What do business owners keep in their pockets? Keys? Phone? Handkerchief? What about their HR team? Probably not but that’s about to change. Established HR consultants Cream HR have created a new resource that enables owners of SME’s (there are 5.51 million in the UK) to have their HR questions answered from their phone with their new product FresHR.
Microalgae protein innovator Brevel has successfully implemented the FOAK (First-Of-A-Kind) strategy method by building its first plant for proprietary industrial-scale fermenters for microalgae protein. The company has completed construction of its FOAK facility and already secured two commercial agreements with leading food & beverage companies.
MicroHarvest, a company in sustainable microbial protein, has achieved a key milestone by demonstrating an ability to scale its production process to 10 tonnes per day in a single vessel, representing a ten-fold increase over its current capacity.
iwoca, one of Europe’s largest SME lenders, has announced a new £200 million package of debt funding from Citi and Waterfall Asset Management and doubles its SME loan offer ceiling to £1 million.
Sunswap, a UK cleantech startup decarbonising cold chain logistics, has announced that transportation services business, DFDS, has ordered the first 10 of its zero-emission ‘Endurance’ transport refrigeration units (TRUs).
For half of managers with children, balancing their job with family life has become an overwhelming challenge, leaving many to feel like they’re failing both at home and at work, new research from Avilio has found.
AXA – Global Healthcare has announced the launch of its newest and most customisable product to date, Global Health Adapt, designed to meet the needs of SMEs with a globally based workforce. The product will be available for all new business from the beginning of January 2025.
BGF, one of the largest and most experienced investors in the UK and Ireland, recently surveyed business leaders across its 400-company investment portfolio to assess the impact of AI on SMEs.
cocreatd is a a new venture studio, designed to back big ideas in the marketing industry and bring them to life. Founded by Oliver Yonchev, a former business partner of Steven Bartlett – cocreatd is Yonchev’s first venture since exiting Flight Group, alongside co-founders James Lawson Baker, Paul Stevens, and Simon Whitaker.
Precision solutions provider Cogna, which uses AI-powered software development to address complex business inefficiencies across critical industries, has raised $15 million in series A funding.
A staggering 89% of UK cybersecurity professionals believe that AI is more beneficial to cybercriminals than to defenders, according to the latest State of the Security Profession report from the Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec). With only 54% stating that AI will aid defenders more than attackers, this highlights a growing concern within the industry.
Scotland’s expanded Venture Builder Incubator (VBI) 5.0 has launched, supporting 34 entrepreneurs – 12 more than last year – from UK universities to grow and develop their businesses and skills.
A notable 41% of IT professionals are struggling to hire qualified candidates due to a ‘significant’ skills gap in the industry, with only 12% reportedly unaffected by this gap. That’s according to new data from SolarWinds, a provider of simple, powerful, secure observability and IT management software.
Forefront RF, a fabless semiconductor company based in Cambridge, UK, announced the closure of its £16 million Series A funding round, backed by existing investors BGF and Foresight Group, alongside new VC partners, Octopus Ventures, and Cambridge Innovation Capital. This infusion of capital supports Forefront RF’s mission to redefine how mobile devices manage complex RF environments, expanding possibilities for connected devices worldwide.
Smart Horse Technologies BV announces Equestic Coach-Copilot, a first-of-its kind AI-powered solution, that dramatically improves performance, coaching, and safety for both riders and horses.
Solivus, a UK provider of lightweight solar installations for commercial applications, has designed and delivered a £2 million solar installation to Farnborough Airport, taking it one step closer to its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2030.
According to Towergate Employee Benefits’ research, over a third (37%) of companies with employees based outside of the UK stated that they do not offer enough health and wellbeing support and that this impacts their ability to recruit and retain people.
Lightweight solar company Solivus has announced it has been paired with modular services and infrastructure giant Modulaire Group as part of the Mayor of London’s Better Futures Net Zero Innovation Challenge.
SuperTech, the UK’s only Tech supercluster, welcomes world-first investment technology, AI Simulator, to play a pivotal role in supporting early-stage founders in the SuperTech Seeds programme. The platform provides crucial assistance to entrepreneur at the ‘idea stage’ as they work to develop their business models and navigate the complexities of the startup investment market.
Solar developer software, Glint Solar, has announced an $8 million Series A funding round led by Smedvig Ventures with participation from Momentum, Futurum Ventures, Antler’s Nordic fund, and later stage fund, Elevate.
