The way we do business has changed dramatically in the last decade. Traditionally, companies would have their own HQ, in which every employee would work from each day. Now, business models are much more flexible. Working from home and hybrid working have become the norm. Because of this, many businesses are choosing not to purchase or rent out their own office space, and instead are opting for coworking spaces. So, let’s take a look at why this might be. Benefits of Coworking Spaces Here are just some of the reasons why businesses are choosing to use coworking spaces. Lower Overheads …
Author: Greg Robinson
HSBC UK has teamed up with Double Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes and rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll to boost visibility for Britain’s smallest businesses. Small businesses are the beating heart of the UK economy: creating jobs, energising high streets and boosting communities. But while they’re vital to growth, new research from HSBC UK shows many entrepreneurs are struggling to promote themselves and attract new customers. According to the findings, just one in five (19%) SME leaders feel their business is promoted enough, while four out of 10 (38%) say they lack the time or resources to reach new customers. More than half…
In today’s job market, businesses are confronted with an uncomfortable truth; while employers believe they’re prioritising employee wellbeing, many staff feel overlooked and underserved. Mike Hay, Chief People Officer at Benenden Health, provides SMETodays readers with some insight into this issue. Across most sectors, health and wellbeing provision is a core enabler of employee engagement. It’s fact that health and wellbeing provision needs to be employee-led, and HR teams’ job is to take that direction and turn it into an accessible, multi-generational offering. It can’t be the other way around. Our new report, Preventative Health in the Workplace, highlights a stark…
BERKSHIRE-based document management specialists, Filestream Ltd, are celebrating winning at this year’s Document Management Awards, taking home the trophy for the best Low Code/No Code Product of the Year. The award recognises Filestream Ltd’s innovative, user-friendly approach to managing documents, making it simpler and more efficient for businesses of all sizes. Filestream Ltd, led by Paul Day, Managing Director, and Layla Cockburn, Operations Director, were nominated in two categories this year and were crowned the winners of the Low Code/No Code Product of the Year – an award they’ve won three times before. The Document Management (DM) Awards, now in…
A successful exit is often the ultimate ambition for founder-led businesses – but achieving it can be tough. Charlotte Hinchcliffe, managing director of Harold Sharp accountancy, provides insight on the fabled SME-owner exit and five key factors that can impact the chances of reaching it. Achieving a successful exit is a common end-goal for a founder, but there are pitfalls to navigate and treating it as a distant milestone is a mistake. Preparing for an exit isn’t a project you start when you decide to sell, it’s a mindset that must run through your business – particularly your finance function…
Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget was billed as a Budget for stability, discipline and long-term growth. Against a backdrop of high inflation, strained public finances and subdued business confidence, expectations across the SME community were high. Small and mid-sized firms — responsible for 99.9% of UK businesses — were looking for bold, targeted support to ease rising operating costs, unlock investment and stimulate hiring. Instead, what emerged was a Budget defined less by sweeping reform and more by incremental adjustments, selective reliefs and a clear reliance on fiscal drag. While households saw help on fuel duty and rail fares, the underlying…
Growing a business is never straightforward. Leaders often find themselves stretched thin between retaining staff, acquiring customers, securing funding, driving innovation, and balancing the books. Growth isn’t just about increasing sales; it’s about building the right foundations to scale successfully. One of the most overlooked foundations is financial management. Many businesses assume that if the numbers add up, the system must be working. But as companies expand, the accounting methods that once sufficed can become liabilities. Recognising when your finance function has outgrown its usefulness is crucial to maintaining profitability and avoiding costly surprises. At Insight Associates, we’ve spent over 30…
As the Chancellor prepares to deliver this week’s Autumn Budget, SME business leaders across the UK are bracing themselves – not for bold intervention, but for disappointment. According to Vistage’s latest Q3 CEO Confidence Index, a striking 76% of SME leaders have little to no confidence that the Budget will support business growth, Rebecca Drew, Managing Director, Vistage UK & Ireland provides some insight. This pessimism sits against a background of cautious optimism. While 57% of MSEs expect revenues to rise over the next 12 months, only one in ten anticipate any improvement in the broader economy. Leaders are planning…
Many self-employed business owners and freelancers are balancing invoices and incomes from multiple sources. While this can mean greater financial security and freedom, it can also bring additional administrative headaches when it comes to taxes. According to Lauren Harvey, Accounts Manager at The Accountancy Partnership, an expert in accounting and tax for sole traders, limited companies and freelancers, she sees many freelancers make life harder for themselves when it comes to tax. “Freelancers are always wearing multiple hats; one day hosting a workshop, the next day travelling to a client meeting, and the next day purchasing equipment for the business. However, HMRC…
What business owners need to know about new Companies House requirements – Bernadette Young, Co-founder and Director of Indigo Independent Governance, provides some guidance. From today, (18th of November 2025), all UK directors are subject to new mandatory identity verification requirements. The new obligations are being phased in over the next year, with some directors impacted immediately and others with a little more time to comply. It is not just directors who are going to be subject to the new regime. Persons with Significant Control (PSCs), meaning shareholders with more than 25% ownership or voting rights in the company or…