A Booking.com for Business study has revealed the ‘wellbeing balance’ for business travellers, with survey data highlighting the benefits and challenges of working on the go. More than half of the travellers surveyed say work trips boost their mental (52%) and physical (46%) health, and 70% find them positive for productivity. On the flipside however, travellers reported that issues like disrupted sleep (60%), changes in eating habits (48%), and less activity (36%) take a toll on their wellbeing. What this means for businesses: Business travellers are increasingly looking for ways to unplug and seek calm and comfort amidst the work schedule. This balance…
Author: sme-admin
As the sixth anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a notifiable disease approaches, businesses with unresolved insurance claims are being urged to act urgently to avoid being time-barred from recovery. COVID-19 was declared a notifiable disease in the UK in March 2020. As a result, many business interruption (BI) insurance claims arising from the pandemic are now nearing the end of the six-year limitation period. Any claims that remain unsettled or unissued may soon be out of time. Businesses across all sectors were significantly impacted by the pandemic, with losses caused by government-ordered closures, tiered restrictions and disruption to normal operations.…
New research has revealed how the £2.3 billion trade deal with China could significantly boost China’s position among the UK’s top export markets.(1) According to the latest ONS figures, China currently ranks seventh among the UK’s biggest export partners, after major players including the US, Germany, Netherlands, and other EU countries. (2) China is currently Scotch whisky’s 10th largest market but this deal, including a cut in tariffs to 5%, could strengthen exports of this and other commodities even further.1 The business finance experts at money.co.uk business credit cards have analysed today’s ONS data release to reveal the current state of UK…
For many business owners, divorce is treated as a personal matter, separate from the operation of the company. In practice, where one or both spouses hold shares, the breakdown of a marriage can have direct implications for ownership, control and the future direction of the business. English family courts routinely take business interests into account when dividing assets on divorce. If a company represents a significant part of the family wealth, it will be scrutinised. Without appropriate planning, divorce can lead to unintended changes in shareholding, pressure on cash flow or disruption at a time when the business needs stability.…
With intelligent close analytics, AI-powered data import, cash intelligence, and connected data access, Sage Intacct helps high-performing finance teams reduce manual work and improve financial visibility at scale Sage (FTSE: SGE), the leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses, today announced new AI-powered capabilities in Sage Intacct designed to help finance teams move from managing data to driving performance. The latest updates strengthen Sage Intacct across close analytics, workflow automation, cash intelligence, and connected data access. Today, finance teams using these tools can identify which entities are slowing down the close, import complex datasets without spreadsheet manipulation, and…
Self-made millionaire, entrepreneur and investor Gary Ashworth has built, backed, and exited more than 30 businesses over four decades, earning a reputation for turning disciplined strategy into lasting value. In the following piece, he shares hard-won lessons from founders who focus on long-term growth over quick wins—revealing why patience, measured risk, and consistency are the real drivers of serious wealth. I’ve backed or founded over 30 companies. Some made fortunes. Some lost millions. The difference between the two rarely had anything to do with how clever the founders were or how clever the initial idea was. The winners understood something…
Over the past few years, the UK labour market has changed in ways that are not always visible from inside offices or boardrooms. Much of this shift has happened in the parts of the economy where work is continuous, shift-based, and operationally demanding — and where access to employment depends less on long-term career planning and more on speed, compliance, and pay cycles. According to HMRC data analysed by UK in a Changing Europe, employment among non-EU nationals has increased by almost 2 million since the pre-pandemic period — a rise of close to 90%. Over the same time, employment…
A GREENER FUTURE for Nottingham is on the horizon as local businesses unite, with marketing agency Cartwright continuing its partnership with Nottingham College’s award-winning Sustainable Futures programme for the third-year running. The initiative – which has grown from just 100 students to over 8,000 – gives students the opportunity to turn bold ideas into real-world solutions, offering up to £4,000 in funding, mentorship from local business leaders and a platform to tackle pressing environmental and social issues. Recognised nationally, the college was named ‘Sustainability Institution of the Year’ at the Green Gown Awards in November 2025 and since its inception, the Sustainable Futures programme has seen remarkable engagement with over 54 groups applying and 11 ideas shortlisted for…
A recent survey found that almost one in five businesses would consider sabotaging their competitors (1). But with the growth of AI models, has it become easier than ever in 2026? In GEO agency Reboot Online’s latest experiment, they tested whether LLMs can be influenced to surface false, reputationally damaging information about a person simply by publishing unsubstantiated claims across third-party websites. In short, the answer is yes. Key findings Black hat GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) is possible, as some AI models surface false or reputationally damaging claims when those claims are consistently published across third-party websites Model behaviour varies significantly,…
On January 6th, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill passed its second reading, and has progressed through to the committee stage. This fast-moving legislation marks a significant step forward in the government’s efforts to strengthen national cyber defences. The legislation is designed to modernise existing cyber laws to reflect the scale of today’s digital threats, improve resilience across businesses, and to better help protect the public. Rob Rees, Divisional Director at Markel Direct, the business insurance specialist, explains what the Bill is proposing, how this will affect UK SMEs and what actions should be taken in 2026. What does the Cyber…