Working Families has announced its annual list of the top flexible and family-friendly employers in the UK. Organisations from across the finance, energy, education and public sector have earned their place on the charity’s list of Top Employers, demonstrating that sectors across the spectrum are seeing the value in putting people first. Now in its sixteenth year, many have fended off competition to stay in the top for a number of years, including Pinsent Masons, the Welsh Parliament and Independent Living Fund Scotland. Newcomer Unilever also joins the ranks of Top 30 for the first time. This year, organisations taking…
Author: sme-admin
Richard Hanscott, CEO of Esendex takes a look at what WhatsApp’s decision to introduce ads means for brands as social media and messaging platforms continue to converge. As the line between personal messaging and public engagement starts to blur, what does this shift mean for brands looking to tap into this audience? A shift towards more authentic interactions While WhatsApp’s decision to allow advertisers into the private messaging space came as a surprise to some, the change has been on the way for a while. Historically, the divide between advertisements and user-generated content has been quite clear on social media. But,…
Elite Business Magazine has announced that nominations are now open for the Elite Business 100 (EB100) Top 100 Businesses 2026. This prestigious ceremony honours the most innovative and successful SMEs across the UK, celebrating their remarkable achievements and contributions to the business landscape. Recognising the driving force of the UK economy, the EB100 Awards, which is in its fourth year, offers an exceptional platform for businesses to gain nationwide recognition and raise their profile. The ranking will be unveiled in February 2026, with an annual digital guide showcasing the top 100 businesses to audiences across the UK. The celebration culminates…
OpenAI’s announcement that ChatGPT can now complete purchases directly through its platform, starting with Etsy in the US, with Shopify, Skims, and other major brands following, represents the most significant shift in commerce and marketing since mobile shopping. This isn’t just another sales channel. It’s a fundamental restructuring of how brands compete for customers. Charlie Terry, Founder of CEEK Marketing, discusses this momentous marketing shift. For years, performance marketing has dominated. Success meant data-led targeting, keyword bidding, and optimising cost-per-click. That era is ending. In AI-first commerce, the biggest ad budget doesn’t win – the most visible brand does. When AI…
Wirefree bra maker Royce is urging fellow small businesses to “make menopause matter” and create workplace policies to support menopausal employees, despite those employers falling outside of the upcoming mandatory requirements. Within the government’s newly published Employment Rights Bill, employers with more than 250 employees will be legally required to publish a menopause action plan – voluntary compliance is encouraged from April 2026 before it becomes mandatory in 2027. Yet women working in smaller organisations are missing out on this vital support, says Royce. This small female-dominated business is setting an example to other SMEs during Menopause Awareness Month by…
Major retailers have already launched their October campaigns and for brands still finalising their holiday strategies, the window is rapidly closing. This trend towards earlier launches reflects a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour, shoppers no longer wait for November deals, and savvy brands have adapted by launching campaigns weeks ahead of schedule. Miruna Dragomir, social media marketing expert and CMO at Planable, reveals the framework separating breakthrough holiday campaigns from forgettable ones. “Winning brands know this requires planned systems, not last-minute creative pushes,” Dragomir says. “Five strategic priorities must be sorted immediately, not in November, if you want to succeed.”…
Dan Adams, co-founder of legal services provider, Arbor Law, explores the opportunities available for a lawyer with an entrepreneurial mind. From the start of my career as a lawyer, I knew I wanted to do things differently. Early on, I felt confined to the proverbial cupboard, spending my days dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s of contracts. While important, this lacked fulfilment for me. I craved the challenge of building something, of creating value beyond the predictable grind of traditional legal roles. Entrepreneurial lawyers are defined by their willingness to take risks, their hunger for growth and their ability…
As new workplace protections raise costs for SMEs, Catherine Greslow, Founder and Fractional Operations Director at Formative Consulting Ltd, looks at how founders are turning to part time executives and specialists to stay compliant, agile, and competitive. Introduction The UK’s new Employment Rights Bill is being described as the biggest shake up in workplace law for a generation. From my perspective working with founders and leadership teams, it’s also the source of creeping anxiety, higher costs, tighter obligations, and less room to manoeuvre. The principle behind the reforms is simple and right, fairer protections for workers from day one. But in practice, smaller…
Authored by Jonathan Cooper, Founder & Director of The Director’s Helpline and The Director’s Choice. Running a business can often feel like steering a ship through unpredictable waters – markets shift, costs fluctuate, and unforeseen challenges arise. For small business owners and sole traders, it can be difficult to know whether they are on course for sustainable growth or heading towards stormier seas. This is where a business health check becomes invaluable – a vital tool for ensuring stability and resilience, giving leaders the insight to make confident, informed decisions. Clarity in Uncertain Times When a business begins to experience…
Small businesses are grappling with significant hurdles when it comes to hiring, new data has revealed. Insights from Talent Hub – a new resource to support micro and small businesses with no HR department, found while half of small businesses polled had hired staff before – only a third (33%) said they were confident to hire again. Economic uncertainty and an increase in the cost of employment are key considerations behind the decision, but on top of that, 75% of small businesses cited a lack of adequate training resources as the primary barrier to recruiting and retaining staff, while 25%…