Articles by Chamber of Business

Current search data shows a significant 300% increase in searches for remote working jobs in the UK. Whilst some companies have homed in on creating a great remote working culture, other companies are enforcing new policies with mandatory days back in the office, and others are back to full-time pre-pandemic office first protocol. Of course, […]

Mental health in the workplace is a major concern in 2024 with stress and burnout related terms trending since the start of the year.  World of work experts, Instant Offices have pulled together advice to help employers support their employees both during this time and beyond:  What Can Employers Do To Support Their Employees Who Are Struggling? […]

With the summer months now upon us, many outdoor workers in the UK face the harsh heat as temperatures reach peak levels for the year.  That’s why experts at bespoke material and handling equipment manufacturers, BlueTrolley have debunked five common myths around the subject of working in the summer heat, and most importantly, how workers can stay […]

A recent survey conducted by OnePoll looked at companies’ actual commitments for carbon offsetting initiatives. The study participants included business owners and company employees, revealing unexpected findings about corporate environmental practices.  What Are Employees Looking In a Company For Sustainability? Environmental Accreditation A surprising 66% of respondents said they aren’t aware of their company having […]

More and more businesses are finding that employees are driving activism around topics and issues in the workplace that are important to them. In fact, 59% of employers expect employee activism to increase even further. But what are some key topics that could trigger employee activism in the workplace? And what can employers do to address them? […]

Connecting with your customers can be done in many ways, with businesses investing a lot of time and money into it. In fact, £29.6 billion was spent on digital advertising in 2023 alone. With this amount of money going towards advertising, making sure you’ve got the right customer experience strategy is essential for all advertising and marketing […]

In May 2024, there were a reported 904,000 job vacancies in the UK alone, creating a sea of opportunity for scammers to target people in unemployment. In a bid to help UK residents avoid these scams, the business-building experts at Wix.com offered their top tips on identifying fake job adverts, as well as advice on crafting a stellar CV […]

Scientists are calling for a holistic approach to mental health that combines physical and mental wellbeing. In an article, scientists state that while clinicians often treat mental health conditions with medication, environmental, lifestyle and social factors should be considered, and a holistic approach adopted.  A holistic approach means putting the person at the centre to address […]

Retaining employees is a top priority for businesses to maintain a stable and productive workforce. Unfortunately, many companies aren’t necessarily aware of what really motivates employees, in order to have an effective retention strategy. A recent survey conducted by talent acquisition specialists Talos 360 sheds light on the most impactful retention tactics that businesses can implement immediately. […]

In the UK, August is the most common month for quitting a job, with 11.7% of all resignations across the year happening. New search data provided by Instant Offices shows that this week searches for ‘staff retention’ is up 50%! Low summer staff retention could be attributed to many challenges depending on the type of company, but one reason […]

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) isn’t a checkbox to tick once a year when Pride Month comes around. Although, Pride Month is a moment in time for us all to stop and talk about how firms can extend the rainbow to foster a more diverse and inclusive work environment, it should be continued throughout the […]

A new study from Vitality Health Insurance has revealed that 70% of Brits prioritise their physical health over their mental wellbeing, particularly in work environments. With many still believing that physical ailments are taken more seriously than mental health issues, this points to the wider issue of workplaces not considering their employee’s psychological safety within their company culture.  […]

Digital transformation must be embraced by every business for various reasons. These include to avoid falling behind competitors, to strengthen security and cut down on security breaches, and to remove the reliance on legacy software. A digital future requires digital transformation now, but where do you start? Here’s an explanation of what digital transformation is […]

Unfortunately, the British economy has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels and the skills shortages remains a familiar problem for UK employers, particularly within transport and logistics, hospitality and manufacturing and construction industries. Impacting both productivity and profit, data reveals the reasons for this slow recovery are pandemic repercussions and tight post-Brexit immigration law. In […]

Many businesses will be pausing to consider their environmental impact as the government announces mandatory separate food waste segregation for all businesses. The government passed the Environmental Act in 2021, which will come into effect later this year. Although an official date is yet to be revealed, businesses will be required to separate food waste […]

When it comes to your career, knowing how to ask your supervisor for a raise is an important but challenging task. Breaking the taboo associated with conversations about pay is crucial to progress! Research from a YouGov poll found that a higher proportion of women (60%) have never asked for a pay rise, compared to […]

It’s no secret that remote working has become widespread in the UK since the global pandemic. In fact, 16% of employees reported solely working from home between September 2020 and January 2023.   The harmful misconception surrounding remote working is that employees are less productive while working outside the office has led to many companies using […]

New research conducted by UK trading platform CMC Markets reveals the UK industries that have had the smallest increase in wages. By analysing the latest release from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and featuring results from ONS’ Wages and Salaries Survey since January 2000, the Financial & Insurance Activities industry is top of the […]

Following the resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab, over reports of bullying allegations in early 2023, there has been a rise in the number of public documents reporting toxic work cultures. New research from Gleeson Recruitment Group shows that over one in ten UK workers have a toxic relationship with their peers and managers. An astonishing 93% […]

According to a recent study, 76% of employees reported moderate to high levels of stress at work and one in 14 UK adults feel stressed every single day. With the most common cause of stress being work-related, it’s important to take action by making sure your team are clued up on how to prevent feeling strained […]

New research conducted by UK trading platform CMC Markets reveals the UK industries that have had the biggest increase in wages. By analysing the latest release from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and featuring results from ONS’ Wages and Salaries Survey since January 2000, the Mining and Quarrying industry is top of the table. […]

Obviously, every business is different, but public holidays generally impact companies in one way or another. There are both positive and negative effects which depend on the industry and nature of the business, but in this article, we will discuss the overall affects these days have on businesses. How Do Public Holidays Affect Businesses? Reduced […]

In order to identify a quality candidate, a thorough evaluation of their skills, experience, and personal qualities is required. Here are some key factors to consider and important questions to ask during an interview. Relevant Skills & Experience A quality candidate should have the necessary skills and experience to perform the job duties effectively. Look […]

Every day is a school day – even when we’re adults. We never stop learning and we never should stop learning if we want to progress in both our career and daily lives. It seems that professional development is growing in popularity. Sales for Publisher Pearson increased 12% to £3,841m during the year of 2022 […]

A competitor analysis is a comparison between your business and other businesses within your industry that you regard as a competitor. This may be businesses that are within your local area, offering similar services/products to your business, targeting a similar audience, etc. For any business, it’s important to remember that you are not the only […]

Every industry is going to be impacted by Brexit at some point, purely due to economic fluctuations. From reduced investment to manpower issues and skilled worker shortages, it’s safe to say that the impact of Brexit on small businesses is huge. That being said, Brexit opportunities are not to be overlooked, especially when you look […]

The UK transport industry has been plagued with periodic strikes since Autumn 2022 and, with more planned, many businesses are wondering how this will affect them. The strikes are no doubt having a financial impact on businesses due to both the loss in productivity as employees are unable to get to work and the fact […]

With the January 31st Deadline swiftly approaching, it’s essential that you are prepared to file your self-assessment tax returns and pay the appropriate taxes. While this may seem complicated or overwhelming, the sooner you complete your returns, the better. Furthermore, filing your tax return can also make you more aware of the ways you may […]

As a business owner, you are responsible for the impact your company has on the environment. As such, making sustainable business changes should be a significant focus within your operations moving forward, regardless of which industry you operate within. This is due to the simple fact that experts agree significant changes must be introduced sooner […]

Every small business across the country has faced unprecedented finance challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, many have experienced a loss in custom alongside rising monthly expenses. As such, it’s hardly surprising that a recent study found that “small and medium-sized enterprises are now collectively carrying around £36 billion more in […]