As the festive season unwraps, new research from monday.com, the multi-product platform that runs all core aspects of work, reveals that UK employees are challenging the traditional year-end slowdown. A survey of 1,343 UK workers reveals that the majority (89%) remain productive during the holiday period, with over one in two (55%) reporting a surge in output driven by approaching year-end deadlines (25%) and a motivation to finish the year strong (30%).

Imagine finishing university, unsure if your degree aligns with your passions, struggling to navigate the job market, or simply wondering what you truly like or dislike. On top of that, making new friends or meaningful connections feels more daunting than ever.

A new poll has found that almost seven in 10 small and medium-sized businesses struggle to find new recruits with adequate skills. The Attitudes to Work study, conducted by an independent research firm, surveyed 525 business professionals at SME companies across various industries. It was commissioned by coworking company, The Brew.

Resilience is crucial for managing stress, handling change, and recovery and recharge. If you’re already anxious and overwhelmed, it can be challenging to focus on your resilience, but it is possible. Here are six practical steps you can take to build resilience.

Remember when they said you needed generations to build a luxury brand? Well, 2024 is telling a different story. A new breed of entrepreneur – the Luxpreneur – is turning the luxury world on its head, proving that innovation beats inheritance every time.

New research from Xero, the global small business platform, has found leaders of the UK’s smallest businesses (1-9 employees) and sole traders spend less than half (46%) of the working week on their core jobs. These businesses effectively aren’t starting work on primary responsibilities until 2:36pm on Wednesday, because they’re juggling non-core roles like IT, legal, admin, finance and cleaning. 

Mambu, a cloud banking platform, has announced the acquisition of Numeral, a French payment technology provider for banks and fintechs.

Christmas may be the season of giving, but new research from Pleo, surveying 1,000 UK working adults who incur expenses, reveals employees are unintentionally footing the bill for their bosses.

Thrive, the fast-growth all-in-one learning technology company, has released findings from the UK’s first medical trial of the four-day work week in partnership with the University of Sussex, revealing significant improvements in both physical and mental wellbeing and productivity, but some challenges on a business level.

UK firms broadly support the Government’s employee rights agenda but accept that it will lead to increased people management cost and complexity.

To operate successfully in an interconnected yet multifaceted world, the ability to communicate and relate in different languages has become increasingly important. Brits abroad are renowned for being lazy with language, relying on the widespread use of English in most parts of the world. Not only is this slightly mortifying, but this has resulted in an actual language deficit in the UK, which has been identified by the UK government as a barrier to trade.

When I decided to stop practising as a social worker in March 2023 to devote myself full-time to my own business, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction and gratification. I felt content; I felt whole. Of course, I then faced a new set of challenges, but I realised that what I had achieved empowered me to deal with those challenges. Having achieved my purpose, I was able to navigate the tides and ride the waves that came my way.

The 4th December saw some of the most inspirational female founders come together at the everywoman Entrepreneur Awards for an afternoon of celebration. Over 300 business leaders, founders, and supporters of female entrepreneurs came together to celebrate the achievements of these extraordinary women and their businesses.

“Quality isn’t just a competitive edge, it’s a requirement,” says Radii Devices CEO & Founder Joshua Steer on building a successful MedTech startup.

The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), part of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has partnered with global innovation scaleup Wazoku to launch a crowdsourcing challenge that seeks a comprehensive telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) data link solution between a suborbital sounding rocket and a ground station.

FIGR Ventures, a newly established family office fund, has launched to invest in early-stage, mission-driven businesses.

OX Delivers, the UK e-mobility startup, has secured a $163 million contract to create its first franchise partner in East Africa, as part of its strategic vision to supercharge trade across the Global South.

Roto VR, designer of the world’s first interactive VR chair has secured £2.4 million in funding to capitalise on market appetite for enhanced VR gaming. The rollout of the Roto VR Explorer chair was launched globally on 8th November 2024.

Lineage, the largest global temperature-controlled warehouse REIT, has announced the winner of its Food Chain Innovation Challenge. Ryp Labs, the winner of the San Francisco regional event, was selected for its innovative solution for tackling postharvest food waste, securing the global grand prize of $50,000 and an invitation into a six-month, Lineage executive-led incubator programme.

Clone, the Paris-based European foodtech startup that has secured €105 million in funding, is officially launching in the Netherlands. The company aims to help restaurateurs maximise their kitchen capacity through a unique supply chain model paired with virtual restaurant brands focused on delivery.