Zoom has seen a boost in users over the last year, but with all the other options on the market, which service would fit best for you and your business? This article will compare Zoom (which has gone from 10 million daily users to 300 million), Google Meet (over 100 million daily users) and Microsoft Teams (75 million daily users) in a series of categories such as free and paid-for features, and the software’s security. What limitations do the free versions have? Using the free Zoom package, you are able to host up to 100 people in a meeting for…
Author: sme-admin
A survey by alternative lender Capify has highlighted a demand for more financial support with cashflow, expansion and funding for new equipment among the reasons Confidence for the future is mixed with 38% expecting the economy to improve while 36% expect a decline in 2021 43 per cent of SMEs say the support offered by the government to businesses has not been good enough Eighty-three per cent of UK SMEs are still actively looking for finance according to a new study, despite the government’s Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) having lent almost £45bn to more than 1.4m businesses. The findings…
A former adviser to the government on SMEs has warned there could be a mass exodus of talent out of the UK if Chancellor Rishi Sunak hits businesses with tax hikes in this week’s Budget. Mr Sunak is widely tipped to be considering an increase in Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax in a move that would hit entrepreneurs hard. Personal income tax bands and the £50,000 higher rate threshold could be frozen for three years pushing 1.6 million people into a higher bracket by the time of the next General Election. National Insurance for the 4.5 million self-employed could…
The second of last week’s Great British Expos, South West Expo Bristol, which took place on Friday 26th February 2021, was a roaring success and left audiences inspired. Speakers ranged from those who built billion-dollar businesses to successful entrepreneurs who started with nothing. They shared stories, advice and guidance on do’s and don’ts in sectors such as social media, marketing and more. One of the speakers who attended was Andy Smith, who explained the key tips of ‘marketing to win, even during a recession’, and how to balance new and existing clients in regards to marketing formats. Darren Clark and…
At the time of writing, coronavirus infections are continuing to decrease around the UK, fewer people are testing positive, the R number is falling and over a quarter of the UK population have had their first does of the COVID vaccine – including the most vulnerable. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson is preparing to publish a roadmap for the easing of restrictions in the UK; and whilst most experts are warning against unlocking too rapidly, ministers are under pressure to re-open schools, shops and the hospitality and tourism industries. If all the analysis is correct, and the predictions are accurate,…
On Wednesday 24th February 2021, The Great British Expos invited business owners and entrepreneurs to the North West Expo Manchester to take the virtual stage and tell their inspiring stories to hundreds of SMEs. As well as listening to journeys of struggle and adversity, the audience of small and medium enterprises were able to pose questions and ask advice to the keynote speakers. Guests included Nyasha Gwatidzo, who explained how she built a £180 million business empire from nothing, and is now developing a billion-dollar fund for women in Africa. “If you are passionate, money will follow.” Also speaking was…
The return to school for all pupils is being prioritised due to the significant and proven impact caused by being out of school to the health and wellbeing of children and young people. The government has been clear that the return to face-to-face education is the national priority and that 2 weeks’ notice would be given ahead of any change. All students will begin to return to face-to-face education on 8th March with the following testing measures in place: All primary school children will return to school on Monday 8th March. Primary school staff will continue to take 2 rapid COVID-19 tests each week at home. All secondary school…
Referrals increase as more children require foster care across the UK. Since the COVID 19 pandemic hit the UK and subsequent lockdowns were imposed, the foster care sector has had a number of big challenges to manage. Many applications from potential carers were put on hold, with the number of people wanting to become foster carers reducing. For many reasons fostering agencies have seen increases in the number of children that require placements and are working hard to meet the increasing demand. These changes have caused big problems for agencies and have required constant adaption to the way they work,…
Boris Johnson has announced his roadmap for leaving lockdown, and praised the resolve of the British public in following the restrictions and assisting in the reduction of the COVID-19 spread. Each step of the plan will be assessed against four tests before the restrictions ease: The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully. Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS. New variants of the virus do not fundamentally change the risk of lifting lockdown. There will be a…
A Devon-based textiles manufacturer has proved that their parachute fabric is the “lightest, strongest and most resilient” by safely landing NASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars. On the 30th of July 2020, the Perseverance rover was launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, to begin it’s momentous seven-month, 480-million-kilometre journey to the red planet. At 20:55 on Thursday 18th February, that journey ended as it’s wheels touched down successfully on the surface with aid from a British-made, heat-resistant parachute. Heathcoat Fabrics, the producer of the revolutionary material which was transformed into the single parachute carried aboard the rover,…