Holiday hustle: Over half of UK workers report a boost in productivity this festive season

As the festive season unwraps, new research from monday.com, the multi-product platform that runs all core aspects of work, reveals that UK employees are challenging the traditional year-end slowdown. A survey of 1,343 UK workers reveals that the majority (89%) remain productive during the holiday period, with over one in two (55%) reporting a surge in output driven by approaching year-end deadlines (25%) and a motivation to finish the year strong (30%).

How to ensure your mission is in everything you do as a startup

As startups begin to grow, and projects develop, we find that it can be easy for founders and employees to ensure that every task undertaken by the business aligns with future goals. As part of our Innovation Toolbox, which is a wide range of resources developed for startups, we developed the Strategy Ladder as a way to make sure your mission and vision run through every piece of work you do.

From self-discovery to real connections: Raily’s new tech redefines relationships

Imagine finishing university, unsure if your degree aligns with your passions, struggling to navigate the job market, or simply wondering what you truly like or dislike. On top of that, making new friends or meaningful connections feels more daunting than ever.

How do you build resilience when you already feel overwhelmed

Resilience is crucial for managing stress, handling change, and recovery and recharge. If you’re already anxious and overwhelmed, it can be challenging to focus on your resilience, but it is possible. Here are six practical steps you can take to build resilience.

68% of SMEs struggle to source skilled staff

A new poll has found that almost seven in 10 small and medium-sized businesses struggle to find new recruits with adequate skills. The Attitudes to Work study, conducted by an independent research firm, surveyed 525 business professionals at SME companies across various industries. It was commissioned by coworking company, The Brew.

Startup Competition at South Summit Madrid: 13 Years Driving Innovation with Over 1,000 Finalist Startups and $15.3 Billion in Investment

Over 1,000 startups from around the world have participated in the 13 editions of the South Summit Madrid Startup Competition, each year, the competition selects the 100 most innovative and disruptive entrepreneurial projects on the planet. These startups have achieved a survival rate of close to 90% and have had a significant impact on the ecosystem: $15,3 billion raised in investment rounds, $11,4 billion in revenue, and nearly 60,000 jobs created. Additionally, they have been involved in over 100 exits, with eight reaching unicorn status, including notable Spanish companies such as Cabify, Factorial and JobandTalent.

Nscale secures $155M to expand AI infrastructure and meet demand for large-scale compute

Nscale, the hyperscaler engineered for AI, has announced that it has raised $155 million in Series A funding to accelerate expansion across Europe and North America. Led by Sandton Capital Partners, with participation from Kestrel, Bluesky Asset Management, and Florence Capital, this oversubscribed funding round signals strong confidence in Nscale’s path to building the hyperscaler, purposely engineered for AI.

£61,000 a year: the cost of small business owners ‘doing it all’

New research from Xero, the global small business platform, has found leaders of the UK’s smallest businesses (1-9 employees) and sole traders spend less than half (46%) of the working week on their core jobs. These businesses effectively aren’t starting work on primary responsibilities until 2:36pm on Wednesday, because they’re juggling non-core roles like IT, legal, admin, finance and cleaning.

Mambu acquires payment technology provider Numeral

Mambu, a cloud banking platform, has announced the acquisition of Numeral, a French payment technology provider for banks and fintechs.

All I want for Christmas is not to be out-of-pocket

Christmas may be the season of giving, but new research from Pleo, surveying 1,000 UK working adults who incur expenses, reveals employees are unintentionally footing the bill for their bosses.

Supporting financial wellbeing in the workplace

The past four years or so have brought with them a range of financial, economic, and systemic shocks. While everyone is hoping for a steadier future, with interest rates and inflation falling and economic growth and wages rising, it is more important than ever to be mindful that for your employees it may not be that simple. Dr Glenn Mason, Head of Adult Psychological Therapies at Onebright, discusses supporting financial wellbeing in the workplace.

UK firms back employee rights agenda despite cost concerns

UK firms broadly support the Government’s employee rights agenda but accept that it will lead to increased people management cost and complexity.

Transitioning from employee to CEO: what to expect when you become the boss

When I decided to stop practising as a social worker in March 2023 to devote myself full-time to my own business, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction and gratification. I felt content; I felt whole. Of course, I then faced a new set of challenges, but I realised that what I had achieved empowered me to deal with those challenges. Having achieved my purpose, I was able to navigate the tides and ride the waves that came my way.

UK’s first medical trial of four-day work week finds significant benefits

Thrive, the fast-growth all-in-one learning technology company, has released findings from the UK’s first medical trial of the four-day work week in partnership with the University of Sussex, revealing significant improvements in both physical and mental wellbeing and productivity, but some challenges on a business level.

Oxford Ionics, Quanscient, and Airbus collaborate on quantum fluid dynamics

Oxford Ionics, a startup in trapped-ion quantum computing, has announced it is working together with Quanscient, a provider of multiphysics simulation software, and aerospace manufacturer Airbus to develop quantum simulations for computational fluid dynamics.

The vital role of multilingual talent in European fintech

To operate successfully in an interconnected yet multifaceted world, the ability to communicate and relate in different languages has become increasingly important. Brits abroad are renowned for being lazy with language, relying on the widespread use of English in most parts of the world. Not only is this slightly mortifying, but this has resulted in an actual language deficit in the UK, which has been identified by the UK government as a barrier to trade.

Is it time to invest your cash back into the business?

Rick Gosling, Director and chartered financial planner at Five Wealth, explores how business owners can make surplus cash work harder for their companies.

10 things you might not know about your Self Assessment tax return

Navigating the Self Assessment tax return process can be overwhelming, particularly for those new to it or who haven’t been filing for long. While it may seem straightforward for some, mistakes can easily be made, and opportunities to save time and money may be missed without proper guidance.

Drop the mask? an introvert’s guide to enjoying the work party

Introverts aren’t good at networking, we’re told. Introverts are shy, they say. So how could an introvert possibly enjoy a work party? Getting together outside the office with colleagues you might not know that well, spending hours talking about nothing, not being able to hear yourself think over the loud music – it all sounds like an introvert’s worst nightmare.

The real cost of good social media

Let’s start with a question: How many people do you think it takes to run a top-tier social media account? One? Maybe two? Here’s a spoiler; it’s more. A lot more.