Following the government’s recent announcement of a £10 billion AI investment push, new research has revealed the current state of AI automation trends in UK business. These statistics from the experts at B2B lead generation agency Sopro, reveal the widespread deployment of automation and the measurable returns businesses are achieving as a result. You can view the full report here: https://sopro.io/resources/blog/ai-sales-and-marketing-statistics/ AI automation trends in business: More than half of all corporate AI budgets go to sales and marketing automation Sales and marketing functions receive the largest share of corporate AI investment. More than half of all AI budgets are now directed…
Author: sme-admin
Small businesses are facing a tough start to 2026 as confidence slumps and growth plans stay out of reach, new research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) reveals. The Small Business Index (SBI) plunged to -71 in the final quarter of 2025, meaning far more businesses were struggling than succeeding. This is down from -58 in Q3 and the lowest it’s been since the outbreak of Covid in 2020, when it dropped to -143. The hospitality accommodation and food sector is the worst hit, recording a confidence score of -104 – with 46 per cent of those small firms planning to decrease staff between January…
In response to reports that the United States may introduce a 10% import tariff under proposals linked to Donald Trump’s trade agenda involving Greenland, Dr Jonathan Owens, Senior Lecturer in Operations Management at the University of Salford, has shared expert insight on what this could mean for UK businesses and supply chains. UK businesses are facing renewed uncertainty following reports that the United States may introduce a 10% import tariff. If enforced, the tariffs could have a significant ripple effect across UK supply chains, particularly for manufacturers, exporters, and logistics providers with strong transatlantic links. The US is one of…
Most business owners believe the difference between a £1-2m company and a £10m company is scale: more people, more customers and more products. While that’s partly true, the real differentiator is less visible but far more powerful. It’s financial clarity. At Insight Associates, we’ve spent over 30 years helping ambitious businesses replace reactive, ‘make-do’ financial management with clear, decision-driving insight. Time and again, we see the same pattern: businesses don’t stall because they lack opportunity, they stall because their numbers aren’t giving them the answers they need to grow. Behind every fast-growing, well-run £10m+ business sits a leadership team with…
January has long been known as a peak month for jobseekers updating their CVs and looking for a fresh start in their careers. But new data suggests the new year reset isn’t just happening at an individual level, as the ripple effects of this annual shake-up are now being felt by businesses, particularly when it comes to office space decisions, according to serviced office provider WorkWell. Recent Google Trends data shows UK searches for “serviced offices” have spiked by 59% in the past week*, signalling a growing reluctance among businesses to commit to traditional office leases at the start of…
New figures reveal that higher earners in the UK are leaving substantial sums of money on the table each year by not claiming the full pension tax relief available to them. For individuals earning over £50,270, hundreds of millions in unclaimed tax relief are going unclaimed annually – money that could directly boost retirement savings. This is according to pensions specialist, Penfold. Pension contributions are one of the most tax-efficient ways to save for retirement. Basic-rate taxpayers automatically receive 20% tax relief on contributions, but higher-rate (40%) and additional-rate (45%) taxpayers must claim the remainder themselves. Many simply don’t, missing out…
Without long-term funding, institutional reform and strengthened oversight, Britain risks drifting from what the Intelligence and Security Committee describes as a state of “managed vulnerability” toward long-term decline. Britain’s intelligence and national security apparatus is operating at the edge of its structural capacity just as geopolitical threats multiply, according to the Intelligence and Security Committee’s (ISC) Annual Report for 2023–2025. While the UK continues to achieve tactical successes and has updated elements of its legislative framework, the report paints a sobering picture of a system increasingly reliant on short-term fixes, crisis redeployments and implicit risk acceptance rather than sustained investment and reform.…
There is no doubt that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the UK economy. Accounting for 99% of all businesses, SMEs play an important role in driving sustainable growth, creating jobs and strengthening communities across the country. But despite the important role they play, growth is a major challenge for many of these entities as they are buffeted by choppy political and economic headwinds. The biggest growth blockers include uncertain trading conditions and wage inflation, as well as labour shortages and supply-chain pressures, according to a recent survey by the Association of Practising Accountants (APA). Last year’s…
Michelle Baltrusitis, Associate Director, Community & Social Impact at Fiverr The future of work arrived quietly. It looks like flexible schedules, transparent pay, side hustles, and AI-powered workflows, and it’s Gen Z leading the way. The latest research from Fiverr reflects these changing forces in the workforce. At first glance, Gen Z might seem to be pushing against the status quo: questioning structure, hierarchy, tradition. But they’re not against work itself; they simply expect it to work differently. Their expectations, shaped by constant change, economic uncertainty, and the rise of AI, are redefining what “a good job” looks like today. Employers…
By Natasha Smith, Employment Solicitor at Parfitt Cresswell Solicitors New Years resolutions are not just for your personal life. As you set ambitious goals for your business, don’t forget the foundations on which everything else depends, your legal housekeeping. The most common (and costly) problems we see are not caused by bad intentions or ‘brave’ growth plans, but by small legal oversights that cause major headaches, always at the worst possible time. The start of the year is the perfect moment to pause, review, and ensure your business is not destroyed in 2026 by an oversight. There are seven areas…