Employee behaviours inside organisations are most likely to trigger a data breach, with small habits scaling into a larger systemic risk. The human factor in cybercrime is often underestimated, but could be costing organisations millions of pounds worth of damage in data leaks, meaning companies cannot afford to overlook the digital habits of their workforce. Cybersecurity experts FLR Spectron have identified the key ways in which employees may be putting their organisation at risk of cybercrime. 5 everyday employee habits that lead to data breaches Below are five ways that employees may be undermining the cybersecurity of their organisation: Password reuse across…
Author: sme-admin
For some, it’s an outdated tactic that belongs in the spam folder. For others, it’s still one of the most reliable ways to start high-value commercial conversations. The B2B lead generation agency, Sopro, has revealed the latest cold outreach statistics across email, calling, LinkedIn, and social selling, offering a clear, data-led view of what cold outreach looks like in 2026. View the full statistics here. Top 10 cold outreach statistics for 2026: The average response rate for cold emails is 5.1%, with most campaigns falling between 1% and 5%. For teams running cold outreach at scale, this figure sets a realistic baseline…
Representatives from the University of Salford were presented with a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education by Their Majesties The King and Queen on Tuesday 24 February 2026. Awarded at St James’s Palace, the Prize recognises the University’s pioneering research driving innovation in sustainable building design and tackling fuel poverty. Chair of Council, Lord Keith Bradley, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nic Beech, Director of Energy House Laboratories, Professor Will Swan, and Professor Richard Fitton attended the ceremony at the Palace along with other members of the award-winning team, before a Prize-winners’ reception and dinner at Guildhall in London. The prestigious award recognises the…
2026 has already proved to be a challenging time for small business owners, with a turbulent political backdrop and ongoing economic uncertainty forcing organisations to be flexible and reactive. This can make it difficult to look to the future, particularly when it comes to workforce planning. However, preparing for the months and years ahead is vital, ensuring there is a solid pipeline of talented people to take the business forward. This is particularly true when it comes to retirement which, when handled badly, can leave businesses with a talent gap and potentially irreplaceable loss of critical knowledge. In this article,…
Flexible work arrangements – such as remote work and flexible hours – are now part of everyday life in many SMEs. For employees, flexibility often means better focus, greater autonomy, and improved work–life balance. For employers, it supports attractiveness and retention. But flexibility also changes how work actually gets done. While discussions often focus on individual productivity, less attention is paid to how flexible work reshapes everyday communication and collaboration. In SMEs – where coordination is informal and work is tightly interconnected – this matters. A recent Swedish study based on focus group discussions with SME employees across sectors reveals…
Chris Eastwood, CEO and co-founder at Penfold, a leading digital workplace pension provider, outlines how businesses may be sabotaging their talent retention with poor pension strategies and insufficient support UK employers invest enormous time and effort trying to improve staff retention, battling skills shortages, rising costs and shifting workforce expectations. Yet many leaders are overlooking one of the simplest and most powerful tools they already pay for: their workplace pension. While wellbeing apps, flexible working policies and culture initiatives can deliver short-term gains, nine in ten employees say their workplace pension influences whether they stay with their employer or move to a new role. When employees think…
Career expert shares five ways women can build a thriving career in tech . The tech sector is evolving fast, and while demand for skilled talent continues to grow, many people still struggle to understand which roles offer long‑term career potential. For women in particular, the path can feel even less clear. Despite making up only 20% of tech roles in the UK1, women face additional barriers to entry. Research shows that 63% of women report feeling less confident when job seeking, particularly when facing complex or automated hiring processes, which can influence how and where they apply2. Claudia Cohen, career expert and Director of La Fosse Academy, reveals which tech roles…
An estimated one in eight UK pubs are still on the verge of insolvency, with 181 collapsing in the final three months of 2025 alone as rising costs and weaker demand continue to hit the sector. With many pub owners facing tough decisions, the insolvency practitioners Liquidation Centre have shared practical steps pubs and hospitality sector businesses can take now to regain control and reduce the risk of closure. Richard Hunt, Director of Liquidation Centre provides expert insights into the actions pubs and hospitality businesses should consider before pressures become unmanageable. Five practical steps pubs and hospitality owners can take now to limit insolvency threat…
Malta has traditionally been a popular holiday destination for British travellers, and now it is also emerging as a major hub for international talent and business expansion. Tourism data reveals that the island welcomed more than 3.5 million visitors in 2024 and is ranked as the second most searched European resort by British holidaymakers. Employer of Record specialist, Agility EOR, has gone further and uncovered that Malta’s appeal extends far beyond beaches, with migration figures indicating that more than 10,614 people relocated to Malta in 2024, with non-EU citizens making up 76.6% of the total net migrants in that year.…
A Booking.com for Business study has revealed the ‘wellbeing balance’ for business travellers, with survey data highlighting the benefits and challenges of working on the go. More than half of the travellers surveyed say work trips boost their mental (52%) and physical (46%) health, and 70% find them positive for productivity. On the flipside however, travellers reported that issues like disrupted sleep (60%), changes in eating habits (48%), and less activity (36%) take a toll on their wellbeing. What this means for businesses: Business travellers are increasingly looking for ways to unplug and seek calm and comfort amidst the work schedule. This balance…