SME fleet telematics specialist ranked 20th fastest-growing tech company

SME fleet telematics specialist, Vimcar, has been ranked the 20th fastest-growing technology company in Germany by global professional services network, Deloitte.

InMotion invests to help Jaguar Land Rover trace sustainable supply chain

InMotion, Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital and mobility services arm, has invested in blockchain technology firm, Circulor.

Latest free data available on Close Brothers Asset Finance’s SME Data Hub

The data from Close Brothers Asset Finance’s latest research of 900 senior members of the SME business community is now available on its free-to-use SME Data Hub.

Recycleye raises £1.2m to turn trash into treasure

Recycleye, the intelligent waste management startup, has secured £1.2m in seed funding, led by venture capital investors MMC Ventures and Playfair Capital, with participation from leading funds Atypical Ventures, Creator Fund, and eolos.

AI-powered healthcare solution nominated for Covid-19 response award

Healthcare technology company, Vantage Health has announced that its AI-powered platform, Rego, has been shortlisted for ‘Local COVID-19 Response Partnership Award’ at the HSJ Partnership Awards 2021. The shortlisting recognises Vantage Health’s dedication to improving healthcare and effective collaboration with the NHS, through Rego’s role in managing hospital outpatient attendances during the pandemic.

Brisky business in the Mediterranean

Cyprus is wooing would-be investors to the island by massively speeding up the process allowing third-country nationals to establish new businesses there.

Flow increases sales of depression headset by 247% during pandemic

As COVID-19 continues to impact mental health and access to treatment in the UK, medical device company Flow is reporting a 247% increase in sales of its at-home, brain stimulation headset treatment for depression with 30% of its users overcoming depression during the pandemic.

Programme for startups looking to make an impact on CO2e emissions

Carbon13 is the venture builder for the climate emergency, supporting startups geared at reducing CO2e emissions; by 2025, its mission is to help 1,000 entrepreneurs build 150 startups, each of which has the potential to reduce emissions by at least 10 million tonnes per annum.

Payment orchestration increases FirstGroup’s resilience in cashless travel

FirstGroup has selected BRIDGE’s payment orchestration platform to achieve greater resilience and control in managing e-payment transactions. BRIDGE technology has initially been deployed across the FirstGroup’s online ticketing for UK bus travel, with plans to encompass the company’s mobile app channel and rail ticketing systems.

Small businesses suffer most furlough stress

e-days, the absence intelligence company, says data from 86,000 recorded UK absences has revealed that stress levels have spiked twice in 2020 following the changes to the furlough schemes. These peaks were especially noticeable in organisations with fewer than 250 employees as the effects of the pandemic proved more challenging for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs).

Email Marketing Module to Help Businesses Bounce Back from COVID-19

Cloud-based Customer Relationship Management [CRM] solution, BuddyCRM, has unveiled a sophisticated email marketing module, designed to help businesses drive increased revenue and bounce back from COVID-19.

Ten top tips for kickstarting PR activity for your startup

As a startup, you’ve got loads of goals, problems and opportunities to think about, but make sure you carve out some time for some PR activity that will help raise your profile and grow your business. 

Organising to maximise business efficiency

Running a startup is challenging – it involves wearing many different hats and having to deal with multiple decisions and challenges every day. If we work in a cluttered and disorganised environment on top of this, it can make us feel overwhelmed and stressed. Disorganisation can make it harder to prioritise tasks, focus on important decisions and think creatively.

How to use the Christmas break to change your life and your startup

Christmas this year won’t be the same as every other year. Regardless of where we live and how rigidly we stick to the rules, the gatherings are going to be smaller. It’s been an extraordinarily difficult year for us as individuals, as family members and as entrepreneurs.

Effective Ways to Cut Business Costs

After a difficult year, there is no surprise that most people are looking for ways to save some money and scrape those pennies together. No matter which part of your life you are looking to tighten the belt in, it can often be difficult to know where to start; particularly if you are a business owner, who has felt the brunt of this year. We don’t blame you; we have all been there! Try not to stress, however, for we have a helpful and effective list detailed here, of ways you can cut costs to your business, without causing any damage to profits.

Isolation: You and the letter box boom

The current epidemic has created a world of isolation we are rapidly becoming rather familiar with. The use of words like quarantine, face masks and social distancing are part of our daily vocabulary and with that both business and consumer behaviour has seen a dramatic change in activity. With all that said, none of us want to sit back and let our businesses idle. In this very moment we are seeing new startups launch the world over (The Guardian, 19 Nov) as many take advantage of government advice to stay at home as an opportunity to pick up dormant inventions, push for new patents and contribute back to society in these tough and trying times.

After an unpredictable year, what might 2021 hold for the next-gen of global businesses?

How could we have prepared for 2020? It was the question on the minds of many throughout the early months of the pandemic that affected every aspect of daily life. But now, we know the answer: preparation was impossible. However, our collective experiences in this most challenging year have taught us some valuable lessons. Among the most important is that they way individuals, leaders, and companies respond to new and unexpected situations is the true indication of success.

Breaking down the barriers of remote hiring

Finding suitable talent for your business has always come with its challenges, and 2020 has accelerated a shift in workplace culture that means a higher level of remote workers, searching for their perfect employment match, creates new hurdles for recruitment.

A/O PropTech is first VC to join World Economic Forum Global Innovators Community

A/O PropTech, Europe’s largest proptech VC, will be the first venture capital firm to join the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a member of its Global Innovators Community.

London and Berlin pledge to strengthen trade and investment links post-Brexit

London and Berlin have pledged to strengthen business links between the two European capitals by announcing an extension of a partnership agreement signed by both city’s trade and investment agencies last year. The city-to-city agreement has been renewed to coincide with a virtual event marking the 20th anniversary of the twinning of the two cities, involving the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Governing Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller.