Business News Round Up (09/04/2021)
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Nearly three quarters of UK businesses will now hire candidates from anywhere in the country
Over the past year, remote working has proven to be less of a hindrance and more of a benefit to a lot of UK businesses. As a result, business decision makers are more flexible when considering candidates for employment, with new research revealing that nearly three quarters (73%) are open to hiring people from anywhere in the UK, rather than just those local to their business. The study, conducted by The University of Law Business School1, also found that more than a quarter (29%) of those businesses are open to hiring new staff from outside of the UK, as companies look further afield for talent. This is hardly surprising, considering that more than a third (36%) of UK firms have seen an increase in productivity in their staff since working from home was introduced, while almost a quarter (24%) have also enjoyed a boost to their profitability.
Scottish Chambers of Commerce demands pro-business policies
A Scottish business group has called for the next elected government to slash upfront business costs and encourage international trade to drive the post-pandemic recovery. The Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) released its manifesto today, calling for a renewal of “the partnership between the government and businesses”, working to deliver “pro-enterprise and pro-growth policies”. The group said it wants businesses to have a positive influence on policy and no longer play the “second fiddle”. It is calling for the next government to create a new joint economic partnership, which was suggested last year by an advisory group on economic recovery. This would be responsible for reviewing economic conditions for Scottish businesses, nationwide and globally. The SCC demands “major improvements” to policy that pre-date the pandemic and to prepare for future economic shocks by advising appropriate measures to improve policy relations. It asked for confirmation of the planned revaluation of the non-domestic rates system in 2023, to immediately evaluate the current tax reliefs, alongside a review of the Business Growth Accelerator relief regulations, to ensure clarity is provided to councils in cases where existing properties are substantially redeveloped.
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/scottish-chambers-commerce-demands-pro-23875101
Region provides 13 new entrants in ranking of UK’s top 100 fast-growth firms
The 22nd annual Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100 league table is published this weekend and includes 13 new entrants among the 17 North West-based companies included in the ranking of private firms with the fastest-growing profits over their past three years. The data was gathered largely before COVID-19 struck. The North West regional stars have grown their operating profits by an average of 56% a year over the past three years to a total of £180m, and together they employ more than 9,300 people. The region’s top ranked company is new entrant Plan.com, a software and communications business based in the Isle of Man. In response to the pandemic, the firm helped to enable home learning for underprivileged children across 75 schools, while its software has supported remote working for thousands of UK companies.
KPMG launches search for Scotland’s top tech innovators
KPMG has launched its annual search for Scotland’s top tech innovator which has seen previous winners such as Echo and What3Words go on to become household names. The competition, which follows the success of KPMG’s long-running Best British Tech Pioneer competition, is open to scaleup businesses from early-stage to accelerated growth, who are being invited to pitch their innovations and present their growth ambitions to panels of local and global industry experts in June. Last year’s Scottish winners were Edinburgh-based Cyan Forensics, Intelligent Growth Solutions, from Invergowrie, and Glasgow’s Clinspec Diagnostics. Those crowned ‘Scotland’s top tech innovators’ will be provided with exclusive networking opportunities among industry experts, their peers and other tech innovators, and be invited to pitch at a UK-wide event in London. The UK winner will join fellow entrepreneurs from around the world progressing to the Global Tech Innovator final at the Web Summit 2021 in Lisbon in November, where they will compete on the global stage.