There’s just a few weeks left for businesses to have their say on the current state of technical education in the UK. The 31st January marks the deadline for businesses to join IfATE’s ‘The Big Conversation’ (the biggest consultation on technical education in years) and help shape the future of the current skills landscape so that it meets their needs. This call comes as a fifth of SMBs expect to see business increase in the coming year (despite cost of living and energy concerns) and having employees with the right skills will be paramount to support this. Positively, technical education in England has changed for…
Author: sme-admin
By Clive Rich, CEO & Founder of LawBite When you are growing your business, at some point, a time will come when you need physical premises – whether that be office space to house your expanding workforce, industrial or warehousing space to manufacture, store or distribute your goods, or retail space to sell them. For many small business owners, this decision to purchase a commercial property can feel daunting, especially in a time of economic and political uncertainty such as now. But for those looking to take on a new premises there will be a multitude of questions about every…
The role of the CFO has evolved through three defined cycles in line with modernisation of business. Through the first cycle, the CFO was a historian of past performance, focussing on the company’s financial data and past performance to make decisions for the future. Through the second cycle, the CFO used modern finance tools to begin automating the finance function. This CFO uses real-time data and dashboards to provide analysis of the business to improve performance and boost strategic activities. While there is still a place for these approaches within a business, neither CFO 1.0 nor 2.0 is capable of accurately…
With many employees taking strike action, including the likes of the NHS ambulance service workers and Royal Mail employees, it’s come to light how important trade unions are. In fact, strikes by BT back in the summer led to conversations between their trade union and BT themselves, resulting in a pay rise for staff. No matter what industry you’re working in or what your career may be, it’s inevitable that you will come across trade unions at some point or another. In fact, in 2021, a quarter of the UK workforce said that they were a member of a trade…
Cybercriminals have identified SMEs as potentially vulnerable because of new working practices, small IT teams and a lack of solutions knowledge. Rob Batters, Director of Managed and Technical Services, Northdoor plc provides SMEToday’s reading with some insight on this issue. The threat from cybercriminals is increasing all the time in terms of regularity and sophistication. However, it is no longer just enterprise level or public sector organisations under attack, but SMEs too. Without better protection, SMEs could face a barrage of attacks which has the potential to cause real damage to infrastructure, finances, and reputation. UK SMEs suffering more cyber-attacks than…
Author: Miranda Khadr, CEO and Founder of Provide Finance I have spent many years advising small business owners on the types of finance options that are available to them. Some are start-ups looking for a lump sum to get their ideas off the ground. Others are further along in their journey, looking to secure extra funds to invest in machinery, stock and office furniture as they enter a new growth phase. It’s always so exciting to be able to play such an important part in helping businesses to launch and grow. Recently though, I’ve been hearing from clients who need to find money just to…
Author: Andrew Trotman, CEO and Founder of award-winning social media marketing agency KOMI Group 2022 saw many new social media trends with companies both soaring and failing at trying to harness them. As we move into a new year, social media will continue to be an even more widely used communication channel for businesses to engage with customers and prospects, and marketers should take notice and consider ways to better their social media habits in 2023. This year is going to be a very different social media space and we’ve compiled some top social media resolutions for businesses to consider…
Samuel Barber is the founder and inspiration behind Ochien, the UK’s first ocean conservation pet products brand producing high-quality, sustainable pet products made from over 95% recycled ocean plastics. Samuel, a sustainability consultant and entrepreneur with a background in scaling sustainable start-ups and advising businesses from a variety of sectors on sustainable solutions launched Ochien in 2022. Working alongside a range of innovative recycling and environmental organisations across Europe, all of the Ochien product range is produced in Cornwall. As the company grows it aims to become the leading sustainable pet products brand in Europe. SMEToday had the opportunity to…
’Permacrisis’ was declared the word of 2022 by Collins Dictionary, defining last year as one marred by ‘an extended period of instability and insecurity, especially one resulting from a series of catastrophic events’. And as we begin a new year, you may well be concerned about what 2023 has in store for SMEs. Working as part-time General Counsel for a number of businesses, the team of senior lawyers at The Legal Director regularly scan the horizon for the hot topics and key issues for the SMEs they support. Kirstie Penk, Director at The Legal Director gives her summary of some…
Allergy campaigner and award-winning businesswoman Julianne Ponan, founder of top 14 allergen free brand Creative Nature, has been awarded an MBE for services to business, exports and to people with allergies in the New Year’s Honours List. Julianne, who lives with her husband Matthew in Walton-on-Thames, has had to keep the honour secret for several weeks. “I am honoured and humbled to be recognised with the award of an MBE in the 2023 New Year’s Honours list – made exceptionally special as it is the first year of the awards under the reign of our new King. “When the news came…