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Andy Fishburn, Managing Director at Virgin StartUp, speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio to discuss why 50% OF UK BUSINESS FOUNDERS FEAR THEY WILL NOT SURVIVE 12 MONTHS
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 99% of businesses in the UK, supporting 27 million jobs across the country and collectively account for £4.5 trillion in annual turnover.
Recognising their pivotal role in the UK economy, the former government made 2024 the “Year of the SME” to highlight their plight and tackle the key issues they face.
But now, new research has revealed that half (50%) of founders are concerned that their venture will not survive the next 12 months, versus only 11% having the same concerns last year.
That’s according to the new Founder Barometer report from Virgin StartUp, which has revealed that the cost-of-living crisis (52%) is the biggest challenge they face today. This explains why, from this new government, they would most like to see:
Business rates scrapped (33%)Greater support for businesses and regions outside London (32%)A cut in corporation tax (26%)The facilitation of greater access to capital (23%).When it comes to mentorship, more than one in 10 (13%) say the most valuable advice comes from fellow founders/peers, and 11% from online communities – with almost one in five (19%) having experienced a eureka moment after engaging with them.
Meanwhile, 16% say spending time with fellow founders has improved their mental health, while 17% have received expert knowledge and information from their communities.
Andy Fishburn, Managing Director at Virgin StartUp, Virgin’s not-for-profit home of entrepreneurship, which Richard Branson launched in 2013, discusses the need for continuous support as well as funding to founders, and what they can gain from better engaging with each other to celebrate the launch of the Virgin StartUp Community Platform.
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Clare Reynolds, Business Psychologist, Pearn Kandola speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio to discuss why URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED TO TACKLE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST NEURODIVERSE WORKERS.
A new report released today (Tuesday 16th July 2024) reveals workplaces across the UK are experiencing endemic discrimination of neurodiverse workers, with almost half of employees admitting they’ve experienced discriminatory behaviour towards neurodiverse colleagues.
It is thought that about 15 to 20 percent of the world's population is neurodivergent, a general term which includes conditions such as Autism, ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia.
The Neurodiversity At Work (2024) report by Pearn Kandola, a business psychology consultants, found when job hunting, the barriers neurodiverse candidates face were “bias and negative attitudes” from employers, based on neurotypical assumptions and employers not offering or making reasonable adjustments.
KEY FINDINGS AT A GLANCE:
Almost half of employees (46%) have experienced discriminatory behaviour towards neurodiverse colleagues
Six in ten (63%) neurodiverse employees mask their condition from colleagues, and more than two in five (42%) admit to feelinguncomfortable asking their employer for adjustments to accommodate their neurodiverse traits
Six in Ten managers in the workplace have never had any training on how to manage colleague with neurodiversity
When they were able to navigate the job application and interview process, many found the workplace a hostile environment, with 6 in ten (63%) neurodiverse employees revealing they masked their condition from colleagues – hiding their discomfort or emotions - and more than two in five (42%) admitting they were uncomfortable asking their employer for adjustments to accommodate their neurodiverse traits.
Training was also lacking with seven in ten (70%) workers in the UK believing businesses do not do enough to accommodate people with invisible disabilities – such as providing visual aids to help people with dyslexia. Of those surveyed who manage staff at work (45%), six in 10 had never had any training on how to manage colleagues with neurodiversity.
Clare Reynolds is a Business Psychologist at Pearn Kandola who contributed to the report, and discusses the findings, and the importance of tackling inequality for neurodiverse workers and what more needs to be done.
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Sara Davies MBE, Entrepreneur & Avon UK's Chief Inspiration Officer speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio to discuss her new role as Avon UK's Chief Inspiration Officer
Entrepreneur, founder of Crafter’s Companion and business investor Sara Davies has been appointed as Avon UK’s Chief Inspiration Officer.
Avon research reveals nearly a third of British women face barriers when starting their own business including knowing how to access finance, not knowing where to start, as well as lack of confidence
Being an Avon Rep enables women to work flexibly and gives them the tools and opportunity to run their own business as well as the potential to become a Leader and coach a team of Reps
Beauty brand Avon UK has appointed prolific entrepreneur and businesswoman Sara Davies MBE as its Chief Inspiration Officer.
The role will see Sara help more women run and build their own successful business and she will host inspiring masterclasses to coach and mentor Avon Reps while offering tailored advice on how to be their own boss, grow their businesses and lead a team.
Sara’s appointment comes as Avon research shows various factors deter many women from starting their own business.
The research reveals a third (33%) of women in the UK believe setting up their own business is in favour of men and just under a quarter (23%) feel they have fewer choices than men when it comes to starting their own business.
While there is appetite to change working circumstances, many women continue to face obstacles to achieving their goals.
Nearly a third (31%) of women say there are barriers to them starting their own business including money/finance (53%), not knowing where to start (40%), lack of confidence (39%), fear of failure (37%) and lack of knowledge of the market (33%).
Sara Davies, Avon UK’s Chief Inspiration Officer, said:
“I am thrilled to join Avon UK as its first Chief Inspiration Officer.
“It’s a brilliant opportunity to work with new and existing Avon Reps who have the hunger to build and run their own business, on their own terms.
“The research reflects so many of the barriers I came up against when starting up my own business.
“I know that it still impacts women today, who have that drive, but face the same issues.
“I have always been passionate about entrepreneurship and helping people to realise their ambitions so having the opportunity to share my own knowledge and experience to inspire others is incredibly exciting.”
Sara’s top tips for building your own business and motivating a team:
Have a plan, set your goals and put them on paper: writing down what you want to achieve helps you to stick to your plans and hold yourself accountable.
Do your research: ensure that you feel a connection to the brand and what they stand for. This will make promoting your business feel natural.
Build a personal brand: give customers the chance to buy into you, not just the products you sell.
Use your support network: reach out to those around you for advice and be loud and proud when something goes well for you.
Lead from the front: as your business grows your team will increasingly look to you for inspiration and motivation. Successful leadership doesn’t come from what you do occasionally but from what you do consistently.
Tailor your leadership style: listen to what each individual team member needs to support their growth and development as you recruit new talent. If someone has done a good job, tell them and...
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Andreas Munk Holm , Co-Founder of EU VC speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss The Rise of European Venture Capital
Andreas is one of the co-founders of EUVC where he acts as podcast host and Europe’s LP hypeman. He runs content & marketing for EUVC where he works tirelessly to champion and connect the European VC ecosystem.
Andreas started his career in venture right after school, helping build his university’s incubator to then join a local pre-seed fund focusing on bridging the valley of death for deep tech startups.
Since then, Andreas has co-authored a book on the soft issues of family business succession and helped emerging managers build their first funds, first as an advisor and now institutionalised via EUVC.
Listen to the EU VC podcast on Apple | Spotify | eu.vc
Pre-register for the State of European VC Fundraising
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John D’Arcy, Director, The Open University in Ireland & Northern Irelandspeaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss WHY BUSINESSES LACK CONFIDENCE TO INTEGRATE AI & GREEN TECH BECAUSE OF UK SKILLS SHORTAGE.
More than three in five (62%) organisations in the UK continue to struggle with skills gaps, resulting in 64% lacking the confidence to integrate either AI or green technologies – crucial to growth and sustainability for businesses and the wider economy.
That’s according to data from the latest Business Barometer by The Open University and the British Chambers of Commerce, which reveals skills shortages remain a major issue across sectors and regions in all four nations.
Despite this, less than one in five (19%) organisations have implemented a written skills plan for their workforce, hindering the ability to strategically address these issues and prepare for future demands.
More than two-thirds (68%) of employers say shortages have increased the workload of their employees – impacting morale and wellbeing – a clear indicator that they need a strategic, inclusive skills plan to develop talent to fill key gaps.
Organisations recognise this, with 39% intending to use mentoring or coaching and 35% intending to use short courses within the next twelve months, helping to develop skills as well as fostering a supportive learning environment to enhance employee attraction, engagement and retention.
Meanwhile, encouragingly, 86% that currently use apprenticeship programmes are expecting to increase or commit to the same number of learners over the next 12 months, highlighting the value placed on apprenticeships as a means of cultivating new talent and addressing specific skill needs.
But, while there is a commitment to address the skills shortage from some organisations, the report reveals the majority (63%) still do not have specific initiatives in place for underrepresented groups e.g. young people or those with disabilities, therefore missing out by not widening talent pools to plug their shortages.
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Jonathan Watts-Lay, of WEALTH at work speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss WHY GROWING NUMBERS 'WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO RETIRE'.
The number of people in full-time employment who believe they will never be able to afford to retire because of the impact of the rising cost of living is on the rise, with two fifths (39%) of workers claiming they will never be able to afford to stop working, up from one in three (33%) twelve months ago.
Those aged 35-44 years old are the age group most likely to believe they will be able to afford to retire, with almost half of workers (46%) thinking this.
Whilst rising costs have affected every generation, this age group have had less time to build up savings and could be feeling particularly squeezed with managing high childcare and property costs. Not only this, many of them may not have benefited from a full working life of automatic enrolment, and are less likely to reach retirement with generous defined benefit (or final salary) pensions than some older generations.
The figures from WEALTH at work also show that rising costs also mean that almost a third (32%) will look to delay retirement, up from a fifth (21%) this time last year.
Eight in ten (81%) are also concerned that it means they will be less comfortable in retirement due to a shortfall in savings, with the same amount (81%) saying they are concerned they will have to work longer to make up for the shortfall.
With the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommending interest rates in the UK should be cut to 3.5% by the end of next year, down from their current level at 5.25%, and with the British Retail Consortium last month announcing the rate of prices in UK shops is returning to ‘normal levels’, the affordability outlook is at least looking a little brighter for people.
Jonathan Watts-Lay, from financial wellbeing and retirement specialists, WEALTH shares his thoughts on how to balance your finances to make retirement both realistic and comfortable. Also, with 41% feeling unsupported by the workplace, he will discuss the valuable ways many employers are helping staff gain control of their financial future.
RESEARCH INFORMATION:This year’s research was conducted by Opinion Matters between 22/05/24 and 23/05/24. 2,019 UK adults aged 22+ in full-time employment were surveyed.
Last year’s research was also carried out by Opinion Matters between 13/4/23 and 17/04/23. 2,025 UK adults aged 22+ in full time employment were surveyed.
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Kevin Lee-Barker, Senior Finance Strategy & Community Team at Lloyds Banking Group speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss WHY MORE BUSINESSES NEEED TO EMBRACE SKILLS-BASED VOLUNTEERING SCHEMES.
Businesses adopting volunteering schemes and programmes for their employees stand to benefit from fostering an engaged and purpose-driven workforce, as well as improving their corporate social responsibility creds.
That is according to the Skills Based Volunteering: A Win, Win, Win report from Lloyds Bank Foundation which analyses the mutually beneficial rewards for businesses, workforces, and charities through skilled based volunteering.
It found that charities across the UK are calling out for skilled volunteers in finance, strategy and governance to assist them in navigating strategic challenges, access in-demand knowledge and insight, and unlock new connections and networks.
Meanwhile, skilled employees that take part can gain invaluable professional development, build confidence and connections, as well as develop transferable skills and provide them the opportunity to gain a better understanding of social issues.
To mark National Volunteers Week (3 – 9 June 2024), the report aims to encourage businesses and charities to embrace schemes and initiatives as a conduit for mutual growth that has a huge potential for surrounding communities. Its recommendations include:
Offer a variety of skilled volunteering programmes, from one-off virtual opportunities to longer-term ongoing support, as well as one-to-one and group based opportunities.Support corporate employees in translating their skills to a different sector by sharing volunteer experiences and having an onboarding process.Embed support for volunteering into leadership and your organisation’s culture.Maintain an ongoing relationship, as in many cases skilled volunteers support charities beyond the length of a programme.Identify the needs of charities and where volunteers can have the biggest impact.
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Ryan Etchells, Chief Commercial Officer, Together, UK’s largest specialist lender speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss DOES THE UK FACE A CREDIT CRUNCH?
Overly cautious banks and a lack of investment breaks and benefits from local and national government threaten investment and growth goals for SMEs across the country.
That’s according to new research from specialist lender Together which has revealed, on average, UK SMEs would like to invest £450,000 in their business over the next two years.
While many are confident they will be able to achieve this, barriers remain and cast aspersion over plans for growth and expansion, with the biggest ones being:
A lack of investment breaks and benefits from local and national government (27%)Overly cautious banks (23%)Difficulty accessing finance for specialist lenders (23%)Meanwhile, with the General Election a month away [in July 2024], SMEs would most like the next Government focus their first six months on introducing policies which prioritise:
Reduce energy bills (49%)Increase tax breaks (39%)Improving access to finance (35%)Boost investment in the SME growth sector (33%)Remove red tape around businessloan applications (26%)This comes as only 55% admit they think the banking sector is supportive of small businesses, with 73% thinking mainstream banks are being overly cautious about lending.
Almost half (46%) believe they do not understand the needs of the average SME applicant, and 55% believe they will have a better chance of fulfilling business objectives if they identify an alternative finance source or provider.
Ryan Etchells, Chief Commercial Officer at Together, has said the sector will be carefully weighing up Sunak and Starmer’s pledges as it continues to face tough cost and labour challenges.
“Given that securing real economic growth will surely be a central plank of all parties’ election promises, we need to see concrete plans for the business community especially when it comes to providing adequate resource and support for SME recovery and future growth. Unlocking access to finance is certainly one element, but fundamentally it will take lenders, developers, and innovative funders to work together and ensure that – whatever the political outcome – that promises are not left empty and that a course is charted which provides in full what’s needed most.”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:About Together
Togetherhas been delivering specialist secured lending for 50 years, using its wealth of expertise and industry knowledgeto consider individual circumstances to find a way to help its customers. All applications are considered on their merits and the product range includes residential mortgages, short-term finance, buy-to-let, commercial and semi-commercial mortgages and loans, auction finance and development funding throughout mainland UK.
Based in Cheadle, Cheshire, the company employs more than 750 colleagues and has a loan book of £7 billion. For more information go to https://togethermoney.com/
RESEARCH INFORMATION:Research commissioned by Together and conducted by Opinion Matters between 17 – 21 May 2024 among 1,002 DMS/ Directors of SMEs. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles.
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Dilly Carter, entrepreneur and TV presenter speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss Sun, Sea and Switching Off!
97% of small business owners and local entrepreneurs end up working while on holiday.On average entrepreneurs took 5 days actually ‘off work’ last year.48% so passionate about growing their business that they find it hard to switch off.Running a business, even as a side hustle, takes plenty of blood, sweat and tears, requiring tonnes of passion. But, it seems many who do, whether as retailers, personal trainers, make-up artists, builders or farmers, are embracing their entrepreneurial spirit a little too much, without really ever taking their foot off the throttle.
So dedicated are these entrepreneurs to the daily grind, that they took off only five days in the last year—less than a third of the time claimed by their salaried colleagues, who enjoyed an average of 17 days away from their 9-5.
Even when they do finally give themselves time off for a break, 97% still end up working, meaning that they never really switch off, with them putting in on average 3.5 hours a day when they are supposed to be relaxing, nearly half a day!
TUI’s research highlights there is a ‘Downtime Deficit’ among a growing number of local entrepreneurs and small business owners, who ignore the temptations of tropical sun and embrace the hustle, doubling down on work.
Entrepreneur Dilly Carter offers the benefits of her experience, explaining how she developed her business while also discussing the advantages of time away from the daily grind.
There is clearly an appetite for rest and relaxation, with 45% wishing they could take more holiday, 48% seeing their mental health benefit from regular breaks and holidays while 44% notice feeling refreshed after a trip away has a positive effect on their work.
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Dr. Junade Ali, Computer Scientist & Security Expert speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why Your Password Isn't Strong Enough!
We are all guilty of using our favourite holiday destination, a pet’s name or our birth year for a memorable password across multiple sites.
But this World Password Day (Thursday 2nd May 2024), a Cyber Security Expert is warning that the importance of strong passwords on our devices and online accounts is more important than ever as hackers are targeting multiple accounts of victims due to weak and predictable passwords.
65% of people in the UK admit they are scared about being hacked in the future, with 84% thinking hackers are becoming more inventive. Yet only a fifth of people (20%) are able to correctly identify a secure password over a compromised one which can be cracked by a computer in less than a second, and 20% admit to having just one password for multiple websites and devices.
New research by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) shows we are extremely predictable from a scammer’s perspective, with almost half using a significant date (21%) or a pet’s name (20%) as the topic of our passwords.
When we do stray away from the predictable, we aren’t putting much thought into it either, with 38% believing replacing letters with numbers e.g.p4$$w0rd is more secure when thinking about a password, with 45% believing it makes them harder to guess.
65% of people think passwords should never be written down, despite advice from cybersecurity experts, and 77% think changing passwords frequently makes them more secure, despite GCHQ recommending against this practice.
p4$$w0rd is in dictionaries of common passwords, so it can be cracked in less than a second. If you use the same password for every website and the password is breached from one site, all sites can be compromised without the attacker needing to try any other passwords - this is known as credential stuffing.
Cyber Security Expert and Computer Scientist Junade Ali is urging us to take action now with these simple tips to boost our security and keep hackers away:
Use randomly generated, long, unique passwords for each website.Enable Two-Factor Authentication where possible.Use a password manager to store your passwords for you and tell you when they have been in a data breach.The threat is ever growing with 40% of 16-24-year-olds (Generation Z) and more than a third (37%) of 25-34-year-olds (Millennials) admitting to being impacted by cybercrime.
In fact, even those who haven’t been impacted are being targeted regularly, with a fifth (21%) of people receiving a scam email every day, 73% thinking hackers are becoming harder to detect and 41% admitting they wouldn’t know what to do if they’d been hacked.
Junade Ali wants to raise awareness of our common password pitfalls and provide some useful insight to bolster our defences against cyber threats.
ABOUT JUNADE ALI:Dr Junade Ali (27) was named the youngest-ever Fellow of the IET in June 2023, and is believed to be the youngest ever Fellow of a professional engineering institution.
In order to secure Fellowship, Dr Ali demonstrated personal responsibility for significant technological innovation and independent contributions to original research that have resulted in international recognition.
During his career, he invented the technology which allows websites, password managers and web browsers to warn users when their password has been found in a data breach, without the password ever needing to be shared with a third party. This technology has been adopted by companies including Apple and Google.
Other contributions have included developing software to help de-escalate cyberwarfare situations...
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Mike Willians Co-Founder & CEO of Flake Bake speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss BAKING THE BIG TIME: PECKHAM BAKERS WIN OVER ALDI BOSSES WITH JAMAICAN FLAKE BAKE PATTIES.
An independent, family run wholesale bakery in Peckham, South London, producing authentic Jamaican patties, has landed a life changing contract with supermarket Aldi. The supermarket will stock its Flake Bake Beef patty (99p, 140g) in stores nationwide from today (10th April).
Flake Bake produces authentic Jamaican patties, filled with a range of flavours including chicken, lamb, saltfish and vegetables – a Jamaican twist on the beloved British Cornish pasty.
Paul Williams, (54) and son Mike (33) of Flake Bake showcased their most popular flavour, Flake Bake Beef patty, as part of Channel 4 series ‘Aldi’s Next Big Thing’, now in its second season. Mike and Paul were picked from hundreds of applicants competing for the coveted contract to stock Aldi stores nationwide.
From dinners and baked goods to party foods and confectionery, each episode sees hopeful suppliers compete for a space on Aldi’s shelves, before Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, decides on a winner which will appear as a Specialbuy in over 1,000 stores.
Impressing the judges with its standout flavour, Mike and Paul’s Flake Bake Beef patty beat five other hopefuls, including the world’s first bowler hat shaped bread, an edible cookie dough range, an award-winning brioche bun and an allergen free gooseberry and elderflower whoopie pie.
Bursting with Caribbean flavours, the Flake Bake patties come with a spicy ground beef filling, wrapped in a flaky pastry crust. Julie was blown away with the taste and flakiness of the pastry, but with no packaging, a production line falling short of Julie’s minimum order and a shelf life of just five days, the father and son duo needed to scale up production and make changes to the recipe, without changing the flavour of the patty, to win the order.
Mike and Paul got to work addressing Julie’s feedback, enlisting the help of a food scientist who suggested the addition of garlic, a natural flavour enhancer that preserves the life of food with its powerful antioxidant properties.
Having successfully doubled the shelf life to meet Julie’s quota, the pair then sought the help of Mike’s uncle, Lavar, a graphic designer, to create a shelf-ready and eye-catching, individual packaging design.
Returning to Aldi Headquarters, Mike and Paul wowed with their new look Flake Bake Beef patties, presented in individually wrapped packs.The judges were delighted with the changes made, agreeing the flavour was just as delicious as the first batch, and the duo successfully secured an order to supply over 1,000 Aldi stores nationwide.
The father and son duo pride themselves on the bakery’s origins and its dedicated workforce, who hand craft every element of their patties. Producing thousands of patties a week, Flake Bake also has social responsibility and community values baked into its core.
Working with local charity, Leaders of Tomorrow UK as well as local schools, it provides work placements for students at its factory. Most notably, the family business trained and mentored BBC Young Master Chef contestant, Jaheel John, then just 15 years old. Jaheel is now an Assistant Manager at a major British restaurant, at the tender age of 19.
Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, says: “You can’t help but fall in love with Paul and Mike, and their product tastes beautiful. It’s clear how much care goes into making the product. The pastry is unbelievable, every part of it is delicious – I just love it!”
Mike Williams, Co-Owner of Flake Bake, says: “We have an incredible team, they’ve been making patties for a long time,...
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Katie Paxton-Fear, lecturer in Cybersecurity at Manchester Metropolitan University speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss FROM DEEPFAKES TO CHATGPT PHISHING, WARNING OVER RISING SCAM THREAT AI POSES.
With fraudsters scamming more than £1 billion, 48% of us feel more at risk of scams
We are being warned about the growing threat Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses to us as it emerges that fraudsters have already scammed more than £1 billion from our bank accounts since the start of the year.
Top 3 Scamming Tactics This Year
Phishing Emails or Messages (11%)Contact from unknown individuals (11%) Fake Online Shops (8%)Almost half of us (48%) are feeling more at risk of scams as scammers become increasingly sophisticated in how they use advances in technology to overcome the measures financial institutions put in place to protect us. Conventional scams are difficult enough to spot, but AI-based scams are even more dangerous because they are even harder to detect.
Deepfakes allow criminals to create seemingly legitimate audio and video, often featuring someone famous, while ChatGPT phishing gives text the tone and coherence of legitimate sources, voice cloning replicates somebody’s tone and language to trick someone else into having a genuine phone conversation, and verification fraud can be used to subvert standard security checks. With these tools ready to use at the scammer's will, a surprising three in five (61%) UK adults are confident they can tell the difference between human and AI-generated communication.
Despite us losing on average £83.69 as a result of scams in the last year, with them costing men (£93.48) more than women (£70.22), fewer than a third (30%) of us report the incident to the bank, according to Raisin’s research, with only a quarter notifying the relevant online sales platform, with more than one in four (27%) not reporting the scam at all. This may be due to anemotional cost, with us most likely to feel very angry (28%) and anxious (27%), while 23% develop trust issues.
RESEARCH INFORMATION:The research for Raisin was carried out online by Opinion Matters throughout 23.02.2024 – 26.02.2024 amongst a panel resulting in 2000 UK adults responding.
All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).
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Scott Manson, Director of Cyber Security at CISCO UK & I speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why 73% OF BUSINESSES EXPECT TO BE AFFECTED BY CYBERATTACK IN NEXT 2 YEARS
Last week, Britain’s AI minster urged UK businesses to “step up” their cybersecurity in response to growing challenges and risks,noting the UK is second-most attacked country in Europe behind Ukraine.
Today, data from cybersecurity leader Cisco has revealed 54% of UK businesses experienced a cyberattack in the last 12 months,while 70% believe an incident will disrupt operations within the next 12 – 24 months.
Meanwhile,analysis of cybersecurity protections – based on five core pillars: Identity Intelligence, Machine Trustworthiness,Network Resilience, Cloud Reinforcement, and AI Fortification – has determined only 2% have security measures rated ‘mature’ to remain resilient.
Similarly, despite many acknowledging the impact AI is having for both defenders and attackers, only 5% are rated ‘mature’ specifically on AI Fortification, with more than half yet to have deployed any AI into their security.
Despite this, 78% feel very or moderately confident in their ability to stay resilient against the evolving threat landscape, which is seeing supply chains attacked, social engineering used to compromise networks, and criminals increasingly exploiting vulnerabilities in common applications.
This overconfidence could stem from the fact 91% have increased their cybersecurity budgets over the last few years, and the majority expect they will grow further. Cisco believes UK firms are not properly assessing the true scale of the challenges they face.
To improve readiness to face future threats, Cisco recommends UK businesses:
1.Continueto accelerate investment in protective cybersecurity measures across the board, and adopt a ‘platform’ approach to ensure solutions can be effectively leveraged
2.Urgently assess and close vulnerability gaps created by unmanaged devices and unsecured WiFi networks
3.Keep abreast of the latest developments in Generative AI technology and use them to enhance security programs and operational resilience
4.Ramp up recruitment to close security talent gaps and avoid more costly downstream consequences.
5.Establish a company baseline of how ‘ready’ you are across the five major security pillars
ABOUT CISCO:Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.
Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries.
A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.
ABOUT THE 2024 CISCO CYBERSECURITY READINESS INDEX:The 2024 Cisco Cybersecurity Readiness Index is based on a double-blind survey of 8,136 private sector business leaders who have cybersecurity responsibilities in their organizations.
The organizations cover 30 territories in North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia Pacific: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mainland China, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden,...
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Wendy McMillan, Partner of Waterland Private Equity speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss BOOSTING FEMALE-FOUNDED BUSINESSES via Private Equity.
Wendy McMillan, Partner at Waterland Private Equity, talks about recent initiatives announced by the UK government to unlock and boost private investment in female-founded businesses?
Wendy, who herself was a female entrepreneur and CEO, and has experience as a VC and consultant to private equity, joined the European private equity investment group Waterland(€14BN AUM) in January 2024.
Wendy was keen to discuss:
1.How the Invest in Women Taskforce and other similar initiatives are crucial to helping scale female-founded businesses, but that support from private capital is key in helping them to progress them beyond the early stages.
2.The role private equity currently plays in supporting female-founded SMBs to build and expand internationally – and how private equity must do more to by providing partnership, empathy and expertise which are all equally important for long-term sustainable success.
3.How diversity in background, experience, and gender can generate greater diversity in ideas and innovations which ultimately build into successful businesses, solving more problems and catering to a broader consumer base.
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Duncan Goose, Founder of One Water & The One Foundation speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss TACKLING THE GLOBAL WATER CRISIS
About 1.8 billion people are predicted to be facing absolute water scarcity by 2025, according to the United Nations, with two-thirds of the global population expected to be grappling with water “stress”
1. 703 million people in the world lack access to safe, clean drinking water
2. including 115 million who still collect water to drink from rivers, lakes, and other surface water services.
These people survive on as little as five litres of water a day for all their needs, whereas we use in the region of 150 litres of water each day, with one toilet flush typically using at least five litres itself.
Lack of access to safe water leaves families in some of the most exposed and vulnerable areas on the planet trapped in poverty, forcing them to spend up to four hours a day collecting water at the expense of working or attending school or earning a livelihood.
Tragically, more than 1,000 children aged under five die each day from illnesses caused by unsafe water and sanitation
3.Entrepreneur Duncan Goose, founder of One Water and The One Foundation, is available on World Water Day (FRIDAY 22nd MARCH), a designated United Nations observance day which inspires action to tackle the global water crisis, to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and Sanitation.
He has been able to make a difference with The One Foundation, changing the lives of more than five million people in the most water-stressed areas of the world, having raised £30 million.
Goose, a marketing executive who returned from a two-year motorcycle adventure around the world, started One Water in 2004 with the aim of raising enough funds to change one person’s life.
The rise of climate related disasters such as floods and droughts disrupt precipitation patterns and the entire water cycle. This is something Founder Duncan Goose witnessed first-hand during his travels through Honduras in October 1998 as Hurricane Mitch, one of the deadliest tropical cyclones on record, caused devastation across the Atlantic coast. One Water together with its partner, the One Foundation, offers solutions to combat these challenges.
Almost 20 years on the multi-million-pound fundraising milestone, achieved through sales of One Water and donations to The One Foundation, has helped to fund crucial programmes in the most water-stressed areas of the world, focusing on Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi.
Duncan Goose, founder of One Water and The One Foundation, is available to talk about his journey and helping to change five million lives, raising £30 million, over the last two decades.
FOOTNOTES:1.By 2025, 1.8 billion people are likely to face what the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) calls “absolute
water scarcity” and two-thirds of the global population is expected to be grappling with water stress
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/shortages-mount-countries-hunt-novel-sources-water
2. 703 million people in the world lack access to safe, clean drinking water
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Chris Bavin speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss Aldi's Next Big Thing
Supermarket Aldi will consider selling a ‘Stormzy approved’ Short Rib Mac & Cheese in the new series of Aldi’s Next Big Thing.
The six-part prime time show, which kicks off again on Tuesday 2nd April with the ‘dinner’ episode, sees artisan suppliers pitch to win a life-changing
contract and have their product land on shelves in over 1,000 Aldi stores nationwide.
Viewers will see chef to the stars, ‘Chef Vickz’ pitch client Stormzy’s favourite to Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, Julie Ashfield.
Chef Vickz, from South-East London, has been a personal chef to Stormzy, amongst other clients, for six years, since qualifying in Patisserie and Confectionary at the University of West London.
She says:“Stormzy was looking for a chef and I got put forward, that's how it all started… This Mac & Cheese is his favourite dish.“It’s special as it’s made with short rib, which has been slow roasted for a very long time.“It would be the opportunity of a lifetime to have my product in Aldi, I want to be able to cook for thousands.”
Multi award-winning rapper and singer-songwriter Stormzy will send his well wishes to the chef via a cameo on the show:
“Vick we’re rooting for you, we love you, you’re the best. Hurry up and get back…I’m hungry!”
On the first show in the series, Chef Vickz will be pitching her dinner time treat against other creations including:
Halal Wagyu Pastrami from the Malik ButchersPasta Bombs from the Stonehouse SmokeryRainbow Burgers from Leonati CateringVegan Toad in the Hole from Mabel’s FoodsCrabululous Crabcakes from The Fabulous Catch CompanyHosts, broadcaster and author, Anita Rani and Chris Bavin, of BBC’sThe One Show and Eat Well for Less, are joined by Aldi boss Julie, who deliberates on taste, affordability and scalability, before deciding if the celebrity-approved dish will make it into the final two.
Finalists then have four weeks to work on Julie’s feedback, before returning to Aldi with their new and improved products, to learn who has won the biggest contract of their lives.
The winning product will then appear as a Specialbuy in over 1,000 Aldi stores nationwide on Wednesday 3rd April.
Anita Rani, says:“For these small food and drink businesses, winning a contract with Aldi is a potentially life changing opportunity.“Seeing products go from a prototype to supermarket shelves, in just a few months and finding out the stories behind them, has been a really special experience.“I’m excited to see viewers’ reactions - I'm sure everyone will love the winning products just as much as we do.”
Chris Bavin, says: “As an ex-greengrocer, I know only too well the ups and downs of running your own business.“It’s inspiring seeing such an incredible mix of homegrown food and drink suppliers and heartening to know they’re getting the recognition they deserve, by one of the UK’s largest retailers.“I can’t wait for viewers to discover the winning products for themselves!”
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Luke Broad from Dacia UK speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss HOW TO SOLVE THE UK’S EV AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM
Latest figures show EV rollout in the UK is being driven by fleets and firms, with private buyers accounting for less than 1 in 5 EV purchases1.
This is largely because of the success of incentives such as the Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme (ECSSS) – which uses earningsbefore tax to fund repayments on an electric car – and has seen usage grow 68% year-on-year2.
Schemes like these support businesses, which support employees and advance the overall EV rollout, as research shows 74% of UK drivers want to buy an EV but think they are too expensive.
As Dacia brings its all-new Spring – widely known as Europe’s most affordable EV – to the UK, it poses the question; who should foot the bill?
In the UK, high cost is the biggest barrier to owning an electric vehicle. More than three in four (74%) drivers say they would like to purchase one, but they are too expensive.
However, tackle that problem and more appear, as two thirds (66%) say the associated costs are too high, while 56% say their local area lacks the charging infrastructure needed to own and operate an EV.
This leaves 25% feeling it is unlikely they will own an EV by the 2035 deadline set out in the government’s zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, while 45% say it is unlikely they will purchase an EV as their next car.
Offering the best value for money on the market, car brand Dacia is tackling the first and largest barrier by bringing Europe’s most affordable electric vehicle to the UK later this year.
About Dacia
Born in 1968, then relaunched by Renault Group from 2004 across Europe and Mediterranean countries, Dacia has always offered the best value for money cars by constantly redefining the essentials. As a game-changer, Dacia proposes simple, multi-purpose, reliable cars in
tune with customers’ lifestyles.
Dacia models have become a reference on the market, including Sandero, the best-selling retail car in Europe each year since 2017; Duster, the best-selling SUV to European private customers since 2018; and Jogger, the C-segment versatile family car.
Present in 44 countries, Dacia has sold more than 8 million vehicles since 2004.
Dacia launched in the UK in January 2013 and enjoyed the most successful start ever for a new car brand in the UK. More than 270,000 Dacia vehicles have been sold in the UK to date.
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Flavilla Fongang, Founder of Global Tech Advocates, Black Women in Tech and Black Rise speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss Leveraging Diversity, Creating Networks & empowering Growth
Flavilla Fongang is a multi-award-winning serial entrepreneur who started her career in oil & gas, then fashion and she influenced the technology sector. She is now an international and multilingual keynote speaker (English & French). Computer Weekly named her the number 1, most influential woman in tech in the UK among a list of more than 600 women in tech nationwide.
She is the founder of Black Rise, the first business platform dedicated to connecting the business world to talented, skilled and experienced black professionals and businesses.
She is a neuroscience brand expert covering strategy, design, marketing and customer experience. She is the founder of 3 Colours Rule, an award-winning branding and marketing agency. Mercedes Benz awarded Flavilla the “She’s Mercedes” businesswoman award among women such as Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook. She is the author of “99 Strategies to get customers”.
She is also the founder of Global Tech Advocates – Black Women in Tech, the 1st largest organisation of black professional women in tech. She published since October 2021, an annual book “The Voices In The Shadow”. A book that features stories of black women in tech and is distributed to secondary schools for FREE across the UK and Ireland. The books are now also archived at The British Library to protect their legacy. She is the enabler and is never afraid to challenge the norms.
She is an Entrepreneurship Expert with the Entrepreneurship Centre for Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. She has been a keynote speaker for the most prestigious international events, such as AdWeek, HubSpot, DMWF, MozCon, AdWorld, Upgrade100, CTA, MarTech and many more.
She has also delivered corporate talks for the following companies: Meta, Toyota, Zoom, Levi’s, Microsoft, Deloitte, Amazon, HSBC and many more.
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Piers Linney, Executive Chairman & Co‑Founder of Implement AI speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss AI & the future of Tech in SME Businesses
Piers Linney, Executive Chairman & Co‑Founder of Implement AI, is an entrepreneur, investor, and former Dragon on the prime-time BBC show Dragons’ Den. With a background in law and investment banking, Piers has established himself as a leading figure inthe UK business world, particularly in the technology sector.
He has sat on the board of Nesta, the £600m innovation foundation, and British Business Bank during the roll-out of £90bn of Covid support. Piers is also an advocate for diversity in business and sits on Sky’s Diversity Advisory Council. He has also sat on the boards of the UK Cloud Industry Forum and TechUK. Piers is the co-founder of Implement AI which is focused on helping SME's unlock the power of AI.
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Andy Caddy, Group Chief Information Officer at PureGym speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss Change at the speed of Gen-AI
Andy joined PureGym as Group Chief Information Officer in June 2022 taking on responsibility for Digital Strategy, Digital Product and Technology across the group.
Andy had spent time in technology leadership positions at a number of companies including Group CTO at Whitbread (Premier Inn and Costa Coffee), Group CIO for Virgin Active and various roles at easyJet including CTO where he delivered their award winning mobile app and one of the busiest eCommerce sites in Europe. Previous companies include Cable & Wireless, NatWest Group and Argos.
Andy has also been a non-executive director, investor and regular speaker on the changing roles of CIO and inspiring a modern technology workforce.
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