The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that the UK’s economy grew by 0.5% between April and June, a slight dip from the initial estimate of 0.6%. This adjustment, largely due to sharper-than-expected declines in the manufacturing and construction sectors, comes at a pivotal moment as the Labour government gears up to unveil its first Budget at the end of the month.

As of 1st October, new laws are in place to ensure that workers keep 100% of the tips, gratuities, and service charges they earn. This is a major development for employees in sectors such as hospitality, where tipping plays a significant role in take-home pay, and for employers, who will need to ensure they comply with the new rules.

If you’re a door supervisor or security guard, or you employ them, you’ll need to be aware of some important changes that may affect you as we approach 2025. From 1 April 2025, new training will be compulsory for anyone looking to renew their licence. This update, introduced by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), aims to refresh and improve the safety-critical skills needed to keep the public safe.

Being an effective leader involves recognising it’s impossible to be right all the time. Constructive conflict should be embraced in business. In fact, sometimes “no” is ultimately more useful than ‘yes”. The best managers and leaders in the business world, seek and accept critical feedback from trusted colleagues to maintain a balanced perspective.

What is it and how can it be harnessed by your firm? Neuromarketing is a field of marketing that combines neuroscience and psychology to understand consumers’ subconscious reactions to marketing stimuli. Neuromarketing uses knowledge about the way our brains are structured and how they interpret the world around us and make decisions in order to develop more effective marketing practices.

Any successful business has to balance two different time horizons -long and short-term. In the short term, a business needs to cover its costs, pay salaries and function on a day-to-day basis. However, if it focuses too much on the present, there is a risk that potential opportunities will be missed. Conversely, if a firm’s sole focus is on long-term opportunities, it could quickly become unprofitable. In the words of Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, “you can’t grow long-term, if you can’t eat short-term.”

How do you reset at work after a break or a quieter summer period? Resetting at work after a break or a quieter summer period is crucial for regaining productivity and focus. The process begins with getting organised and prioritising tasks. Reviewing upcoming projects, deadlines, and emails allows you to assess what requires immediate attention.

Late payments are a huge headache for small businesses across the UK, costing SMEs around £22,000 per year on average. In fact, it’s estimated that they’re responsible for about 50,000 business closures each year! The government has just announced new measures to tackle the problem, but these won’t come into play overnight, so what can you do in the meantime to protect your business?

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, gave an important speech at the Labour Party conference last week, in which she appeared to shift tone to speak more positively about the economy. Recently she spoke about the upcoming Budget being a “painful” one. As a result, there has been speculation on where spending will be cut and tax raised, which may have affected consumer confidence. However, the Chancellor’s speech at the party conference concentrated on the positive results she expects to bring to the economy.

The government has announced some reforms to the apprenticeship system in England, which could bring some exciting opportunities for business owners. These reforms, aimed at boosting young people’s access to apprenticeships, come with a new “growth and skills levy” that will replace the existing apprenticeship levy. Here’s what you need to know, and how this could benefit your business.

If you, or your child, was born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, there could be a savings account with your or their name on it – literally! More than 670,000 young people, aged 18-22, have yet to claim their Child Trust Fund, with HM Revenue & Customs calculating that the average fund is worth £2,212. That’s a decent chunk of money, so it’s worth checking to see if you’re one of those with unclaimed funds.

The government has announced new measures designed to improve the warmth of homes for renters and lower heating costs. As things currently stand, a private rented home can be rented out if it meets Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) E. Social rented homes have no minimum standard at all. A consultation will shortly be launched on proposals for both private and social rented homes to have to meet EPC C or its equivalent by 2030.

Amazon has announced the end of its hybrid work policy, with corporate staff expected to be back in the office five days a week starting in January. Previously, staff had the flexibility to work from home two days a week. The decision has apparently been made to help staff work together more effectively and help reduce bureaucracy. Last year, Amazon tightened the full remote work allowance that had been put in place during the pandemic and this resulted in staff staging a protest. The new decision is unlikely to be popular with many.