Elswood appointed non-executive director at tech startup Wizme

Former Capita Travel and Events CCO, Trevor Elswood has joined meetings management platform, Wizme as non-executive director.

Frontline communications platform closes $10m Series B extension

Beekeeper, the first communication and operations platform designed specifically for frontline workers – announced a $10m extension on their series B round today. The extension brings the round’s total to $60m.

Online training platform launches with £2000 finance training prize

To celebrate the launch of its new financial training platform, Yorkshire-based finance management specialist Mellor Financial Training is offering businesses the chance to win free access to the site worth almost £2000.

Mobile mesh tech aids social distancing for manufacturing

Wyld Networks has launched a new mobile mesh technology to help get the manufacturing industry back to work safely, improve operational efficiencies and re-boot the economy. The innovative mesh technology can be built into mobile apps and IoT devices and uses virtual geozones to manage access, collect data, deliver location-aware content or safety information, and monitor social distancing.   

The top tips for starting a business
This article is part 1 of 14 in the series Kevins Top Tips

Welcome to a new series of articles where I will provide practical top tips on a wide range of decisions and challenges that early stage businesses have to make every day. Here I will look at everything from start up to scale up and from the more simple to the more complicated.

What Should SMEs Consider When Investing in a Website?

The current situation has taught us a lot of valuable lessons, particularly about the true power of digital. With brands like Primark reducing their revenue to zero as a result of having no e-commerce strategy and B2B businesses that previously relied on trade shows forced to transfer online, the value of having a strong digital brand presence is now more important than ever before.

Finance recruiting: 8 tips to give you a hiring edge

To find the right individual for the job will be a challenge for employers as well as hiring managers. With several companies intending to enhance their hiring efforts this year, it’s necessary that you put extra effort and time into how you attract the most effective prospects feasible. With more possibilities for talent comes even more competitors for you, as well as making the ideal hire currently is crucial to strengthening your firm today as well as into the future.

Businesses call for tech investment as report reveals 1.4m SME jobs at risk

Sage has launched new research revealing 62% of Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) have made or are planning to make redundancies following the COVID-19 pandemic. This equates to 1.4m jobs at risk if the Government fails to take decisive action now.

The winner for Best Technology Product goes to…Breathe Tech

The technology industry is growing at a massive rate, and especially within hardware startups, there is such a large number of tech products coming onto the market every year. So how do you stand out and make sure you are seen above the rest?

Britain’s 18-24 year old’s are the most entrepreneurial creatives post-lockdown

As Sunak prepares to announce £2bn support package to combat youth unemployment, new research has unveiled the extent to which young professionals can contribute to the economy.

The secret to digital transformation: emulating human behaviour

Today, many businesses are executing large-scale digital transformation efforts to keep up with the changing market demands and fast-paced competitors. In fact, a global survey conducted by McKinsey discovered that more than 80% of respondents stated their organisations have undertaken such efforts in the past five years.

Preparing for the new normal and building a financial plan

There is some light at the end of the tunnel for small businesses. As the lockdown continues to ease many retailers and hospitality businesses are now opening up again, or preparing to return soon.

Sustainable reward scheme raises 86% of £600k funding target

Bagboard, the creation of former credit trader Ben Ayres, and advertising executive Ashleigh Bishop, are launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the first sustainable rewards scheme that marries major brand campaigns and environmental impact, with a mission to make sustainable shopping the norm. 

The UK must do more to promote paid media

It’s always refreshing when policymakers break with the status quo and do something genuinely left-field and unexpected. The current pandemic has certainly produced its fair share of bold initiatives. In the UK we’ve just had the announcement of Government-subsidised meal deals throughout August to boost the ailing hospitality sector. And, sitting slightly higher on the impact scale, earlier this month the French Government announced that it was making tax credits available to any citizen prepared to take out a subscription to a current affairs newspaper or magazine.

SMEs must utilise AR to make an impact post-COVID

As lockdown restrictions begin to ease, SMEs need to look into engaging potential customers immediately in order to drive sales and awareness in the difficult months ahead. As the majority of the public continue to live and work remotely, however, companies must seek out new methods of marketing in order to attract better engagement. The online space has, thus, become crowded with brands attempting to cut through noise to truly make an impact on consumers. 

$16.9m awarded to help local entrepreneurs and small businesses

A team of entrepreneurs just awarded $16.9m in Business Scholarships to help local entrepreneurs and small business owners across North America and Europe, and they’re not stopping there.

New features added to Tractive app to help keep pets fit

Tractive, a company which has designed a GPS tracking for cats and dogs, has announced the launch of a new activity monitoring feature, allowing pet owners to ensure that their pets stay fit, as well as safe.

Re-skilling Britain’s workforce for the economy of the future

Re-skilling Britain’s workforce for the economy of the future has acquired a new urgency post lockdown, as COVID-19 has dramatically accelerated long term trends towards digitalisation and distance working.

F3 Tech announces third annual accelerator program

F3 Tech, a commercialisation program for early-stage companies, has announced its 2020 F3 Tech Accelerator Program will provide funding and executive support for portfolio companies to expedite commercial sales and prepare them for potential investment or acquisition.

The long overdue shakeup the fashion industry needed

Fashwire is a mobile and web marketplace for discovery where you can shop directly from over 300 fashion brands from over 33 countries you know and love and discover new ones from all over the world. Fashwire is changing the way we shop on our phones. By connecting consumers directly with brands all in one app, and it also allows brands to curate, create, and control all product and content in their profiles, which is different from a traditional retail model.