Business, and the economy as a whole, can be very much like the English weather – sunshine and showers. We all know that long range forecasts are less accurate than short range ones, simply because there are a greater number of unpredictable factors to try and consider, and a small variable in any one of them can change the final outcome quite considerably.

Cyber is becoming an increasingly important part of every business, from small to large enterprise. Regarding the added issue of security – how do you protect what you value most?

The majority of executives deem sustainability to be important, yet a mere 25% integrate sustainability into the core of their business (according to a BCG/MIT study). The issues stem from the fact that sustainability is considered a business side-branch, and not integrated into the business strategy and model.

Half of the world’s population is using social media in 2021. That’s great, right? Well, there’s no easy answer to this question. Before jumping to a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, we have to consider how this number affects your social media activity.

As a 90s kid I wanted nothing more than a glittering career in the music industry. I soaked up the Spice Girls’ confidence and felt like I could summon the power within myself to become famous. When TV shows like X-Factor and Popstars gained popularity in my teen years, a career in music seemed within arm’s reach. I believed that if I worked hard and didn’t give up, success would be there for the taking.

As we emerge into this new, post-lockdown, post-brexit world, many businesses feel it's time to take the next big growth step - international expansion. Huge opportunities await across borders, but no doubt everyone's aware that new market entry is a time and labour-intensive process, and can be very costly if not successful. 

The latest research shows that employees' mental health is being affected by COVID and that this is having a knock-on effect on their working life. For Mental Health Awareness Week, Towergate Health & Protection urges employers to look after employees at all levels.

How can the British public help their local pub, restaurant, cafe or hotel recover from May 17th when venues reopen indoor seating?

Martijn De Wever’s venture capital fund Force Over Mass has raised €103M to back the UK and Europe’s most promising tech startups. One sure bet in this pandemic has been the accelerated growth of tech, including the record returns seen in venture capital.

Musicians reportedly lost out on two thirds of their income in 2020 with the doors to live music venues closed and festivals cancelled across the board. With live music taking a backseat, innovations in the sector came to the fore, with collaboration and creation taking on a truly digital-first approach.

According to the latest statistics, the average business spends between 5-12% of their annual turnover on marketing. While millions of organisations - particularly those operating in B2C sectors - perceive digital marketing as fundamental to driving sales and resulting business growth, other business owners still need convincing of its value, and often have preconceptions of the Return On Investment (ROI) required to make it worthwhile.

It's a shame when brilliant ideas are left in limbo before they are able to come alive because of financial constraints. Did you know that most founders underestimate how much time their startup will need to achieve market validation by two to three times? What if one of these businesses runs out of money before anything viable can be completed, then this means that many great ideas are never given the chance they deserve. How many businesses could have succeeded if they had more time and money?

The number of public sector contracts being awarded to SMEs continues to rise and services are frequently being broken down into smaller contracts to facilitate SMEs. However, where SMEs may not have the funds to offer free value adds or perhaps offer the lowest price, it’s vital that they clearly articulate how they can deliver value.

Companies that sell across borders have higher revenues, higher profits, higher valuations, and better defend their domestic market. Buyers from around the world can access your website from wherever they are, so it’s time to optimize and make your site accessible for non-English speakers.

Record numbers of businesses are now using AI-based systems to hire and fire staff. And sign-up to these systems has sky-rocketed during the pandemic as more and more companies look at remote ways to recruit people.