The last few months have been the most challenging period for many UK business leaders. The coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent economic downturn have thrown the workplace out of kilter, requiring CEOs and senior leaders to be more present in every facet of the business.

Coutts, the wealth manager and private bank, has released the findings of its inaugural Coutts UK Entrepreneur Index (CUEI), outlining the level of entrepreneurialism in the UK as well as the desires and barriers that they have faced when starting their business.

The first lesson to be drawn from 2020, and undoubtedly the biggest lesson, is that the future is unpredictable. All of us in our personal and business lives try to predict the future to some extent, as this is what enables us to lay plans for the future.

It is no secret by now that we are huge supporters of encouraging more females into the tech industry, and closing the gender equality gap. We have recently released out latest issue all about Women in Tech, where we spoke to some amazing females and heard some empowering stories from both males and females in the industry. However, to hear from some more inspiring females and males about the tech industry, and particularly the role women have within it, then head along to the 4th annual conference from Women in Electronics.

Spoon Guru, the London-based AI powered food search and discovery technology startup, has announced that it has secured a Series A funding round with W23, the Venture Capital arm of Australia’s largest retailer, Woolworths Group.

In a year full of adversity and challenge, an amazing line up of finalists for The Best Business Women Awards have been announced for 2020. This is cause for celebration as most businesses have faced their most turbulent year yet.

Zendesk has released new research in partnership with Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) that shows how companies investing in customer experience (CX) are reaping the benefits. The global study found there is a clear link between organisations with more mature customer experience capabilities, and improved business success in areas such as market share, increased customer spend, and pivoting processes over the last six months. 

Startups Editor Anna Flockett talks to Murata’s Mitch Nozaki, EMEA facilitator for their Open Innovation website, about why the electronics company is looking to collaborate with startups.

Resilience and Recovery, a new report from the Female Founders Forum - a project by think tank The Entrepreneurs Network, in partnership with Barclays - has revealed that female-founded, equity-backed businesses have been worse affected by the COVID-19 pandemic than their male counterparts.

Edgify, a company building AI training frameworks at the edge, has secured a $6.5m seed funding round backed by Octopus Ventures, Mangrove Capital Partners and a semiconductor giant.

The decision to hold Web Summit online in the interests of public health follows discussions with the Portuguese government and city of Lisbon .

The art of coding is reported to enhance productivity and communication within businesses, therefore, it is fast becoming a sought-after skill by employers. As the tech industry continues its exponential growth and becomes an integral part of every business, where’s the best place to start for a career in coding?

It seemed only fitting that three year old startup, Florence, an online platform and app that connects care homes directly to nurses looking for extra shifts, be named after the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, otherwise known as the ‘Lady with the Lamp’.

If you think improv is just for extraverts and wannabe actors, think again. Learning improv skills can be a great investment in your career too. From marketers to management consultants, from startup founders to the NHS, people are taking the skills of improvisation offstage to help them communicate more clearly, act more confidently and think on their feet.

The economic downturn has been a struggle for many businesses but it has also been an opportunity for many to review their marketing activity.  POLARIS, a digital marketing agency based in London, suggests that as part of this marketing review, now might be the ideal time to consider the effectiveness of your business website and if planning an update, migrate your website now.

The organisers of Europe's startup-investor matchmaking event, Arctic15, have brought its conclave virtual. The new online summit takes place from the 19th-21st October. The innovative event will bring together over 2,000 virtual attendees, 300 investors, 450 startups and 150 corporates, all of which are seeking to connect with the next generation of Nordic and European startups.

Futrsm.pl is a tech-for-good platform designed to empower purpose-led entrepreneurs to do marketing better through a series of online tools and affordable expert support. It is an online Saas platform designed to empower purpose-led entrepreneurs to develop and deliver their own marketing strategy through a series of online tools and affordable expert support. The core package focuses on supporting socially-minded businesses that are bringing in a junior marketer as their first marketing hire. Providing a framework for both the company and the new start based on 90 days plans. The two inclusive monthly support sessions with a dedicated marketing expert to provide director-level practical strategic guidance throughout. A helping hand to get community changing businesses the brand presence they deserve.

The Purposeful Project, founded and run by serial entrepreneur Simon Squibb, has launched a new initiative to create specialist entrepreneurial hubs in local libraries, with Belsize Community Library forming the first of its kind in the UK.

The University of Exeter Business School is involved with a project to automate Gift Aid donations and potentially unlock more than £560m for charities every year.