Raj Sundaresan, CEO of Altimetrik, argues that AI-First is not a strategy; it’s the new operating model for modern business. In this piece, Raj, outlines how Altimetrik has embedded AI into the core of its operations, culturally, structurally and strategically. Two years might not sound like much in business terms but the boardroom conversations I’m having today would be unrecognisable to the one I knew back then. Back then, we used to spend hours debating slide decks about the next breakthrough app. Now, the question is stark and immediate: Will we steer the ship in this AI wave or get…
Author: sme-admin
By Chris Spratling, Author of The Exit Roadmap According to Brooks Holdings, 48% of business owners who want to sell have no exit strategy at all. Meanwhile, Forbes reports that 58% of small- and medium-sized business owners have never had their company formally valued. For many entrepreneurs, the idea of “exit planning” feels like something to deal with later – when retirement is on the horizon or when the business has reached its peak. Yet, the truth is stark: every owner will exit their business one day, whether by design or by default. The real question is not if, but…
Around 40% of UK households lack off-street parking, leaving millions of drivers dependent on public charging and penalised by higher costs and a 20% VAT rate. Be.EV, one of the UK’s fastest-growing ultra-rapid EV charging networks, is tackling this inequality with the launch of one of the UK’s cheapest ultra-rapid charging tariffs at 39p/kWh, setting a national industry benchmark for affordable public EV charging. The new pricing model makes Be.EV one of the few charge point operators offering public charging cheaper than refuelling with petrol or diesel. Drivers can now access ultra-rapid charging at Be.EV’s new low rate of 39p/kWh…
Global tech strategists Juniper Research last week released its new Connectivity Tech Horizon; spotlighting the three technologies expected to have the greatest impact on the telecoms industry over the next year. These are: Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite connectivity 5G Advanced AI Radio Access Network (RAN) The Tech Horizon offers a visual assessment of 20 connectivity technologies; ranking them as either ‘Above the Line’ (strongly performing) or ‘Below the Line’ (underperforming) in relation to market expectations. Giving operators and vendors a clear, data-driven view of which innovations are delivering value – and which are falling short. “Enterprise demand for connectivity is not only…
As the UK braces for November’s Autumn Budget, Douglas Grant, Group CEO of Manx Financial Group, is urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to prioritise the nation’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In a detailed letter, Grant highlights a stark reality: nearly a third of SMEs have paused operations due to funding shortages, and one in ten cannot access finance despite ambitious growth plans. Dear Chancellor Reeves, As you prepare for your Autumn Budget Statement on 26th November, we urge you to place the vitality of Britain’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at the heart of your economic agenda. Recent research paints a…
Despite the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, only 37% of IT decision-makers are prioritising securing AI from cyber threats when implementing the technology, new research by digital transformation company ANS reveals. This exposes a worrying gap in readiness that could be putting businesses at increased risk of cyber attacks. The survey of over 2,000 IT decision-makers, conducted in partnership with Censuswide*, found that 94% of IT decision-makers now see AI as central to their organisation’s corporate strategy. Improved decision making (39%), enhanced customer experience (37%), and product and service innovation (36%) were among the most widely cited factors driving its…
You know that feeling when you are finally getting to one of your 1050 unread emails, but you can’t stop thinking about your last and next meeting, so a five-minute email takes you an hour? I know it well. Running on caffeine, anxiety, and adrenaline, I worked hours too embarrassing to tell my family about and still felt like I wasn’t doing enough for the business. I told myself that I was just busy, that once I got through this week, this proposal, this project, things would calm down. They didn’t. That shaky line between “I’m fine” and “I can’t…
Charlie O’Brien, Head of People at Breathe HR, brings over 15 years of HR expertise helping SMEs manage teams effectively. In this article, she explores the timing of staff holidays, why spreading leave across the year benefits both employees and businesses, and practical strategies for making time off a routine part of workplace wellbeing. We’re all familiar with the holiday squeeze: when colleagues are off, tasks can pile up and projects can stall. During popular holiday periods like Christmas and summer, the pressure put on teams by holiday absences intensifies. It can feel like we’re running an out-of-office relay, with…
By Dr Chris Mann, Co-founder and CTO at Bennamann My journey to agricultural innovation began in polluted waters off the Welsh coast. As a surfer since the mid-1980s, I regularly braved the toxic brown waters of Porthcawl, near Port Talbot, where industrial waste and raw sewage created conditions so hazardous that ear and nose infections were routine consequences of pursuing my passion. The water there was genuinely toxic. Despite the obvious health risks, the draw of surfing proved irresistible, leading me to become an early member of Surfers Against Sewage, an organisation that successfully campaigns for cleaner coastal waters. As…
October marks ADHD Awareness Month, a crucial opportunity to raise awareness about the experiences of neurodiverse employees in the workplace. Across the UK, various reports highlight that between 15-20% of people are neurodivergent. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder affects millions of adults, and its impact on work life can be profound if not properly recognised and supported. Instant Offices, understand that fostering inclusive workplaces goes beyond policy. It is about creating environments where employees with ADHD can thrive, contribute their creativity and energy, and avoid the risk of burnout. ADHD burnout, often characterised by extreme exhaustion, reduced productivity, and heightened anxiety, is a real concern.…