The Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has delivered a Spring Budget focused on tax cuts, bringing down inflation and stimulating the UK’s flagging economy. However, a leading entrepreneur says that there is still not enough action being taken to support businesses. Adam Sharpe, CEO of Cardstream, a business at the forefront of payment technology, says that whilst it is right that there is a focus on extending support around energy bills for companies, much of the business support measures seem reactive, lack vision, and don’t go deep enough. He also thinks it’s time we celebrated entrepreneurs more in the…
Author: sme-admin
Cashplus Bank, the UK challenger bank, last week announced that it will rebrand as Zempler Bank in the coming months. The new name represents the company’s commitment to making money simpler through its range of digital banking products for microbusinesses and consumers and to providing exemplary levels of service. The change in name also reflects the company’s evolution to become an authorised UK bank with a strong focus on serving microbusinesses and start-ups – a population of over 5 million businesses, that the company says remains poorly served by traditional UK banks. Over the past five years, Cashplus has delivered…
In his Autumn Statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt officially prolonged the sunset clause for Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) until April 2035. Initially established in compliance with European Union state aid regulations, the sunset clause limited relief eligibility to subscribers of shares issued before April 6th 2025. Following this change, investors’ curiosity has been sparked – what are VCT and EIS funds, what is the difference between the two, and how they can most effectively make use of these tax-efficient investment offering? Over the past decade, the VCT and EIS markets have seen significant growth, fuelled by…
Cool Crutches and Walking Sticks, an innovative mobility aid company, has revealed a list of over 20 benefits that disabled individuals can take advantage of, some of which may come as a surprise. As someone who personally navigates life with a disability, Amelia Peckham, Co-Founder of Cool Crutches and Walking Sticks, understands the daily trials and triumphs that come with it. Her own experiences have driven her to not only provide mobility solutions but also to highlight the often surprising benefits that can significantly alleviate the financial strains faced by the disabled community. Amelia has created a comprehensive guide – “The…
In recent weeks, searches for ‘side hustles’ have increased by 80%, indicating that those who are already employed are looking for ways to earn additional income. This shift in behaviour can be linked to a combination of factors, such as increasing financial pressure due to the rising cost of living, economic uncertainties prompting individuals to seek additional income streams, and, notably, the widespread issue of low wages. With demand for ‘salary expectations’ up by 25%, people are questioning whether their salaries are fair. Your age isn’t the only number that increases over time. As you accrue more experience in the workplace, your value to employers inevitably increases, and therefore, salary expectations…
Newly released research has identified the top European country for female career progression. Scandinavian nations were found to be leaders in fostering female career advancement. Iceland emerged as the leading country for female workers, securing the top spot with an impressive score of 86.49 while the UK secured only 13th place, achieving a score of 52.08 out of 100. The study, conducted by experts at Claims.co.uk, delved into gender gap data sourced from the World Economic Forum (WEF) to pinpoint the most progressive country for female employment. 46 European countries underwent a detailed review, receiving a total score out of 100…
It’s tough for SME businesses right now. Recession news, rising supplier costs, less consumer spending. Many business owners are rightly worried about what this year will bring. Small and medium sized businesses remain the backbone of the UK economy and it is thought that SMEs equate for around 99% of the business population and three-fifths of UK employment. It’s therefore imperative that these businesses are supported through tougher times and helped to get into the best position possible, not just for survival in uncertain markets, but to be optimised for growth as well. Most SME business owners will think of…
Travelling, whether it is for business or leisure purposes, can be an opportunity to discover new and interesting places. But what every destination has in common is the unique option of accommodation, especially for business travellers – who may regularly be seeing the inside of a different hotel room. But unlike the excitement of your all-inclusive holiday hotel, or the hostel you might check into with like-minded travellers, business travel can see you away from your home for extended periods of time, without those creature comforts that remind you of the home you will be returning to. The feeling of…
Thanks to a £100k grant from Youth Music, Rockinghorse Children’s Charity and Wishing Well Music for Health will deliver three more years of joyful music-making in children’s healthcare settings across Sussex. Rockinghorse previously worked with Wishing Well Music for Health, a Sussex based non-profit, to deliver their Youth Music programme for three years from 2020. But this new grant will enable these sessions to continue for another three years, benefitting thousands of children spending time in hospital. This project is backed by Youth Music, thanks to the National Lottery via Arts Council England. It aims to enrich the time spent in…
2023 saw a drop off in UK merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in comparison with the previous year – which is perhaps unsurprising, given the political turmoil we witnessed in the final quarter of 2022 and the continued interest rate rises that followed throughout 2023. Business confidence was dented, and borrowing became the most expensive it had been in the past 15 years. But Scotland did not appear to feel the 2023 downturn to the same extent as the rest of the UK. A key reason for this can be attributed to deals driven by Scottish SMEs, which form a…