The first of a new series focusing on the tech trends driving your future business. This month: The Internet of Things, a computing concept where every day physical objects are connected to the internet with the ability to interact with each other. In 1982, a modified Coca-Cola drinks vending machine became the first internet-connected appliance. [...]
‘Plans are useless; planning is essential’ - Dwight Eisenhower There can’t have been many logistical triumphs to rival D-Day, so the man who brought it all together is probably worth listening on the subject of planning. Eisenhower’s genius was to recognize that no plan, no matter how well-conceived, will survive contact with the enemy. There [...]
The UK government spends a lot of time and money encouraging small companies to innovate. One way they do that is via R&D tax credits, which launched in 2000. “This has been a surprisingly consistent part of government policy and is part of efforts by the government to increase overall R&D spend to 2.4% of [...]
One of the more surprising aspects of employing staff in the UK is the regime governing maternity benefits. As part of the government’s desire to equalize the gender pay gap as well as making it easier for women to return to work, statutory maternity pay is a key cornerstone of UK employment law. And, like [...]
As the dust settles on what was an emphatic Conservative victory in December’s general election, 2020 has already seen a slew of fresh data that suggests the UK economy is set for a good year. A recent piece in The Times summarized a number of new reports, from the IMF among others, suggesting that the [...]
Since the very first crowdfunded project (a 1996 US tour by the prog rockers Marillion, believe it or not), crowdfunding has grown in popularity and morphed into a number of different forms. But it essentially retains the same core principles: offering a large number of people the chance to invest small amounts in projects they [...]
If it’s January then it must be time for the latest IR Global ‘On the Road’ event, and the first 2020 engagement takes place in Miami. And Paul Beare will be there, as his globetrotting reaches new heights. “The Miami event is a really well timed one,” Paul says, who is currently in New Zealand. [...]
Taking on your first new employee is an exciting milestone for any business. It means not just that help is on the way but also that the business is taking another step in its growth. And fresh blood means new ideas and energy. However, it is worth pointing out that, for UK companies at least, employing [...]
Although businesses in the UK have had a few years to get used to the concept of pensions auto-enrolment, some confusion remains: what is it, how does it work, what does it mean for me? And that confusion is often mirrored by employees themselves, who are sometimes left unsure as to what commitments they have [...]
So, at last, after three and half years, one referendum, two general elections and more parliamentary votes than anyone can care to remember, the UK has finally settled the Question of Brexit. Boris Johnson’s comprehensive victory in last week’s General Election means that we can now be sure that, whatever follows, the UK will begin [...]
