Innovation. That’s the answer you’re most likely to get if you ask Scottish Business Network (SBN) founder Russell Dalgleish what Scotland’s most valuable contribution to the world is. He’s not talking about it in the past tense, either. Scotland’s capacity for innovation didn’t stop with world-changing technologies like the telephone, television, and the ATM.

In this article, Matt Bird, CEO and Founder of Lemon, shares insights drawn from his experience in the music industry. Matt highlights the transferable lessons he has brought from his former career, demonstrating the value they offer to fellow business owners.

Control is often seen as a good thing for businesses. Particularly where there’s so much at stake, including customers, employees, revenue, products and more. But it’s a term that lives or dies by its definition.

The impact of social media on our business can’t be underestimated: it can amplify authentic voices and help brands reach a whole new audience (even if the constant rebranding and changes are annoying, I’m looking at you X!). We’ve never been closer to our customers, whether that’s through daily behind-the-scenes Instagram stories or WhatsApp for business chat, but this can also be a double-edged sword.

There are subtle ways you can work out what someone who might want to buy your SME is really thinking, says Clive Stanley of Warwickshire-based M&A advisors, Acqius.

As the Paris Olympics is well underway, athletes from all over the world have prepared to compete at the highest level. It takes skill, dedication, and perseverance to be a gold-standard winner, as the British cycling team demonstrated during the London 2012 Olympics.

Despite the UK's headline inflation rate decreasing from 11% in 2021 to 2% in June 2024, businesses are not resting easy. In a recent survey by consulting firm The Hackett Group, procurement leaders identified inflationary pressures on profit margins as a major concern for 2024. For startups, protection against market volatility is critical to ensuring longevity and growth.

The journey from a humble garage startup to a sustainable business is fraught with challenges – most startups don't survive their initial years. While challenges like funding or product-market fit are common hurdles, a critical – and often overlooked – factor is lack of a clear vision for what they want their business to be in the future.

The evolution of technology continues to redefine industries, challenging traditional professions to adapt or risk obsolescence. Khariton Matveev, CEO and Founder at AI-Startup is an entrepreneur whose journey from edtech to AI offers valuable insights into the future of traditional work in a contemporary landscape.

Dr Nadine Hachach-Haram is the Founder and CEO of Proximie, a global healthtech platform digital connecting surgical operating rooms (ORs). Alongside her entrepreneurial venture, she is also a practising NHS surgeon, specialising in plastic surgery at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London.

Revolut vs Starling: the landscape of digital banking has seen a significant transformation, and picking the right bank for your needs has become a complicated affair with so many innovative new players in the market. This article provides a detailed comparison of these two financial powerhouses, examining their services, fees, user experience, and security measures.

Government, shackled by the need to appease voters and navigate political agendas, simply can't drive the change we need to reach net zero. Political parties struggle to lead in climate innovation because their policies often prioritise large, established sectors over nimble, innovation-driven startups.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage in the UK has risen by 66% since September 2023 and 18% since the beginning of 2024, according to Slack’s Workforce Index. As the owner of an AI tool myself, I see this as a positive. It paves the way for increased productivity, efficiency and profitability for businesses, amongst a shedload of other benefits.

Gary Knight, CEO at WOLF, explains the process of how the company monetised its app, successfully generating revenue for the company and its app users.

The software as a service (SaaS) market is vast and versatile. It unites a broad variety of products and companies, from Zoom and Salesforce to Adobe and Dropbox. There is something for an investor with any aspirations, be it simply to grow capital or to create something defining and revolutionary. If, as an investor, you have a preferred industry, you are very likely to find some SaaS startups within it to consider.

Discover how effective foreign currency management can help your startup scale globally. Understand the risks and strategies to safeguard your financial health.

Whatever market you are in, standing out is the key to gaining sales above your competitors. So many of us waste time and budget focusing on fine tuning a marketing campaign but struggling to see the results we need.

The topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes up in nearly every conversation I have right now – whether that’s with my executive team, Board, employees, clients, shareholders or other stakeholders. It seems to be the only thing that people are interested in and want to talk about. And rightly so, in my view.

As we navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape, the importance of fostering innovation through structured environments cannot be overstated. As the Director of the recently launched Porto Business School Entrepreneurship Center, I am keenly aware of the transformative potential these centres hold.

"By adopting advanced technologies like BIM, project management software, and digital marketplaces for buying and selling timber, the industry can improve efficiency, cut costs, and enhance project outcomes," writes David de Jong, CEO of VonWood.