity financing where you sell shares in your company or debt financing where you borrow money.  If you want to maintain control and avoid diluting ownership in your own company, debt financing is the better option.  This simply means borrowing money from lenders – which can be traditional banks, online lending platforms or specialist early-stage debt providers.  Knowing…

Marketing matters more now than ever for small businesses and is a crucial tool for driving profitability. In fact, according to HubSpot, companies that prioritise marketing efforts are 13 times more likely to see positive Return On Investment [ROI]. With research by Promixa indicating that up to 60 per cent of marketing budgets are wasted, ambitious small businesses wanting to scale can’t afford to take a half-hearted approach to their campaigns, and even the most well-intended marketing strategies can be derailed by simple mistakes that can easily be avoided. Here are some of the most common mistakes many small businesses…

Business groups, employers, civil society organisations and community groups are all combining forces to encourage people to boost voter turnout, by backing a new Voter Registration Champions scheme from Citizens UK. Employees will be alerted of the deadline to register to vote, changes to rules on voter ID, and encouraged to vote on polling day. Businesses will also be encouraged to share information with those outside their organisation and within their network. Business groups the British Chambers of Commerce, Federation for Small Business, and the Better Business Act will be encouraging their members, collectively representing nearly 300,000 businesses across the…

Award-winning businesswoman, landlord and property developer Mandy St John Davey has received her MBE from The Princess Royal at Windsor Castle after being recognised in The Kings New Year’s Honours list for services to working women.  Born and raised in South Wales, Mandy is a well-known property developer, ethical landlord and champion of women in business, particularly in property and construction. Her years of commitment were recognised when she was nominated for a New Year honour. “It was the most incredible day which was the pinnacle of my career so far. It was poignant and fitting that it was the Princess…

The 3 Counties Expo returns to the vibrant city of Watford, set to take place on April 25th, 2024, at the prestigious Hilton Hotel’s New Hertford Suite, located at Elton Way, Watford WD25 8HA. The 3 Counties Expo Watford is a premier business event that welcomes visitors from the region and is free to enter for all attendees. Whether you are an established business owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or seeking to expand your business horizons, this event is designed to meet your needs. With over 50 exhibitors showcasing a diverse range of products and services, attendees will have ample opportunities…

UK Export Finance (UKEF) and Barclays have secured a £1.3 million trade finance package for Leicester-based business Unimed Procurement Services. The financing has allowed Unimed to fulfil a major delivery of over 350 ultrasound machines to Latin America and expand its international reach. A winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise (2022), Unimed helps to improve health outcomes around the world by distributing medical supplies to international development agencies, governments, NGOs and research institutions. To date, it has supplied pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and laboratory supplies to clients in over 58 countries. A financing guarantee from UKEF, the government export credit…

Feature writer Fiona Scott talks to Jon White of RWB Auctions about his eclectic career and his investment of £3million in his own High Street. Where Did Life Start For You? I was born in Solihull in the midlands. My father was an engineer at the BBC and he worked at Pebble Mill, but when I was eight years old, he relocated to regional television and we moved to Norfolk so most of my childhood was growing up in Norfolk. Mum was a PE teacher who took time out for the family and went back and became a supply teacher…

The award-winning Snowball Community app, which has been dubbed the ‘Trip Advisor ‘for disabled people, has joined forces with the ex-CEO of Leicestershire-based specialist dementia holiday organisation, MindforYou, to ensure that valuable data collected by the charity will be put to practical use by a wider audience.  The Snowball app helps people find out about the facilities and accessibility of venues across the UK and abroad. Users can access information such as the locations of disabled toilets, the proximity of available car-parking to the places they wish to visit, and whether or not a location is wheelchair-friendly. They can also upload their own reviews and rate venues and facilities using a red, amber and green traffic light system. Simon Samsone, who is the founder…