As 2024 progresses, alternative lenders face a complex landscape of challenges and opportunities, demanding strategic adjustments to effectively support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Douglas Grant, Managing Director at Conister Bank, highlights five key considerations for alternative lenders navigating this evolving environment. 1. Impact of Rising Living Costs The expiration of long-term fixed mortgages set before the COVID-19 pandemic is set to impact nearly 40% of UK households. With elevated interest rates increasing monthly expenses, consumer spending is expected to tighten. This shift could adversely affect SMEs by reducing discretionary spending. Alternative lenders must adapt by revising lending criteria and…
Author: Humanima
Students are being urged to stay vigilant against online scams as the new academic year begins, with the Student Loans Company (SLC) issuing a stark warning about the rise of smishing and phishing attacks aimed at targeting maintenance loan payments. As thousands of students across the UK receive their first instalments of the 2024/25 academic year, SLC warns that fraudsters are stepping up efforts to trick students into revealing personal and financial information via fake text messages and emails. This form of fraud, known as “smishing,” involves scammers sending messages that appear to come from trusted sources like the SLC,…
The UK Government has announced a significant update to the Online Safety Act, classifying the sharing of intimate images without consent as a “priority offence.” This new measure will require social media platforms to proactively remove non-consensual intimate content or face severe penalties, including fines of up to 10% of their global revenue. Under the new provisions, tech companies will be legally obligated to identify and prevent intimate image abuse, marking it as one of the most severe forms of online crime. Failure to comply with the new regulations could lead to substantial fines, enforced by the regulator Ofcom. These…
The winners of the 7th annual Global Forex Awards – Retail have been announced, recognising the top innovators and service providers in the retail forex trading industry. Organised by Holiston Media, this year’s awards were the largest yet, with more than 50 winners named across global and regional categories. The awards celebrate businesses that are pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence in retail forex trading, both globally and in specific regions such as Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. The awards are voted for by forex traders and honour brokers and firms that excel in areas such…
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has announced plans to translate its extensive library of patient guidelines into Spanish, ensuring wider access to vital cancer care information. The NCCN Foundation, in partnership with the NCCN, is committed to making the entire collection of more than 70 patient-focused books available in Spanish. In addition, select editions will be translated into other languages. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients are a series of easy-to-understand resources that provide comprehensive information on cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care. These guidelines are based on the expert recommendations from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, which…
New research has identified Generation Z as the most “chronically online” generation, spending an average of 3.6 hours daily on social media and streaming platforms. This data, analysed by QR Code Generator from sources including Ofcom and Uswitch, highlights the evolving patterns of internet usage across different age groups in the UK. The study, which evaluated social media engagement, streaming habits, smartphone dependence, and general internet access, found that younger generations are significantly more immersed in digital life compared to their older counterparts. Gen Z, defined as those aged 16 to 24, leads the way with their extensive use of…
A new book aims to revolutionise the landscape for female entrepreneurs seeking investment and business growth. Thinking Bigger by Sarah Dusek, venture capitalist and entrepreneur, provides a comprehensive guide designed to help women build and scale successful businesses while addressing the significant funding gap they face. Women entrepreneurs currently receive less than 2% of all venture capital annually, highlighting a glaring disparity in access to investment. Thinking Bigger seeks to address this issue by offering practical advice and strategies tailored specifically for women. As co-founder of Enygma Ventures, Dusek has championed underrepresented female founders in Africa, helping them secure venture…
A new Labour Market Advisory Board, established to combat rising economic inactivity, held its first meeting on Monday [9 September], marking the beginning of a renewed government push to get more people back into work. The board, appointed by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall MP, includes labour market experts from business, academia, and industrial relations and is tasked with addressing what Kendall calls “the greatest employment challenge for a generation.” The initiative comes as the UK grapples with a significant rise in long-term sickness, which has kept hundreds of thousands of people out of work since the pandemic. Economic…
A recent study has identified the industries most at risk for fatal workplace falls, with construction topping the list. The analysis, conducted by Callahan & Blaine litigation law firm, drew on data from the National Safety Council spanning from 2011 to 2022, revealing stark trends in workplace safety. Construction Industry Faces Highest Risk Construction and extraction jobs were found to be the most dangerous, with an average of 4.72 fatal falls per 100,000 full-time workers annually. In 2022 alone, there were 700 reported fatalities due to lower-level falls in the workplace, with the construction sector accounting for 411 of these…
In 2023, the illegal cigarette trade across Europe continued to grow, with over 52 billion illicit cigarettes consumed across the continent, according to a new report by KPMG. The study, commissioned by Philip Morris International (PMI), reveals that nearly one in 10 cigarettes smoked in Europe is illicit, highlighting the persistence of organised crime and illegal manufacturing. The European Union (EU) alone saw 35.2 billion illicit cigarettes consumed, marking a slight increase from the previous year. France remains the largest illicit market within the EU, accounting for nearly half (47.7%) of the region’s illegal cigarette consumption. The country lost an…
