It is true that many people do not like change and shy away from it. But it is equally true that periods of change bring much more opportunity for innovation and for businesses to adapt and pivot and supply products and services to fulfil needs that have opened up or changed in some way. In times of rapid change as we have seen over the last few years then the opportunities are both bigger and more abundant.
With COVID-19 rapidly altering the nature of the workplace to one that’s more digital and flexible, the debate about the future – and the purpose – of the office continues. As society adapts to post-pandemic life, businesses need to figure out how to accommodate their employees’ desire for flexibility while navigating all the difficulties that come with the lack of regular in-person contact with their team. Hybrid working appears to be the solution, but comes with its own challenges.
As any startup founder knows, there’s an ongoing battle that you wage with yourself to do with staffing. More specifically, whether and when to staff up – or to keep trying to spin all the plates yourself. When you’ve grown a business from the ground up, it’s hard to pass responsibility to other people. In fact, I’d liken it to a kind of bittersweet grief; I’m happy things are going so well but it is hard to take a step back and hand the reins over to someone else.
In November 2021, 28% of businesses were reporting a decrease in turnover compared with normal expectations for this time of year as the negative impacts of COVID-19 on trade remain. However, as another festive period is upon us, Christmas shopping presents an unrivalled opportunity for shoppers to support their local independent businesses.
Launching a startup is one of the most challenging steps you’re going to take in your professional life. But it will be worth it if you play your cards right. Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the way SMBs operate, but as a startup you need to consider many other challenges that lie between you and long-term success.
With extraordinary women from across different parts of the country, a variety of backgrounds and industries, the 19th annual NatWest everywoman Awards brought these entrepreneurs together having one thing in common – being some of the UK’s most inspiring females, recognising their outstanding achievements during one of the most challenging periods for businesses in living memory.
In the new digital economy, the rapid growth of cloud software is hardly surprising. In the aftershock of the pandemic, as hybrid working practices remain as prevalent as ever, companies face a critical need to enable staff to access data safely, without necessarily needing to return to the office. Elsewhere, organisations will be looking to cut costs, and store information safely with additional flexibility.












