By Alison Bromley Head of Partnerships at Onebright In 2025, many businesses have come a long way in their acceptance and understanding of the importance of supporting mental health in the workplace. Reports show, of the UKs top companies, around 96% now offer some type of mental health support to their employees. Statistics indicate that around 15% of working adults are living with a mental health condition, with anxiety, depression, and stress being the most common. This is not, however, reflected in the uptake of services. There are a few reasons why that is the case. The challenge is that…
Author: sme-admin
Small firms are tightening their belts on jobs, with potential changes that will expand the grounds for unfair dismissal and higher sick pay costs at the top of their list of worries, research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows. New data shows that in the last quarter of 2024, 33 per cent of small employers said they expect to reduce staff, up from 17 per cent in the previous quarter. Fewer businesses are also looking to hire – with only 10 per cent of small employers planning to take on more staff, down 14 per cent from the previous quarter. Meanwhile, 56 per cent expect to keep their…
For millions of people, financial exclusion is still a huge challenge. Done right, fintech has the power to break down these barriers and create real opportunities. But with so many companies claiming to drive positive change, how can we tell the real innovators from those just chasing profits? Gregor Mowat, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Loqbox, the UK’s leading credit-building fintech, shares his insights on what really makes a fintech “good,” the challenges of doing the right thing, and the fintech trends that could make a difference for SMEs in 2025. What does “fintech for good” actually mean? It’s not just…
Rick Goud, Founder & CIO of Zivver shares why email is at risk of becoming a security blindspot for IT leaders As AI takes centre stage in 2025, businesses and employees are flooded with innovative applications and productivity tools. Yet, despite this technological surge, email remains the backbone of workplace communication across industries—used for everything from casual exchanges to sharing sensitive documents. In fact, our research shows that more than 90% of employees still consider email ‘important’ or ‘very important’ to their daily work. However, as our digital and cybersecurity landscape evolves, there is a risk that email – while still an…
A unified approach to combating economic crime and enhancing trust is needed, according to Umazi. As financial and economic crime continue to rise, the UK must take decisive action to enhance business transparency and security. This is according to Umazi, a leader in digital identity and verification solutions, which is calling on policymakers and businesses to prioritise the implementation of digital company IDs to strengthen the UK’s economic integrity. The call comes following the publishing of a new whitepaper from the Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT), Fighting Economic Crime Through Enhanced Verification, which highlights a critical solution: digital company identification. “Economic…
Longevita, a leading provider of cosmetic surgery solutions, is calling for urgent regulatory reform in the UK’s cosmetic surgery sector to prioritise patient safety and ensure that clear industry standards protect those seeking procedures. Despite the industry’s rapid growth, regulations have not kept pace, leaving patients vulnerable to inconsistent standards of care and varying levels of practitioner oversight. Kagan Seymenoglu, CEO at Longevita, is calling for a government-backed online registry to track and regulate medical tourism providers. Similar to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and GMC registry database, this registry would list all practitioners and businesses offering services abroad, ensuring that…
A recent report has lifted the lid on the importance of degree apprenticeships to SME-size businesses by highlighting the critical role they play in driving productivity, social inclusion and tackling the skills gap. The findings come from Manchester Metropolitan University, a University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) member organisation, which conducted the study using data from over 5,000 apprentices and more than 600 employers. From a recruitment perspective, 93% of firms are investing in higher and degree apprentices to bolster their talent pipeline, whilst 91% agreed they help address skills gaps within their business. SMEs specifically regard them as vital, with 58% claiming they…
Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD), a leading innovator in gallium nitride (GaN) power devices, has successfully closed a $32 million Series C funding round. The investment was led by a strategic investor with participation from British Patient Capital and supported by existing investors Parkwalk, BGF, Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), Foresight Group, and IQ Capital. Transforming Power Electronics with GaN Gallium nitride-based devices represent a breakthrough in power electronics, offering faster switching speeds, lower energy consumption, and more compact designs than traditional silicon-based solutions. CGD’s proprietary monolithic ICeGaN® technology, which simplifies the implementation of GaN into existing and progressive designs, delivers efficiency…
Following the latest figures on the UK’s employment this week, Rob Morgan, Chief Investment Analyst at Charles Stanley offers comment. The UK remains in an economic funk of muted activity, waning confidence and above-target inflation. No surprise then that various market surveys indicate firms are reluctant to hire staff and in some cases are looking to make cuts amid planned increases in employer NICs and the National Minimum Wage. The ONS data to the end of December is not reflective of this trend with unemployment holding steady at 4.4% into the year-end compared with the previous month. Still low by…
After a turbulent few years, the economic landscape is showing signs of stabilisation for the UK housing market. With two base rate cuts, Labour’s victory in the General Election and the Autumn Budget, these changes are set to heavily impact the property market moving forward. Experts have predicted that this could be a strong year for the buyers’ market – from examining recent trends, legislations and the economic landscape, it is possible to forecast what buyers can expect from the property market in 2025. Impact of Stamp Duty changes Effective from 1st April 2025, Stamp Duty rates will rise, increasing…