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UK firms seeing strong international growth ahead (HSBC in SME Web)

According to findings from a new HSBC report, featured at SME Web, “UK-based companies are optimistic about their international business prospects, with almost three in four (72%) expecting their exports and imports to increase over the next 12 months”.

More on this can be found here.

UK hiring intentions at record levels (BDO in Elite Business)

According to findings from new research conducted by BDO, featured in Elite Business, “despite the looming shadow of Brexit, UK business has so far been outperforming in many areas”, with UK “hiring intentions having hit a record high”.

More on this can be found here.

British workers demand more automation (Digital Work Report in Business Matters)

According to findings from the Digital Work Report 2018, which are featured in Business Matters, the “fear of automation among British workers is not as prevalent as people assume”, with “nearly half” of respondents surveyed as part of the report “claiming they could get between 25 and 50 per cent more work done if technology took on repetitive tasks for them”.

More on this can be found here.

Permanent employment in dramatic decline, survey reveals

According to new research findings from TALint Partners, featured in Business Matters, “the majority of hirers feel permanent employment as the default option for most roles is in an ever-increasing downward trajectory”.

Millennials are rejecting job opportunities in ugly offices (Mindspace in Elite Business)

Survey research carried out by Mindspace, featured in Elite Business, has found that millennials are “putting their foot down”  when it comes to the environments they wish to work in. According to the research, 21% of millennials have admitted to at least once rejecting a potential employer due to office aesthetics.

https://goo.gl/RZryxs

One in three recruiters admit to ‘stalking’ potential employees online (CV-Library in smallbusiness.co.uk)

Data from CV-Library, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, has revealed the extent to which recruiters ‘stalk’ potential employees online. Based on the data, 30.8% of recruiters admit to‘stalking’ potential candidates on social media, indicating that professionals should be mindful about what they post online.

https://goo.gl/f7Jejn

Trade, regulation & jobs will be among the main issues for the UK economy after Brexit (Economist Intelligence Unit in Business Matters)

According to findings from a new report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, featured in Business Matters, financial services, healthcare and life sciences, and automotive sectors are the sectors most “likely to be hardest hit” as a result of Brexit, while the effect for consumer goods and retailing, energy and telecoms will be less dramatic.

https://goo.gl/hkyPkh

Most SMEs feel unimportant to their service providers (Adaptive Lab in Elite Business)

Survey research from Adaptive Lab, featured in Elite Business, has revealed that key service providers in the UK, such as banks, are leaving most SMEs feeling “neglected”, with 60% feeling this way. The research indicates that these providers have little understanding of the challenges SMEs face. 

Gender balanced management teams create better performing employees (Sodexo in smallbusiness.co.uk)

According to research from Sodexo, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, gender balance in management teams is "critical” when it comes to getting better performing employees, from employee engagement to health and safety. 

https://goo.gl/dSnwVX

Countries across Europe are leaving the UK in the dust when it comes to investment in technologies, according to a survey from Dell (Dell in Elite Business)

According to survey research from Dell, featured in Elite Business, the UK is “lagging behind” a number of developed economies when it comes to technological investment, including those in Europe. The finding is based on a survey of 3,800 business leaders in Europe, America and Asia. 

https://goo.gl/rWp6sq

Third of UK workers so stressed they want to find a new job (Business Matters)

According to new research, featured in Business Matters, some UK employees feel their employers are currently showing “a lack of interest” in their mental wellbeing”, even though many “are suffering from stress” on a daily basis, to the extent that it is a key factor when making the decision to look for a new job. 

https://goo.gl/p4i1Vv

Majority of Brits don’t want a job that involves travelling (CV-Library in smallbusiness.co.uk)

According to survey research from CV-Library, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, the vast majority of British workers would rather have a job that does not involve travelling. The time missed out on with friends and family was cited as the primary reason why among respondents. 

Three quarters of Brits say work has a negative impact on their self-esteem (CV-Library in smallbusiness.co.uk)

According to research from CV-Library, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, the vast majority of UK workers believe that their career has had a negative impact on their self esteem. The findings are based on a survey of 1,200 UK workers, with “not feeling skilled enough" cited as the biggest cause in this regard among respondents. 

https://goo.gl/BSizBm

Best cities to start a business in 2018 (Paymentsense in SMEweb.com)

New research from Paymentsense, featured at SMEweb.com, has ranked Aberdeen as the current best place to start a business in the UK, followed by Bath and Brighton & Hove. The rankings are based on varaibles such as “business demography, the UK labour market, the local cost of living, self-employment rate and average utility bills”.

https://goo.gl/vrixOK

Are you one of the happiest workers in the UK? (One4all in smallbusiness.co.uk)

According to new research from One4all Rewards, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, male workers aged over 55 working in a marketing, communications or advertising micro-business form the happiest work demographic in the UK. The findings are based on a survey of 1,024 UK workers.

https://goo.gl/9Npkxh

Demand for cashflow finance expected to rise in 2018 (Hitachi Capital Invoice Finance in SMEweb.com)

According to data from Hitachi Capital Invoice Finance, featured at SMEweb.com, the demand for invoice finance is expected to grow this year, with SMEs “most likely to seek invoice finance between May and August” and overall enquiries for cashflow finance increasing significantly in June.

According to new research only 30 per cent of employees feel motivated by receiving one big reward at the end of the year (Sodexo Engage in Business Matters)

Research from Sodexo Engage, featured in Business Matters, has revealed that only around 30% of employees feel motivated by receiving an annual bonus at the end of the year. 

https://goo.gl/rEsrMu

A third of businesses say apprentices will be top source of talent in 2018 (Alexander Mann Solutions in smallbusiness.co.uk)

New polling data from Alexander Mann Solutions, featured in smallbusiness.co.uk, has indicated that a third of businesses view apprenticeships as the most valuable source of emerging talent in 2018. The findings are based on “a poll of over 2,000 senior HR professionals” carried out by the company. 

https://goo.gl/A75ZAq

Number of British SMEs engaged in overseas trade declines by half (WorldFirst in Elite Business)

According to the latest Global Trade Barometer report from WorldFirst, featured in Elite Business, the number of UK SMEs embracing international trade has fallen by half year-on-year, with Brexit cited as a key causal factor in this regard. 

https://goo.gl/DVMiEf

UK salaries rise in February, as employers push to attract more candidates (CV-Library in smallbusiness.co.uk)

According to the latest statistics from CV-Library, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, UK salaries rose in February, as employers pushed to attract more candidates, with many of the nation’s key sectors witnessing above average salary growth last month.

UK professionals place a good salary as their top career priority (CV-Library in smallbusiness.co.uk)

New survey research from CV-Library, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, has revealed that UK professionals value a good salary and friendly colleagues the most when it comes to jobs. 

https://goo.gl/retj4B

Discrimination costs £127 Billion to the UK Economy every year (Involve & Cebr in Business Matters)

A new in-depth report commissioned by Involve and Cebr, featured in Business Matters, has revealed that discriminatory pay practices in the workplace are costing the UK Economy a staggering £127 billion in lost output each year. The finding is based on an analysis of over 500 workplaces.

https://goo.gl/j73sLs  

Growth is on the agenda for 80 per cent of the UK SMEs (Flexspace in smallbusiness.co.uk)

New survey research from the Flexspace Business Sentiment Survey has revealed that over 150 business owners in the UK have an“unexpectedly positive outlook for the future” when it comes to the growth of SMEs in the country. The responses come “despite uncertainty around productivity, the UK economy and a changing global landscape”.

https://goo.gl/qh1WFi

Charitable giving boosts SMEs bottom line (Work for Good in Business Matters)

According to new research featured in Business Matters to mark the launch of Work for Good, a new giving platform, “the more SMEs give to charity, the better their business performs”. The findings come at time when “on average, SMEs give 1.8 per cent of their turnover” in charitable giving – “equivalent to £32,000 a year”.

SME optimism is falling amid rising political uncertainty (Albion Capital in smallbusiness.co.uk)

Research from Albion Capital, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, has revealed that “SMEs are less optimistic than a year ago and cite finding skilled staff, red tape and political uncertainty as their biggest barriers to growth”. 

https://goo.gl/b8aqZf

UK workers are wasting one million hours a week looking for paperwork, according to new study (Fellowes in Business Matters)

A new study from Fellowes, featured in Business Matters, has revealed that “employees across the UK are spending over one million hours a week looking for misplaced documents at work, costing businesses around £20 million a year”.

https://goo.gl/wWPgNN

Having a bad day? The most stressed workers in the UK revealed Perkbox in (smallbusiness.co.uk)

New research from Perkbox, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk), has revealed that “men aged between 25 and 34 who work in finance businesses with over 250 employees and live in Cardiff are the most stressed workers in the UK”.  The finding is based on a study of 3,000 UK workers.

https://goo.gl/Xya6Tu

Dyson & Branson survey reveals the formula to success (Leeds Beckett & Pareto Law in Business Matters)

New research from Leeds Beckett and Pareto Law, featured in Business Matters, has revealed that “business leaders reach the top aged just 39”. The research is based on an examination of 100 influential figures of the past century, from Bill Gates to Margaret Thatcher.

Majority of SME bosses intend to work past state retirement age (Aldermore in Business Matters)

New research from Aldermore, featured in Business Matters, has revealed that “more than a third” of SME bosses “plan to work well into their seventies with one in ten saying they will never be able to retire”. The research is based on a survey of “over a thousand-business decision-makers across the UK”.

https://goo.gl/gcAon4

Flexible hours appeals to the nation’s workers (Vorwerk in smallbusiness.co.uk)

According to survey research from Vorwerk, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, “one in ten UK employees would be willing to leave their current careers if flexible working was offered elsewhere”. 

https://goo.gl/bhwGpY

Deloitte reveals consumer spending on leisure rose in Q4 (Deloitte in Elite Business)

According to a new report from Deloitte, featured in Elite Business, “leisure spending “jumped in the final quarter of 2017”. The findings are based on a survey of over 3,000 adults.

https://goo.gl/bbDq4T

Revealed: The top ten most popular industries for job searches right now (CV-Library in smallbusiness.co.uk)

New data from CV-Library, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, has revealed that “construction and engineering were the most searched for job queries by candidates last month”. The data is based on 55 million sessions on the company’s site in January. 

Lack of business savings placing strains on UK self-employed (Aldermore in smallbusiness.co.uk)

New research from Aldermore, featured in smallbusiness.co.uk, has revealed that “poor business resilience and a lack of business savings” are putting freelancers and sole traders “at risk of financial hardship”. 

https://goo.gl/mHCWY5

Almost half of UK workers too tired to work effectively (Employee Pulse in Business Matters)

New survey research from the Employee Pulse, featured in Business Matters, has indicated that “45 per cent of UK workers” are “too tired to work effectively” for “at least half the time throughout the entire year”. 

https://goo.gl/yTSjyd

Unpaid SME staff overtime worth £1.6 billion weekly (Paymentsense in smallbusiness.co.uk)

New research from Paymentsense, featured in smallbusiness.co.uk, has revealed that UK SME staff are “working one additional unpaid day of overtime every week, leading to stress and the urge to change career”. 

https://goo.gl/zG2CC8

One in four workers don’t do any exercise at all (CV-Library in Elite Business)

Research from CV-Library, featured in Elite Business, has found that “while many UK employees want to stay healthy, many struggle to fit workouts around work”. The research is based on a survey of 1,200 UK workers. 

3.5 million expected to start business in 2018 (Office for National Statistics in Business Matters)

New research released by the Office for National Statistics has suggested that more people in Britain than ever before want to start their own business in 2018, with 11% intending to do so within the year. 

https://goo.gl/ucm6nx

Half of businesses admit to paying suppliers late (Tungsten Network & Institute of Finance and Management in smallbusiness.co.uk)

Findings from the Tungsten Network and the Institute of Finance and Management (IOFM), featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, indicate that “slow internal processes and a lack of automation are among the biggest challenges for businesses when it comes to late payments to suppliers”.

https://goo.gl/GbXD7G

Security risk: Two thirds of SMEs hoard old paperwork and documents (Cleardata in smallbusiness.co.uk)

Survey research commissioned by Cleardata, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, has found that “two thirds of UK businesses hoard paperwork and risk losing important documents, with sheds, basements and lock-ups” being common “document dumping grounds”.

https://goo.gl/hXN6mT

Two-thirds of shoppers would not buy from a retailer who has previously ghosted them (Narvar in Elite Business)

Survey research from the retail-tech startup, Narvar, featured in Elite Business, has revealed that “ghosting customers could cost companies the chance of repeat business”. The finding is based on responses from 3,000 UK consumers. 

Brexit, cashflow and employee skills gap are Brits' biggest concern for 2018 (Litmos Heroes in smallbusiness.co.uk)

New research from Litmos Heroes, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, has revealed that UK businesses are most concerned “about Brexit, cashflow issues and their employees’ skills gaps” at the start of 2018.

https://goo.gl/rcJ4ip

Half businesses increased cyber security budget last year amid attacks (EY in smallbusiness.co.uk)

Research from EY, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, has revealed that 53% of businesses have increased their cyber security budget over the last year. It comes at a time when cyber security is becoming a key issue for businesses.

https://goo.gl/sLtbj4

Record number of SMEs plan to downsize, close or sell as their outlook looks more gloomy (Federation of Small Businesses in Elite Business)

Survey research from the Federation of Small Businesses, featured in Elite Business, indicates that the “outlook for many UK small-business owners worsened in the last quarter of 2017”.

https://goo.gl/LvyJkg

Online shoppers in the UK make 80% of their retail purchases online (Royal Mail in Business Matters)

New research from Royal Mail’s annual Delivery Matters report,featured in Business Matters, indicates that the “proportion of money being spent online” continues to increase. 

Pointless and unproductive meetings cost SMEs £973,000 every year (STL Microsoft Training in smallbusiness.co.uk)

New research conducted by STL Microsoft Training, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, has indicated that “139 pointless and unproductive work meetings occur within SMEs every year” costing “just under £1 million annually”. 

https://goo.gl/rBtCNK

 Majority of UK employees looking for a new job (Business Matters)

According to new research featured in Business Matters “the majority of employees across both” the “private and public sectors, will be searching for new employment in 2018”.

https://goo.gl/3uaSGo

Late payments trend to get worse for UK SMEs (MarketInvoice in smallbusiness.co.uk)

New research from MarketInvoice, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, has indicated that the “culture of late payment to UK SMEs is undermining their growth and the value they bring to the UK economy”.

https://goo.gl/BCYodW

UK business growth accelerates in the three months to December (Confederation of British Industry in Business Matters)

According to findings from the Confederation of British Industry’s latest Growth Indicator, featured in Business Matters, private sector growth picked up” in the final quarter of 2017. The findings are based on responses from those “across the distribution, manufacturing and service sectors”.

SMEs forecasted to add £241bn to UK economy by 2025 (Hampshire Trust Bank in Elite Business)

According to research from Hampshire Trust Bank, featured in Elite Business, SMEs are forecasted to add £241 billion to the country's economy by 2025, which is an increase of 19% from 2016. 

https://goo.gl/Eou9sz

Scaling home businesses could unlock £3.3 billion for UK economy (Vonage in Business Matters)

A new study from Vonage, featured in Business Matters, has indicated that “home businesses looking to scale could generate an additional £3.3 billion in profits for the UK economy if they grow beyond the home”.

https://goo.gl/oW5cmr

Bad debt soars despite increase in sales and salaries (Creditsafe in smallbusiness.co.uk)

New data from Creditsafe’s Watchdog Report for Q3 (July-September) of this year, featured as smallbusiness.co.uk, has found that “bad debt has soared despite an increase in sales and salaries”. 

https://goo.gl/2EzWcL

Three quarters of interviewers check candidates’ social media before interview (Totaljobs in Business Matters)

New research from Totaljobs, featured in Business Matters, has found that “three quarters of interviewers” will check a candidate’s “social media as part of their interview preparation”.

Nine working days lost each year due to office tech fails (Ebuyer.com in smallbusiness.co.uk)

New research from Ebuyer.com, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, has suggested that “UK workers are losing on average nine working days a year due to technology fails around the office”.

https://goo.gl/Nsrcpg

Employers fear social media despite enormous potential (SocialReferral in Business Matters)

New research from SocialReferral, featured in Business Matters, indicates that social media is the “key to developing strong employer brand and recruiting best candidates but employers shy away from using it”.

https://goo.gl/AHYH4i

Former Conservative MP Paul Uppal named small business commissioner (Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy in startups.co.uk)

According to startups.co.uk, the former Conservative MP, Paul Uppal, has been named by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark MP, as ‘small business commissioner’. More on the role can be found by clicking on the link below. 

https://goo.gl/9JLFxd

Poor customer service costs £28 billion per year in lost productivity (The Institute of Customer Service in Business Matters)

New research from The Institute of Customer Service, featured in Business Matters, has found that workers “dealing with customer service issues during office hours cost their employers £28 billion per year in lost productivity”. 

UK workers are putting in more than 13 extra days of work a year (CV-Library in smallbusiness.co.uk)

New research from CV-Library, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, has found that the “average UK worker” puts in more than 13 extra working days worth of overtime a year, with “two thirds (64 per cent) admitting they often work more than their contracted hours”.

https://goo.gl/JkAPwn

58 million Brits are now subscribed to their favourite brands (Zuora in startups.co.uk)

Research from Zuora, featured at startups.co.uk, has found that “89% of UK shoppers are members of the 'subscription economy', highlighting the opportunity for startups to sell directly to consumers on a monthly basis”.

https://goo.gl/yGWYin

Brexit prompts the rise of the micro business (City AM)

According to the latest figures from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, featured in City AM, “there are now more than” 5.5 million companies in the UK, with “99 per cent of these businesses” being SMEs. 

https://goo.gl/WmxfDY

More than half of UK SMEs still unfamiliar with the GDPR (Collyer Bristow in smallbusiness.co.uk)

According to research from the law firm Collyer Bristow, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, 55% of UK small businesses are “still not familiar with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) despite its introduction being now less than a year away”.

Poor time management, an obstacle to Britain’s economy (smallbusiness.co.uk)

According to research commissioned by the online printing company, instantprint, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk,  “the biggest obstacle to the growth of Britain’s business enterprises is poor time management”. 

https://goo.gl/N2DNjt

SMEs’ confidence plummets to lowest levels since the Brexit referendum (Elite Business)

New research from the Federation of Small Businesses, featured in Elite Business, has found that the confidence of SMEs has “plummeted” to its “lowest levels” since the EU referendum last June.

https://goo.gl/Aa4mUj

Workers put wellbeing over pay, new research finds (smallbusiness.co.uk)

According to new research from the employee engagement specialists, Reward Gateway, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, “more than half of employees agree that they would choose a company that cared about their wellbeing over a company that pays more”.

https://goo.gl/rcQ54R

HMRC unveils new service for growing businesses (HMRC in Business Matters)

Business Matters has featured an article on HMRC launching its ‘Growth Support Service’, which is “aimed at mid-sized UK businesses that have plans to grow”. Businesses that can register for the scheme must “have a turnover of more than £10 million, or have more than 20 employees”.

British manufacturing continues climb up global rankings (EEF & Santander in Business Matters)

New data from the EEF and Santander, featured in Business Matters, has found that “British manufacturing continued its climb up the global rankings” last year, delivering growth.

https://goo.gl/S6qUuF

SME expenditure totals an average £1 million a year (smallbusiness.co.uk)

According to new research from American Express, featured at smallbusiness.co.uk, “UK small businesses spend on average £1 million a year on business expenditure”.

https://goo.gl/cng1nd

UK is exit capital of Europe for startups ( Crunchbase, Mind the Bridge and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in Elite Business)

New research from Crunchbase, Mind the Bridge and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, featured in Elite Business, has found that the UK is the “exit capital of Europe for startups”. 

https://goo.gl/9ASxW8

Reputation tops list of business leaders’ priorities (Business Matters)

According to new research featured in Business Matters, “protecting reputation” tops the list of priorities for business leaders, “ahead of financial achievements and business leadership”.