Features

Is space a viable industry for UK businesses to pursue?

Space – a fantasy for many children and cause for existentialism for many adults. But it is also now an opportunity for exploration and advancement. The UK space industry income grew 5.1% to £17.5bn in 2021, according to research. A seemingly niche industry is getting bigger and spacetech looks an increasingly exciting and accessible...

November 2, 2023

Unlocking the potential of the silver workforce

More than half of the UK workforce will be 50 years old or above by 2035. That compares to just over a third in 2019. This demographic shift poses significant challenges for the labour market and businesses. Currently 1.3 million workers between 50 and 64 years old cannot work because of chronic illness according to...

November 2, 2023

South Africa's team celebrates from a bus with supporters during the Springboks Champions trophy tour in Cape Town on November 3, 2023

What leaders can learn from the 2023 Rugby World Cup champions

South Africa was crowned Rugby World Cup champions for the fourth time in October 2023. The Springboks followed up their World Cup triumph in 2019 with a narrow 12-11 win over New Zealand, making them only the second team to win back-to-back titles. Full disclosure – as someone who grew up in Southern Africa and...

October 30, 2023

Unlocking the power of DE&I: A guide for SMEs

In this guest article, Amanda Cusdin, chief people officer at Sage, provides actionable steps on how SMEs can drive DE&I initiatives. The past three years have been a whirlwind for DE&I work: we’ve seen lots of big businesses sharing their DE&I plans in response to everything from George Floyd’s murder and the Covid-19 pandemic to...

October 27, 2023

Creating a buzz: Leading the push for diversity in financial services

In this guest article, Romi Savova, CEO at PensionBee, discusses the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It’s no secret that the financial services industry has a history of inadequate diversity. To this day, it remains dominated by men, with minority groups only in a small fraction of top positions. While the setting...

October 20, 2023

Tablet showing internet connection on screen

Navigating corporate transformation in a rapidly changing world

In this guest article, Jean-Philippe Grosmaitre, partner at L.E.K. Consulting, discusses how businesses can implement better digital innovation strategies. There is no escaping the fact that we have entered a new, more volatile, business environment in recent years. In times of uncertainty, businesses want to be as adaptable as they can be, and so conversations...

October 16, 2023

Time over money? The ultimate guide to managing your most valuable asset

In a world where time is often undervalued and underutilised, businesses face a critical challenge: maximising the potential of their most invaluable asset, prompting a profound re-evaluation of traditional approaches and a quest for innovative strategies to harness the essence of time in the pursuit of productivity and success. “Some things money can’t buy, for...

October 13, 2023

HVM Catapult’s Manufacturing Energy Toolkit: Empowering UK SMEs for energy efficiency

The High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult has launched its pilot Manufacturing Energy Toolkit nationwide to support UK manufacturing SMEs with their energy costs. As the winter sets in, the cost of energy will be a key concern for businesses of all shapes and sizes across the UK. With the Manufacturing Energy Toolkit, the HVM Catapult is...

October 6, 2023

CSR: The role of businesses in the wider community

In this guest article, Lewis Allett, chief executive at Cavell, discusses the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and businesses’ support of charities in 2023. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – what is it? Since the phrase was first coined in the 1950s by American economist Howard Bowen, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ has meant different things at...

September 29, 2023

Business confidence in the South West falls more than half

Business confidence in the South West fell 25 points during September to 21%, the lowest level in six months, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in the South West reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down 23 points at 26%. When taken alongside their optimism in...

September 29, 2023

Aerial panorama of Leeds railway station and surrounding area

North West economy set for £242m boost thanks to Made Smarter-backed firms

A pioneering programme helping North West manufacturers invest in industrial digital technology is forecast to create more than 1,550 new jobs and boost the region’s economy by £242m, new figures reveal. It comes as businesses across the region mark National Manufacturing Day on Thursday, September 28. The Made Smarter adoption programme was launched in Liverpool...

September 28, 2023

‘I wish I knew that it would genuinely be attitude, not aptitude, which would ultimately define my altitude’

Building a company is a difficult task. Whether starting their own or growing an established business, these leaders have made a name for themselves as some of the best of the best. So, what makes business leaders tick and what are they aiming to achieve when all is said and done? We spoke to Paul...

September 22, 2023

Sidetrade strengthens leadership with new non-executive Directors

Sidetrade, the global leader in AI-powered Order-to-Cash applications, announces the appointment of two new non executive directors, Gilles Rigal and Jean-Luc Robert, to the company’s Board of Directors. Gilles Rigal and Jean-Luc Robert’s career paths are marked by leadership roles in leading international software companies. Effective immediately, these appointments will bring a collective 85 years...

September 21, 2023

Financial backing is the biggest obstacle to the UK’s aspiring entrepreneurs

With almost 20,000 Brits searching ‘how to start a business’ each month, it’s clear we’re a nation full of budding entrepreneurs. However, if so many are considering flying solo, what barriers are potentially stopping their excursion? Online printing company, Solopress, has analysed the reasons currently stopping Brits from taking the leap into starting their dream business,...

September 14, 2023

BMLL builds on Series B with Snowflake Ventures investment

BMLL, the independent provider of harmonised, historical Level 3 data and analytics across global equity and futures markets, today announced that the company has secured investment from Snowflake Ventures and entered into a partnership with Snowflake to deliver granular data and analytics to market participants globally. The news follows the $26m Series B investment from...

September 14, 2023

Insights and trends from Slalom’s research in the UK and Ireland

As AI continues to dominate the social debate, research from Slalom, the global business and technology consulting company, finds that 84% of businesses in UK and Ireland have started using AI in some capacity. While there is widespread rhetoric that suggests a hesitation to adopt AI, Slalom’s new research finds that just 13% of businesses...

September 8, 2023

Closeup opened big carton box full of blank hermetic white packages

My Working Day – David MacDonald – CEO of Cullen Eco-Friendly Packaging

As the leader of a company, you are there to set an example and to lead and inspire a team of individuals to achieve a series of business goals. But how do these business leaders go about their daily routine? We spoke to David MacDonald, Owner and CEO of Cullen Eco-Friendly Packaging, about his working...

September 8, 2023

Social and Sustainable Capital invests £3.5m in Caring for Communities and People

Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) is pleased to announce an investment of £3.5m from its Social and Sustainable Housing Fund II (SASH II) into Caring for Communities and People (CCP), a leading South West-based charity, to facilitate the expansion of their Independent Living Services for vulnerable young adults leaving the care system. This investment is...

September 1, 2023

Striking a balance: Charitable CEO salaries under scrutiny

CEO pay is a hotly debated topic. Especially within the charity sector. Surely it is reasonable for those working in the charitable sector to expect salaries akin to those in similar positions while simultaneously wanting to change the world for the better? How harmoniously can these two sentiments co-exist and is it time to reset...

September 1, 2023

The rise of the female titans: unveiling the next generation of scale-up founders

Women receive less than 5% of all VC funding. Often described as a “man’s game”, women are under-represented when it comes to running companies and holding top positions. However, recent data from the Corporate Governance Institute confirms that companies boasting diverse boards and leadership teams don’t just offer a more inclusive environment; they also significantly...

August 31, 2023

‘When the economy isn’t doing well, business travel tends to get curtailed’

We spoke to Tim Hentschel, co-founder and CEO of HotelPlanner, about the hospitality industry, scaling a company, and much more. Before we start, can you tell us a little about HotelPlanner and your role in the company? I launched HotelPlanner in 2003 in San Diego with my co-founder & CIO John Prince to help solve...

August 25, 2023

From toxic workplace to best employer: BrewDog’s astonishing turnaround

A crisis is a sliding doors moment for any business. A reputation built up over decades can be destroyed in hours by a botched response to a major issue. Controversy is nothing new to BrewDog. Since its establishment in 2007, the self-described ‘Punk’ of beer brewers have intentionally stirred the pot with shock strategies and...

August 23, 2023

Rich businessman accessories on wooden table

Rituals, routines, habits: The blueprint for transforming your business growth

Pavlo Phitidis, entrepreneur, investor and co-founder & CEO of Aurik Business, covers mastering the art of time and attention investment. Once your business has achieved a ceiling of performance, how you invest your time and attention determines your future success. To understand how we invest our time and attention, we can look at the habits...

August 23, 2023