Articles by Lucy Turner

At the start of the decade, the office was officially pronounced dead. The morning commute was no more. The water cooler? A relic of the past. We were told that the future had arrived early. For a couple of years, we all enjoyed choosing our custom backgrounds for video calls and deciding which pair of […]

In 2026, the business environment for SMEs and entrepreneurs is becoming more complex and competitive than ever before. Economic uncertainty, evolving tax policies, and the relentless challenge of attracting and retaining top talent are reshaping priorities. Nick Gabay and Elliot Lewis of Thackray Williams outline three strategies that should be on the radar of leaders […]

It’s rare for a business to fall short due to reckless decisions; it’s more common for something to have been overlooked or assumed to have already been done. Especially as businesses go through stages of growth, blind spots can easily form. These blind spots often develop into risks that go unnoticed during day-to-day operations. So […]

When you hear the word business, there are many cities that spring to mind. For most people, London is chief among them. Alongside the likes of New York City and Singapore, London holds its own in terms of footfall, talent, networking and wealth. But with the increase in remote working, are these traditional business cities […]

Germany is increasingly capturing the attention of entrepreneurs and businesses looking to expand internationally. As one of Europe’s most significant economies, Germany is emerging as one of the continent’s most promising growth stories, driven by renewed business confidence, sustained investment, and labour market fundamentals that continue to attract global employers. For companies planning to establish […]

As 2026 begins, many UK SMEs are reassessing how best to manage their finances for the year ahead. David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, has highlighted how persistent inflation and rising costs continue to weigh on business confidence – making more proactive financial planning essential for businesses of all sizes. SMEs also […]

Workplace socials have long been a defining part of company culture. From after-work drinks to team-building days, they’re designed to help teams unwind and connect. But how many employees actually feel that these events are truly inclusive?  To understand how employees really feel about company socials, Capital on Tap surveyed 2,000 UK workers to identify which cities […]

A new study from Capital on Tap reveals the most supportive and most challenging UK cities for business expansion, based on economic strength, long-term business performance, start-up activity and household prosperity. The report analyses five key indicators behind sustainable business growth, including five-year survival rates, GDP per head, employment levels, start-up density, and average disposable […]

Most business owners view recruitment as a simple transaction: you pay a fee, you get a person, and you pay their salary. But when a hire doesn’t work out the way that you wanted or was sold in the interview, you can’t just go ahead and ask for a refund. In some places with ‘workers’ […]

More than a quarter of working Brits feel least productive in January, with an estimated two million people affected by low mood and reduced motivation as daylight hours shorten.

When the economy is growing at a consistent rate, all industries stand to benefit. But inevitably, some are better positioned to capitalise on the country’s success than others. Growth leads to more investment and improves consumer confidence, which can lead to significant performance boosts in some sectors, while others’ successes seem modest in comparison. Which […]

Why do customers choose to spend their hard-earned money on one product over another? They might tell you that it’s all to do with quality, price or convenience, but in truth, it’s more likely that their preferred brand is better at informing and persuading their target demographic. As we move into 2026, it’s more critical […]

What do a small, family-owned café, a medium-sized independent social care provider, and a multinational, private equity-backed conglomerate have in common? They all share the same goal: growth. Despite this collective obsession, the vast majority of growth strategies fail. Hardly any companies achieve sustainable growth over the course of a decade, so we want to […]

The early days of any business venture are fraught with countless learning curves that vary from gradual, steady inclines to treacherous mountain climbs, some of which will take years to summit. Your business’s marketing lies somewhere in the middle – it’ll be a long, but gradual incline. Marketing is a fundamental element of any business. […]

It’s no secret that business development requires patience, resilience, and boundless enthusiasm. But if you open LinkedIn and scroll for five minutes, you’ll find a few (obviously templated) direct messages, a dozen or so AI-generated posts, and a handful of captions by so-called thought leaders all vying for your attention with the end goal of […]

According to recent research, 55% of business travellers believe frequent travel can lead to stress and burnout. Additionally, 30% experience exhaustion from travel, while 27% report feeling homesick or anxious. The hidden mental load of business travel rarely gets attention, yet it significantly contributes to why many employees sometimes find travelling for work overwhelming. What […]

Starting a small business is one of the most exciting journeys anyone can take. Being your own boss and creating something from scratch has never been more inspiring. However, alongside this new freedom comes a reality that catches many new entrepreneurs off guard: the actual cost of running a business. In 2025, small business owners […]

We’re all familiar with the concepts of fight, flight or freeze, which are well-known human reactions to a potential threat or danger. But there is a fourth type of survival response and it’s a growing behavioural trend among Gen Z. Known as workplace ‘fawning’, this type of behaviour is described by experts as a ‘learned […]

During the pandemic, we all saw how working from home could make things easier. However, it also presented us with challenges, such as a blurred work-life balance, social isolation, and distractions. More and more businesses are implementing a hybrid work model, letting you cherry-pick the best of both worlds while sidestepping the drawbacks of each. […]

Gen Z may be the most digitally fluent and socially conscious generation to ever enter the workforce—but right now, many of them are quietly struggling. Beneath their adaptability and innovation lies a workforce increasingly burdened by burnout, anxiety, and uncertainty. Here’s how to support Gen Z in the workplace and why it matters now more than […]

Words are everywhere. From shopfront signs to social media posts to website landing pages, they are how the public discovers and understands what your brand is. With internet algorithms now giving authority to certain words over others, choosing the right ones to reach and grow your desired network of clients or customers is more crucial […]

Capital on Tap surveyed over 1,000 people across the UK to understand the reasons behind wanting to start a business, which industries are the most desired and the potential limitations facing new entrepreneurs. The dream of launching a business is one that resonates with many. A recent Capital on Tap survey of 1,000 people across the UK shows […]

Halifax, Nottingham, and Cardiff have been named as the places where companies are most likely to experience growth, according to a new study. The research, from Trade Nation, used growth prediction data from Crunchbase to reveal the cities and towns around the UK with the highest percentage of businesses that are either very likely or likely […]

Share your ideas, grow your company, and become a thought-leader by writing a business book From the global success of TED Talks to Steven Bartlett’s wildly popular podcast The Diary of a CEO, there is a tremendous appetite to hear more from the world’s top business leaders.  If you’ve risen to the top of your field, […]

Apprenticeships are increasingly recognised as a key solution to addressing the skills shortages across the UK. Builder’s merchant and cheap bricks supplier Travis Perkins has shone the spotlight on trade apprenticeships and why they should appeal to those leaving school to get set up for success in life. Fighting the Skills Shortages According to provisional […]

Many people are rethinking how work fits into their lives, with the Global Wellness Institute survey finding that more young professionals prioritise wellbeing over salary when choosing meaningful career paths. Gary Clark, director of SIA Academy, specialising in providing ski instructor courses says: “People think a career has to be serious to be meaningful. But […]

By 2030, a fifth of the UK workforce may find themselves seriously under-skilled for their jobs. Whilst it might sound like a sci-fi dystopia, according to the Industrial Skills Strategy Council, this could be our reality if we don’t act now. Welcome to the world of the workforce readiness gap – a challenge for many small and […]

New research reveals that older workers are suffering from a silent mental health crisis at work, with almost a third (32%) of workers over 55 having taken time off sick with poor mental health in the last year.  With workers aged 50+ now making up a third (33%) of the UK workforce, addressing this issue […]

A new study has revealed the impact different industries have on the health and wellbeing of those working in them, highlighting the best and worst careers for worker wellbeing. The research, conducted by Phoenix Health & Safety, looked at how different industries affected the physical and mental health of workers, as well as how workers felt their […]

In today’s competitive job market, attracting the right talent is more important than ever. According to a recent State of the Global Workforce 2024 report, only 10% of UK workers were found to be feeling engaged with their jobs, while a staggering 90% were feeling detached from their roles, and likely hopping onto the “quiet quitting” […]