Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) represent roughly 80% of the Travel & Tourism sector: an astonishing testament to their collective impact. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Together in Travel initiative, SMEs are not just the backbone of our industry; they’re the catalysts for innovation, resilience, and meaningful guest experiences. Their agility and authenticity are shaping the future of tourism, and current hospitality graduates are at the forefront. At Les Roches, a leading hospitality school, nearly one-third of the alumni choose the entrepreneurial path, founding boutique hotels, immersive restaurants, curated experience platforms, and more. These aren’t merely businesses; they are…
Author: sme-admin
“AI is coming for your job.” If you work in marketing, or any industry really, you’ve probably heard that phrase more times than you care to count. But is AI really the threat everyone’s making it out to be? Gemma Spinks, Director of Spinks Creative, explores why the real risk facing brands today isn’t AI, it’s apathy. While AI might be rapidly changing the marketing tool portfolio, it’s lazy, thoughtless execution that’s doing the real damage. Too many brands are letting technology replace their creative thinking and drowning in a sea of mediocracy and complacency. The Rise of Lazy Marketing We…
London, UK, 31 July 2025: New research from leading employment platform Employment Hero has highlighted that payroll compliance is a considerable risk for small businesses – 84% have admitted to payroll errors and more than a third have faced fines costing them thousands of pounds. The survey of 1,000 small business leaders found that 40% have incurred penalties due to payroll issues. Despite spending an average of £2,724 a month to outsource payroll – ranging from £1,625 among smaller SMEs to £3,408 for larger ones – many businesses are still getting it wrong, largely due to outdated processes and systems that haven’t kept…
The 31 July deadline for HMRC’s second payment on account often catches self-employed people off guard, especially those new to Self Assessment or juggling financial pressures. Our research shows 63% find tax returns stressful, 22% lose sleep, and over a quarter sacrifice time with friends and family to get it done. It’s a clear sign that tax time is taking a real toll. Using an income tax estimator can help self-employed people work out what they’re likely to owe, giving them time to plan ahead. Once you have a rough figure, setting the money aside in a separate savings account…
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published new guidance to help organisations disclose documents securely. From public authorities handling Freedom of Information requests to organisations responding to Subject Access Requests, many need to regularly disclose documents containing large amounts of information to the public. Personal information can be hidden or not immediately visible in documents. If they are not checked properly, it may be disclosed by accident – sometimes with serious consequences. The ICO’s guidance includes practical steps and how-to videos to help organisations understand how to check documents, including spreadsheets, for hidden personal information and reduce the risk of…
As energy bills rise and regulations tighten, more homes and commercial properties are being upgraded with better insulation, cleaner heating systems, and sustainable materials. However, these essential changes are driving up rebuild costs and widening the underinsurance gap, according to a revealing new report: ‘Energy efficiency retrofits, rebuild costs, and underinsurance’ by RebuildCostAssessment. Sharon Masters, Surveyor & Technical Lead at RebuildCostAssessment, commenting on the findings of the report said: “These upgrades add costs but if the insurance cover stays the same, the risk of underinsurance increases, and with most UK buildings already underinsured, the gap is widening fast. “A £50,000 energy…
With research showing that seven in ten job hunters are using Google search for jobs and researching potential employers, new data has revealed the most desirable countries to work in according to Google searches. The UK is the world’s most desirable country to work in according to Google! The research comes from the financial experts at online money transfer service Remitly, who analysed data from over 40 popular city destinations globally, to determine which destinations have the most annual searches related to working in that country in 2025. You can view the full research here, Top 10 most desirable destinations to work…
Football legend and entrepreneur Gary Neville joins Sage to champion the small businesses powering the English Football League community. Sage, a global leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll software for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) has announced a new long-term partnership with the English Football League (EFL), becoming its Official Accounting Software Partner. With this partnership, Sage strengthens its commitment to the 3.5 million small and medium-sized businesses in the UK who play a key role in EFL football communities up and down the country – the pubs, cafés, shops, and suppliers that bring matchday to life. Already working…
Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) is reshaping business, particularly in customer service, where traditional interaction models are being revolutionised. This new generation of AI technology isn’t limited to basic automation; it’s capable of understanding complex queries, personalising interactions, and responding with near-human intelligence. Whether deployed as AI agents on platforms like WhatsApp or embedded directly into conversational websites, Gen AI solutions are setting new standards for customer engagement. Dvir Hoffman, CEO of CommBox and an expert in AI-powered customer engagement and digital transformation, outlines how instant, conversational support can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty and free up human agents for complex…
International speaker and bestselling author Stefan Thomas, based in Oxfordshire, will return to the Best Businesswomen Awards in 2025. Having sponsored the Best Networking Group category in 2024, this year he continues as sponsor and joins the judging panel for the first time. Stefan, who has authored three books on business networking, including Business Networking for Dummies, is well known for helping entrepreneurs and business professionals build confidence in making meaningful connections that lead to genuine opportunities. This marks his second year supporting the awards. In 2025, he has also been invited to judge, a role he has embraced with…