Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day: Celebrating Britain's SMEs

Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day: Celebrating the Businesses That Keep Britain Moving.

Discover why Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day celebrates the entrepreneurs and small businesses driving innovation, jobs and economic growth across the UK.

Every year on 27 June, the world marks Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSME) Day – an opportunity to recognise the millions of businesses that form the backbone of local, national and global economies.

While the headlines are often dominated by multinational corporations, it is the UK's small businesses that quietly keep communities thriving. From family-run shops and independent cafés to innovative technology start-ups, skilled tradespeople and specialist manufacturers, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises make an enormous contribution to employment, innovation and economic growth.

In the UK alone, small businesses account for the overwhelming majority of all private sector firms. Many are run by passionate entrepreneurs who have turned an idea into a successful enterprise through determination, hard work and a willingness to take risks.

These businesses create jobs, develop new products and services, support local supply chains and often provide a more personal level of customer service than larger organisations can offer. They are also quick to adapt to changing consumer habits, embracing new technology, flexible working and online trading opportunities.

However, running a small business is rarely easy.

Many owners continue to face rising operating costs, increased energy prices, recruitment challenges, changing regulations and ongoing economic uncertainty. Access to finance, cybersecurity, digital transformation and artificial intelligence are also becoming increasingly important issues for businesses of every size.

Yet despite these challenges, Britain's entrepreneurs continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience. Across every sector, business owners are finding creative ways to grow, improve efficiency and reach new customers both at home and overseas.

Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day is therefore more than just a date on the calendar. It is a reminder of the vital role these businesses play in building prosperous communities and driving future economic success.

At That's Business, we're proud to shine a spotlight on organisations of every size. Whether it's reporting on exciting new product launches, innovative technologies, leadership appointments, sustainability initiatives or inspiring entrepreneurial success stories, we're committed to celebrating the people behind Britain's business community.

So today, if you know someone who runs a small business, take a moment to support them. Buy from them, recommend them, leave a positive review or simply share their story. Small actions can make a big difference.

Here's to the entrepreneurs, innovators and independent businesses that help keep Britain's economy moving forward—today on MSME Day and every day of the year.

New BOHS President to Champion Worker Health Protection and Professional Standards

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), the Chartered Society for Worker Health Protection, has announced the appointment of Sarah Leeson as its new President for 2026–2027, ushering in a new era of leadership as the organisation embarks on its ambitious five-year strategy.

Confirmed at the Society's Annual General Meeting, Sarah succeeds Adrian Parris and brings over 30 years of occupational hygiene experience to the role. 

Her appointment comes at a time when protecting employee health is becoming an increasingly important priority for businesses across every sector.

A Chartered Occupational Hygienist and Chartered Fellow of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene, Sarah has spent much of her career in the petrochemical industry, holding a range of senior positions including Industrial Hygiene Manager for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. 

In these roles, she led occupational hygiene programmes across multiple countries, helping organisations manage workplace health risks and improve employee wellbeing.

Sarah has also been a familiar figure within BOHS, serving as Registrar of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene since 2019 after six years on the Faculty Committee. During this time, she has helped strengthen professional standards across the industry while representing the Faculty on the BOHS Board of Trustees.

Speaking after her appointment, Sarah described becoming President as "a tremendous honour" and highlighted the growing importance of protecting workers from occupational health risks.

She told That's Business that she is committed to supporting the Society's new 2026–2030 strategy, raising the profile of occupational hygiene, encouraging professional development and helping more practitioners achieve Chartered status. She also hopes to strengthen BOHS's international influence through initiatives that improve worker health around the world.

Joining Sarah in the leadership team is Jason Hodgkiss, who has been elected President-Elect. A BOHS member since the early 1990s, Jason has played an active role within the Society for many years and has recently worked as the occupational hygienist on one of the UK's largest construction projects, promoting greater awareness of workplace health hazards.

Jason said occupational hygiene has a vital role in preventing work-related illness and believes there remains significant scope to ensure employee health receives the same attention as workplace safety across all industries.

Professor Kevin Bampton, Chief Executive of BOHS, welcomed both appointments, praising Sarah and Jason for their expertise, leadership and commitment to improving worker health.

For businesses, the appointments underline the increasing importance of workplace health management. As organisations face evolving health risks, changing regulations and growing expectations around employee wellbeing, strong occupational hygiene leadership will play a crucial role in creating healthier, safer and more productive workplaces.

https://www.bohs.org/

New Book Shows Businesses How to Navigate Technological Disruption

Discover how The Z-Curve by Alberto Torres helps business leaders understand AI, quantum computing and technological disruption to build long-term success.

New Book Explains How Businesses Can Stay Ahead of Technological Disruption

The pace of technological change is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, leaving many organisations struggling to keep up. 

From artificial intelligence and automation to quantum computing and genetic engineering, businesses are facing a rapidly evolving landscape that demands constant adaptation.

A new book, The Z-Curve: Navigating Your Business Through Technological Disruption, by business strategist Alberto Torres, aims to give leaders a practical framework for understanding how technological disruption unfolds and how organisations can position themselves for long-term success.

Today's businesses are operating in an environment where technological innovation is closely intertwined with global politics, competition for critical supply chains, and the race to control valuable data. As nations invest heavily in emerging technologies, companies are being forced to rethink how they compete, innovate and future-proof their operations.

The book introduces the concept of the "Z-Curve", a model designed to help organisations recognise the warning signs of disruption before it is too late. Rather than simply reacting to change, the framework encourages leaders to anticipate technological shifts and develop strategies that build resilience and sustainable growth.

History offers plenty of examples of companies that successfully embraced change, alongside those that failed to adapt. Technology giants including Apple, Amazon, Google and NVIDIA have transformed industries and achieved remarkable growth, while once-dominant household names such as Xerox, Nokia, AOL and Blockbuster have seen their influence fade as markets evolved.

According to Torres, the next wave of disruption is already underway. Advances in generative and agentic AI, quantum computing and biotechnology are expected to reshape industries even more dramatically over the coming decade.

Drawing on a series of real-world business case studies, The Z-Curve examines both successful transformations and costly failures, providing practical lessons for executives, managers and entrepreneurs seeking to navigate uncertainty with greater confidence.

Torres, a former senior executive and Partner at McKinsey & Company, is currently a member of Adobe's International Advisory Board and an Adjunct Professor at IE Business School. He believes technological disruption is no longer an occasional challenge but an ongoing reality for every organisation.

He said: "Technological disruption is no longer a distant threat; it is a constant reality for every organisation. Understanding how it works is the first step towards managing it successfully. The Z-Curve gives leaders a way to see disruption more clearly and act with confidence."

As technology continues to redefine the business world, books such as The Z-Curve provide valuable insights for leaders looking to remain competitive in an increasingly unpredictable future.

The Z-Curve: Navigating Your Business Through Technological Disruption is published by LID Publishing on 25 June 2026. Available in hardback (ISBN: 9781917391672), priced at £19.99.

For more about LID Publishing, please visit www.lidpublishing.com

You can buy the book at a discounted price here:- https://amzn.to/4xQOATn

AI is Helping Consumers Discover New Brands – But Trust Still Has to Be Earned

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way consumers discover new products and businesses, but fresh UK research suggests that while AI may be opening doors for lesser-known brands, it is far from replacing traditional research and customer trust.

A new survey of 2,564 UK consumers, commissioned by technology PR agency CloudNine PR, found that over half (52%) of people who use AI chat tools like ChatGPT say the technology helps them discover brands they would never have found otherwise.

With AI assistants increasingly becoming part of everyday shopping and research habits, businesses have a valuable opportunity to reach potential customers outside traditional search engines. Among those surveyed, 48% said they would consider buying from a previously unknown brand if it was recommended by an AI assistant.

However, the findings also show that consumers are still cautious. Just 4% said they would purchase from an unfamiliar brand immediately based solely on an AI recommendation.

Instead, most people continue to carry out their own research before making a buying decision. Nearly half (46%) said they would search for the company using Google or another search engine, while 43% would read independent online reviews. 

Around one-third would visit the company's own website, and more than a quarter would check whether the product was available on Amazon. Others said they would look for coverage in online publications or search social media to gauge public opinion.

The research highlights an important message for businesses: AI visibility alone is not enough.

Consumers also want greater transparency from AI platforms. Six in ten AI users said they would place more trust in recommendations if they could see information drawn from multiple independent sources, including news articles, reviews and influencer content.

CloudNine PR founder Uday Radia believes businesses should see AI as the beginning of the customer journey rather than the end.

He said AI is becoming an important product discovery channel that can introduce consumers to brands they may never have encountered before. However, he warned that businesses still need strong search visibility, positive reviews and credible media coverage if they want those discoveries to convert into sales.

The research also explored attitudes towards advertising within AI-generated responses. More than half of AI users said they would trust recommendations less if advertisements appeared alongside AI answers, while almost two-thirds said they would consider switching to another AI platform if advertising became commonplace.

As AI continues to reshape digital marketing, businesses that combine strong online reputations with high-quality content and genuine customer trust are likely to be best placed to benefit from this evolving landscape.

https://www.cloudninepr.com/chatgpt-ai-brand-discovery-trust/

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Businesses Exposed to Operational Risk as Succession Planning Gaps Persist

Many UK businesses could be leaving themselves vulnerable to disruption by failing to put effective succession plans in place for key leadership roles, according to new research from Newman Stewart.

The executive search firm's latest findings reveal a significant gap between recognising the importance of succession planning and actually implementing it. 

While 39% of organisations say succession planning is embedded within their business strategy and regularly reviewed, the majority, 61%, have yet to establish a comprehensive approach.

Perhaps most concerning is 22% of businesses surveyed admitted succession planning isn't part of their strategy at all.

The findings come at a time when organisations across multiple sectors are facing increasing challenges in recruiting and retaining experienced leaders. 

As senior roles become more specialised and the competition for talent intensifies, businesses without a clear leadership pipeline could find themselves exposed to serious operational risks.

A sudden departure, retirement or career move involving a key executive can create significant disruption. 

Leadership vacancies often lead to delays in decision-making, loss of institutional knowledge and uncertainty among employees, customers and stakeholders. For project-driven industries and highly specialised sectors, these disruptions can have a direct impact on growth, profitability and business continuity.

According to Newman Stewart, the problem is being compounded by ongoing skills shortages and a shrinking pool of experienced senior candidates. Without a structured succession strategy, businesses are often forced into reactive recruitment processes that can be costly, time-consuming and less effective.

John Tilbrook, Managing Director of Newman Stewart, believes many organisations understand the need for succession planning but are failing to make it an active part of their long-term strategy.

He explains while awareness of leadership planning has increased, far fewer companies have embedded succession planning into their day-to-day workforce strategy. As a result, many organisations remain unprepared when leadership changes occur.

Tilbrook argues that succession planning should not be treated as an occasional exercise but as a core component of strategic workforce planning. Identifying, developing and retaining future leaders before vacancies arise can help businesses maintain stability, protect valuable expertise and support sustainable growth.

The research serves as a timely reminder that succession planning is about more than preparing for retirement. In an increasingly competitive and unpredictable business environment, having a clear leadership pipeline may prove to be one of the most important safeguards against operational disruption.

For businesses looking to strengthen resilience and support long-term growth, succession planning is no longer a luxury – it is becoming a necessity.

http://www.newmanstewart.co.uk

Axians UK Launches Enterprise Architecture as a Service to Help Businesses Turn Strategy Into Action

Axians UK has unveiled a new Enterprise Architecture as a Service (EAaaS) offering designed to help organisations bridge the gap between boardroom ambitions and technical delivery.

The new service aims to tackle a challenge faced by many businesses: ensuring that technology investments and digital transformation projects remain aligned with wider business objectives. Too often, senior leaders focus on strategic outcomes while technical teams develop complex solutions that can become disconnected from the organisation's long-term goals.

Axians UK believes its new EAaaS model provides the missing link.

By introducing a dedicated architecture layer, businesses can create a consistent framework that translates high-level business strategies into practical, scalable and manageable technology solutions. The service offers access to experienced enterprise architects without the cost and commitment of hiring a full-time specialist.

Enterprise architecture has traditionally been viewed as a resource reserved for larger organisations due to the expense and scarcity of highly skilled professionals. Axians UK’s service-based approach changes that by giving businesses flexible access to expertise when they need it.

Ian Parker, Enterprise Architect at Axians UK, explained that a lack of architectural oversight can create significant operational challenges over time.

“Without a professional architect, every technical solution looks different. It’s like building a street where every house uses different foundations and materials; eventually, it becomes impossible to manage or maintain,” he said.

The service is also designed to support modern business priorities, including cybersecurity and sustainability. Rather than treating security as an afterthought, Axians UK has built the offering around a Secure by Design philosophy, embedding protection into the foundations of technology infrastructure from the outset.

Dan Barton, Head of Consultancy at Axians UK, said the service provides organisations with a clearer route through an increasingly complex digital landscape.

“With this service we are providing a clear path forward for businesses operating in a complicated digital landscape,” he said. “By ensuring the correct architectural approach right from the start, we enable businesses to move forward with confidence.”

Axians UK says one of the key benefits of EAaaS is the reduction of technical debt. By removing duplicated tools, simplifying technology environments and improving governance, organisations can lower operational costs while maintaining performance and flexibility.

As businesses continue to balance cloud-first strategies, AI adoption and growing cybersecurity demands, Axians UK believes Enterprise Architecture as a Service can provide the structure needed to support sustainable growth and long-term digital success.

www.axians.com

www.axians.co.uk