New research from Twilio reveals UK consumers have lost an average of £95 each in the last year by giving up on ‘brand admin’ – i.e. tasks to manage their accounts or interactions with brands, like doing returns, following up on product faults, or questioning incorrect bills. Over half of consumers (54%) have lost their patience or become emotional (47%) with brands wasting their time, and 37% now expect companies to use AI to deliver more efficient services. That’s according to new research from Twilio, the customer engagement platform that drives real-time, personalised experiences for today’s leading brands. While mundane household tasks, like cleaning, food…
Author: sme-admin
Former CEO of the Football Association, Martin Glenn, opens up about the rewards and challenges of transforming sport in England, in a recent interview aired by podcast, Culture De-Cooded. Hosted by strategy, culture and leadership consultant, Charlie Coode, the passionate conversation reveals how Marin successfully transitioned from the world of beverages and biscuits to national sports. Referring to his entry into the FA as his “delayed midlife crisis”, Martin emphasises the universal principles that underpin all successful organisations, highlighting the importance of a clear purpose, understandable strategy, and sense of urgency to score. Unpacking the hurdles to be overcome, Martin…
High-functioning anxiety is a broad term for those who live with generalised anxiety disorder but identify as functioning reasonably well and, in some cases, extremely well. It is often overlooked due to its subtle presentation. It’s deceptively difficult to understand the condition as individuals with it typically look like they have a successful work and private life, however, below the surface of a perfect exterior, they are fighting a constant battle with anxiety. High-performance cultural paradox In the ever-evolving landscape of modern workplaces, the pursuit of excellence has birthed what many refer to as “high-performance cultures.” While aimed at driving…
Lack of focus when behind the wheel can prove catastrophic, yet drivers continue to be distracted, make mistakes and put themselves and other road users at risk. A new survey from Venson Automotive Solutions found that drivers admit to making a wide range of careless habits daily, including hogging the middle lane, running red lights and speeding. Key findings: 71% go against the Highway Code[i] to use their headlights to signal to other drivers 54% confessed to regular sudden braking 48% admit to speeding 46% hog the middle lane on motorways 44% drive too slowly 37% admit to being distracted…
For growing organisations, finding the right level of IT support can be something of a headache. Having to outsource help every time a laptop gets a virus or the server running your customer database makes strange noises can be time-consuming and unreliable, while committing to an in-house team may be an overstretch. Managed IT support can be a happy medium – one that allows you to ramp up and down, safe in the knowledge that you can call on help whenever it’s needed. But how can you find the right fit? After all, finding the right partner can be the…
One in ten highly skilled freelancers are currently out of work due to the impact of controversial reforms to IR35 tax legislation, according to new research. A survey of more than 1,300 contractors in highly skilled roles found that 21% are not currently working, with half of them attributing this to the impact of reforms to IR35 tax rules. Meanwhile, 55% of contractors said they had rejected an offer of work in the past 12 months due to it being deemed ‘inside IR35’ by the client. Furthermore, 24% said they intend to seek contracts overseas this year to escape the…
Following last weekend’s unseasonably strong winds, one of the UK’s largest insurance providers has revealed a 449% increase in flood claims over the past 12 months, and issued guidance on how to prepare for more adverse weather expected this month. Simply Business, insurance providers to over 900,000 small businesses and landlords, examined all claims submitted between the period March 2022 to March 2024 to discover the uplift. Storm Kathleen, the 11th of the season and named by the Irish Meteorological Service on Thursday, rolled in with blustery conditions on Friday. Flights across the UK and Ireland were brought to a…
The start of the new financial year is the ideal time for businesses of all sizes to establish a marketing budget for the coming twelve months. A dedicated marketing budget is essentially a comprehensive list of all money you will allocate to your marketing efforts. Formalising your marketing spend in this way is vital to tracking and measuring your return on investment [ROI], and ensuring your budget is only going towards the most effective activities. Robert Konzon, Director of Finance at Climb Online explores the key considerations for creating an effective marketing budget in the new tax year. Set objectives…
Businesses and individuals are switching to electric vehicles in ever-increasing numbers. Latest figures show there were more than 1 million fully electric cars registered in the UK in February 2024 on top of a further 56,000 electric vans and 620,000 plug-in hybrids. Now, with a government ban on the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars due to come into force in 2035, more and more businesses and employees will be trading in their polluting fossil-fuel company vehicles for a zero-emissions electric model. From salary sacrifice schemes to tax benefits, business car insurance specialists, Keith Michaels has weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of driving an…
In a recently released survey from the Bank of England, in collaboration with the Department for Business and Trade, data showed that 20% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) said they had underinvested in their business during the previous three years, yet the sector still shows a general theme of aversion to raising external finance. Consistent with other research, 50% of businesses reported only using existing capital to re-invest in the business, along with around 70% of businesses preferring to grow slowly than to have debt. For established companies with solid propositions and thriving customer pipelines, the prospect of organic…