Business London Press

Oxford Web Design Company Commemorates 25th Anniversary

Technology

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04/04/2023

Oxford Web Design Company Commemorates 25th Anniversary

Rare Form, the most epic web design agency in Oxford, is commemorating their 25th anniversary. Since 1998, the team has been dedicated to delivering creative web design & digital solutions to clients in Oxford, and around the world. They’ve been at the forefront of the web, providing cutting-edge services that have helped businesses reach and engage their audiences with websites, apps, & marketing that works.

Rare Form New Media was founded by Jean Paldan in 1998, in Plymouth, Michigan. She moved to Oxford, England in 2001 and grew with a team of creative thinkers who saw the potential of the internet. Over the past 25 years, they’ve evolved to meet the changing needs of the digital landscape, constantly adapting to new technologies and trends to help their clients succeed, and win online.

“Our 25th anniversary is a huge milestone for us. We owe our longevity and success to our clients, partners, and team members, who have supported us and made it all possible.,” said Jean Paldan, CEO and founder of Rare Form. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with so many incredible brands over the years and look forward to continuing to help them rock their web design & digital marketing in the years ahead.”

At Rare Form, they offer a wide range of services, including WordPress web design, web development, search engine optimization (SEO), graphic design, app development, digital marketing, and more. Their clients span across various industries, including retail, science & technology, finance, and hospitality, among others.

As part of their 25th-anniversary celebration, they’ve been rolling out a rebrand and website refresh over the past year. They’re also hosting a series of events throughout the year at their new offices on Beaumont Street, to thank everyone who has been with them on this epic journey.

They’re thrilled to have made it this far and are ready to take on the next 25 years with the same drive, creativity, and energy that got them here in the first place. Rare Form are thankful for everyone who has been part of their wild ride.

GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF STAR LOTTIE BEDLOW REVEALS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CHOCOLATE MEATBALL SHAPED EASTER EGG!

Food & Drink

News Desk

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04/04/2023

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GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF STAR LOTTIE BEDLOW REVEALS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CHOCOLATE MEATBALL SHAPED EASTER EGG!

Pure Chocolate, white chocolate and jelly pasta, strawberry and raspberry coulis with sweet decorations

The Great British Bake Off star Lottie Bedlow has made the world’s first giant chocolate meatball shaped Easter Egg!

Lottie, known for her chocolate desserts, even created pasta made from white chocolate to create the perfect chocoholic dish.

The 33-year-old baker, who appeared in the New Year’s Day special of the popular Channel 4 show teamed up with top Italian American restaurant Frankie & Benny’s to make the unique pure chocolate Easter Egg.

The restaurant is famous for its popular meatballs and wanted to showcase the much loved dish but with an Easter theme.

So they asked Lottie to make a football sized meatball, ten times the size of a normal meatball, made out of pure indulgent chocolate. And the result looks amazing!

The giant chocolate Easter egg took 30 hours to practice and perfect, five hours to make and assemble and comes complete with white chocolate and jelly pasta, a strawberry and raspberry coulis sauce with sweet donations.

And if you pop into Frankie & Benny’s this Easter you are in with a chance to win this amazing chocolate treat.

Lottie said: “I was tasked by Frankie & Benny’s to make a giant meatball complete with spaghetti, they wanted it football size, made of pure chocolate and hollow inside. The first attempt with the mould failed and the balloon technique – absolutely not!”

Lottie added: “If you want to be in with a chance of winning my giant meatball Easter Egg all you have to do is head down to your local Frankie & Benny’s, look for a picture of my face, there will be cards on the table, scan the QR code and fill in your details. It’s as simple as that!”

The competition runs until April 16 and the winner will be contacted on April 17th.

Giant Chocolate Meatball Easter Egg Competition Terms & Conditions:

Be in with a chance to win a one-of-a-kind Frankie’s giant chocolate meatball Easter egg in celebration of the most delicious time of the year!

• All participants may enter this competition from the 20th of March – midnight 16th April 2023
• The prize is non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for cash.
• We reserve the right to switch the prize to a prize of equal value.
• We reserve the right to amend the terms and conditions of this competition.

To Enter
• To enter this prize draw, guest must complete the following steps:
• While dining in any of our restaurants, guests will be presented with a QR code on their table.
• Once scanned, guest must enter their required details to be placed in the pool of entrants.
• A verification email will be sent confirming your entry.

Winner Selection
• The winner will be drawn at random from a pool of all valid entries.
• Winners will be drawn and contacted on 17th April 2023
• If the winner does not respond with their contact details within 48 hours, Frankie & Benny’s reserves the right to draw a new winner.

NEW KIMBERLY-CLARK PROFESSIONAL™ ICON™ DISPENSER COLLECTION REDEFINES THE TOUCH-FREE EXPERIENCE IN THE WASHROOM

Retail

News Desk

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04/04/2023

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NEW KIMBERLY-CLARK PROFESSIONAL™ ICON™ DISPENSER COLLECTION REDEFINES THE TOUCH-FREE EXPERIENCE IN THE WASHROOM

Innovative dispensers offer unparalleled hygiene, unprecedented style, simple operation, and cutting-edge technology designed to meet customer needs

Kimberly-Clark Professional™ has introduced its ICON™ dispenser collection in the UK at The Cleaning Show in London.

This innovative washroom solution will bring game-changing hygiene and design, combined with a new standard of dispensing performance and human-centric experience, to deliver unmatched confidence that goes beyond simply dispensing paper towels. The ICON™ portfolio showcases three system solutions for hand towels, toilet tissue and skincare, including soap and sanitiser.

Study by GfK, a leading European market research company shows hand hygiene in public washrooms has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began

To gain a better understanding of how people’s attitudes towards hygiene and handwashing have shifted in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Kimberly-Clark Professional – which has a UK regional office in Tadworth, Surrey – commissioned a survey¹ conducted by GfK in Europe. The survey revealed perceptions of cleanliness alongside evolving hygiene habits, expectations, and standards, such as:

76% of people have had poor experiences with hand hygiene in public washrooms since the start of the pandemic.
Almost half (46%) of respondents wash their hands more frequently than before the pandemic because they pay more attention to hygiene overall.
42% have experienced empty or improperly functioning paper towel dispensers, leading to frequent complaints.

In the wake of COVID-19, the survey results underline that now more than ever, washroom users need reassurance that their hygiene, safety, and health are a top priority once they set foot in the washroom.

Confidence by Design

While most dispensers are designed around paper, the Kimberly-Clark Professional™ ICON™ collection is designed around the servicer, facility manager, and end-user – offering style, simplicity, cutting-edge technology, and a human-centric experience.

“Backed by teams of hygiene and innovation experts, the launch of the Kimberly-Clark Professional™ ICON™ dispenser demonstrates our commitment to delivering unmatchable confidence in the washroom,” said Craig Bowman, General Manager at Kimberly-Clark Professional™ in the UK. “As higher expectations of cleanliness become a lasting benchmark, we want to be a trusted provider of game-changing solutions for hygiene and safety for our users and choosers.”

Touchless Performance for Game-Changing Hygiene

The Kimberly-Clark Professional™ ICON™ collection features a high-performing and touchless dispensing system, with a seamless design and hidden towel mode that minimises contact points for a more hygienic experience and reduces the potential risks of cross-contamination. With dual sensor technology that recognises partially torn sheets and presents a new sheet before dispenser issues occur, the Kimberly-Clark Professional™ ICON™ collection provides reliable and hygienic dispensing by ensuring paper towels are always available for end-users.

Best Performance and Efficiency

Among the many guidelines and hygiene expectations that companies have adopted recently, budget is a key issue. The Kimberly-Clark Professional™ ICON™ collection is the most significant upgrade in technological advancements in dispensing in over a decade and is fully equipped to support facilities and cleaning staff to improve maintenance efficiency with:

Easy-to-read intuitive control panel, which means less training is required to operate the dispensers.
Easily visible lighting and servicing cues that indicate when products need replenishment, reducing guesswork on servicing needs.
Direct Drive Technology, which provides the benefits of efficiency, better battery life³ and less noise – the quietest electronic dispenser on the market.⁴
The hand towel rolls have a plastic-free core plug to allow full recycling in a single waste stream.
Minimal maintenance with 99.9% jam-free performance², and a single set of batteries that deliver up to 150,000 dispenses³.
It is simple to access and features a smooth, controlled opening and closing experience.

Function Meets Design: Ultimate Dispensing Experience

The act of handwashing goes beyond science. More than just a simple paper towel dispenser, the Kimberly-Clark Professional™ ICON™ collection features designer faceplates that add style to hygiene.

By incorporating visually appealing interior design elements, the range of colours and faceplates are designed to complement every environment to elevate the washroom experience. Designs include warm marble, cherry blossom, and ebony woodgrain, as well as black, silver and white mosaic. In addition, customised faceplates can be implemented for branding and advertising.

“This launch combines over 150 years of hygiene innovation with modern design to create a new product that looks as great as it works and elevates any space. It also highlights Kimberly-Clark Professional’s commitment to being a global leading provider of hygiene, safety, and productivity solutions,” said Bowman.

The Cleaning Show was held at ExCeL London from March 14 to 16.

For additional information visit Kimberly-Clark Professional™ ICON™.

^{1 GfK eBUS® 2022: „Hände waschen“ Survey, 1,000 people between the ages of 18 and 74. Germany.}

^{2 Dispensing test conducted by Patmore Slades Horizons in September 2021.}

^{3 Based on an average of 30,000 dispenses per year using historical usage and foot traffic data.}

^{4 Against leading competition}

Chase Buchanan Wealth Management forms partnership with Your Overseas Home

Finance

News Desk

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03/04/2023

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Chase Buchanan Wealth Management forms partnership with Your Overseas Home

Chase Buchanan Wealth Management, the global provider of expat financial advice, tax planning, investment and wealth management, has formed a key partnership with Your Overseas Home to create a growing knowledge base of informative webinars.

Your Overseas Home helps international property buyers obtain all the information needed to buy overseas property safely, with the provision of guides, webinars and virtual events, as well as the support of a team of property consultants.

Working in partnership, the two organisations, both focused on support services for international foreign nationals and expats, hope to assist prospective buyers or those looking to relocate in making informed choices about their future abroad.

Free Financial Webinars for Expats

Expat financial planning and purchasing a home are two fundamental aspects for any expat starting a new life overseas, with myriad considerations around taxation, income sources, residency, estate planning, pension savings and investment structures.

Chase Buchanan and Your Overseas Home have been compiling the webinar hub over the last year, covering a diverse range of topics and themes, all available through the Chase Buchanan expat wealth management YouTube channel.

Current webinars available to view include detailed guides to the financial and tax considerations of buying a property, covering Spain, France and Portugal, among other popular destinations.

The expat wealth management provider has offices across Europe and North America, while Your Overseas Home provides property directories for six selected EU locations.

Each webinar is available on demand, featuring representatives from both organisations to explain, discuss and examine the intricacies of money management in a different country, using jargon-free language to provide accessible, understandable content.

Listeners are also invited to add questions to the chat function. They can view presentations and slideshows covering the basics of tax residency, variations in tax law in each destination, and alternative taxes that expats may not be aware of, including wealth and property tax regimes.

The Importance of Expat Financial Literacy

The most recent Office for National Statistics figures show that almost 785,000 British nationals live within the EU, excluding Ireland, with 69% based in Spain, France or Germany.

These records are likely to have changed since, with estimates that 560,000 UK citizens emigrated away from Britain on a long-term basis in 2022.

Living in another country can be highly attractive. Still, financial literacy and understanding of the tax systems, and differences between residency, tax residency and citizenship are vital for expats since, after moving abroad, factors such as currency risks, mandatory inheritance tax disbursements and international pension transfer rules come into play.

It is also necessary to know how property markets and the purchasing process works before making plans to buy a home in another country where rules around expat property investments may vary or the home purchasing system may differ from the UK.

The Chase Buchanan and Your Overseas Home webinar series is a valuable, complimentary resource that provides expats with information and the opportunity to ask direct questions and receive guidance from skilled experts in European property acquisition and the tax framework in each specific country.

Improving Financial Outcomes for Expatriates Overseas

Jana Korpova-Harris, Your Overseas Home Director says: “We are pleased to be helping future expats and property owners avoid pitfalls, navigate foreign tax and financial systems, plan financially, and ensure the outcome is many happy expats.

“Working in international real estate and financial services for over 15 years, I found that the information that is disclosed and presented in the webinars would take a future expat days, if not weeks, to collect by doing online searches.

“Furthermore, not many financial firms are known to share as much detail as Chase Buchanan do for free. So I believe that webinars and virtual events are a new way to learn about a specific topic without the need to become an expert yourself.

This new way of connecting with experts like Chase Buchanan through webinars and virtual events has enabled many international buyers to buy a property and move overseas. We are delighted to be able to help them do it safely.”

While the webinar series is aimed at those planning a move abroad, it may also be relevant to existing expats unsure whether to proceed with a long-term property acquisition or concerned that their financial affairs require re-evaluation.

Particularly in the post-Brexit environment, thousands of expats have found that their financial position has changed, or become unstable, demonstrating the essential nature of having the right information to make astute, forward-thinking decisions.

The logistical challenges of any cross-border relocation are complex, and it is imperative that foreign nationals living in another country as expats make informed choices when it comes to income, expenditure, investment and saving.

Lee Eldridge, Chase Buchanan Wealth Management CEO says: “Working with Your Overseas Home is a way to combine our collective expertise, highlight those potential issues so many expats experience, and ensure those considering a relocation have all the information available to help them coordinate their move successfully.

“With a focus on truly individual wealth management support, we are delighted to be engaged in creating these informative webinars. We hope they prove a beneficial resource for any expat looking to relocate with confidence.”

Chase Buchanan Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission with CIF Licence 287/15.

Read more about Chase Buchanan – Wealth Management Firm Chase Buchanan Reflects Back On Positive Year in 2022

Visit Chase Buchanan YouTube Channel to access a range of webinars with Your Overseas Home

Timeline, the UK’s fastest growing discretionary fund manager, smashes £2bn milestone

News Desk

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03/04/2023

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Timeline, the UK’s fastest growing discretionary fund manager, smashes £2bn milestone

The financial services firm has quickly surpassed the £2bn assets under management milestone while announcing that The Apprentice star Karren Brady and world-famous author Seth Godin will headline its new flagship event for financial advisers.

In just three years since its launch, Timeline, which offers a low-cost, evidence-based model portfolio service and financial planning solution to financial advisers, has passed the £2bn in assets under management (AUM milestone), having more than doubled the figure since May 2022. Timeline reached the milestone before the end of Quarter 1 of 2023.

With its unique combination of financial planning technology and an evidence-based model portfolio service, Timeline saw growth of over 142% in 2022, cementing its position as the, ‘UK’s fastest-growing DFM’, according to an independent industry report.

CEO and Founder Abraham Okusanya and his team have continued the company’s rapid growth in 2023 with huge demand for their services in Quarter 1 from financial advisory firms throughout the UK. Part of this success can be related to the Financial Conduct Authority’s new Consumer Duty rules and the firm’s natural affinity with them by offering financial advisers clear synergy with the requirements of fair value, avoiding harm, and enabling and supporting clients with clear and accurate information. Timeline’s one-of-a-kind ecosystem of deeply embedded tools elevate adviser-client experience and, combined with its position of being one of the most keenly priced MPS solutions, offer value for money and significant savings for clients.

Building on its rapidly increasing brand profile, Timeline recently announced the launch of a new flagship conference this year. ‘Adviser 3.0: Change Agents,’ for Financial Advisers and Planners, which seeks to drive positive change and new ideas in the industry. The conference will bring together hundreds of leading financial advisers in London on May 18th. The star of the BBC TV’s The Apprentice Baroness Karren Brady CBE, and world-renowned author Seth Godin, will headline a stellar line-up of expert speakers from throughout the industry. A limited number of tickets are still available.

Timeline Portfolios was launched in March 2020 exclusively to UK financial advisers. Since then, Timeline’s evidence-based model portfolio service has become available on all major adviser platforms. The service is underpinned by highly advanced financial planning software that empowers advisers to highlight the value of their advice to their clients, adhere to The Consumer Duty, and plan their clients’ optimum financial futures.

CEO Okusanya commented on the milestone, saying, “It’s been another amazing year for the Timeline and I’m incredibly proud of my team. We’ve worked tirelessly to continually evolve our tech to meet the needs of our users, and we’ve grown our team considerably to ensure our service maintains the high standards we set ourselves at the outset.

We’re also excited to be hosting Adviser 3.0, which will undoubtedly be the best adviser conference of 2023. Our goal is to bring solutions and ideas that drive positive change in the industry and help millions retire with confidence. We encourage advisers to talk to us – it can only lead to good things.”

With Timeline’s impressive growth and commitment to innovation, it’s clear that the company is poised for continued success in the years ahead.

Wealth Club’s First Single Company Investment, Unibio Reveals $70m Deal Producer of High Quality, Sustainable Protein for the Global Animal Feed Market

Business

News Desk

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31/03/2023

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Wealth Club’s First Single Company Investment, Unibio Reveals $70m Deal Producer of High Quality, Sustainable Protein for the Global Animal Feed Market

Unibio, which was Wealth Club’s first ever single company Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) offer to its clients in 2017 has revealed an investment of c.$70million from the Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG). Unibio has developed technology to convert natural gas (methane) into organic, high quality sustainable protein for the global animal feed market on an industrial scale.

The investment follows the signing of a major licensing agreement with Gulf Biotech in Quatar to produce its product Uniprotein.

Wealth Club clients first invested in Unibio alongside lead investor and adviser West Hill Capital in 2017 at a share price of GBP £4. Those who invested in the first tranche will have seen a 2.27x unrealised return on their investment. To date Wealth Club clients have invested £2.8 million.

Gayle Bowen, Finance Director and Head of Direct Company Investments at Wealth Club said: “We are enormously proud of this business. Not only does it look like it will deliver phenomenal returns to our clients but its science based innovations provide a solution to some of the world’s most pressing challenges – food security and sustainability. Unibio aims to become the world’s market leader in alternative protein production based on methanotrophic bacteria. The fact it is also Wealth Club’s very first direct EIS offer to our clients, make its success more special. We are excited to see what will happen next for the company, as this investment will enable them to meet the soaring global demand, and support their expansion into products for human consumption.”

David Hollidge, Partner, West Hill said: “West Hill has been an ardent backer of Unibio over the years having raised over £45million for the company to date in various investment rounds from as little as c30p/share. Bank of America arranged this latest round with the Saudi Industrial Investment Group, and both remain acutely aware of what this capital can allow Unibio to achieve. West Hill has discussed with the Board the possibility of investing on the same terms as the Saudi Industrial Investment Group, along with facilitating a secondary market. An IPO is anticipated in due course once the plants are operational, at which point, there could be a significant additional uplift in valuation.”

Unibio’s product, Uniprotein is a high-quality and sustainable protein on par with other high-quality proteins such as fishmeal and soy and studies have shown that this increases yield and resistance to disease. For instance, in tests, cattle fed the UniProtein® food yielded 10% more milk. In addition, the physical properties of the feed are advantageous in terms of particle size, relevant for good distribution in feeds, storage shelf life and traceability.

It has patented technology to convert natural gas such as methane into high quality sustainable protein on an industrial scale. Creating significant amounts of sustainable feed for farm animals and without the waste. It holds 70% protein content and is produced with no pesticides and significantly less water than plant-based protein sources. In addition, it does not take up farmland. The company is now developing the product for human consumption.

The US$70 m investment will facilitate the rollout of the company’s breakthrough technology to help meet a soaring global demand. The US$70million investment from the Saudi Industrial Investment Group, which values Unibio at circa £250million upon completion, is expected to form part of up to US$100million raise that the Board expects to conclude in the coming months.

The Saudi Industrial Investment Group is a leading independent petrochemical company listed on the Saudi Exchange with a market cap of about US$5billion.

Urban Picturehouse in Sidcup Launched by Montreaux

News Desk

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30/03/2023

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Urban Picturehouse in Sidcup Launched by Montreaux

Montreaux launches Urban Picturehouse in Sidcup

In a milestone for a highly anticipated development in Sidcup, the sales & marketing suite at Urban Picturehouse has now been introduced, offering prospective purchasers the opportunity to get a real insight into life at this landmark development.

Located at 155-159 Station Road, DA15 7AA, Urban Picturehouse lies in the heart of one of Sidcup’s trending areas with unparalleled access to everything that living in this area provides.

The new development takes inspiration from the original Odeon theatre that stood on the site prior to its conversion to swimming baths and later demolition. The new building is intended to restore some of the former glamour of the art deco period with a frontage that features glazed tiles, a multi-dimensional façade, and large windows to take advantage of natural light.

It offers a range of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in two newly constructed buildings. The state-of-the-art gym, located at the ground floor level, will be run by Pure Gym. Ideally located just a few minutes walk from Sidcup station (23 minutes to London Bridge), it is another example of a modern design in a sustainable location providing much-needed homes in the area.

James Rowntree, MD of Montreaux Homes, said:

“As part of the Montreaux Homes commitment to people and places, this scheme offers the best of the best in design and amenities. The early interest has been phenomenal with reservations already commencing. This demonstrates the appetite that buyers have for the area and a scheme that can provide private outdoor spaces, communal gardens, and great design all in a prime location. We invite anyone interested in the scheme to visit the marketing suite and look forward to introducing them to the development of which we are so proud.”

Urban Picturehouse is designed to meet the needs of modern lifestyles, with spacious interiors and a private outdoor space for each home in the form of terraces or balconies. Residents will also have use of a communal garden created above the gym and positioned between the two residential blocks. The new sales and marketing suite is open from Friday to Monday from 10:00 to 17:30 and Thursdays from 11:30 to 19:30.

For more information, visit www.montreauxhomes.co.uk.

MAJOR INVESTMENT AT BAKKAVOR BREAD IN CREWE CREATES NEW OPPORTUNITIES

News Desk

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29/03/2023

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<strong>MAJOR INVESTMENT AT BAKKAVOR BREAD IN CREWE CREATES NEW OPPORTUNITIES</strong>

Bakkavor Bread at Crewe, one of the biggest employers in the region, is set for a seven-figure investment as the site, modernising it to become one of the most technologically advanced bread manufacturers in the country.

The Crewe site makes chilled speciality bread such as hand-crafted flatbreads for UK supermarkets and employs over 300 people. The new investment will focus on creating a fourth production line at the site. This represents the biggest investment since Bakkavor opened the site in 2007. The site originally had two production lines and the new investment represents a doubling of manufacturing capability.

The technology behind the investment at Crewe will also be good news for people looking for a new career as the site is looking to recruit apprentices in both engineering and manufacturing, with further apprenticeship opportunities in Engineering and Finance at its Bakkavor Bread Aston site, and Supply Chain at its Distribution Centre in Crewe.

The growing need for technical skills to support food production was reflected last week during British Science Week, when Bakkavor polled parents across the Northwest asking them which careers they would recommend their children considered for the future. Software development (34%) and engineering (32%) emerged as the top career-paths parents would encourage their children to consider – above more traditional professions, such as law (20%), teaching (19%) banking (6%) and politics (1%). With the growing application of technology and automation across a wide range of traditional industries in the Northwest, the need for engineering, data and technical roles will only grow further.

Stuart Borthwick – General Manager of Operations at Bakkavor Bread commented: “Our breads business in Crewe has been a real success since it opened in 2007. We are delighted to see another major investment at the site, which will go some way to ensure our continued market leadership in the category. Food manufacturing is changing and the growing focus on engineering, manufacturing and technical roles itself creates new career opportunities at Bakkavor. With our award-winning apprenticeship programme we are also investing in developing the top talent of tomorrow. We are on the look-out to recruit people that would like to develop a fulfilling career with one of the town’s major employers.”

Small Business Experts Reveal Four Crucial Areas to Review Spending, Following Increased Pressure From the Recent Spring Budget Announcement

Business

News Desk

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29/03/2023

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Small Business Experts Reveal Four Crucial Areas to Review Spending, Following Increased Pressure From the Recent Spring Budget Announcement

Informi, a small business advice service by AAT, have offered advice on where business owners should review to help prioritise spending for the best ROI, as Google searches for ‘small business energy help’ rise by over 3000% in 12 months.

You can view the research in full here: https://informi.co.uk/finance/being-frugal-vs-splashing-cash-when-to-spend-and-not-to-spend

“Just as we emerge from the pandemic and economic turmoil, we’re hit with rocketing energy costs and rising inflation. As we hurtle into a cost of living crisis, making financial decisions – both personally and professionally – can feel overwhelming and in all honesty, a little bit scary.” says Huw Moxon, Marketing Manager at Informi. “As rising prices affect budgets, big decisions need to be made around where to tighten your purse strings, and which areas to invest in to give your small business the best opportunity of weathering the storm.”

4 Business Spends to Review Immediately

Marketing

It’s a common reaction to tighten your marketing budget during times of uncertainty, as many consider this to be a non-essential cost. However, “it’s important not to halt your marketing activity entirely, otherwise, you risk losing leads and new business opportunities.” Huw advises. Instead, Informi recommends prioritising data driven marketing tactics by having a clear idea of the ROI you expect per channel, and monitoring results regularly through tools such as Google Analytics. “By monitoring results, it means a small business owner can continue to invest in the right areas, or respond quickly to areas of marketing which take a dip.” says Huw.

Office space

“If your business can provide its services successfully via a working-from-home model, then remote working is worth strong consideration, as a huge proportion of your revenue can be saved this way.” Huw advises business owners that if you’re an advocate for the benefits of an office environment, there are more flexible options available without having to commit to a lease or rented space, such as shared office spaces or hot desks.

Third-party contracts

As the cost of living soars, day-to-day tasks which are often outsourced to third-party specialists can commonly be considered as ‘unnecessary’ and cut accordingly. But, Huw advises that “while this is a quick way to minimise costs, you should consider the impact they could have on your business in the long run, such as your sales pipeline.”

“Small businesses should consider conducting a spend analysis to help avoid making knee-jerk decisions based on intuition” he continues. A spend analysis can help businesses focus budgets elsewhere instead of on expenses which are having the biggest impact on the bottom line.

Staff

The cost of living crisis, increase in National Insurance rates, and the minimum wage rising, could all mean that it is no longer feasible to maintain your current staff levels. Informi recommends taking time to assess your current staffing structure including where responsibilities lie, and whether existing roles could be better optimised to meet the needs of a business. It’s also worth considering whether a reduction in hours is possible.

“Tread carefully,” says Huw, as “from a legal perspective – any changes to an employee’s contract must be agreed with them beforehand. Always get legal advice before reviewing decisions relating to staff.”

In summary, “belt-tightening is of course necessary during challenging and uncertain times”, but Huw also reiterates that “as well as being frugal, it’s important to invest in the right areas to give your business the best chance of withstanding any future financial threats.”

“Small businesses can visit their local authority websites to understand more about monetary support that may be available, and utilise advice services such as Informi.”

As UK’s Business Champions Crowned, HM King Charles Heads Glittering Cast

News Desk

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29/03/2023

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As UK’s Business Champions Crowned, HM King Charles Heads Glittering Cast

The winners of the 2023 Business Champion Awards have been revealed, celebrating exceptional businesses and entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors across the United Kingdom. The ceremony, hosted by broadcasting legend Huw Edwards at the prestigious East Wintergarden at Canary wharf in London, was attended by over 350 business leaders and entrepreneurs.

The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to HM King Charles III, in recognition of his long-standing commitment in founding the Princes Trust, which has helped over one million young people since it was formed in 1976. Simon Devonshire OBE received the Outstanding Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the business community.

The New Business of the Year Award was presented to three outstanding businesses, with Bronze going to Liberty Collins, Silver to Loki Poke, and Gold to Imagineerium. The Business Community Award recognised the achievements of Hero Award winners Charlie Betty Beauty and ECASS, Business Winner Biome Algae, and Community Winner Wanis International Foods.

The Business Innovation Award was presented to Silver winner Videosign and Gold winner The Simulator Company, while Nourished won the Growth Business Award. The ScoreApp SME of the Year Award was presented to Bronze winner Aberdeen Diving Services, Silver winner Oppidan, and Gold winner Making Moves London.

The Exporter of the Year Award recognised the international success of Silver winner Global Infusion Group and Gold winner The English Soap Company, while BTS Fabrications Limited won the Eco Foundry Sustainable Business Award, with Special Recognition given to Crown Oil and Silver presented to Juice Global.

The Diversity and Inclusion Award went to Simply Doughnuts, and the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognized the achievements of Alfie Jones in the under 20 year old category and Jax Davey of Nuevo. Asher Moses was named the Evelyn Partners Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner, and the Business Enabler Award was presented to Will Polston Coaching and Training.

Make An Entrance was named the winner of the Business Transformation Award, while Whiskey & Wealth Club won the Scale Up and Market Disruptor Award.

“We are proud to celebrate the exceptional businesses and entrepreneurs who are driving growth, innovation, and prosperity in the UK,” said Richard Alvin, Awards Director of the Business Champion Awards. “The winners of the 2023 awards have demonstrated outstanding dedication, creativity, and leadership, and we look forward to seeing their continued success in the future.”

For more information about the Business Champion Awards and the winners, please visit the official website.

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