Be the Business

Get connected 📞 We're excited to share that our Enterprise Partnership Manager, Susanna Matheson-Kwok, is attending #ConnectedBritain by Total Telecom at the ExCeL London today and tomorrow! She’s looking forward to diving into how connectivity is evolving across the UK and how these changes can benefit small and medium-sized businesses in particular. This makes for a great opportunity to network with fellow innovators and small business champions. We will be exploring the latest developments in connectivity and looking for ways to drive value and productivity across the UK. It’s a great opportunity to meet with partners and gain insights into how the future of digital infrastructure can help businesses thrive.   If you're attending, be sure to connect with Susanna Matheson-Kwok!💡 #DigitalEconomy #Networking #Connectivity

Save the date! 🗓 As a small business owner, staying ahead of the digital curve can be a daunting challenge. From mastering SEO and social media to finding the right talent to drive your digital strategy, the path to digital transformation is often filled with obstacles.   Join us for a conversation with Eva Sonaike, Founder & Creative Director of the luxury African interior brand, Eva Sonaike Ltd. She'll share her personal experiences and insights on overcoming digital roadblocks.  The discussion will include:  👥  How she initially connected with Be the Business and participated in our tech adoption lab programme, gaining valuable digital expertise.    💻  Eva’s urgent need for digital skills and the importance of this in today's rapidly evolving business landscape   🔍  The challenges of finding and hiring the right talent, including the pros and cons of apprenticeship programmes  🚨 How Eva navigated a "digital emergency" in her business and the lessons she learned along the way   📚  Strategies for SMEs to invest in their own digital education and build a future-ready organisation Are you a small business owner looking to take the first steps in your digital transformation journey or an aspiring apprentice eager to contribute to an SME's growth? This session will provide valuable perspectives and practical advice, you won't want to miss it! Tune in and get ready to unlock the potential of your business! 🚀

Small Enterprises, Big Impact 💪 Our CEO, Anthony Impey MBE, took part in an engaging panel discussion centred around techUK's report on the impact of small enterprises. The focus? How digital adoption can transform business leaders and the UK economy! Lucy Rigby MP kicked things off by spotlighting the essential role small businesses play in boosting productivity in the UK. Phil Smith CBE, one of our trustees, emphasised that strong leadership is key to effective tech adoption. Panellists also included Naomi Weir from CBI (Confederation of British Industry), Nick Williams from Intuit, Jonathan Cowan from Sage, and fantastic chair Samiah Anderson which made for an incredibly engaging and insightful discussion! Key takeaways from Anthony Impey MBE: 🤝 Confidence vs. Action: UK business leaders are confident, but that confidence isn't always leading to action. 🏛️ Local Leadership: We need local authorities to drive a national mission for tech adoption! 🤖 AI Opportunity: AI is a game-changer for small businesses, yet 2.4 million are not using it, risking their competitiveness. The report outlines a clear 12-month roadmap for the Government to boost SME digital adoption, key takeaways include: 📈 SMEs could add £232 billion to the UK economy through better digital adoption. ✔️ Create a cross-departmental Forum, including an appointed Minister responsible for digitisation. 🌍 The UK is falling behind international competitors in SME digitalisation—countries like Australia and Singapore are already ahead. ⚙️ Over 25% of UK SMEs are not using basic digital tools, such as CRM systems or e-commerce platforms, despite these tools helping to drive productivity and growth. 🔗 Check out the rest of the report: https://lnkd.in/eiUuT3ZQ #SMEs #DigitalAdoption #Leadership #Productivity #AI #UKGrowth

Building local resilience 🌟 New Local 's review of £1.3m Resilient Communities Fund highlights three principles to support community businesses in becoming more resilient to climate change and the cost-of-living crisis: 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: The RCF offers funding that empowers businesses to address their unique needs, leading to significant social, financial, and environmental impacts. 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Supported businesses have enhanced community engagement by providing warm spaces and subsidised services, fostering a stronger sense of community. 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Tailored support is available but not mandatory, allowing businesses to choose resources that best suit their needs, enhancing the effectiveness of the assistance. 📚 By shifting power to communities and supporting local small businesses, we can achieve positive outcomes for both the economy and society. 🌍💡 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e-RztUMS #LocalResilience #CommunitySupport #Empowerment #Sustainability #ResilientCommunities

National Charity Day! 💪   Being part of a charity means more than just a job—it’s our mission, our passion, and a way to give back to our community. 💙    We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together since our inception in 2017: 💼 Secured almost 10,000 jobs across the UK 💷 Generated an additional £515 million in GVA (Gross Value Added) 📈 Striving for another £400 million in the next three years    But none of this would have been possible without you—our partners, community and the amazing small businesses we work with. Your belief in our mission and your continued support have been the driving force behind these incredible milestones. Together, we’re not just strengthening businesses—we’re building a more resilient and prosperous future for communities across the UK.   See what our team has to say and let’s continue to make a difference, one business at a time. 🌍❤️ Eilidh McDade Angela Veljanoska Maarja Toomsalu Joshua Sheppard Susanna Matheson-Kwok Ioana Axinte

Does your small business drive positive change for the planet? 💚 You could have the chance to win one of nine places for businesses to secure a £20,000 local TV campaign, plus up to £2,500 for ad creation with Sky — an incredible opportunity for any business! 📺 To enter, simply gain community votes, and if you make it into the top 10, you'll pitch to a judging panel for a chance to win. All you need to do is showcase your commitment to sustainability! 🌱 What’s in it for you? 🏆 A chance to shine on TV 💸 Funding for your advertising needs 🌟 Recognition for your positive impact on the environment 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dABHhdsb #Sustainability #LocalHeroes #SkyZero #PositiveChange #EcoFriendly

Time to upskill! 🌟 Cisco has released a groundbreaking report on the impact of AI on technology jobs. 📊 With 92% of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) roles expected to transform due to AI. For small businesses, adopting AI early can be a game-changer. It allows you to enhance efficiency by automating routine tasks and freeing up your team to focus on higher-value activities. Moreover, investing in AI skills can help attract and retain top talent, as employees increasingly seek opportunities to work with cutting-edge technologies. The AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium, which includes Cisco, IBM, Accenture, Google, Intel Corporation, Microsoft, and SAP, is dedicated to preparing small businesses for this transformation. Key initiatives include: 💻 Training 25 million people in cybersecurity and digital skills by 2032, and 30 million individuals in digital skills by 2030, with a specific focus on equipping 2 million in AI. This initiative provides invaluable resources for small businesses looking to upskill their workforce. 🤝 Comprehensive training programs: The consortium will evaluate the impact of AI on 56 key ICT job roles and provide training recommendations. This is a call to action to embrace the AI-driven future of work! 💡 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dniHTZM9 #AI #WorkforceDevelopment #Upskill #Reskill #TechFuture #Cisco

Celebrating diversity, while boosting the economy! Did you know Notting Hill Carnival generated a staggering £396 million for London’s economy and supported approximately 3,000 full-time jobs? This vibrant celebration isn’t just culturally important it’s a goldmine for small and medium enterprises! 🌍 Local businesses in hospitality, retail, and entertainment see benefits from the influx of visitors with approximately 160,000 international tourists. From food vendors to costume designers, SMEs contribute to the carnival’s success and the overall economic landscape. As we enjoy this cultural event, it's important to recognise the importance of our diverse communities and the role of SMEs in not only supporting this yearly celebration but also their everyday work that help our economy thrive. Supporting events like Notting Hill Carnival helps to foster economic growth and job creation. #SupportLocal #NottingHillCarnival #SMEs #EconomicImpact https://lnkd.in/e4cvrP37

Too busy to enhance your brand, optimise your website, and boost your digital marketing? Join the Tech Adoption Labs – a FREE programme by Be the Business and Click Start London. Accelerate your digital presence with advice from experienced digital marketing experts and get the chance to mentor our young talent on business skills. Our next programme starts next week at the University of East London. Interested? Learn more at https://lnkd.in/dsaZbXvn and contact us at clickstart@bethebusiness.com. #smallbusiness #londonbusiness #businesstips #upskilling #freeadvice #digitalmarketing

What makes a business productive? Do firms have a sense of what they’re good at and where to improve? Bart van Ark is joined by Be the Business' Anthony Impey MBE, Dunsters Farm's Hannah Barlow and Playdale Playgrounds Ltd's Barry Leahey MBE to discuss the G7 Productive Business Index on this episode of the podcast: https://lnkd.in/eTb_T-X2 #productivity #podcast #SMEs #business