Calling in sick used to mean flu, fever or food poisoning. But today’s “sickie” might be more about freedom than phlegm. A new survey of 2,000 UK workers from instantprint has revealed that 1 in 5 women have pulled a sick day to go shopping, while a further 22% admitted they were really just stretching out a holiday. It’s not just women getting creative with their sick leave. In total, 68% of UK workers admit to faking at least one sick day in the past year. The most common reasons were running errands (35%), dodging meetings (14%) or simply taking a rest day…
Author: sme-admin
By Naomi Nye, EV charging expert at Drax Electric Vehicles If you’ve installed EV chargers at your business, you’re sitting on untapped revenue. With electric vehicle sales surging, your charging infrastructure could generate steady income – but only if you act fast. The opportunity is real UK electric vehicle sales are expected to hit 28% market share by 2026. That means more drivers need places to charge, creating real money-making potential for businesses with charging points. Most small business owners don’t realise their EV infrastructure can pay for itself. You’ve made the investment – now make it work harder for you. Five…
It’s estimated that over three-quarters of the population experience glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, with some fearing it more than flying, handling snakes, or even death itself. Present with Presence is the new essential guide from professional speaker and public speaking coach Isobel Rimmer, who has spent over 25 years helping politicians, senior executives and experts build presence and speak with confidence. Structured like a practical, step-by-step ‘recipe book’, it’s packed with strategies tested in real-world corporate and high pressure environments. From planning and preparation, to delivering with impact and memorability – every chapter offers actionable, practical tools you can…
New research from health charity St John Ambulance shows that a lack of trained workplace first aiders is causing feelings of anxiety among employees. The study reveals that almost three in ten (29%) employees have experienced times when no one present in their workplace was first aid trained. Concerningly, of first aid trained employees, over two in five (43%) have reported being the only person on site with first aid skills, meaning that if they were to have an accident or emergency at work, there would be no one available to help them. The research comes as St John Ambulance…
As private equity firms continue to roll up UK MSPs, Espria warns of hidden risks for SMEs; from slower support to diminished accountability. A wave of private equity-driven consolidation is sweeping across the UK’s managed IT services sector. While these deals are often marketed as a route to improved scale and efficiency, the reality for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is frequently quite different, with medium and small-sized businesses sharing only 10% revenue in comparison to the 74% share of larger firms. This high market concentration limits SMEs as they often lack the leverage, resources, or visibility to compete effectively. According to Espria,…
As summer comes to a close and employees are back in the office full time after well-deserved holidays, it’s important for workplaces to keep up the momentum to prevent burn-out and stress. Hannah Power, Employee Experience Expert at Reward Gateway | Edenred: “Employee wellbeing is crucial. Our research shows that nearly half of stressed workers say it has negatively impacted their wellbeing (46%) and no longer go above and beyond for their responsibilities (40%). Worse than this, they also report losing trust in their employer (30%) and feel isolated from their colleagues (20%). The success of a business lies in…
E-commerce in the UK has reshaped the way consumers purchase goods from retailers, with online sales reaching £117.11 billion in 2024 and accounting for 30% of all retail sales. As we see a shift in consumer spending habits, return fraud has increasingly become an issue for retailers of all sizes, posing a threat to their profitability and longevity. Rob Rees, Divisional Director at Markel Direct, the specialist insurer of online retailers, explains what return fraud is and provides tips on how e-commerce businesses can protect themselves from falling victim to this crime. What is return fraud? Return fraud occurs when individuals exploit online retailers’ returns…
UK small businesses are finding practical ways to cut costs, reduce waste, build stronger relationships with suppliers and customers and stand out in a crowded market. New insights from Novuna Business Finance, gathered from interviews with small business owners across sectors including manufacturing, construction, engineering, and technology, reveals ten practical strategies small business owners say are critical to thriving while meeting net zero targets. These findings will form the backbone of Novuna’s forthcoming Small Business Sustainability Insight report, which will include practical tips and insight from business experts on the challenges, opportunities and realities of building a sustainable business The…
This year the FCA has explicitly labelled hidden FX markups imposed by legacy brokers as poor practice rooted in poor communication – yet new data analysis from borderless foreign exchange platform Glyde has revealed the true scale of the issue worldwide for smaller businesses. Analysis of more than 3,400 past transactions over the last three years via Glyde’s free FX rate calculator reveals how much traditional brokers are skimming from global and European trades, often far exceeding what is disclosed to their unknowing customers. The analysis reveals that businesses globally are losing an average of £992.20 per transaction due to hidden FX markups,…
Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), the global financial technology platform that makes Intuit TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, today announced the release of the Mailchimp report Holiday Shopping Unwrapped: Marketing Strategies for the Moments That Matter, prepared in conjunction with Canvas8 and Marketoonist. Marketers can turn to this report for seasonal shopping cycles, enhanced insights into consumer behaviour, and tailored marketing strategies for the duration of the festive season—all drawing from expert commentary and a survey of 9,356 respondents across Australia, Benelux (Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands), Canada, Italy, Spain, Germany, Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), the United Kingdom, and the United States. The report unpacks…