Like many, I have complicated feelings towards International Women’s Day. Taking one day out of 365 to marvel at the successes of women is an even more dismal ratio than our track record on female prime ministers. I suppose I’d like to imagine that we don’t need this global celebration anymore. The 2023 Alison Rose Review found that 150,000 startups were founded by women last year – more than twice the number in 2018. Might we finally be drawing close to a utopic future where men and women can rule together in harmony? Not if the tech industry has anything to say about it. For decades, sector ..read more

Yesterday, after more than eight years in the role, Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation as Scottish First Minister. She will vacate the position, as well as the Scottish National Party leadership, once a successor is elected in the coming weeks. Sturgeon’s leaving is a good lesson for business leaders on the importance of knowing when to quit. Admitting defeat, backing down, or walking while you still have plenty of goodwill – the art of the graceful withdrawal has been somewhat butchered by political and business leaders in recent years. Liz Truss’ recently began an unrequested return ..read more

Like many people, I had doubts about the metaverse when it was christened in 2021. Every discussion about this strange new, online world felt like it should bring Sarah Connor bursting through the doors and screaming about the dangers of Skynet. Sarah may not have seen this bit coming, though. At the end of last year, Meta – the company formerly known as Facebook, and supposed champion of the coming metaverse – announced it would be laying off 13% of its workforce. In total, 11,000 people were left without jobs.  Those still standing were told last week to up their game: company leaders ..read more

We previously covered what small business owners want from an emergency budget, with a reversal or delay of the National Insurance increase, reductions to gas and energy bills, and further increase to the employment allowance topping the list. What was actually announced was a complex windfall tax on energy firms, that will help to pay for a range of payments to help people cope with surging energy bills. Some of the most vulnerable households might get £1,500 pounds over the course of the year but for most, the support is at best a sticking plaster on a gaping wound. The vast majority of the ..read more

So far, 2022 has not been the post-COVID celebration that SMEs had hoped for. ONS figures show that the country’s inflation rate is currently at 9%; a 40-year high. The result? Small business owners are being increasingly squeezed by rising costs and wages, skills shortages, and declining consumer spending. And the worst looks yet to come. The British Chambers of Commerce is among those calling for an emergency budget to fix gaps in March’s Spring Statement and help UK small businesses manage the cost of living crisis. This week Labour has accused the government of wasting money after its ex ..read more

The government has streamlined the pavement licence application process, enabling businesses to create more seating space outside far more quickly and far more cheaply than previously.  By cutting the processing time to five days and lowering the fee to a maximum of £100, the government is encouraging businesses to increase the number of covers they can take while maintaining social distancing.  The government hopes this initiative will help to save jobs and enable businesses to increase their profits during the summer months.  This came as England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris ..read more

Despite the unprecedented financial support that chancellor Rishi Sunak has made available to help small businesses get through the COVID-19 pandemic, most are eager to get back to work as soon as possible. Following prime minister Boris Johnson’s announcement on Sunday evening, employees who cannot work from home are being “actively encouraged” to return to work. However, any small business that does reopen has a responsibility to keep their workers safe by stepping up cleaning, implementing social distancing measures, and providing personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary. Remem ..read more

Get clued up on the hospitality VAT cut, including how long it lasts, what it applies to, and who is eligible ..read more

Protecting your small business from online threats is a key concern. To learn how to do so, read on for expert advice and tips… In Security ..read more

Startups sat down with Nick Coleman, CEO and Founder of Snaffling Pig, to chat through some of the burning questions new or prospective fathers may have when starting a business ..read more