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UK SMEs may finally have reason for cautious optimism. Rory Crisp-Jones of Jones & Co Finance argues that the Autumn Budget has provided long-awaited stability and renewed incentives to invest — from full expensing and a new 40% First-Year Allowance to a steady 25% corporation tax rate — shifting the balance towards growth.
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Technology is redefining regeneration across the UK’s North East region. James Hunnybourne, Executive Chairman at Cybit, explores how AI, digital twins, and sustainable construction are reshaping the region’s economy. With a new AI Growth Zone and major investment underway, the North East is building a smarter, stronger future.
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Modern marketing failure isn’t about effort, but alignment. Julia Payne, Founder of CMO Fractional Services, explores how organisational silos between marketing, sales, and operations quietly erode growth. True success, she argues, comes from unified teams, shared metrics, and a RevOps mindset that places marketing at the business’s core.
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First meetings with investors are less performance, more partnership. Jamie Roberts, Managing Partner at YFM, explains why chemistry can make or break an initial PE meeting — and how founders who treat it as a conversation, not a pitch, set the tone for lasting collaboration.
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EV salary sacrifice delivers measurable benefits for both employees and employers. Thom Groot, CEO of The Electric Car Scheme, argues that the upcoming autumn Budget must preserve this crucial incentive — one that is helping middle-income families access affordable electric transport and driving real progress towards net zero.
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Addiction is already in the workplace, often hiding in plain sight. As Professor Marcantonio Spada of Onebright writes, silence and stigma prevent many from seeking help until crisis strikes. Creating open, supportive cultures where employees can talk about addiction is both compassionate and critical for business health.
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Technology has blurred the boundaries of the workday. Bryan Stallings, Chief Evangelist at Lucid, warns that constant connectivity has created an ‘infinite workday’ — one where interruptions, late-night meetings, and reactive communication are eroding psychological safety. A cultural reset is needed to restore focus, clarity, and humane productivity.
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Older consumers hold extraordinary spending power in the UK economy. iStock’s Jacqueline Bourke outlines how small businesses can connect with the over-65 audience through authentic, inclusive visual storytelling and reveals practical ways to strengthen engagement, challenge stereotypes, and build long-term brand trust.
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Behavioural risk is the invisible factor derailing corporate strategy. Simon Keslake, Co-founder of Behavioural Risk Intelligence, reveals how cognitive bias and group dynamics among senior leaders can quietly undermine resilience — and how understanding these behavioural patterns can transform strategy execution, leadership performance, and long-term organisational stability.
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Workplace wellbeing is no longer a peripheral concern. Sarah McIntosh, CEO of Mental Health First Aid England, argues that supporting employee mental health is both a moral and business imperative. As poor wellbeing drives record economic inactivity, new standards aim to make mental health a boardroom priority.