93% of finance decision makers in the UK believe that their company’s pension scheme is posing a risk to their business’ balance sheet, according to new research from LawDeb. This comes despite the fact that 86% of DB schemes currently have a surplus. The findings reveal that 7% of respondents believe their pension scheme presents a significant risk, while 57% categorise it as a moderate risk. A further 29% agree that their scheme brings limited risk, leaving only 6% of decision-makers who see no risk at all from their pension scheme. Among the top drivers of risk, cyber threats -…
Author: sme-admin
Leading business transformation consultancy, Explic8, has announced the launch of its innovative ‘Customer eXperience Maturity Test’, designed to help organisations assess and enhance their CX strategies. The test provides a detailed analysis of businesses’ current CX models and evaluates their approach under the three dimensions of customer service: Ease, Effectiveness and Emotion. By undergoing the assessment, businesses can identify their current position within the CX maturity continuum and uncover gaps and opportunities in their CX strategies. They can then leverage these insights to develop tailored action plans to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction. Ian Nicholls, founder of Explic8, said: “For businesses…
Pistachio Design, a leading creative agency known for its bold, innovative design solutions, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025. Founded by two creative leaders in 2005, Pistachio started as a small, ambitious creative agency with big dreams. Fast forward to today, and you’re looking at an established, forward-thinking agency that’s made its mark across branding, design, animation and digital communications. A journey of ingenuity and collaboration Pistachio was created to fill a gap in the market for brands wanting agile, creative support. From the very start, the agency focused on delivering more than just great creative — it sought…
Creative Nature, a leading top 14 allergen-free food brand, has expanded into SuperValu in Ireland. Founded in 2012, Creative Nature has gone from strength to strength with their top 14-allergen free challenger brand founded by Julianne Ponan MBE who is also well known as an advocate for those living with allergies or food intolerance. Julianne has severe allergies herself and is at constant risk of anaphylaxis. Recently the team collaborated with SuperValu in Ireland, where their range of baking mixes are now available across the country. Julianne said: “When we got this confirmed I had to pinch myself – our…
By Professor Marcantonio Spada, Chief Clinical Officer, Onebright Technology is a great enabler in the workplace, but it can also become a significant burden if its use becomes problematic. Problematic technology use, sometimes termed ‘technology addiction’, refers to excessive and compulsive engagement with technology which is associated with negative consequences in various aspects of an individual’s life, including social, academic and work performance. It also impacts cognitive function and mood. Examples of problematic technology use include excessive social media use, repetitive and frequent engagement in gaming, compulsive online shopping, pervasive online pornography viewing, ‘doom scrolling’, and keeping poor boundaries relating to…
A significant number of property developers surveyed within the UK are confident that the UK can meet the housebuilding targets set by the Government, finds new research from Shawbrook. In the last year the Government has introduced several measures to accelerate housebuilding. These include planning reforms such as mandatory housebuilding targets for councils, grey belt policies, the recruitment of 300 new planning officers, and golden rules for development. According to Shawbrook’s findings, these initiatives are boosting confidence among property developers. Analysis of the data reveals that two-thirds (64%) of developers expect housebuilding to increase in the short term (within 12…
Britain’s job market is undergoing a shift, with mid-sized regional hubs emerging as the top destinations for employment and business growth. According to a new study by CoworkingCafe, smaller cities are outperforming major urban centers in key job market metrics such as employment rates, business density, and affordability. Winchester tops the ranking as Britain’s best city for jobs, boasting an 87% employment rate, the highest business density in the country, and nearly 90 job postings per 10,000 working-age residents. With a median income of £45,116, Winchester offers strong career prospects in a thriving business environment. Warwick follows in second place,…
Two thirds of family business owners (66%) intend to pass their business on to a family member, according to a survey by Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth. When it comes to making their wishes a reality however, only a third (34%) have formal succession plans in place. Although encouragingly nearly half (46%) are in the process of developing plans, as many as a fifth (19%) have no succession plans, at any stage of development. The lack of succession planning for so many family businesses is a concern, claims the financial wellbeing firm. The research from Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth examined the challenges that…
Networking is often overlooked as more and more people are becoming time-poor. Despite this, the value of connecting with like-minded individuals inside and outside of business is unmatched. In a LinkedIn survey, as many as 80% of workers said that they considered networking important to their career success. Helen Pethybridge has been at the helm of Chiltern Coaching for a decade, helping SME owners grow their organisations. Before she became a business coach, Helen spent over two decades in HR roles at well-known companies such as PepsiCo and Diageo. Her extensive experience in the HR sector has helped her build…
With Debt Awareness Week taking place this week and recent SME debt concerns prompting an eight-week government review, the business finance experts at money.co.uk business credit cards have offered their tips on responsible lending and repayments. Joe Phelan, money.co.uk business credit cards expert, comments: “For many SMEs and entrepreneurs, navigating business debt can be both challenging and stressful. However, when managed responsibly, borrowing can be a powerful tool, helping businesses launch new products, expand into new markets, and scale sustainably. “Of course, poorly planned debt can lead to costly short-term loans and repayment struggles. That’s why financial planning and best practices are essential.…