Legal and General’s annual State of the Nation research has revealed that over half (57%) of the UK’s small and medium size businesses have a positive financial outlook for 2022. According to Legal & General’s findings, one in three are planning to expand their businesses in the next 2 to 3 years. Over half of the UK’s small and medium size businesses have a positive financial outlook for 2022 75% of small and medium size businesses now carrying some level of debt, up from half (51%) in 2019 However, nearly a fifth of UK businesses say their biggest concern is…

Working To Wellbeing, the return-to-work rehabilitation specialist, has today launched a new Line Manager Helpline, with an initial focus on supporting employees suffering with Long Covid. The telephone-based Helpline will enable line managers to talk through their concerns and worries and get some guidance on how to help team members who may be experiencing the wide-ranging symptoms of Long Covid. In the UK there is an estimated 1.3 million sufferers of Long Covid1, with 64% reporting that their symptoms affect their daily activities, while 20% said it limited their daily activities “a lot”.  Given that the average age of someone…

As the pandemic taught many of us how to work from home remotely, many people are now picking up their laptops and venturing to a sunnier working destination. Spain is one of the most recent countries to introduce what is called a ‘Digital Nomad Visa’, encouraging start-up founders and entrepreneurs to work and settle in the country for up to five years temporarily.  However, there are also several other countries around the world that already have this visa opportunity in place.  If you are looking to spread your wings this new year, the language team at Preply, have pulled together some…

The public switched telephone network (PSTN) switch off is scheduled for 2025, and will mark the end of the copper-based telephone network. In the lead up to the switch off, businesses must transition away from PSTN-based products to newer services ― including FTTP and SOGEA. Here, Kristian Torode, Director and Co-Founder of business communications services provider Crystaline, explains what FTTP and SOGEA services are, and how they will support businesses navigating the PSTN switch off. The PSTN consists of traditional telephone lines that use copper wire to transmit voice communications. Many businesses and residences still use the PTSN for telephone…

2022 will be dominated by change, capital and competition for the UK’s privately owned businesses yet holds promise of growth, according to the recent Regional Economic Outlook from KPMG. Here Chris Hearld, Head of KPMG Private Enterprise, outlines the key issues that private businesses will do well to pay attention to as they pursue their ambitions. Digital transformation This is the year that many privately owned businesses will transform to become digital first. With the pandemic survival measure wave of digital transformation behind us, the development of digital backbones throughout businesses is now underway. Retiring legacy systems – A particular trend…

Yorkshire-based tech start-up meeow has formed a new partnership with business community GB Shared in a bid to help UK business owners reconnect following the isolation brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. The partnership will provide all members of the GB Shared professional community with unlimited access to meeow’s online networking platform, with access to thousands of businesspeople across the globe. By working together, both businesses hope to limit the negative effects the pandemic is having on the ability for small business owners to make real connections. GB Shared is a network of countywide platforms which aim to create an…

Lead generation is one of the key pillars of a successful business, yet many still report wasting time on ‘bad leads’ that never convert.  For marketers working for small and medium sized enterprises in particular, it’s often a familiar story: how can efforts be optimised to ensure a limited budget goes the distance? Christelle Fraysse, CMO of cloud-based CRM vendor Workbooks, reveals five strategies to help marketers boost the outcomes and ROI of their lead generation activities. Become data-obsessed As marketers, we have access to a lot of data. But too much data will only lead to more questions than answers.…

In March last year the Government announced its 130% Super Deduction capital allowance scheme to help businesses grow and thrive, but how does this little-known capital allowance scheme work? Carol Roberts, Director of Asset Finance at Time Finance, shares her thoughts on the value of Super Deduction and why businesses should make their investments in 2022. What is Super Deduction? Super Deduction is a new enhanced capital allowance that allows companies to claim tax relief when investing in plant and machinery, enabling them to reduce their corporation tax bills through their tangible capital investments. Through Super Deduction, a company can claim…

Britishvolt, the UK battery company, has received an in principle offer of government funding though the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) for its planned gigafactory in Northumberland. Once complete, the factory will produce enough batteries for over 300,000 electric vehicles each year, significantly supporting the UK automotive industry’s transition to a zero emissions future and increased production of electric vehicles. The government’s support for the gigafactory will help to unlock a significant amount of further support from private investors. Alongside private sector investment, the project is set to create 3,000 direct highly-skilled jobs and another 5,000 indirect jobs in the wider…

Christmas is the loneliest time of the year for older people, with those who have been widowed feeling it the most. For many it brings back too many memories of people who have passed away and of happier times. Whilst most of us in the UK sat down with family and friends over the Christmas season an estimated half a million elderly spent it without family or friends. But Staffordshire based Community Interest Company Cherishers were determined to ensure that this was not the case in their own community. In the spirit of Christmas, the team at Cherishers shared the…