Features

A new economic landscape is quickly materialising as consumers become more discerning with spending, and the pressure is on startups to work harder to generate love for their brand across many different surfaces.

It’s been 50 years since mankind last set foot on the Moon. During this time, human space exploration has focused on manned low-Earth orbit missions and unmanned exploration. The space industry is worth £240bn worldwide with the UK accounting for £16bn of that.

Soaring fuel and energy costs have seen average household energy bills in the UK forecasted to rise to more than £3,000 this winter, this is also going to have a significant impact on offices too. While rocketing energy costs are certainly a cause for concern for many businesses, there are some reliable ways to increase the energy efficiency of your office and reduce outgoings.

Since handymen and labourers returned to work following national lockdowns, competition is back to pre-pandemic levels. The rising cost of living, altered working schedules and the new remote culture have led to an increased reliance on contractors. More so than ever before, it’s essential that your jack-of-all-trades company name is well-known, and that your services stand out from the crowd, but how can you get the best results from your handyman business?

If you are in the process of starting a new small business, you will be well aware of the various challenges that you may have to face in the near future. In Britain alone, you will be competing with another 5.5 million small businesses which means that you will have to pull out all of the stops in order to make enough revenue to stay afloat.

eCommerce is a growing trend, and the demand for eCommerce platforms will rise over the next few years. The good news is that several different eCommerce platforms are available to help you get started. The bad news? Building an online store isn’t easy—nor should it be!

In the face of rising care backlogs and staffing shortages, healthcare services urgently need innovative solutions to deliver sustainable transformation and support. As an Accident and Emergency doctor, I witnessed first-hand how poorly implemented, inflexible tech put additional pressure on clinicians and affected the ability to provide the best patient care. 

Our brain is constantly evolving. According to Zimmer, the brain has up to 100 billion neurons which create 100 trillion neural connections, making our brain into a highly complex thinking machine. We can take seemingly random pieces of information and connect them to completely unrelated subjects and create something new, which is why as humans we are incredibly creative and innovative. It seems like a paradox then, as despite this, we can find it so difficult to break negative habits that may even be detrimental to us.

The UK’s tech sector has become one of the standout industries of recent years. Despite the harsh impact of the global pandemic, which has slowed down the performance of most sectors, the UK tech industry is one that has remained resilient.

Driven by the goods and services that address an increasing expectation, the anywhere economy is built upon solid foundations: anything, anytime, anywhere, all enabled by the Internet. After the traditional economy faltered during the pandemic, the anywhere economy surged. Companies like Zoom, Netflix and Amazon became providers of essential services for work, life and sanity.

As a Branding Advisor for Virgin Startup, I often get questions from the business community. A recent question that came up was about team building and company culture.

Workplaces across the globe have borne witness to rapid shifts towards digitalisation. New and innovative emerging tech has facilitated remote working, increased productivity, and changed the way in which businesses operate.

Storage is an essential factor in this age of digital technology. Many businesses have adopted the trend of storing data in a storage area network. This dedicated network comprising several storage devices allows multiple computers and servers to access shared storage. As a result, organisations can manage storage from a central place and apply data protection, security, and disaster recovery standards.

Stemming from the continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, and now the cost of living crisis, the Great Resignation is still a critical issue across numerous industries. Led principally by Generations Y and Z, employees have left their posts in droves for various reasons, from personal to political.

Companies are beginning to realise how important good food is in attracting talent and creating healthy workplaces that look after their employees. A recent study revealed two-thirds of respondents believe an organisation which prioritises their health and wellbeing would make them more likely to stay in their current role, so healthy food and beverage provisions should not be overlooked.

The Covid-19 pandemic proved to be a turning point for the corporate work culture, as companies reevaluated their practices and found new ways to respond to the evolving needs of the workplace. Amid lockdowns and social distancing, many employers rose to the occasion, strengthening their communications and relationships with staff while reimagining the workplace to accommodate hybrid work and a more supportive and encouraging environment.

An image of a plane making an attempt to take off just a few yards before the mountain edge has become a common representation of startups managing their financial runway to avoid going bust. 

With the rate of inflation soaring around the world, small businesses everywhere are facing a new kind of challenge – how they can best support employees through the cost-of-living crisis.

In the startup ecosystem, we’ve been hearing a lot of speculations about how the economic downturn will bring correction to the tech industry. We’ve seen layoffs happening across the industry, yet at the same time we’ve also seen news from startups that have achieved significant funding rounds.