Features

According to the British Chambers of Commerce, business confidence across the UK in 2025 has dropped to its lowest level since the aftermath of the Autumn 2022 mini Budget. Compounded by the looming threat of potential tariffs under President Trump’s new leadership, and the upcoming Spring Forecast in the UK, businesses are grappling with complex challenges and significant uncertainty in an already tight economic landscape.

When you’re in startup mode, your biggest enemy is usually time. Every day spent not learning from real customers is a day wasted. You need to test ideas quickly without burning through funding and you can’t afford long development cycles. Cloud Native could make a huge difference to your business.

The progression of intelligent automation in manufacturing and supply chain management has been nothing short of groundbreaking. From the early days of the Industrial Revolution to today’s era of smart factories and agentic AI, the journey has been marked by continuous innovation and adaptation. This evolution has not only modernised production processes but has also redefined the role of human workers in these industries.

Securing talent, making strategic investments, and fostering long-term growth remain key hurdles for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), in part due to limited financial resources. With fewer long-term lending options available, many SMBs are left relying on short-term credit to manage essential expenses. A recent survey underscored this challenge, revealing that a third (33%) of UK small businesses had placed over 25% of their monthly expenses on credit cards over the past year.

AI-powered voice solutions are revolutionising customer interactions, making businesses available 24/7 and redefining engagement. AI agents are no longer just answering calls; they are now handling everything from resolving inquiries to completing purchases with human-like efficiency. But as these virtual assistants grow smarter, the real question is – can they truly transform customer support and elevate the entire customer experience?

When I first started helping organisations to change their culture, it was quite a slog to convince them that getting their culture right would change everything. Or anything.

Is the seven year itch a thing for businesses too? When we think of our businesses, we often forget that it is a relationship, one that is meant to go two ways, and we can find ourselves falling out of love. Even if we say we love what we do and even though we may have uttered the words, “I’m married to my business”.

In today’s job market, salary and perks alone aren’t enough to keep people engaged. Employees want purpose. They want to feel like their work matters. And when they do, they’re much more likely to stay.

If you’re running a startup, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) isn’t just noise – it’s a toolkit waiting to be unlocked. Gen AI lets you punch above your weight, creating polished content, automating grunt work, and engaging customers without a massive budget.

MyWorkSpot is a flexible office and co-working provider based in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Currently operating three locations in the area, MyWorkSpot is “a home for startups, established local businesses, and even large international corporations, where we provide satellite offices or desks for employees who want to work closer to home,” explained David Johnston, Co-Founder of MyWorkSpot.

“Become an engineer and improve the world we live in” – Melissa Ahmed CEng.

In today’s global economy, businesses are increasingly affected by geopolitical developments. From economic shifts driven by trade agreements to the ripple effects of conflicts, climate change agreements, sanctions on migration and resource availability, global decisions shape the business world in surprising and complex ways.

Some of the most exciting and groundbreaking startups call Europe home. From Berlin to Barcelona, innovators are crafting cutting-edge solutions set to change the future. In early 2024 alone, European startups attracted more than €47.3 billion in investments, including €18.7 billion in debt funding.

Both big business and startups have much to bring to the table when it comes to supercharging the energy transition. Massimo Muzzì, Head of Strategy, Business Development and Sustainability at ABB Electrification, explains how taking the best of both worlds can lead to genuine progress.

The UK is a world leader in producing fast growing, ambitious entrepreneurial businesses. According to analysis from the ScaleUp Institute (SUI), the country ranks fourth globally in terms of number of scaleups per 100,000 population, with half of these ambitious businesses operating and thriving on a global scale.

It’s hard to start an innovative business on your own. Notably, 90% of startups fail due to insufficient experience, poor market fit, or a lack of resources. That is why many founders and entrepreneurs go to investors and venture funds to secure at least one form of the future – financial. However, is it all the startup needs?

In today’s digital age, with over 8.2 billion people in the world, 5.8 billion mobile users, 5.5 billion internet users, and 5.2 billion social media users, standing out in an increasingly crowded marketplace is no small feat. Entrepreneurs are faced with the challenge of not only competing against established global brands but also cutting through the noise of millions of voices on social media platforms. Traditional advertising is becoming less effective, and trust in businesses has declined for 15 consecutive years. With nearly one billion consumers using ad blockers, it is clear that the way businesses connect with consumers has fundamentally changed.

In an age of distrust, it’s more important than ever for your business to cultivate a strong reputation for reliability, honesty and trustworthiness with consumers, as trust in particular impacts brand engagement. The latest research by Trustpilot found that over four-in-five (82%) agree that a strong Trustpilot score makes them more likely to trust your brand, and a further 83% say it increases their likelihood of making a purchase.

As we bring in the new year, it’s natural for small businesses to approach this time with high hopes and fresh ideas, but all too often, we see business owners falling into the same traps that not only slow down progress but hold your business back. By recognising these common mistakes and using tools like STEAMhouse’s Outcomes Driver Tool, business owners can start the year with a renewed sense of clarity and purpose to innovate better.

Habits shape our daily lives – from the ones we’re proud of to those that come naturally, and yes, even the ones we keep quiet about. A well-known habit is the famous “5 AM club” of business leaders. Back in 2013, The Guardian reported that most CEOs were indeed early birds, springing out of bed at 5 AM without hitting the snooze button. However, research from the University of Westminster suggests that early risers (those up between 5:22 AM and 7:21 AM) actually show higher levels of stress hormones compared to their more leisurely-waking counterparts.