Office design a key contributor to return to the workplace in the finance sector

Financial services firms that are encouraging their staff to return to the office should prioritise office design if they want their policies to prove successful. This is according to data from global workplace design experts, Unispace.

Responding to the move by some major finance groups to encourage staff to return to the office with either a range of perks or mandated days in the workplace, data from Unispace’s Returning for Good study suggests that it is not a lack of perks that is preventing employees from being in the workplace more often, but rather the environment. 

The study revealed 65% of professionals within the financial services and banking industries struggle to do their core job when in the office due to the number of distractions they find there.

The report also revealed 57% of workers in the sector are reluctant to return to the office on a more regular basis. The individual reasons behind this reluctance include; preferring the privacy of working from home (34%), feeling more effective in a quieter home working environment (31%) and being more productive when not in the office (24%). 

When it came to why they enjoyed being in the office, financial services professionals said they liked the social interaction (35%) and wanted the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues (29%) as well as having access to better IT facilities than at home.

Consequently, Unispace argues that financial services employers should consider the way they are using their available space and whether it aligns with what their workers need from the modern office, before investing in incentives that are misaligned with staff requirements or mandating returns.

Lawrence Mohiuddine, CEO EMEA at Unispace, said: “Whilst it's positive to see financial firms looking to encourage their staff to return to the office, many tactics we’re seeing do not address the root cause of the reluctance to return that prevails. 

"The only way these employers will see real, lasting change in behaviour and sentiment towards being in their workspaces is by designing these areas to enable better productivity and efficient work.”

“This means listening to and engaging with your staff to find out what they really want and need. Our data indicates professionals enjoy having privacy and being more effective in quiet areas, but they're  also looking for opportunities to socialise and collaborate, too. While these sound like two disparate concepts, being flexible with your office design and creating different areas that align with these needs will help really encourage people to return on a more regular basis.”

To request your own copy of the report visit https://www.unispace.com/returning-for-good

Fines to increase for employers lacking robust employment screening

With the fines for employing illegal workers in the UK tripling, employment screening and identity expert, Sterling, is urging firms to ensure they have robust vetting and screening programmes in place, no matter what sector they are operating in.

Steve Smith, who is President International at Sterling, opined: “The risks of employing illegal workers in the UK, even accidentally, are increasing, as authorities worldwide are attempting to clamp down on a lack of rigorous employment practices. 

"For employers, increasing sophistication in presenting fraudulent documentation can make it difficult to spot where they are being misled. However, recent innovation in employment screening makes it easier and quicker than ever to carry out robust checks and identity verifications. Technology has evolved to counteract the growth in fraud, but employers across all sectors must adopt the use of these solutions to avoid significant fines and penalties.

“Historically, we’ve seen highly regulated sectors such as financial services and healthcare lead the way in employment screening adoption. But the fines that are being increased by the Home Office can apply to any firm, of any size, in any sector.

“With the Home Office strengthening action that can be taken against licensed businesses who employ illegal workers, whether knowingly or not, it’s now more crucial that firms have stringent processes in place. In addition, outsourcing employment screening solutions is now more accessible and viable for businesses of all sizes, in sectors from retail to manufacturing and even those in the gig economy. 

"As the latest news from the Home Office demonstrates, those employers that commit to best practice hiring processes that create safe environments for staff and customers will be in a much better position as the increase in fraud oversight continues.”

https://www.sterlingcheck.co.uk

(Image courtesy Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

Daniel Owen rebrands as firm’s growth continues

Leading construction and built environment recruitment agency, Daniel Owen has refreshed its brand image as it continues on its growth trajectory.

The firm, which is one of the UK’s largest built environment staffing businesses, has announced the move as it repositions its place in the market and expands further into the engineering and facilities management sectors with ambitious plans announced by its experienced leadership team. Daniel Owen started life as Workmates nearly 37 years ago and has expanded year-on-year since that point with new, modernised imagery and logos being launched to promote the rebrand.

The firm currently has 12 offices across the UK, with plans to open at least two further hubs in the near future, and is looking to broaden its remit in line with its growth plans for the coming years. The agency works with some of the largest firms in the country and places talent not only within construction but also the rail, design & consultancy and property services industries, along with renewed engineering and facilities management focuses.

Said Daniel Owen group MD, Karl Burnett, on the rebrand: “Our three-person leadership team has been in place for the past five years, and we now have a highly experienced senior management team in place too, so this change made perfect sense. 

"We have a huge reach across the UK and felt now was the right time to launch the rebrand as we look to expand into new markets within the built environment and it represents the next step in our evolution. We’re specialists in what we do and are extremely proud of our heritage, and it will be business as usual for the organisation, however, we wanted to mark our ambitious growth plans with new, modernised imagery and logos, and the rebrand will do exactly that.”

Jon Underwood, operations director, also commented: “Our success over the past few years, and subsequent growth, has been underpinned by our adherence to our core values of being honest, reliable and respectful and the rebrand won’t change that or the way we operate. However, as we expand and look to the future, we felt the time was right to update our brand and align ourselves with the modern built environment market. The shift in our messaging that ‘We DO recruitment’ (amongst many other things) highlights our focus on getting the job done and providing the best possible service to our client and candidate base.”

Finance Director, Suzanne Jellyman, added: “We now have an outstanding management team in place who have worked their way up through the company and who collectively have helped us achieve new record results in the past two years. We’re really excited about the rebrand and about the wider future for the organisation as we look to expand into our new markets.”

https://www.danielowen.co.uk

(Image courtesy of Borko Manigoda from Pixabay)

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PervasID Founder & President Dr Sabesan Sithamparanathan Elected as Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering

PervasID, the company providing best-in-class passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader systems for automating inventory and asset tracking, today announced that its Founder and President, Dr Sabesan Sithamparanathan, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. The Academy’s Fellowship brings together an unrivalled community of leading businesspeople, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics from every part of engineering and technology. Formed in 1976, it now comprises 1,653 Fellows, including Emeritus, International and Honorary.

The Royal Academy of Engineering is the UK’s national academy of engineering, with an overarching goal of harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and contribute to an inclusive economy that works for everyone. It delivers public benefit from engineering excellence and technology innovation, provides progressive leadership for engineering and technology, and independent expert advice to government, in the UK and beyond. Dr Sabesan is also an Enterprise Fellow at Girton College, Cambridge University.

PervasID, backed by leading strategic investors such as Stanley Black & Decker and Parkwalk, is the result of Dr Sabesan’s ground-breaking work as a PhD student at the University of Cambridge. His work in the area of accurate tracking of passive RFID tags (battery free) has been internationally recognised and has resulted in several patents.

As founder and President, Dr Sabesan has successfully grown PervasID from its inception to become a global enterprise, providing transformative solutions to healthcare, industrial, security, retail and supply chain and logistics sectors with a complete product suite that comprises the world’s most accurate passive RFID readers. 

For example, in healthcare his products enable the precise tracking of hospital assets to ensure mission critical medical devices are available at the right place and time. The need for this level of traceability of medical devices has been particularly evident in the COVID-19 pandemic. The solution is predicted to save £billions for hospitals and will save lives. Dr Sabesan awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Silver Medal in 2021 as well as being named as one of Business Elite’s ‘40 Under 40 in 2023.

“Excellence and innovation in engineering lies at the very centre of PervasID as a company, with our core IP which delivers the most accurate battery free RFID in the world – opening up huge benefits to a whole range of industries that want to track objects such as inventory or resources,” said Dr Sabesan Sithamparanathan, Founder & President of PervasID. “I invented our core IP while I was working for my PhD at the University of Cambridge and it’s a huge honour that my work has been recognised by such a distinguished body as the Royal Academy. I’m proud to be joining the illustrious ranks of its fellows.”

PervasID is a fast-growing technology company that designs and supplies world-leading, passive (battery-free) RFID fixed reader systems for automating inventory tracking, stock taking and asset management processes. PervasID patented products are enabling organisations across a wide range of markets to streamline processes by providing unparalleled visibility into goods, assets and people. No other solution on the market today can offer such accuracy, speed and cost effectiveness. For more info visit www.pervasid.com

TBD Media Group Announces "Innovation and Disruption Leaders" Campaign: Celebrating Visionaries Transforming Industries

The TBD Media Group is absolutely thrilled to announce its upcoming series, "Innovation and Disruption Leaders” hosted on WELT. 

It's aimed at inspiring and enlightening audiences about the dynamic world of modern business and leadership in the face of evolving challenges. In a rapidly changing global landscape, this series will shed light on the trailblazers who are breaking today's status quo to improve tomorrow's decisions.

The recent turbulence in the global market has forced businesses to rethink, revaluate and reinvent their strategies. 

Agility has become the key to navigating the complex currents of trade on a global scale. The "Innovation and Disruption Leaders" series will showcase the stories and strategies of leaders and businesses that have successfully adapted and modernised to respond to the current instability.

Through thought-provoking interviews and in-depth analysis, this series will explore the following themes: Adaptation in a Changing World, Technology as a Catalyst, Global Perspectives and Sustainability and Responsibility.

TBD Media Group is committed to bringing these stories to a global audience, providing a platform for leaders, innovators, and disruptors to share their experiences and insights. By doing so, we aim to inspire and empower others to embrace change, challenge the norm, and lead their organisations toward a more prosperous and sustainable future.

Stay tuned for the "Innovation and Disruption Leaders" series, where we will introduce you to the individuals and businesses shaping the future of industry and commerce. Join us in breaking the status quo to improve tomorrow's decisions.

Companies featured in this campaign includes:

Basler AG- Disruptive innovations powered by computer vision.

HHL Leipzig – Where innovation and entrepreneurial spirit shape the future.

Puraglobe- Changing the way the world uses oil.

SWEG- A public transport company on the road to the future.

https://www.tbdmediagroup.com

Edward Maslaveckas to Feature on CBS' Renowned "A Moment With" Series

Bud Financial is proud and pleased to announce that its CEO & Founder, Edward Maslaveckas, will be featured in an upcoming episode of CBS' acclaimed interview series "A Moment With."

Discussing Bud's industry-leading solutions, Maslaveckas dives into how its robust and customisable APIs are revolutionising the financial services industry. 

Powered by Bud's cutting-edge AI technology, Bud's solutions provide financial institutions with hyper-personalized customer insight to improve decisions at every touchpoint

"Bud is empowering financial institutions to turn financial data into actionable customer intelligence," said Maslaveckas. 

"I believe financial relationships between service providers and their customers can be far more profitable for both parties. The solution is simple. Informed data driven decisions for both. In reality, despite innovations in other sectors the technology to get this job done safely at scale is only now coming to market."

With a rapidly expanding capability to comprehend financial data, Bud's technology enables developers, marketers and risk professionals to integrate sophisticated financial analysis into their work. This powers increased user engagement through hyper-personalized experiences and uncovers more opportunities to connect consumers with ideal financial products.

"Our data intelligence platform's advanced capabilities allow financial institutions to tap into rich customer insights,” Maslaveckas went on to say: “enabling them to offer hyper-personalised experiences and better lending. Finance should be far more data driven than it is today and we hope to move the needle on that.."

For years, "A Moment With" has provided enlightening interviews with today's top business leaders and innovators. Bud is honoured to join this storied lineage of forward-thinking trailblazers shaping the technological landscape.

Established in London in 2015 and boasting over 100 employees across the UK and US, Bud Financial harnesses the power of categorization, aggregation, and AI to enable and enhance lending and affordability.

Powered by financial intelligence and actionable insights, Bud is driving the future of personalized finance by connecting consumers with financial products and services designed to enrich their lives.

https://www.thisisbud.com/en-gb/

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GBSB Global Business Schools ‘Career, Alumni, and Entrepreneurship Centre’ is gateway to success

GBSB Global Business School is proud to present the Career, Alumni, and Entrepreneurship Centre (CAEC), which is a comprehensive initiative aimed at empowering students and alumni to achieve remarkable success along their professional journeys.

At GBSB Global Business School, they understand achieving a successful career requires much more than just a degree. CAEC is here to provide invaluable support every step of the way. Their range of personalised services includes:

1. In-Depth Industry Insight: The curriculum covers a wide range of topics. Everything from global tourism trends to sustainability and marketing, ensuring all students are well-prepared for the ever-evolving industry.

2. Real-World Readiness: Their innovative programme goes beyond theory, incorporating specialised workshops, networking events, and case studies to equip students with practical skills.

3. Exclusive Connections: Students have the opportunity to network with industry giants like the W Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, and Booking.com, opening doors to many varied exciting opportunities.

4. Global Exposure: GBSB Global Business School provides access to major events like FITUR, the international tourism trade fair in Madrid, allowing students to shine on the global stage.

Their dedicated internship support team assists students secure internships that match their interests and their career goals, providing hands-on experiences and critical networking opportunities.

As part of their thriving alumni network, students gain access to a powerful resource for mentorship, advice, and professional connections. GBSB Global alumni have achieved remarkable success in various industries and are ready to support the next generation of leaders.

Alumni chapters and annual reunions provide opportunities for continued networking and collaboration, both regionally and within specific industries. The GBSB Global Alumni community also stays connected through a LinkedIn group and annual reunions.

Their Mentorship Programme pairs students with experienced professionals who offer guidance and support throughout their academic and professional journeys, helping them develop the skills necessary for success.

To further equip students for success, GBSB Global Business School offers a wide range of professional development workshops led by industry professionals. These workshops cover essential topics such as leadership development, effective networking strategies, personal branding, and communication skills.

At GBSB Global Business School, CAEC is committed to empowering students and alumni to thrive in today's dynamic business environment.

For more information about CAEC and GBSB Global Business School, please visit: https://www.global-business-school.org

TBD Media Group presents A Moment With’ campaign hosted on WELT; Uncovering industry leaders inspiring leaders

TBD Media Group proudly introduces 'A Moment With,' an engaging series now hosted on WELT. This dynamic show delves into the lives of visionary leaders and entrepreneurs, unravelling their paths to industry-shaping and leading success.

Great leaders and entrepreneurs have historically disrupted industries by way of their brilliance and innovation. 'A Moment With' spotlights these luminaries, providing intimate interviews reveal how their journeys have influenced their lives and achievements.

CEO Paolo Zanini states, "At TBD Media Group, we're committed to capturing the essence of human accomplishments. 'A Moment With' aims to inspire, educate, and empower our audience."

Viewers can anticipate thought-provoking discussions unveiling the wisdom and resilience propelling these luminaries to greatness. Each episode offers invaluable insights for aspiring leaders, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts.

Join us on this remarkable journey as TBD Media Group presents 'A Moment With' on WELT. Get ready to be motivated, inspired, and deeply moved by the stories of industry trailblazers.

For more information and to watch the series, please visit: https://www.welt.de/Advertorials/thought-leaders/

Companies featured in this series:

CEO of Maria Galland: Kirsten Hangarter

Managing Directors of Interxion: Yves Zischek & Volkar Ludwig.

https://www.tbdmediagroup.com

UKBusinessLoan.com Reaffirms Focus on Responsible Lending and Borrowing

UKBusinessLoan.com, which is a prominent Cheshire-based credit lender, is redefining the landscape of business financing by placing a strong emphasis on responsible lending and borrowing. 

This commitment is specifically tailored to meet the unique financial needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), empowering them with accessible and sustainable financing solutions.

UKBusinessLoan.com recognizes the critical role responsible financing plays in fostering economic stability and entrepreneurial success in an era where access to capital is vital for business growth and innovation. Their dedication is poised to set a new industry standard, elevating SMEs and start-ups while safeguarding their long-term financial well-being.

Their commitment to responsible lending encompasses several key principles:

1. Accessible Financing with Vigilance: UKBusinessLoan.com provides accessible financing options that cater to the specific requirements of SMEs and start-ups. However, they do so with a keen focus on assessing borrowers' financial health, ensuring that the loans offered are manageable within the borrowers' capacity.

2. Transparent and Clear Terms: Transparency is at the core of UKBusinessLoan.com's lending practices. Borrowers are provided with clear, easy-to-understand terms and conditions, empowering them to make informed financial decisions.

3. Personalized Guidance: UKBusinessLoan.com's team of financial experts is committed to offering personalized guidance to borrowers. They assist in understanding the implications of each financing option and work collaboratively to find the best solution for the unique circumstances of each business.

4. Flexibility and Tailored Solutions: Recognizing that one size does not fit all, UKBusinessLoan.com offers a range of flexible financing, including secured and unsecured UK business loan options. This approach ensures that businesses receive funding that aligns with their goals and cash flow dynamics.

5. Promoting Financial Education: UKBusinessLoan.com goes beyond lending by actively promoting financial education. They equip borrowers with the knowledge and tools to manage their finances responsibly, helping them build a strong financial foundation for the future.

Ian Gray, Director at UKBusinessLoan.com, emphasized the company's commitment, stating, "Responsible lending is not just a tagline for us; it's a fundamental principle that guides everything we do. We are dedicated to empowering SMEs and start-ups with accessible financing while ensuring that their financial health remains a top priority."

UKBusinessLoan.com's dedication to responsible borrowing is evident through its comprehensive approach to risk assessment and continuous support throughout the loan lifecycle. The company's stringent risk assessment measures help maintain the balance between providing access to capital and safeguarding borrowers from excessive financial strain.

UKBusinessLoan.com aims to foster the growth and sustainability of SMEs and start-ups in the North West of England and North Wales through their commitment to responsible lending. As these businesses flourish, they contribute significantly to the overall economic prosperity of the nation.

https://www.ukbusinessloan.com/

Telford & Wrekin Council Wins Prestigious APSE Award with AI assistant “Ask Tom”

Telford & Wrekin Council’s proactive approach sets a standard for other councils and their AI journey has inspired many

Telford & Wrekin Council's commitment to enhancing customer service has been recognised at the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards, where it clinched the win for Best Efficiency and Transformation Initiative. 

Their AI assistant, “Ask Tom,” transformed local government services, setting new benchmarks for efficiency and customer satisfaction.

The Impact of “Ask Tom”

Telford and Wrekin Borough Council viewed the adoption of AI as key to accelerating channel shift and driving greater efficiency through digital self-service. “Ask Tom” has managed over 25,000 resident queries since its inception, achieving tangible benefits for the council:

Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: An incredible 99.3% satisfaction rate compared to 91.2% for traditional customer services channels

Operational Savings: The 24/7 AI assistant saved advisor time, with 32% of queries being addressed outside of traditional working hours

Capacity Boost: Due to the 69% reduction in traditional webchat and a 35% drop in call volumes, the council could incorporate three more service areas, optimising service delivery

Reduced Waiting Times: Waiting times plummeted across all services – with a 16.5% overall reduction (more than 5-minutes), 40% in revenues (10 mins), 57% in neighbourhood services (9.5 mins), and 47% for highways (4.5 mins)

Cost Savings and Expanded Services

The fall in calls and webchats as a result of Tom’s capabilities to answer commonly asked questions has freed up essential resources for the council to manage complex enquiries. Additionally, the council has been able to integrate three new services: homelessness, registration services, and libraries, amounting to nearly 4,000 calls per month. This flexibility has also allowed the Council to better serve residents who may not be as technologically adept or lack online access.

The Council’s pursuit of excellence has not gone unnoticed. With a customer satisfaction index score of 71.2%, they have outperformed the average score for other councils (64.4%). Furthermore, their customer effort score, which measures the ease of customer transactions, stood at 4.2, significantly outperforming the UK organisation average of 5.2.

The implementation of “Ask Tom” has bought previously unmet demand to light. The system identified resident challenges with issues such as paying their council tax bills, and as a direct response, the Council can now provide timely support.

The AI assistant’s integration into the Council’s MyTelford phone app also reiterates the Council’s commitment to ensuring their residents are always connected, informed, and empowered.

Setting a Benchmark for Success

As Fiona Watson, Chief Marketing Officer at ICS.AI expressed, “Telford & Wrekin Council’s proactive approach sets a standard for other councils and their AI journey has inspired many. Gemma Hancox, the Council’s Customer Contact Group Manager is a beacon of this transformation and has been sharing the Council’s success story at conferences, webinars, and forums”.

Gemma’s sentiment sums up the impact perfectly, “A council isn’t a choice, customer have to come to us... local authorities have to be up there with the best private companies for customer service as that is our expectation as customers and it’s important that’s what we provide”.

Inspiring the Future

The journey of Telford & Wrekin Council showcases the transformative potential of AI. As more council's look towards such solutions, “Ask Tom” stands as a shining example of innovation, efficiency, and customer service excellence and can serve as a roadmap to success.

The success of “Ask Tom” has led the Council to consider additional use cases and contact channels to extend their AI transformation journey and they continue working with ICS.AI, developing plans to integrate voice AI directly into their phone channel, as well as reviewing the huge opportunity for innovation with generative AI to further extend the potential to continue to improve customer service.

An outstanding achievement

As we reflect on the immense strides Telford & Wrekin Council has taken with "Ask Tom", we, at ICS.AI, extend our congratulations. Their exemplary work stands as a testament to the blend of technology, vision, and commitment to public service. Their recognition at the ASPE awards is well-deserved, and we look forward to seeing more local authorities drawing inspiration from their innovative steps. Well done, Telford & Wrekin Council and the entire team behind "Ask Tom"!

Contact ICS.AI: To find out more or book a demo, contact ICS.AI.

What is “Ask Tom?" 

“Ask Tom” is an automated digital AI assistant capable of answering hundreds of commonly asked questions, thereby freeing up contact centre advisors to manage more complex queries. Built on the ICS.AI SMART AI Platform, “Ask Tom” is trained utilising an organisational language model specifically built for the public sector, comprising over 1,000 council topics and performs to human parity performance levels, achieving at least the same level of first-time resolution as a human. Tom’s knowledge continuously grows, with the help of ICS.AI’s patent-pending SMART Mesh that allows it to improve while learning from other assistants on the mesh. “Ask Tom” is accessible to everyone and WCAG 2.1 AA compliant, with a dedicated ethical compliance sub-system which really makes it stand out for its inclusivity.

https://www.ics.ai

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Staff want financial education from employers, but few have access

The vast majority of employees believe that they'd benefit from financial education and guidance from their employers, but only a third have access to it, according to new data released by CloudPay.

The data, sourced by the global employee pay company, revealed 91% of employees believe they or colleagues would benefit from employer-led financial education, support and advice, however, only 34% currently have access to it.

CloudPay’s data also showed that the number of people using Earned Wage Access (EWA) to pay for household bills grew between January and July 2023, highlighting the ongoing challenges that many are facing due to the cost-of-living crisis and other inflationary pressures. Employers are being encouraged to modernise pay and payroll processes in order to better support their staff in light of the challenges many are facing in the current economic climate.

Judith Lamb, who is VP of Global HR at CloudPay, said: "There's no secret many people are facing significant difficulties managing their finances, especially in the challenging conditions we’re currently experiencing. 

"But it’s also clear staff are seeking out additional financial education from their employers to help them navigate this tough period. There’s very little resources for education around money management in the UK school system and the onus is falling on employers to provide information that can help professionals to tackle conditions that they have never faced before.”

She went on to say: “Providing this sort of education isn’t only just the right thing to do, it can also prevent staff attrition levels from increasing as employees move to source better paid jobs.

"Few organisations can afford to continue offering higher salaries at present, but providing education around how employees can better manage their available resources can help salaries go further. The onus is on employers to lead this charge as there’s currently a major gap in the market for this sort of expertise."

She concluded: "Being able to access earned wages as and when they are needed can obviously provide a huge helping hand, however, there’s clearly a demand for greater degrees of financial education on top of this.”

https://www.cloudpay.com

(Image courtesy of Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

HMRC says: It’s time to register for Self Assessment

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding anyone new to Self Assessment for 2022 to 2023 tax year that they have only two weeks until 5 October to tell HMRC and to register.

New Self Assessment customers could be someone who has set up a side hustle to earn money in addition to their PAYE job or disposed of cryptoassets; they may be newly self-employed or a new landlord renting out property. Whatever the circumstances, if a customer has any income they've not already paid UK tax on, then they must register for Self Assessment.

Customers can use HMRC’s online checking tool on GOV.UK to quickly assess whether they would need to complete a tax return. And they can then employ the step-by-step guide to check what they need to do to file their first Self Assessment tax return.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “If you're new to Self Assessment and unsure how the process works, please do remember, HMRC is here to help you. 

"We have a wealth of resources and guidance available on GOV.UK to help customers register, sign up to the online services and complete their tax returns. We want to help our customers get their tax right first time. So just search ‘Self Assessment’ on GOV.UK to learn more.”

Customers can register for Self Assessment on GOV.UK. They'll then receive their Unique Taxpayer Reference, which they'll require when they complete their return.

The deadline for customers to file their tax return online and pay any tax owed for the 2022 to 2023 tax year is 31 January 2024. And last year, 96% of customers were able to file their return online.

Filing online means customers don’t have to complete it all at once, they can save their progress and finish it later and have the added reassurance HMRC's received their form when they press submit.

HMRC has a wide range of resources to help customers file a tax return including a series of video tutorials on YouTube and help and support guidance on GOV.UK. 

HMRC has produced two videos to help customers registering online for Self Assessment. These videos are for those who are self-employed and those who aren't self-employed.

If customers think they no longer need to complete a Self Assessment tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year, they should tell HMRC before the deadline on 31 January 2024 to avoid any potential penalties or needing to complete a tax return. 

HMRC has produced two videos explaining how customers can go online and stop Self Assessment if they are self-employed and those who aren't self-employed.

Customers must also be aware of the risk of falling victim to scams and should never share their HMRC login details with anyone, including a tax agent, should they have one. HMRC scams advice is available on GOV.UK.

You might be considering employing your accountant or an advisor to help you with your self-assessment tax returns. If so, please do be careful. 

These resources will be of potential assistance to you:-

https://taxaid.org.uk/guides/taxpayers/choosing-an-accountant-or-tax-adviser

https://www.natptax.com/Pages/default.aspx

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Powered Now breaks new ground with version 9.0.3 with green energy certificates

Powered Now has broken new ground with the latest version of their award-winning app for plumbers, gas engineers, builders, electricians and other trade businesses, with comprehensive support for green energy certificates. This version cements the objective of helping trade business owners be more profitable with less effort by going digital, adding:

Comprehensive support for green energy initiatives – a UK first. Included are Heat Pump Commissioning Certificates, Vented Cylinder Commissioning Certificates, Air Source Heat Pump Servicing Records and a Solar Thermal Commissioning Checklist. Engineers no longer need to worry that their software will be obsolete as the green revolution takes hold.

Help with all aspects of quotes and jobs from significant improvements in image and photo handling. This means more secure business by making it even easier to show the customer just what will be done, easier to show the engineer what’s needed by the job and easier to show post-job images in case of disputes. It comes from better quality images, multiple image handling, pinch and zoom and resizing of images to fit documents sent to customers. All are under easy user control.

Special “engineer mode” making it super-easy for engineers to see their next appointment without being confused by all of the other benefits of Powered Now.

Over 300 other small improvements to the way the app supports trade businesses.

Powered Now has many features for running a multi-person heating, plumbing, building, electrical and other trade business including capturing full customer details, recording images, notes and signatures. A powerful shared diary comes with staff tracking maintaining complete control. In addition, there are numerous specific electrical, gas, pest control and many other specific trade-related features.

Paperwork is always fully up to date to UK standards. And the team is already working on more enhancements.

Chirag Panchal, who is a Powered Now customer, said “I welcome these further improvements to Powered Now, especially the clean energy certificates. It’s exciting the speed that new developments are now arriving from Powered Now, I strongly recommend them to any gas, heating engineer or plumber.”

Benjamin Dyer, CEO of Powered Now said: “It’s tremendous version 9.0.3 is coming so hot on the heels of the massive upgrade that was version nine. This has demonstrated our ongoing commitment to meet the best and greatest needs of the UK trade market. 

"With Powered Now, you can be sure that UK needs come first which is why, for instance, we were the first to support the latest British Standards for electrical certificates. Unlike some competitors, we don’t operate in the US and are completely focused on UK needs. Also, all of our support staff are based right here in the UK. It’s all about enabling our customers to increase their profit and save effort by going digital.”

With this UK focus and continuing fast development, smaller gas and oil engineers and plumbers can fully gain the benefits of the digital revolution with Powered Now.

Powered Now is running a limited-time offer of a one-year Powered Now free subscription (worth £180).

Since 2013, Powered Now has been supplying the UK trade with powerful apps to run their businesses. Powered Now's mission is to help the UK trade win more profit for less effort and help them every step of the way. Powered Now runs on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android. It includes quoting, invoicing, project management, forms and certificates, staff tracking, comprehensive diary and scheduling and much more.

To learn how Powered Now could help your business visit them here https://www.powerednow.com or call them on 0800 368 8153.

Don't allow your business to get woke and go broke

What do the following businesses have in common? A razor company, a beer brewery, an ice cream manufacturer, a tea retailer, a soap and skincare company, a UK-based building supply firm and sportswear manufacturers?

They all went woke and went broke. At least to some extent.

But why? Why did those utterly dissimilar firms from different parts of the world, suddenly decide to tell their old, established customers that they no longer wanted or required their business any longer?

How come those businesses all suddenly decided that they would become left wing and liberal? 

The truth is that they probably didn't. But their marketing departments probably did.

Newly minted marketing officers with their new marketing degrees were probably trained by the people I saw teaching marketing.

Several years ago and some years late, I Finished off my degree (for those interested it was a BA Honours course in Creative and Professional Writing) and as part of the course I decided to study with the university marketing department as I wanted to add marketing to my writing skillset. 

The department consisted of a Marxist-Leninist former Spanish journalist and a former journalist from Venezuela who was an out-and-out Maduroist.

Neither of them taught any marketing as part of the marketing modules and many of the students were puzzled by the lack of marketing components in the marketing modules. We were, however, taught much left wing theorising. 

We were intrigued by the proud boast by the Spanish lecturer that he knew much more about marketing than an MA student he was teaching who had a 30 year track record in marketing.

When a fellow student called him out on this, he went quiet and was unable to do provide any evidence for his claim. It actually transpired that neither lecturer had any real world experience in marketing in either their home countries or the UK.

So, if you wanted any advice on marketing cheese, for example, they'd be unable to help. Though they could provide you with a left wing spin on the evils of the cheese industry. 

Unfortunately many students on marketing courses like that worldwide are being influenced by such biased and inept lecturers. Obviously you would not want them turning your marketing department and social media channels into a hotbed of left wing propaganda.

So, how do you stop this from happening? Make sure that when you are recruiting anyone for marketing roles that you have them go through a proper psychometric testing process to weed out anyone who wouldn't actually be helping market your business.

A company which offers this type of assessment is called Wilford-Scholes. You can find them, here:-

https://wilfordscholes.com/hr-recruitment/pre-hire-assessments. 

(Image courtesy of narciso1 from Pixabay)

The Royal Navy's First Serving Mother Publishes a Book on Leadership

The Mindful Command framework simplifies the journey for leaders treading the path to developing real leadership skills.

Sally-Anne-Airey, who in the 1990s became the first woman to continue to serve in the Royal Navy after becoming a mother, is publishing her first book, Mindful Command, this month, September. 

The title shares in a clear and accessible way the lessons Airey learned as she rose to the rank of Commander in the Navy and later built on in a second career as a leadership coach. Introducing her original Mindful Command framework, she simplifies the journey for others treading the path to developing real leadership skills.

Airey spent 23 years in the Royal Navy and saw all kinds of leadership, good and bad. Observing these leaders and the outcomes they achieved gave her huge insight into what works and also what doesn't.

Highly effective leaders express who they are through their thoughts, words and actions. They are inwardly directed and outwardly aware, realistic and astute. They consistently align who they are with how they lead, no matter what is happening around them. In this way, they embody the self-mastery necessary to inspire and lead others well in all situations.

Why did Sally-Anne Airey write her book? She explains why: “I decided to write Mindful Command because many of the leaders whose lives the framework has changed have urged me to. It’s the basis of Evolving Leadership, my nine-month leadership programme, and now that it’s been tried, tested, and refined many times over, I’m finally ready to share it with the rest of the world. I’ve made the book as practical and concise as I can, for busy people who want to be better leaders, or who simply want to improve their own personal presence and impact.”

Airey’s Mindful Command leadership framework has four foundations which she calls Balanced Awareness, Clear Purpose, Fearless Compassion and Inner Stability. Mastering all four of them helps leaders cultivate the capacity to show up, whatever the circumstance, as their clear, calm, centred self, confident of doing the right thing.

Brian Garish, President, Mars Veterinary Health International, says: “The best leaders do not leave their humanity at the office door and Sally-Anne understands this better than most people I know.”

After her successful career in the Royal Navy, Sally-Anne Airey founded Skilful Leaders, where she coaches leaders and their teams to become who they really want to be, to do the work they really want to do.

Mindful Command is published on 28 September 2023 by LID Publishing, available as a paperback and e-book.

https://www.lidpublishing.com

This book will make an ideal Christmas gift for the leader or aspiring leader in your life.

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Sales Strategy, Another Corporate Training Program by Appleton Greene & Co

Ms Whitbeck of Appleton Greene

The Industrial Revolution marked the beginning of the modern salesperson. The one that might come to mind is the travelling salesperson, who would often arrive in towns making big promises about their wares and then leave after making several sales and before people realised the lies they had been sold. Of course, there were many more sales people than just this style, and they were selling everything.

Today, buyers are highly savvy, more sensitive to outdated sales tactics that feel too pushy, and more likely to require abundant information and time before making any decisions. Many sales strategies that once worked for salespeople no longer do, or at least not as reliably as in they did past.

Sales strategy is an ever-evolving field, largely because the knowledge and expectations of potential clients are continuously becoming more nuanced. Regardless of the industry, sales is a vitally important department in most every organisation, now more than ever before. 

As such, it's necessary for sales professionals to understand today’s successful sales strategies, know their own product or service inside and out, and have a helpful attitude toward nurturing client relationships.

In an effective sales team, professionals must ask themselves important questions: How do you deliver value? How do you focus outreach to people who will be receptive? How do you follow up with finesse? How do you nurture opportunities? How do you handle a client ghosting you? Asking these questions will allow a sales team to think more expansively about their sales strategy to find the best path forward. However, often the best path involves refining sales strategy and evolving training.

For any industry to continue to thrive, it is imperative regular training is allotted. In 2023, sales strategy training is a must. Surprisingly few salespeople receive sales strategy training to any extent, and that is hurting many organisations. 

Not only is sales a rapidly changing field, it's one that requires a growth mindset of its professionals. One must have technical knowledge as well as interpersonal relationship skills, and they must be aware of new and emerging trends.

Going forward, quality sales strategy training will only grow in importance. Continuous sales strategy training is what elevates salespeople into trusted advisors their clients can rely on. It also results in improved productivity.

Sales is a long-standing and vital role, and it has undergone many iterations throughout history, even within the last century alone. It has continued to evolve as new technologies and norms have arisen, and it will continue to expand in the coming years. Future training in sales strategy for B2B sales should focus on worthy intent in the salesperson in how they approach potential clients and maintain relationships with them. 

It should guide them through the client journey, exploring the client “why” and the concept of “so they can.” 

These values, along with continually delivering value and following up, come together to form a sales strategy that reliably builds and nurtures a strong relationship with clients and will lead to more success for the sales professional, their organisation, and their client – a win-win-win!

https://www.appletongreene.com

Appleton Greene & Co is a niche corporate training provider, operating on a global scale.

Narcissistic leaders cause employees undue stress in crisis situations

Vulnerable, narcissistic leaders are especially likely to make employees irritated and stressed during crisis situations, reveals new research from NEOMA Business School.

Birgit Schyns, who is a distinguished Professor of People and Organisations at NEOMA, and co-authors analysed survey data on workers in the UK education sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Respondents reported their levels of irritation and Coronavirus-related concerns and worries in five weekly surveys, as well as their experiences with vulnerable narcissistic leadership, an unstable form of leadership characterised by covert feelings of entitlement.

The study learned employees subjected to this kind of behaviour reported feeling more irritation in general, and this irritation worsened in weeks when they were exposed to higher amounts of vulnerable narcissistic behaviour from those who were in charge.

“Resources are often already stretched thin in crisis situations. Vulnerable narcissistic leaders strain them further, for instance they might not give employees guidelines on how to accomplish goals or blaming others for their own shortcomings. 

"Employees already short on time and energy are required to invest more in making sense of their leader’s behaviours,” points out Professor Schyns.

The researchers suggest organisations need to be aware of potential red flags of narcissistic leadership, such as punishing others for taking the initiative, as the irritation this causes followers can lead to more severe mental health impairments.

“Followers can be protected by implementing checks and balances and adjusting HR practices to better deal with these behaviours,” says Professor Schyns.

https://neoma-bs.com

(Image courtesy of OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay)

Expand Research - A BCG Company - Announces "First of its Kind" Market Data Catalogue

The new Expand Market Data Catalogue marks a huge step forward for the industry, with multi-millions in potential savings for consumers.

Expand Research - A BCG Company - announces collaboration with several global tier one financial institutions to create revolutionary ‘first of its kind’ Market Data Catalogue.

What is The Journey So Far?

Expand Research has provided industry-leading diagnostics and decision support tools in the Market Data industry for over a decade. As well as providing a syndicated Global Market Data benchmark that allows financial services firms to compare their overall Market Data spend with peers on a like-for-like basis, Expand also acts as a community hub – facilitating roundtables and forums to provide a space for financial institutions to discuss best practices and industry hot topics.

Responding to Client Demand

Underpinning the Expand benchmark is an industry recognized taxonomy and standard naming convention for Market Data products. This taxonomy has already been internalized by a number of participating firms to interface with their Market Data Inventory Systems. This has enabled these firms to provide more consistent financial reporting and budgeting for their respective trading businesses, and with their input, they have helped to evolve and tune the taxonomy during their many years of participation. These long term client relationships have led to multiple requests for Expand to make the natural progression from just the taxonomy and naming convention to build a new comprehensive Market Data Catalogue.

Alistair Brooker, VP General Manager at Calero, a leading software provider in the Market Data space said “The subject of a Central Data Catalogue in the Market Data space has been talked about in the industry for more than 15 years, being a key item on many Market Data team's wish list. Building a standardised dataset representing all product offerings is no easy task, requiring an incredible attention to detail, but Expand’s head start in working with data from the world’s largest financial institutions over many years is a great foundation for success, with standard naming and taxonomy a nice first iteration paving the way.”

The Problem Statement

In a recent white paper The Market Data Hypermarket, Expand highlighted the growing need for an industry Market Data Catalogue. This catalogue would act as a one-stop-shop for firms looking to discover new and alternative data sets, map their existing inventory of data to a standard industry taxonomy and track usage of data products throughout their organization. In an industry that has been frustratingly opaque for consumers, such a platform would act as a much needed facilitator between vendors and their clients to improve transparency and discoverability of Market Data.

Damian McCarthy, Managing Partner of Expand explained, “The new Expand Market Data Catalogue marks a huge step forward for the industry, with multi-millions in potential savings for consumers. The Market Data Catalogue will transform the way that firms manage their Market Data. Some firms are already utilizing our API to enhance their inventory reporting. This has provided them with automated inventory updates, periodic cleansing of inventory data, consistency in product type mappings, reliable forecasting of spend, and an unprecedented level of granular detail that offers visibility and comprehensibility for business consumers. This has reshaped strategic decision making at the firms currently using the tool.”

A Collaborative Approach

Encouraged by clients to leverage the taxonomy that's at the heart of its benchmark, Expand has been working hard throughout 2023 to make the Market Data Catalogue a reality and has made a significant investment, including the recruitment of several Market Data SMEs. This new team are purely focused on building out the Data Catalogue and have made significant progress towards a general launch later this year.

Expand is also partnering with several global banking giants (the founding members) on this journey. These founding members represent some of the world’s largest financial services organizations and together contribute around 10% of annual spend in the Market Data Industry. They will help shape the catalogue through working group discussions and providing subject matter expertise, ensuring the benefit to users is optimized and all business use cases are accommodated.

Expand is ensuring the catalogue could be easily integrated into the Market Data Inventory systems of the founder members, providing a one-stop suite for consumers. Some clients asked Expand to ensure that the catalogue could integrate into Calero’s MDM, allowing clients to align the catalogue alongside their inventory data. All participating parties are collaboratively working towards this.

Damian said, “Expand has a proven track record of delivering ground-breaking initiatives on behalf of the industry and we are happy to be playing a central role once again. Experience tells me that an ambitious initiative like this would not be possible without broad cross-industry collaboration and so we’re thankful to the founding members, vendors and other stakeholders who are helping to bring this to life.”

Industry Adoption & Client Feedback

Eddie Molloy, Director of the Market Data practice at Expand commented, “For years firms have relied on relationships and subject matter expertise to identify the best data sets that vendors have to offer. This has made discovering data and identifying displacement opportunities very difficult. In turn, this caps a firm’s potential to reduce cost in a cost-focused environment. It is in the interests of all parties to make this process easier and more efficient, and the Market Data Catalogue will do exactly that. It will also provide firms with an unprecedented level of industry-wide standardization in the categorization of data, which will benefit those looking to understand their Market Data spend and will lead to additional efficiencies for all industry stakeholders.”

Expand is on course to deliver the catalogue to Founding Members via API, late Q3 2023. They are open to enquiries from other firms who are interested in joining the initiative. For further information, or to declare your interest, please contact Eddie Molloy at Eddie.Molloy@expandresearch.com.