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The business of love: Managing workplace relationships

Richard and Judy, the duo who co-hosted “This Morning” between October 1988 and July 2001, met while working together at Granada TV in the North West of England. Their professional relationship evolved into something more, leading to 35 years of marriage. This phenomenon is not uncommon as Forbes (2024) reports that over 60% of adults...

Patricia Cullen

Eight people sitting around a table in a meeting

Should UK companies have employees on their boards?

Workers should be placed on company boards to “inject some much-needed common sense into boardrooms,” says Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Nowak’s comments were featured in an article by The Guardian reporting that FTSE100 chiefs were paid more in the first three days of this year than the average worker...

James Cook

Understudy Wisdom

Understudy wisdom: Leadership lessons from renowned business duos

For every big name in business, there are understudies that act as sounding boards, confidants, and trusted ears. The world was reminded of the influence that a number two can have in life and business when Charlie Munger passed away just shy of his 100th birthday. We break down a few notable number twos and...

Josh Dornbrack

Chāmpo beauty products

How Chāmpo became the UK’s fastest-growing beauty company

Ranked eighth on The Sunday Times Hundred 2023, making it the UK’s fastest-growing beauty company, Chāmpo has achieved a compound annual growth rate of 217% over the past three years and sold more than one million products since its 2019 launch. The company, which provides clinically proven formulas for a new generation of haircare consumers,...

James Cook

Advertising avenues 2024

Advertising avenues to consider for business growth in 2024

Brand visibility is critical and in a digital age, there are hundreds of ways to choose from to get your message in front of a potential consumer. As we welcome a brand-spanking new year, we highlight some advertising avenues to think about in 2024. Podcast advertising With over 4 million podcast shows available and 53,000...

Josh Dornbrack

The pros and cons of taking venture capital funding for your startup

In 2022, venture capital (VC) firms raised a record-breaking $162.6 billion. Venture capital investment can be an especially attractive way of obtaining significant capital for your startup and taking it to the next level. But what is venture capital? VC is a type of funding that involves private equity financing that is provided by several...

How hotels can reduce their carbon footprint

Hotels play a significant role in the hospitality industry, but their operations often have a substantial environmental impact. Reducing the carbon footprint of hotels is not only beneficial for the environment, but also for the reputation and bottom line of the business. In the context of the UK, where sustainability is gaining increasing importance, hotels...

Introducing The BoxCo: Transforming self-storage with tech

In an era dominated by instant deliveries and digital convenience, The BoxCo. emerges as a game-changer in the self-storage industry. With a vision to revolutionise the way we store our personal items, The BoxCo. is a breath of fresh air in a sector that’s ripe for a tech makeover. Founders’ vision: Streamlining storage The journey...

Navigating economic uncertainty: The role of fractional CFOs in risk management

Economic uncertainty inevitably challenges small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which commonly cannot afford full-time, high-level finance executives. In such turbulent times, a fractional chief financial officer (CFO) plays a vital role, especially in risk management. This article explores how fractional CFO services equip SMEs with essential expertise to effectively steer through economic uncertainties, delivering strategic...

What measures can UK companies take to reduce cyber attacks?

In an increasingly digital world, the threat of cyber attacks looms large over businesses, with UK companies being no exception.  According to recent statistics, cybercrime costs the UK economy billions of pounds each year, with the average cost of a cyber attack for a small or medium-sized enterprise standing at around £8,460 per incident.  In...

How UK landlords can get ahead on their rent

In the complex world of UK property management, landlords often encounter situations where immediate access to cash is necessary to address maintenance issues, cover expenses or pursue investment opportunities. To meet these financial needs, landlords have several options available, including cash advances on rent, landlord finance, factoring and secured loans. Landlords seeking quick access to...

What an accountant can offer the self-employed

As a self-employed individual in the UK, managing your finances can be a daunting task amid the responsibilities of running your own business. This is where an accountant becomes an invaluable asset, providing expert guidance and support to ensure financial stability and compliance with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) regulations. One of the key roles...

How your business can access capital quickly

Despite their importance to the economy, small businesses often have a very difficult time securing the funding they need. This means their owners need to be more resourceful when it comes to financing their businesses and may need to explore alternative sources of funding. Only 20 per cent of small businesses are successful in their...

Five actions that will drive 2024 business growth

As we enter 2024, the spotlight is on key predictions shaping the landscape for SMEs and global growth. With economic instability rife and technology evolving swiftly, SMEs must take proactive steps to manage resources and stay updated on market trends. According to recent research from Three Business, UK SMEs are anticipating an average of 15%...

Patricia Cullen

Five tech scale-ups to watch out for in 2024

With the rise of AI, advancements in cordless technology, and pinching as the new clicking, 2023 has been a great year for technology. It’s hard to sum up how much has changed in the last 12 months, and it’s even harder to predict where the next year will take us, but who are some of...

Alice Cumming

‘Immortalists’: The companies behind anti-ageing

Billionaires have begun to invest in unknown companies with the promise of anti-ageing. The likes of Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, and Bryan Johnson are reportedly set on living forever. Historically, rich, affluent people have attempted to prevent ageing. From Countess Elizabeth de Ecsed of the Kingdom of Hungary killing and mutilating hundreds of young women...

Alice Cumming

Who are the top 32 serial entrepreneurs?

Many successful businesspeople create one company and spend their lives scaling it, but for others, one just simply isn’t enough. As these entrepreneurs progress through their careers, they spot new industries that are worth branching into, take time to pursue what they’re really passionate about, or sometimes, for whatever reason, they just don’t get it...

James Cook

What Does 2024 Politics have in store for business

What does politics have in store for business in 2024?

Simon Danczuk, businessman, author, and former MP, looks ahead at the 2024 international chessboard, covering global events and their impact on UK business. November saw the Conservative government deliver their King’s Speech and Autumn Statement for the year ahead. The former is where King Charles is tasked with reading to Parliament a list of what...

Josh Dornbrack

Half gen alpha, half millennial

From Millennials to Gen Alpha: Lessons in workplace evolution and leadership

Generation Alpha are the first generation to be categorised entirely in the new millennium. Born between 2010 and 2025, this generation is widely defined by the birth – and use – of the iPad. Often the offspring of Millennial parents, there’s current discourse on Gen Alpha surrounding their behaviour, inattentive nature, and technology obsession. But...

Alice Cumming

HMV logo

HMV’s third act: The return to Oxford Street

Opened by The Gramophone Company on London’s Oxford Street in 1921, HMV has had a long-standing history as a high street brand. With the famous trademarked image from a painting by Francis Barraud titled His Master’s Voice acquired from the artist in 1899, Nipper (the dog in the painting) and the Gramophone became symbolic of...

Alice Cumming

Thatcher illustration

The remarkable legacy of the Enterprise Allowance Scheme and the case to bring it back

During the 1980s, in the midst of surging unemployment, Margaret Thatcher’s government rolled out the Enterprise Allowance Scheme (EAS), an initiative which provided a weekly allowance for unemployed people of working age with entrepreneurial ambitions. Although it had its critics, the ESA left a remarkable legacy. Rolled out nationwide in 1983, the Enterprise Allowance Scheme...

James Cook

Collection of images showing the history of an ice cream

How the history of ice cream highlights the importance of IP protection

The year is 1920, in a small sweetshop in Iowa, a young boy stares at a shelf with a frustrated look. He asks the store’s owner for an ice cream, then changes his mind and asks for a chocolate bar instead. The owner asked the boy why he didn’t buy both. The boy exclaims, “I...

Josh Dornbrack

Terry Venables

Terry Venables: A masterclass in communication, preparation, and flexibility

Terry Venables, the former football manager who led England to the semi-finals of Euro 96, sadly passed away over the weekend. Tributes have poured in for the former Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, and Barcelona manager, revealing some remarkable lessons from a man who left an indelible mark on the world of football. Recognising individual differences...

James Cook

Kathryn Jacob, CEO at Pearl and Dean

The leader behind Pearl & Dean’s workplace culture revolution

“Empathy, listening skills, calmness, energy.” These are the four characteristics Kathryn Jacob, CEO of cinema advertising company Pearl & Dean, attributes to a great business leader. Displayed as the “conductor of the very fine musicians and experts,” Kathryn Jacob is the “oil between the wheels” of the company. Founded by Charles and Ernest Pearl and...

Alice Cumming