News
It was recently reported by manufacturer lobby group, Make UL and Santander UK that the effects from COVID-19 could cost the sector a potential £35.7bn in Gross Added Value this year alone, as output has fallen to an all-time low-leading to implications that the UK’s manufacturing growth will suffer from these effects until 2022.
Budding entrepreneurs looking to build something new for social good after COVID-19 could find the ideal partner and supporter via the Impact Central accelerator programme, mentor network and angel investor platform. The six-month programme is designed to help new businesses that will help rebuild society and the environment, as the UK tries to find a future beyond COVID-19.
Global small business platform, Xero has announced it will host a free to watch content series called Xero On Air in September, designed to connect, inspire and share information with its accountant and bookkeeper partners and small business customers around the world.
A new digital platform is empowering utilities field teams and managers to make data-driven decisions in real time, leading to greater safety, productivity and quality assurance.
New research from Superscript, the British business insurance challenger which recently re-branded from Digital Risks, has revealed the true extent to which UK SMEs have been affected by COVID-19.
With the furlough scheme drawing to a close in October, a surge in unemployment is on the cards. Only a third of businesses said that they would definitely retain all of their furloughed staff, while nearly one in five (18%) indicated that they would not be doing so.
The Government has now confirmed that the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF), the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF) and the Discretionary Grant Fund allocated to Local Authorities to pay businesses suffering from the impact of COVID-19 should close by Friday 28th August 2020.
Online learning platform, Coursera has partnered with Digital Boost UK, a partnership with BCG Digital Ventures and Founders4Schools, to offer organisations and charities affected by the pandemic access to digital skills. The partnership is made possible by Coursera’s Workforce Recovery Initiative, where any state and country can provide unemployed workers with free access to online learning.
AIWAYS, the Shanghai-based personal mobility provider, has arrived in Europe following delivery of the first batch of U5 all-electric SUVs in Corsica. The cars join the rental fleet at Hertz Corsica, operated by local company Filippi Auto, and are now available for residents and tourists to rent.
The Coronavirus lockdown has had a huge impact on Britain’s workforce, resulting a the majority of the working population finding themselves homebound, either working from home or furloughed. It was recently reported that 7 in 10 UK businesses have furloughed staff, resulting in millions of people across the country stuck at home with nothing but time on their hands.
Sure Valley Ventures, the venture capital firm that invests in early stage software companies, has announced that it has led a new €1.5m investment round for Volograms. Atlantic Bridge University Fund and Enterprise Ireland have also made follow-on investments as part of this round.
New analysis from Xero, the global small business platform, and AlphaBeta (part of Accenture), have revealed trends relating to the recovery of the UK’s small business economy following the impact of COVID-19, showing tentative improvements in revenue and payment times.
The saving and investing app, Moneybox has raised £4m in just four hours on Crowdcube, the investment crowdfunding platform – smashing the 2020 record for largest number of investors in a single campaign. Over 10,000 investors have taken part in the fundraise so far, which saw Moneybox reach its original target of £1,000,000 in just 20 minutes.
The banking platform that consolidates multiple cards and accounts into one smart card and app, Curve has announced it has partnered with Onfido, the global identity verification and authentication company, to speed up, simplify, and unify its Digital Identity and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes.
University of Bristol led technology incubator, SETsquared Bristol, is re-launching its Breakthrough Bursary for the second year, continuing its commitment to promote inclusion and equal opportunities in tech.
IW Capital has announced the completion of a £10m investment round for Transcend Packaging, providing a boost to the company in its goal to reduce consumer and industry reliance on single-use plastic by providing paper-based alternatives.
Forty nine percent of employers are planning to stagger return to work based on employees’ own health risks related to COVID-19, whilst 46% will be staggering employees return depending on how critical their role is to the business. The next most popular strategy is the creation of smaller work groups (40%), followed by changing work hours (34%), a voluntary return scheme (33%), and splitting shifts (28%).
Shanghai-based personal mobility provider, AIWAYS has unveiled the U6 ion electric crossover coupe concept ‘in the metal’ for the first time at the Chengdu Auto Show in China. With a focus on aerodynamics, intelligent technology and lightweight design, the U6 ion investigates the exciting future of the AIWAYS brand. The production version will be AIWAYS’ second all-electric SUV set to go on sale in China and Europe, with a direct-to-customer sales model in Europe in 2021.
The Entrepreneurial Sales Institute (ESI), whose mission is to support the professionalisation of the sales function through better sales education, has developed a new Entrepreneurial Sales microcredential, endorsed by Verizon Connect, to help those working in sales navigate today’s complex marketplace and gain in-demand skills.
The Czech marketing startup for home product testing, Testuj.to, for brands and e-shops has proven to be a new way of reaching customers, even during the coronavirus period. Testuj.to not only addresses customers directly, it also acquires valuable reviews for a given product or brand. B2C will never be the same again.
