ClearCourse, a provider of industry-specific software and embedded payment solutions for SMEs and targeted enterprises, today announces the appointment of Simon Black, current Non-Executive Director, as Chair of the Board. Simon will support the management team in leading ClearCourse’s next phase of growth, building on the company’s proven vertical software expertise and strength in integrating payment solutions for SMEs. With a clear mission to help small UK businesses grow and compete with enterprise-level technology, Simon brings deep understanding of the software and payments landscape. Christina Hamilton, CEO of ClearCourse, said: “It is fantastic that Simon has stepped into the role of Chair…
Author: Greg Robinson
AUGUST saw the publication of a new training framework for fire risk assessors to try to avoid another Grenfell Tower tragedy in which 72 people lost their lives, according to health and safety expert Andrew Wilkinson. This means that landlords and owners of commercial properties and blocks of flats must ensure they employ a competent and highly qualified fire risk assessor. This professional must now show considerable competency including demonstrable technical knowledge, practical experience, and ethical conduct especially for those working in sensitive or high-stakes environments. These professionals will be expected to have qualified at foundation, intermediate and then advanced levels…
South-west based IT specialists, Westspring IT, have pledged to raise £50,000 to support the South West charity Gympanzees. Gympanzees provide support and leisure experience for young people and children with disabilities who often cannot access sport or activities easily. The charity is raising funds to build a bespoke facility to support disabled youth to have their own space. Jason Small, Co-founder of Westspring IT, said: “We believe Gympanzees’ mission aligns perfectly with our values, and we are thrilled to support them in their incredible work building a one-of-a-kind centre in the UK.” WestSpring’s first event Gympanzees is a Somerset-based charity which…
New data from London & Partners, the growth agency for London, shows that 46.18% of start-up founders are unfamiliar with their tax and compliance obligations. This lack of awareness in the early stages can expose businesses to avoidable risks, unnecessary costs, and even stalled growth. Research conducted through the Grow London Local platform between January 2024 and September 2025, based on 968 responses from founders mainly across London, found that almost half (46.18%) of first-year businesses are unfamiliar with tax and compliance obligations; leaving many at risk of HMRC fines just as they start out. Navigating HMRC can be complex,…
Complete Background Screening (CBS), one of the UK’s most trusted screening providers, has appointed Ashley Decloquement-Davis as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), strengthening its leadership team as it enters a new phase of strategic growth. Ashley brings over a decade of commercial leadership experience, most recently at Sterling, a global screening provider (now part of First Advantage), where she led a high-growth vertical across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) and secured multi-million-pound contracts with global clients. She joins CBS, which has its HQ in South Wales, as it celebrates 20 years in business and continues…
When it comes to travel, dementia advocate and accessibility consultant Dr Carol Sargent of Sargent Group Consulting is offering vital guidance to families planning air travel with a loved one who has dementia. Flying can be challenging at the best of times, but for people living with dementia – and those supporting them – it often requires extra planning and sensitivity. Dr Carol Sargent, leading UK travel inclusion expert and founder of Sargent Group Consulting, has shared her practical advice to help families make air travel as calm and enjoyable as possible. “Airports and planes can be busy, confusing environments,”…
You know that feeling – Standing in your office at 6pm, staring at a spreadsheet that should have all the answers. But it doesn’t. Should you hire those two new people? Can you afford that equipment upgrade? Is now the right time to expand? The numbers are there, but they’re not talking to you in a language you understand. The hidden problem that’s costing you sleep At Insight Associates, here’s what we’ve discovered after 30 years’ working with growing businesses: Most successful entrepreneurs are making critical financial decisions with incomplete information. Research shows that business owners typically know only 4%…
HubSpot Elite Partner agency, OneMetric, has formed a new, strategic partnership with Revenue Operations [RevOps] expert and seasoned CMO, Julia Payne, to solidify its presence in UK and European markets, while enabling B2B and SaaS-based businesses to accelerate growth. Established in 2021 and founded by Nishant Gupta and Jatin Chhabra, OneMetric have since evolved into an impressive team of 150+ GTM, CRM and RevOps specialists, who boast a proven track record in helping B2B businesses gain market traction and scale revenue. An accomplished marketing strategist, business leader and Fractional CMO, Julia boasts over 25 years’ industry experience and is widely…
Birmingham-based nutrition firm, Nourished, only started five years ago, but it has already made a big impression on some of the UK and Europe’s retail giants. This month, AUGUST 2025, its high-impact nutrient gummies appeared on the shelves of Holland & Barrett stores nationwide. In the spring, Boots began stocking a range of collagen products online. Nourished also has a partnership with European pharmacy group UPSA and sells in more than 12,000 pharmacies across several countries, including France, Italy and Spain. So how can a small, young company establish successful working relationships with huge retail outlets, like this? Nourished founder…
New regulation is exciting – and yes you have read that correctly. It’s the infrastructure that defines how markets work and how companies grow. What was once vague or a legal grey area comes into focus with rules, responsibilities, and real commercial opportunity. Businesses need this structure. It enables new markets, drives innovation, and supports the development of services, standards and technology that can be exported globally. But for the full potential to be realised, regulation has to be clear, practical, and – most importantly – grounded in reality. Momentum stalls when poorly defined rules create friction and misaligned policy…