End of lockdown provides an opportunity for businesses to plan for the future

The new tiered system of restrictions for England after 2nd December 2020 should give businesses the certainty to plan and recover, according to innovative accountancy firm, Davis Grant.

No code? No problem

In this article we will discuss no code, the no code startup and the no-code revolution and how it will impact businesses and the world around us. So, what is no code? No idea? Well, essentially it allows programmers, and perhaps more importantly, non-programmers, to create application software through graphical user interfaces and configuration instead of using traditional computer programming (or coding).

How Secure is the Digital Side of Your Business?

Running an organisation free of issues is what everyone wants. No business wants to fall victim to cyber attacks. However, that’s not always the case. Day in day out, cyber criminals are devising means of compromising businesses. According to Purplesec, Cyber crime is up by 600% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some other factors, such as software issues, make enterprises insecure.

Pet Instincts: the future is looking a lot less stressful for you and your pets

After moving abroad to study at university, Anil Puri, Founder of Pet Instincts, had no idea that his beloved dog, Nicki, would suffer from separation anxiety. One of the most common complaints of pet parents is that their dogs are disruptive when left at home alone. Their dogs might urinate, defecate, bark, howl, chew, dig or try to escape.

Easy Ways To Streamline Your Fleet During The Pandemic

2020 has been an unusual year for businesses. Every industry has been affected by the pandemic in some way, whether that’s for better or worse. As companies continue to try and navigate these difficult times, it’s essential to find ways to thrive and keep the money coming in.

Christmas comes early, with 40% of employees expecting to extend the festive period

With a third of UK employees having more than half their holiday allowance left to take, e-days the absence intelligence company, has found that 65% intend to use this up before the end of the year. With less than a month until Christmas, this raises some significant concerns over staffing resources for the remainder of the year.

How can SMEs harness data to compete with tech giants?

As December approaches, firms of all sizes will be planning their strategy for 2021. The second lockdown in England has brought yet another blow to the business world, and proves that industries will continue to be impacted by COVID restrictions and a new way of working. Planning for 2021 may be challenging this year, especially for small firms who have found their usual service heavily disrupted.

Focus on Skills: Why Apprenticeships Are the Future for Business

The need for specific employable skills in the workplace is essential. Attracting and acquiring new talent to all industries is a competitive field, with more students leaving school and attending university than ever before.

Apprenticeship reform could create more opportunities for young people

Co-op CEO Steve Murrells opened a round-table on 26th November with representatives from the Department for Education, National Apprenticeship Service, National Society of Apprentices and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. The conversation focused on a brand new report, commissioned by the Co-op group, into the national apprenticeships programme with recommendations on change to government policy.

Escaping the Big Smoke: why startups are opting for green space post-pandemic

Two decades ago, London was the place to be. The bustling environment of city life was a haven of opportunity, both personal and professional. Students, graduates, young professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs had their sights set on the cool bars of Soho and classy ‘lunch and learns’ in the hotspots of the capital while enthusiastically scribing their first business plans on whatever napkin or beer mat happened to be available; it was the only place to be.

Four reasons to consider outsourcing fleet management

If you run a business that relies on vehicles for operations, it can become more and more difficult to manage the fleet as it grows. Keeping the fleet in good working order, making sure that driver safety is a top priority, and saving money on maintenance and repairs can all become much harder to manage as your vehicle numbers rise. Because of this, it’s no surprise that many growing fleet-based companies are turning to fleet management companies. But is this the right solution for your company? Here are some reasons why it might be the best idea.

Why leaving funding too late will store up problems

Bored of the adage ‘If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail’? You’re not alone. Sadly, truisms – much like a parent’s advice – tend to be worth heeding. When it comes to funding, it’s best to do it well in advance. Too many companies leave it until there’s a cashflow crunch before acting. As trusted advisers, accountants need to play the role of parent, use their wisdom to identify future funding opportunities, model a couple of scenarios, and help clients find a source of finance that doesn’t leave them with unfavourable terms.

EU Commission sets out new intellectual property action plan

On 25th November 2020, the EU Commission published a new intellectual property action plan.  The action plan, touted as “an intellectual property action plan to support the EU’s recovery and resilience” outlines possible future moves, noting that intangible assets are “the cornerstone of today’s economy”, with IPR-intensive industries generating 29.2% (63 million) of all jobs in the EU during the period 2014-2016, and contributing 45% of the total economic activity (GDP) in the EU worth €6 trillion.

Webinar to explore financing for SME fashion brands

Fashion production software company, SupplyCompass, will be hosting its next webinar on 9th December at 12pm GMT: ‘Financing for Fashion Brands’. Teaming up with MarketFinance, SupplyCompass’s webinar will navigate the world of financial planning through the lens of fashion, specifically for SME brands.

Top tips to help small businesses through winter

As Britain’s high streets prepare to return to life in time for Christmas, small business owners have been given tips for coping with a still uncertain winter. This year’s Small Business Saturday – an annual celebration that encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ – couldn’t be better timed, with 5th December falling three days after the English national lockdown lifts.

Virtual event series launched to help businesses conquer COVID

A cloud-based CRM provider has announced a new virtual event series, designed to help UK businesses conquer COVID and rebuild revenue for 2021.

A startup in style

The social marketplace with the cult Gen Z following, Depop has been shaking up the fashion industry over the last few years. Starting up in 2011 as an incubator in Milan, Depop founded its HQ in London in 2012 and has fitted in with the smart hipster tone of Shoreditch ever since.

Looking after everyone’s wellbeing

Following the recent lockdown #02, there has never been a more important time to focus on wellbeing for clients and employees and of course yourself! I wanted to share what we have been doing at Clockwise to support everyone we work with.

How leaders can help their team combat the work from home fatigue

For many, December will soon mark almost eight months of continuously working from home, a complete shift from normality when it comes to working and riding the balance between work and home life. Google trends data also reveals searches for ‘burnout’ peaking as the UK entered a second national lockdown earlier in November.

The gold and diamond jewellery market

Of all the industries in the world, the jewellery business is one of the most traditional and old-fashioned. It is also the most reliant on direct interaction between master craftsmen and merchants. The most precious metals and stones in the world pass from hand to hand in a supply chain that has barely changed in hundreds of years.