Features
European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are operating through turbulent times. Rising raw material costs, labour shortages, and increased competition are pushing some of them to their limits. At the same time, global instability has disrupted supply chains, jeopardising profit margins and the ability of many SMEs to meet market demands.
Congratulations! You have successfully navigated the first steps of building your own business. You’ve proved the initial concept has a market and your business is starting to grow. You may have bootstrapped to date by using your savings or taking on investment from the support of friends and family. You may even be further along than this and going down the path of bringing in outside investors to help scale further.
Let’s state the obvious: public relations (PR) is a different beast for startups compared to large corporates. But as the news this week has shown (Jaguar), this is no bad thing.
The reality is that having a mobile app is no longer a luxury. For businesses and startups, it’s a potential to reach more audiences and make more money. However, many companies struggle to get started. A common problem is the lack of clear guidance. Nobody explains how to bring an app from idea to completion.
First things first – the rise of ESG up the corporate agenda is good news for the planet. Whether that is driven by evolving regulation, internal company values or the rise of ethical consumerism, initiatives are gaining traction. Beyond this, however, prioritising ESG is increasingly having a positive impact on the bottom line.
The hiring landscape is undergoing a dramatic shift, as organisations reconsider their degree requirements in their pursuit of top talent. According to a recent survey, 45% of companies intend to eliminate bachelor’s degree requirements for certain positions this year, with 55% having already done so in 2023 for some roles.
Despite a challenging backdrop, UK SMEs are still optimistic about the future of their businesses, with nearly three-quarters forecasting growth in the coming year. That’s according to American Express’ latest research which highlights a resilience among these businesses, and sheds light on how small and medium-sized enterprises are navigating rising costs and evolving customer expectations to map a path to success.
With 2025 just around the corner, AI continues to redefine industries, unlocking new opportunities for efficiency, growth, and value creation. Tools such as ChatGPT have received unprecedented attention yet represent only a small part of the transformational value that AI can offer to businesses. Companies seeking to heighten their value – be it in attracting investors, underpinning growth, or laying a foundation in advance would do well to investigate the use of AI outside generative text tools.
When generative AI exploded into the public consciousness two years ago, business leaders were understandably keen to be at the vanguard of the revolution and unlock its potential.
I’m not sure when the idea of Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs) first started circulating around the B2B world but it’s relatively recently (cue someone mailing me with evidence of them first in use in 1973…). Personally, I’ve been using the idea consciously for the last four years or so.
The rational achiever brain has an interesting history. And while these terms, “rational” and “achiever” may seem to address what we need in business, in fact, this kind of brain is only an early steppingstone on the path to capable leadership.
No one ever said launching a startup was easy. As such, founders want to employ the best professionals to spearhead various functions as companies get their footing. However, some roles are more essential than others. These are 10 positions they should hire for first.
Sustainability in the electronics industry has become of paramount concern in recent years due to the sector’s significant overall environmental footprint and the growing awareness of the need for responsible business practices.
Cubo is a provider of bespoke flex offices and co-working spaces, boasting 12 sites across the UK, including Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.
What do you think of when it comes to entrepreneurship? For many, thoughts of an individual building something entirely new – a disruptive product or new innovative business – comes to mind.
As Apple unveils its new Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy, “Apple Intelligence”, businesses across various sectors will be anticipating its potential impact. At Slalom we have seen that 84% of UK businesses are already using AI but the majority are in the exploratory stage of implementation, with only 6% having a robust AI strategy. Is Apple’s new offering set to change that?
The power that comes with being in charge can be a wonderful thing. It enables us to make decisions, direct activity and have an impact across a broader scale. But it isn’t just an enabler, because it also changes the people who wield it. Sometimes for the better, but all too often in subtle, hidden ways that make the job of being a leader much more difficult.
The global shift towards cleaner energy is not just an environmental imperative – it’s one of the most lucrative opportunities of our time. As we transition from fossil fuels to sustainable solutions, founders who position themselves in the energy transition space stand to benefit from an unprecedented influx of capital.
The project management sector in the UK needs an urgent rethink. SMEs and other companies and organisations across a wide range of industries are experiencing high failure rates in critical initiatives. Over three decades of experience in digital and business transformation, I’ve witnessed up close how inadequate project-management practices lead to substantial waste of resources and organisational risk.
AI is changing many fields with its fast progress, and governments around the world are facing the difficult challenge of creating good policy governance frameworks that can leverage the advantages of AI while reducing any negative impacts.
