Royal Mail has launched a £1 million small business apprenticeship levy gifting fund as part of a new set of commitments to support growth. The initiative comes as new figures show that a quarter of businesses are struggling to recruit skilled workers and the skills gap is one of the biggest barriers to growth. The apprenticeship levy gifting fund is one of a number of commitments Royal Mail is making to small businesses which are published in full in a report by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Royal Mail titled Small businesses: delivering growth for Britain. The report…
Author: sme-admin
A new survey conducted by Thinc at CHEMUK 2025 reveals the most urgent challenges facing chemical and manufacturing operations in the year ahead. With over 80 industry professionals responding, the results offer a real-world view of how today’s businesses are navigating complexity, regulation, and the limitations of legacy systems. “We didn’t just talk tech at CHEMUK. We asked operational and commercial leaders what’s really keeping them up at night,” said Richard Stathers, Operations Director at Thinc. “The answers show it’s not transformation that they want: it’s control.” Top 5 Business Risks in 2025 (According to CHEMUK Attendees) Rising Production Costs When asked about the biggest risk to…
By Joseph Fletcher-Hunt & Mark Turner, Partners at Aaron & Partners We’ve got a new series of Clarkson’s Farm on our screens – complete with all the usual chaos and charm – but behind the rural drama lies a very real warning for business owners. In the latest series, Clarkson sets his sights on buying a pub, and it seems like a savvy rural investment until he discovers a bizarre planning clause: the pub garden must remain a public ‘picnic area’, complete with toilets. Amusing? Yes. But also painfully familiar for any small or medium-sized business looking to buy, lease…
SEP Geospatial is experiencing a sharp rise in demand for handheld laser scanners, with enquiries increasing 14-fold over the past 18 months, as interest grows beyond traditional construction applications into areas like gaming and museums. Based in the North West, SEP Geospatial supplies cutting-edge surveying technology across the UK with decades of combined experience, its team is known for technical expertise and high-quality support. Handheld laser scanners, compact 3D devices powered by LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), have long been used in construction to capture precise measurements and create digital site models. Their portability, ease of use and affordability are…
A self-storage site in Loughborough is proving popular with residents, students and local businesses, reaching 65% occupancy less than a year after opening. Here Self Storage, based at Regent Retail Park off Broad Street, is seeing strong take-up across its mix of unit sizes, with hundreds already in use and more set to be occupied in the coming weeks. The response highlights growing demand for secure, flexible storage in the town. The site, part of a national network operated by Engage Management Services, offers secure units for everything from household belongings to tools and stock. Customers benefit from 24/7 access,…
Tool theft is a plight on tradespeople throughout the UK, with 4 in 10 having experienced the crime. However, significant changes could be on the horizon, with the second reading of the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill having taken place on the 4th July. A common issue raised is the sentencing of the thieves that are responsible, with many in the construction sector feeling that the punishment isn’t severe enough for the crime, due to the significant impact tool theft has on tradespeople’s livelihoods. However, the Bill looks to impose harsher penalties for the theft of tools used in trades.…
In 2012, Raj Vattikuti, Executive Chairman, founded Altimetrik and embarked on a mission to reshape the digital landscape with a pioneering vision: to create a world where digital businesses flourish through a blend of technology, data, and, most importantly, people. At the core of Altimetrik’s ethos is the profound belief that a true digital business is inherently people-centred, where innovative individuals are the principal agents of change. “Leaders today, especially in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services, are confronted with a dual challenge: to integrate cutting-edge technology while cultivating a culture that prioritises talent development and collaborative effort.…
Shawbrook’s latest research finds that 29% of SMEs utilised an asset-based loan with nearly a quarter (23%) saying they plan to use one in the future. Oliver Wilson, Head of Asset Based Lending (ABL) at Shawbrook shares his thoughts around it, and some common misconceptions, to help businesses figure out if ABL is a solution for them: Over the last year, I have been up and down the country talking to advisors, investors and prospective borrowers and in that time, have encountered a number of myths about Asset Based Lending that are still in circulation. ABL is a fantastic solution…
Advancements in AI, space technology, and robotics have accelerated the emergence of vehicles capable of operating with greater levels of autonomy Uber has announced it will trial autonomous vehicles (AVs) with no human safety driver, coined ‘robotaxis’, in London next spring. The news comes after the UK government’s introduction of the world-leading AV Act, which became law as of May 2024, opening the door to autonomous vehicles operating on public roads as early as 2026. According to The Department for Transport, the AV industry could create up to 38,000 jobs and add £42bn to the UK economy by 2035. From the perspective of civil…
An initiative designed to help propel growth for start-ups and protect their ideas has been launched by law firm Myers & Co and intellectual property specialist Pure Ideas. They have teamed up to create Initiate, which is a tailored legal and IP support package for businesses incorporated within the last 18 months which employ between one and five people. Start-ups are being offered a range of legal services from Staffordshire-based Myers & Co, including company formations, terms and conditions, commercial contracts, shareholder and partnership agreements and property lease reviews. Pure Ideas’ specialists are providing IP audits, advice on trade marks,…