“Being a “soft” female founder supercharged my £85m startup.”
Startups
by The Startups Team
8h ago
March marks a celebration of female power, with International Women’s Day, Mother’s Day, and B Corp Month, offering a fitting opportunity to reflect on my journey as a female leader. In the competitive business landscape, the archetype of a strong leader often evokes images of assertiveness, decisiveness, and unwavering toughness. However, within the realm of female leadership, there is often a lack of recognition that softness can indeed be a formidable strength. From spare room to boardroom Having nurtured The Cheeky Panda from my spare room into an 8-figure turnover business, leading a dive ..read more
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Does anyone still trust Glassdoor reviews?
Startups
by Helena Young
8h ago
Back in 2007, Expedia founder Richard Barton made a simple mistake: he accidentally left the results of an employee survey in the printer. At first, he panicked. What if Expedia employees had seen the results? Then, he paused. Would that be such a bad thing? That office mishap snowballed into an idea that became Glassdoor. So-named because it would be a transparent look at what went on behind closed doors, the site was intended to collect reviews from employees and display them anonymously for public viewing. For years, it worked. The platform has undoubtedly been a reliable screening tool for ..read more
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National insurance rates 2024 (updated with latest changes)
Startups
by Helena Young
1d ago
Following a 2% cut in January, National Insurance (NI) rates have been further reduced, taking effect from 6th April 2024. Most notably, employees earning below a certain threshold will now pay a lower main rate of 8%. This is a change that brings big consequences for how small businesses pay their employees. National insurance contributions (NICs) fluctuate so often that it can be hard to keep track of how they affect employee pay (and business margins). And, while men in suits promise the changes will benefit staff and businesses, a prolonged period of tax rises might offset savings for staf ..read more
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Why is Papa John’s closing 43 stores?
Startups
by Helena Young
1d ago
The Italian flag is flying at half-mast today, after US-based pizza chain Papa John’s announced it will close 43 branches in the UK this spring. The news has added to concerns about Britain’s vanishing high street. Chris Phylactou, the managing director at Papa Johns UK has said the move will allow Papa John's to invest in “the right locations with the right partners”. Affected outlets will close in mid-May, but Papa John’s UK has stayed taciturn about how many sites will be closed and jobs affected. We explore what’s behind the closures, and why it might be saying ‘ciao’ to in-store sales. Fr ..read more
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Small business challenges in 2024
Startups
by Helena Young
1d ago
Spring has sprung but small firms remain snowed under. Labour shortages, limited funding, and the threat of a recession are just a few of the challenges, and the small business statistics are sobering: nearly 30,000 firms will fail in 2024; the most in two decades. Diagnosis is the first step to recovery. By identifying the major challenges – internal and external – that today’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face, we can equip them with the knowledge needed to overcome them. We surveyed a representative sample of 546 business owners, managers, and directors to gain insight into the ..read more
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Would you return to the office for a £17,000 pay rise?
Startups
by Helena Young
2d ago
Could you be bribed back to the office? From Dell refusing to promote remote workers, and Amazon announcing it will fire them, organisations are doing everything they can to get workers back behind the desk – including offering a pay rise. A new report from BBC Worklife has found that, across the pond, companies have begun to offer around £64,562 for fully in-person roles by March 2024 – an increase of more than 33% compared to the same time last year.  The decision means that US in-office roles are being paid around £17,000 more than hybrid roles (£47,211), and raises questions about whe ..read more
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Hunt is right — £100k a year is not enough for working parents
Startups
by Helena Young
3d ago
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is in hot water after saying that earning £100,000 a year “doesn’t go as far as you might think”. Against the backdrop of a cost of living crisis, his comments have proved divisive. But specifically for working parents, he might just have a point. This week, research from The Co-operative Bank revealed that parents in London (the most expensive area for childcare) now spend an average of £1,781 per month on nursery or childminder fees. On a £100k salary, that represents 31% of earnings after tax. Average pay has risen by record amounts in the past 12 months. But as The C ..read more
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From macro-economics to manicures: how I started my business at uni
Startups
by The Startups Team
5d ago
Entering the world of entrepreneurship straight from university might seem like a daunting leap, but for me, it was an exciting adventure waiting to unfold. Mad about manis My journey began with a deep passion for nails that started when I was just 16. I found myself spending all my pocket money on nail care and treating myself to manicures. This love for nails stuck with me throughout university, where I decided to take things to the next level by becoming a certified nail technician. Balancing my newfound skill with my studies, I graduated with a first-class degree in Economics. Stepping int ..read more
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Why £50k for a jar of beans is a great investment
Startups
by Richard Parris
6d ago
Let’s make no bones about it – the cost of living crisis means it’s hardly the best time to launch a premium grocery product, let alone seek investment for such a business idea. But last night, Amelia Christie-Miller, fresh from persuading UK consumers to part with up to £3.50 for a jar of Bold Bean Co’s upmarket legumes, managed to convince the Dragons’ Den investors to stump up a £50,000 stake in her business. I’ll not lie, when I first heard about Bold Bean Co, upon their application to the Startups 100, I was a cynic. Beans. In water. For £3.50? And then I tasted them – and I can’t go back ..read more
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Work from home but don’t tell anyone, say managers
Startups
by Helena Young
6d ago
Employers like Boots have caused upset amongst employees by demanding a return to full-time office work this month. Now it seems even managers are ignoring the request. According to research by Owl Labs, 70% of UK managers have admitted to allowing staff to work remotely from home despite their company demanding an official return to office (RTO). While large employers talk the big talk about a forced return to the desk, the data calls into question whether businesses can enforce an RTO policy that isn’t backed by management. RTO mandates foster rise in stealth management Efforts by organisati ..read more
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