Blog
Achieving work-life balance
Posted 29th May 2023 at 5:04 pm
The concept of work-life balance has become increasingly important in recent years, as people recognize the need to maintain a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives. Achieving a work-life balance can be challenging, but it is essential for our physical and mental wellbeing. The term “work-life balance” refers to the equilibrium between the time and energy spent on work and the time and energy spent on personal activities such as hobbies, family, and leisure. The idea is to achieve a healthy balance between work and personal life, so one can be productive and happy in both areas. ... Read more
Finance Reading Recommendations
Posted 22nd May 2023 at 4:42 pm
We all know that reading can be one of the best tools for self-improvement, but busy people often lack the time to find the right book to read, let alone read it! Our guide below rounds up some of the most useful books about managing your finances, to get you one step closer to finding the book that you need. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason This classic book offers practical advice on personal finance and wealth building through a series of parables set in ancient Babylon. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey This... Read more
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Posted 15th May 2023 at 4:34 pm
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a funded programme that connects businesses with academic institutions to help companies access the knowledge and expertise needed to drive innovation and growth. KTPs facilitate the collaboration between businesses and universities to develop new products, services, and processes and improve existing ones. The KTP programme typically involves a three-way partnership between a business, an academic institution, and a recent graduate, known as a KTP Associate, who works within the company to implement new ideas and knowledge. KTPs offer several benefits to businesses, most notably unrivalled access to academic expertise, including cutting-edge research and... Read more
Rise of the Machines: Future-proofing businesses and jobs in the age of AI
Posted 8th May 2023 at 4:27 pm
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of machines and computer programs to perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and problem-solving. AI technologies include machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, and others. Overall, AI has the potential to revolutionise the way businesses operate. It can help businesses improve efficiency, reduce costs, and create new opportunities. The positive impact of AI on businesses is already being felt in various ways including: Automation: AI can automate many repetitive and tedious tasks, such as data entry, customer service, and accounting. This... Read more
Neurodiversity in the workplace
Posted 2nd May 2023 at 1:21 pm
Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in how people’s brains are wired and how they process information. This includes conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and others. A growing body of research and advocacy highlights the unique strengths and perspectives that neurodivergent individuals can bring to the workplace. For businesses, embracing neurodiversity can have numerous benefits. One of the most significant is increased innovation. Neurodivergent individuals often think differently and approach problems from unconventional angles, leading to fresh ideas and creative solutions that may not have otherwise been considered. By tapping into... Read more
Negotiating your office lease
Posted 25th April 2023 at 12:49 pm
During the pandemic, many office-based companies downgraded or gave up their premises entirely in anticipation of remote working becoming the new norm. Recently though, many organisations have recognised the limitations of entirely home-based working and pivoted back to an expectation of regular office attendance. If you are looking for a new premises, to access additional space within your current premises, or simply have your existing lease coming up for renewal soon, this blog will help you get ready to negotiate! Know the legislation & protect your terms. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 is a key piece of legislation,... Read more
£25M investment available to West Midlands SMEs
Posted 16th April 2023 at 6:47 pm
A ground-breaking investment fund has been set up by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to provide innovative businesses with equity of up to £1m, helping them to expand and grow the region’s industries of the future. The West Midlands Co-Investment Fund, totalling £25m, has been set up to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), with investments focused on SMEs that offer high-growth potential and the ability to help supercharge the regional economy. The investment partnership will look to invest in SMEs across a variety of sectors including green technology, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and creative and digital, helping... Read more
Are you buying or trading Crypto?
Posted 4th April 2023 at 10:38 am
If you are thinking about buying cryptoassets (“crypto”) you need to know the basics and understand the risks before jumping in. And remember, if you decide to invest in crypto then you should be prepared to lose all the money you have invested. The range and accessibility of crypto have grown rapidly in the last few years, accompanied by a surge in speculative trading – which means people trading just because they have heard it may rise in value, rather than seeing evidence to support a potential rise. A number of people invest simply for fun! Crypto can be thought... Read more
Review your working-from-home conditions
Posted 30th March 2023 at 1:10 pm
Three years on from the first national lockdown, many of us are still working fully or partially from home. Having established our working-from-home set-up and routines quickly through necessity, we may have adopted schedules, practices, and environments that are less than optimal for the long term. Now is a great time to reassess how, when, and why you work from home, to ensure that you are getting the most out of the new culture of hybrid working. One of the biggest problems when working from home is work-life balance. This statement might seem counter-intuitive, when working from home allows... Read more
New UK version of GDPR to be introduced
Posted 22nd March 2023 at 6:52 pm
New data laws to cut down paperwork for businesses and reduce cookie pops-up have been introduced by the UK government. The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill was first introduced last Summer and paused in September 2022 so ministers could engage in a co-design process with business leaders and data experts, ensuring that the new regime builds on the UK’s high standards for data protection and privacy and seeks to ensure data adequacy while moving away from the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach of the European Union’s GDPR. Data is fundamental to fuelling economic growth in all areas of society, from unlocking medical... Read more