To stay competitive, business leaders must align with Managed Service Providers that deliver strategic value, drive innovation, and support to scale. Now firmly into 2025, it’s becoming clear what HY2 has in store for the IT landscape. For SMBs, the message is clear: business growth must be matched with smarter, more scalable managed services. The demand for cyber-resilient, cloud-first and AI-integrated solutions is no longer a forecast – it’s a reality already shaping business priorities. According to leading global technology market analyst firm Canalys’ MSP Trends 2025 report, the MSP model is transforming under growing pressure to deliver more strategic value, tighter cybersecurity integration and…
Author: sme-admin
New research reveals that the government’s decision to cut levy funding of Level 7 apprenticeships for apprentices aged over 21 from January next year, will cost UK employers around £214m* in additional training costs. With 89 percent** of Level 7 apprentices aged over 21, research from the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC), the higher and degree apprenticeship voice for over 80 universities, also reveals the extent to which cuts will widen the skills gap, hinder social inclusion and stifle economic growth. Level 7 apprenticeships, which are the equivalent to a Master’s degree and proven to enable firms to upskill and develop future…
The Manchester Fashion Institute has developed a powerful digital platform to help UK fashion and textile businesses stay compliant, competitive, and future-ready. FASHTRAX, created by the Institute’s Textiles Transparency Team (MFITT) at Manchester Metropolitan University, puts easy-to-follow regulatory guidance at businesses’ fingertips, allowing them to stay ahead of rapidly evolving legal standards, including the upcoming EU Digital Product Passport (DPP). At the heart of the platform is the Compliance Navigator, an intelligent diagnostic tool offering tailored advice based on company size, product type, and supply chain footprint. “FASHTRAX is designed to simplify compliance in a complex world,” said project co-lead…
In a new study from free company formations agent Startup AZ, they dive in to understand what it takes to be a FTSE 100 CEO. Looking into the profiles of FTSE CEOs, they found data on how much experience is needed, how many internal roles it takes and whether or not you’re rewarded for length of service. Key findings: FTSE CEOs spend an average of 10 years in the company before promotion 8 of the FTSE 100 CEOs have worked at their companies their entire careers 29 CEOs were hired straight into the chief executive role 30 CEOs have spent…
Expense fraud remains one of the most overlooked risks to a business’ bottom line. From falsified receipts to inflated mileage claims, fraudulent claims can quickly mount up, leading to significant financial losses. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, UK businesses are losing over £2 billion every year due to fraudulent expense claims. According to James Rowell, founder of cloud-based expense management platform Capture Expense, there are four steps businesses can take to tackle expense fraud. What are some of the common types of expense fraud? Expense fraud can take many forms, but among the most frequent is the misuse of corporate…
Investing for the first time can feel overwhelming; with so much misinformation floating around, it’s easy to make costly mistakes. In 2024, Action Fraud received nearly 26,000 reports of investment fraud, with victims collectively losing over £650 million, marking a 13% year-on-year increase.1 With this in mind, the forex broker experts at BrokerChooser have shared the ten most common mistakes new investors make, alongside advice on how to avoid them and invest wisely. Chasing Tips from Fin-fluencers Without Research Social media has made financial advice more accessible than ever, but there’s a downside to this, too. Many new investors get drawn in by…
Leading global business travel and expense management platform, TravelPerk, launches new research revealing nearly half (44%) of business travellers have no official company-level travel insurance, with 24% relying on personal policies and 15% on credit card insurance – leaving many exposed to risks. Whilst travel can be unpredictable, with research showing 78% of global business travellers faced travel disruption, employers are missing key areas to support employees on the road. TravelPerk’s recent travel disruption survey revealed the types of travel disruption with 13% of travellers experiencing lost or delayed luggage, and 11% having health or medical emergencies. Today’s research launch uncovers the…
A bold rebrand can breathe new life into a business, helping it stay relevant in a fast-changing market. But when done poorly, it can do quite the opposite, drawing criticism, confusing customers, and in some cases, damaging brand loyalty built over decades. Here, insolvency practitioners Liquidation Centre look at some of the most talked-about rebrands that left audiences less than impressed, with expert commentary from Director Richard Hunt on what businesses can learn from their mistakes. PrettyLittleThing – 2025: A Step Too Far Into Minimalism? In March 2025, PrettyLittleThing unveiled a sleek new visual identity, swapping its signature bright pink branding for…
Plenty of companies say they’ve got a great culture. They point to Friday drinks, office snacks, or a ping pong table as proof. But here’s the truth: a handful of perks doesn’t mean your people are happy, supported, or likely to stick around. If your business is struggling with high turnover, low motivation, or slowing growth, it’s time to stop hiding behind surface-level “culture” and face what’s really going on. In this article, Gemma Spinks, Director of Spinks Creative, explores what a real culture looks like, and why it’s the one thing that separates thriving companies from the ones just getting…
Deloitte has announced the winners of the UK’s Best Managed Companies 2025 at an awards ceremony at the McLaren Technology Centre. The UK’s Best Managed Companies programme shines a spotlight on private businesses from across the UK and the performance that drives them. The programme is an initiative of Deloitte Private, which provides personalised solutions to privately owned businesses and family enterprises. This is the inaugural year of the UK’s Best Managed Companies awards, with the programme already established in over 45 territories across the world. It recognises top private companies for their organisational success and contributions to their industry and the economy.…