The modern workplace has already embraced advanced technology with smart devices, paperless workplaces, cloud services and wearable tech that tracks employee productivity – in fact, much of this tech is already old news when it comes to the average workday. Research collected by flexible workspace specialist Instant Offices shows office workers believe tech integration improves working conditions, efficiency and communication with co-workers.
A recent survey conducted by Adobe of full and part-time professionals from the US, UK and India found 68% aren’t worried about the growth of AI in the workplace as they feel their roles …

Marketing trends and predictions all point to the importance of agile strategies capable of responding to audience behaviour in real-time, and UK businesses agree that staying close to changing customer demands is key to driving growth.
A recent study by Oxford Economics shows UK SMEs are more confident than ever before in 2018 and 41% plan on using their agility, innovation and strong customer relationships to reach ambitious targets. With all this in mind, now is a great time to consider whether your marketing strategy is aligned with your goals according to Instant Offices.
 

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Following months of scandals surrounding personal data misuse and debates over privacy, instantprint has investigated how people value online and offline marketing, personal data and more to help small businesses find a marketing strategy that best suits their needs.
In a survey conducted in association with Atomik Research, instantprint discovered four out of ten (43%) people believe online ads are the most intrusive form of marketing. Consumers believe these adverts invade privacy more than TV adverts (28%) and radio adverts (8%). On the other hand, flyers were deemed the least intrusive (7%).
As …

By Karen O’Donnell, Toastmasters International
The classic image of a common vision and purpose is the beauty of geese flying in formation.  In a small business, when we are in a similar supportive environment, a team has the potential to be actively engaged and adopt the business vision and purpose.  This clearly will impact the bottom line.
An interesting question is how many employees are this actively engaged. A recent Harvard Business Review survey of business leaders showed that this is less 25%.  However these actively engaged people are more productive, …

 The number of lost working days due to absence has fallen to a record low number according to recent figures by ONS who had revealed UK workers have taken an average number of just 4.1 sick days in 2017, compared with 7.2 days in 1993.
 
Earlier in the year, a recent CIPD survey had shown people who are coming into work when they are ill also known as ‘Presenteeism’ has more than tripled since 2010, with 86% of employees admitting they had observed Presenteeism in the workplace.
 
Research by the Centre of …

 By Sarah Henley, NextUp Comedy
Who still says women aren’t funny?   Many are out there performing on the comedy circuit and outperforming the men!
An increasing number of female comics
Between 1995 and 2014, the number of women appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe has increased by a whopping 650% – from just 28 to over 180. Of the nine comedians up for the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award last year a record four were women. The award was jointly-won by the brilliant Hannah Gadsby and John Robins.  This year the award has been won …

By Jonathan Amponsah CTA FCCA. CEO of The Tax Guys
A recent survey revealed that 49% of all nurseries in England do not make profits. Parents, who believe child care costs are too high will be surprised by this. In a recent article by the National Day Nursery Association their chief executive said: “The nurseries closing tend to be small but much-loved and long-established preschools.”

How can nurseries like these improve their finances?
Review Your Business Model.
Knowing your target market and serving them well is a key profit driver so you need to ask …

Marketing trends and predictions all point to the importance of agile strategies capable of responding to audience behaviour in real-time, and UK businesses agree that staying close to changing customer demands is key to driving growth.
A recent study by Oxford Economics shows UK SMEs are more confident than ever before in 2018 and 41% plan on using their agility, innovation and strong customer relationships to reach ambitious targets. With all this in mind, now is a great time to consider whether your marketing strategy is aligned with your goals according to Instant Offices.
 

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By now, you’re probably well aware of the UK’s Gender Pay Gap. A government report revealed an average GPG of 9.3%, with only 11% of women employed by a company that pays women an equal or higher salary than men. That means 89% of women work for a company that pays women, on average, less than men.

 
The Gender Pay Gap cannot be attributed to one specific cause, but results from a combination of several factors like the fact that men are more likely to be employed within more senior roles …

The Mums Enterprise Roadshow, has confirmed that their two-day event in London, will now be taking place on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd February, 2019 (instead of 28th and 29th September 2018) in its new London home, Olympia London.
The decision to postpone the event for a further four months is a result of a company restructure, which will see Mum’s Enterprise Roadshow evolve from a Limited Company into a Community Interest Company.
Lindsey Fish, Founder and CEO Of Mum’s Enterprise Ltd comments, “The purpose of Mums Enterprise is to change the …