Expert Market’s latest survey data reveals that 80% of U.S. small and medium-sized businesses say software and technology costs have had a negative impact on profitability in the past month. SMB leaders are re-evaluating tech spend As businesses look to reduce costs and improve efficiency, 73% are reevaluating their technology investments. According to the data, of the 56% of SMBs who switched to a core platform in the past 12 months,13% report ‘significant’ regret. Choosing the right enterprise software is a strategic decision and not always as straightforward as it may seem. 6 tips to avoid tech switch regret: To help businesses make more confident choices, Expert Market has…
Author: sme-admin
New research from Teamwork.com reveals the rise of the “DIY client,” with one in three businesses now believing AI can replace external experts and bring work in-house. Based on insights from more than 1,000 senior business leaders and its global customer community, The Client Work Report highlights a growing perception gap between what clients believe AI can deliver and what it can realistically achieve, creating new risks for businesses delivering client work. The findings show that 33% of respondents say clients now believe AI gives them the tools to take a DIY approach to work. As these tools become mainstream, expectations around speed and…
As the new tax year begins, Penfold is encouraging savers to take a step back and give their long-term finances a quick check-up – not just their monthly budgets With so much focus on budgeting apps, cash ISAs and quick wins, pensions often get pushed down the list. But according to Chris Eastwood, CEO of leading UK workplace pension provider, Penfold, the new tax year is the perfect moment to change that. “There’s always a burst of motivation at the start of the tax year, but most of it gets directed towards short-term fixes, cutting a subscription here, tweaking a budget…
The UK has begun its most significant transformation of workplace rights in decades, yet new data reveals a stark information deficit, with millions of employees unaware of their new legal protections. As the Employment Rights Act 2025 (formerly the Employment Rights Bill) has been implemented in April 2026, Reward Gateway | Edenred’s research reveals that the very people the law is designed to protect – ranging from new parents to those facing redundancy – remain largely unaware of how the changes apply to them personally. Billed as a “generational upgrade,” the reforms aim to end the era of insecure work. Key changes…
A board member from the Federation of Small Businesses has explained that more help is needed for small businesses to ensure they’re not left behind on their sustainability journey if the UK is going to meet its net zero targets. In the first episode of season two – released 18 March – of the Sustainability Insiders podcast, host Kevin Hegarty from Cadent is joined by Ian O’Donnell MBE to provide insight into the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses in meeting sustainability goals. Delving into his experiences on the board of the Federation of Small Businesses, Ian discusses the need to simplify sustainability for small business leaders, citing the number of carbon…
Daniel Patel, Recruitment Director at Eursap, a specialist SAP recruitment firm, reflects on how the smallest details in a CV can shape perceptions in ways candidates rarely anticipate. “Errors on a CV are often treated as trivial, yet they carry disproportionate weight in the minds of recruiters. It is not the mistakes themselves that matter most, but what they imply about care, diligence, and professionalism. In a world where employers are scanning dozens, even hundreds of applications, a misspelt word or inconsistent punctuation can silently shift judgement. It is remarkable how something so minor can influence whether a candidate’s depth of…
Feedback enables individuals to grow and develop in their careers, but at times, cultural barriers prevent leaders from truly understanding their employees and how best to present feedback. As businesses become more global, with 75% still adopting a hybrid working model1, leaders who are unable to recognise these differences risk their message being misunderstood. With this in mind, the experts at Country Navigator have shared their tips on communication styles, fostering relationships, and navigating the delivery of feedback to an international team. Chris Crosby, CEO and co-founder at Country Navigator, comments: “Giving feedback to teams is integral for growth and progression in the workplace,…
A Property Expert shares everything landlords need to know. From 6th April, self-employed businesses in the UK with an income of over £50,000 will need to follow new rules for recording and submitting tax. Only 50,000 self-employed workers and landlords, who make over £50,000, have signed up so far, according to HMRC sources. This is just over 5% of the estimated 864,000 taxpayers who need to register for the scheme this year. Many landlords across the UK may not know that the new rules apply to them. Karl McArdle, Co-Founder of The Property Buying Company, has shared what the new rules mean…
Small businesses are owed an average of £12,357 in late payments every year, according to new research by Hiscox. There are 5.7 million small businesses in the UK, which means that outstanding payments across the country could total £70.4 billion. Hiscox surveyed 1,000 small business owners and sole traders via Censuswide. The findings are part of the specialist insurers’ inaugural Late Payments Report, which explores the scale and impact of late payments for small businesses in the UK The report comes as the government’s Fair Payment Code, introduced last year to tackle late payments, continues to gain traction. Small businesses spend nearly a year waiting for late payments On average, it takes three weeks from the due date for a late payment to…
Rupert Lyle, FPC Regional’s Investment Director and Fund Principal of West Midlands Co-Investment Fund (WMCO), looks at the SME funding landscape and urges preparedness over pace to give businesses – and their founders – the best chance at success. Small and medium-sized enterprises account for 99.9% of all UK businesses and around 60% of private sector employment. They are the backbone of the UK economy, yet the UK continues to struggle with scale-up performance. Fewer than 1% of SMEs achieve high-growth status in any given year. Many stall during the transition from early traction to structured expansion. Access to capital…