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North West retailers warned of increased fraud risk due to cost of living crisis ahead of Black Friday

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As Black Friday approaches, RSM UK is warning North West retailers of the increased risk of fraud, both to their businesses and their customers. Data from UK Finance shows that nationally last year there was a total of 195,996 authorised Push Payment (APP) scams, with almost £77 million defrauded from businesses, and a staggering £506 million stolen from consumers. This type of scam occurs when criminals use social engineering to trick businesses and consumers into sending payment for goods and services to a fraudulent account, often via fake online advertisements or phishing emails.

A recent report from the National Audit office demonstrated that fraud represented 41% of all crimes against individuals in the year to June, and yet the same report claimed that The Home Office does not have a clear understanding of how much fraud is costing the economy, or what is being spent on tackling the problem.

Head of Retail Jacqui Baker, based at RSM in Liverpool, said: ‘With the UK economy losing millions to fraudsters at a time when retailers and consumers are already battling against the cost of living crisis, it’s clear more needs to be done to tackle online fraud. Unfortunately, as we head into a recession that’s expected to last around 12-18 months, we anticipate a further increase in this type of fraud. During the last recession we saw a rise in crimes like burglary and car crime, but this time it’s likely to be online fraud. We know that more people working from home during the pandemic drove an increase in fraud. It now seems it’s the criminals who are working from home, with thieves able to dupe businesses and consumers into sending them money without ever needing to leave the house.’

As Black Friday approaches, representing a peak time for retail sales, RSM UK is warning retailers and consumers to look out for the most common signs of online fraud and take steps to avoid falling victim.

  1. Use complex passwords with a combination of lower and upper case letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid using the same passwords for several different websites, and use multi factor authentication wherever possible.
  2. Ensure software is updated on all media and devices, as software updates include important security measures and patches to fix any vulnerabilities that hackers may try to exploit.
  3. Avoid using public wi-fi as these networks are often not secure or monitored. Others connected to the same wi-fi network could gain access to your device and intercept network traffic, so it’s important to avoid inputting personal data like credit card details over a public wi-fi network.
  4. Check the spelling and grammar of online offers received via email, as mistakes are often a clue that it is a phishing email. Cyber thieves located all over the world frequently use translation software which can misinterpret words, so if it contains errors and doesn’t look professional, it’s likely to be a scam.
  5. Don’t give away too much online when creating a new account – only provide the basic information needed to create the account. Attackers sometimes disguise requests for information in order to gather as much information as possible, then use this to conduct a cyberattack.
  6. Check the URL of any website you shop on begins with HTTPS, as this is a secure version of HTTP. It means the website is using a SSL certificate and ensures secure communication between your browser and the website.
  7. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is! A very large discount is likely to be a trap to lure you into entering your credit card details.
  8. Think carefully before clicking on any links in emails. Unsolicited and unexpected emails from unknown sources are often from a scammer and should be deleted. Often links lead to dummy websites made to look like genuine sites, so it’s always best to navigate to the site directly rather than via email links.
  9. Use a credit card where possible when shopping online, as if a fraudulent purchase is made on the card, there is a chance you could be reimbursed by your bank. Also, if a fraudster manages to get hold of your debit card details, they could use this to clear out your current account. Avoid saving credit card details on consumer websites, particularly if it’s a retailer you’re not overly familiar with.
  10. Keep a close eye on your bank statements so you can spot any unusual activity. If you see any unauthorised payments, report these to your bank immediately.

For further information on protecting businesses from fraud and cyber threats, visit; The Real Economy | Cyber Security | RSM UK.

Big Bang PR on Rocket mission

Youth marketing agency, We Are Rocket, has appointed Manchester’s Big Bang PR to fuel its growing reputation in the toy, book publishing and visitor attraction sectors.

Big Bang PR, a micro-agency launched by Paula Hunter and Samantha Jones in April 2021, will take responsibility for building Rocket’s brand fame and positioning them as best in class when it comes to marketing to children, youth and parent focused audiences.

As part of the media relations work, particular focus will be around building the profiles of Rocket’s senior team through thought leadership and profiling.

We Are Rocket has a stellar client list which includes all major book publishing houses in the UK, Merlin Entertainments Ltd and University of Westminster. This summer, Rocket was approached by US book publishing teams to replicate its UK success in America.

Sam Jones, joint managing director at Big Bang PR, said: “Rocket isn’t your average marketing agency. They are absolute experts in marketing to children, youth and parents, and we can’t wait to help them tell the verticals about the brilliant work they do.

“Rocket has developed some really imaginative products, such as its Family Collective, that enables it to create authentic and powerful content, made by families for brands. The collective allows Rocket to communicate with hundreds of parents and children at speed so we will have access to original research that makes for great headlines.  From a PR perspective, this is really exciting.”

James Erskine, MD for We Are Rocket says: “While we excel at servicing customers’ needs and helping brands and organisations better understand and engage with youth and family audiences, we’ve not been as good at shouting about the work we’ve done or the insights we’ve gleaned.

“We wanted to communicate all of this and more with a big bang so naturally we thought of Paula and Sam. Through PR we aim to elevate the highly effective – and often unique –  work we do for clients and can do for potential clients, particularly when it comes to publishing, education and visitor attractions.”

Big Bang PR has won several new retained clients since its launch including Eventbrite, The Utley Foundation’s Music for Dementia campaign, the recently launched The Good Racing Co and financial firm, Somo.

Series of client wins announced by Manchester agency, MadeByShape

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Manchester digital agency, MadeByShape, has secured a raft of new clients, including Slick Willies, Beech Holdings and Gary Neville.

These latest projects will see the MadeByShape team deliver a mix of branding, web design and development, content writing, hosting and technical support, and will be, in part, delivered by the agency’s recently launched in-house branding service.

Andy Golpys, Co-Founder and Director, said: “Our continued growth is testament to the incredible team we have built and our focus on customer service and quality of work. We’re delighted to have secured some big name clients recently, however, it’s more important to us to work with the right type of client. As well as being passionate and driven, I believe every one of our clients, old and new, are on the same journey with us – to build the best possible business and enjoy the process along the way. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve, together.”

Completing the new client roster is Hamerway and Stone Letters.

Hannah Wessel, Director at Stone Letters, added: “When we were looking for an agency to design our new website, we were immediately drawn to MadeByShape and the high quality of their work. Amongst their competitors, they really stood out as an agency able to deliver a bespoke website that would reflect our exceptionally high standards of craftsmanship. And we’re delighted with the result.

“Andy and his experienced team have delivered a beautifully crafted website that is 100% SEO friendly, and without any loss of ranking. Importantly, they have handled the entire transition to the new website, ensuring our business continuity.”

To support client growth and demand, MadeByShape recently launched an in-house branding team, enabling the agency to ensure consistency of work quality. “We’re building up our presence in the brand sector, and over the next 12 months, expect to double our revenue from brand projects alone,” concluded Andy.

With a 19-strong team, MadeByShape was founded in 2010 by Andy Golpys and Jason Mayo and has become a recognised leader in the creative and digital industry, including eCommerce and organic search engine optimisation.

The company has teams working across Brand Development, Web Design, Web Development, SEO and Content Writing. It has won awards for its innovative approach to online experiences, and works with businesses of all sizes and across the world, from start-ups to global organisations such as the NHS, L’Occitane and 20th Century Fox.

Rental Market Trends Landlords Need To Know

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There is currently increased demand for rental property whilst availability has dipped. Growing uncertainty in the real estate market is going to provide some investors with opportunities to grow and develop their portfolios – here are the trends landlords need to be aware of.

There is uncertainty across the UK property market. The mini-budget in September had an unprecedented impact on the economy with the fallout including increasing base rates and mortgage rates. A survey of UK property investors has discovered 25.57% are looking to sell their investment properties. 

However, the same survey found that 50.45% of property investors are planning to invest further in 2023. Investors with 5 or more properties are even more likely to invest in 2023, with 67.92% stating they’re planning to invest next year.

Property bridging finance specialist Finbri comments, “Trends in the rental market are emerging as the market reacts to the Government’s new fiscal direction. Landlords need to remain aware of growing trends within this market so that they are able to capitalise.

“First-time buyers that are unable to get a mortgage are deferring entry into the property market and with the rising cost of living, people are looking towards smaller, more energy efficient properties. So demand is rising and combined with the lack of rental property availability, rents are increasing. The average asking price for a rental property has increased by 11% in the last year. During the same time period, rents in London, already at a premium, have reached £2,343 per month, up 16.1%.

“Even though there is uncertainty, there are significant opportunities and trends to take notice of for property investors.”

Current market trends

High rental demand. Demand for rental property has reached an all-time high, with many landlords inundated with enquiries about available properties. Between Q2 and Q3 in 2022, the number of viewing requests per property increased by 25%, an average increase from 9 to 14 . Following the growing instability in the property market, many are opting to rent over purchase – ultimately leading to strong demand for rental properties. 

Rents are continuing to rise due to the increased demand with many tenants offering above the asking price to secure a property, coupled with the cost-of-living crisis many tenants are now looking to downsize – with the demand for 2 bedroom properties increasing. According to a Hometrack report, 40% less gas is needed to heat a purpose-built flat in comparison to a 3-bed terrace. 

Overall demand for property has risen by around 20%, whilst the number of available properties has dropped by 9%. 

Build-to-rent is increasing. The build-to-rent (BTR) sector is also continuing to boom as developers seek to meet the needs of renters who are looking for long-term stability in the current market. 

Tenants are expecting more for their money with rising rental rates, including lower EPC ratings and technical features, especially with the premiums associated with new-build properties. The community-focused design and amenities found in BTR properties, including gyms and restaurants are a few of the reasons why these homes have increased in popularity. 

BTR is one of the subsectors of the private rental market that is expanding the fastest; as of the end of the second quarter, there were 237,000 more build-to-rent properties – up from 13% from the previous year. 

Property size & energy efficiency. In correlation with increased inflation and the continuation of the cost-of-living crisis – there has been more demand for smaller properties. The consistent undersupply of rental properties indicates that rents will continue to rise. Many in the UK are facing challenges with bills, and with around 25% of private renters receiving housing benefit – it’s not surprising that an increased number of renters are downsizing to reduce their housing costs. 

As a result of the growing awareness of the impact of climate change, there has been an increased focus on energy efficiency in the property market. The Government’s recent announcement to make all new-build homes zero-carbon by 2030 will mean that all landlords will have to make sure their properties are up to standard.

The private rented sector (PRS) is set for significant change in the coming years, with an increasing focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. Tenants are now expecting their landlords to make their properties more energy-efficient, and those who don’t could be at a competitive disadvantage.

Making your property more sustainable doesn’t just make it more appealing to potential tenants – it can also help you to save money on energy bills – a prominent factor during this current market. There are a number of measures you can take to make your property more sustainable, such as:

  • Installing solar panels
  • Fitting double or triple glazed windows
  • Installing insulation
  • Fitting low-energy lightbulbs
  • Draft proofing doors and windows

Location. Data produced by Zoopla has indicated the annual change in rents in the UK and has pinpointed the main areas that have seen the greatest increase in rents. 

The highest change in rents include: 

  1. Manchester, had a 15.5% annual increase, with the average asking price at £893.
  2. Glasgow, had a 14.4% annual increase, with the average asking price at £777.
  3. Bristol, had a 12.9% annual increase, with the average asking price at £1,209.
  4. Birmingham, had a 12.8% annual increase, with the average asking price at £802.
  5. Edinburgh, had a 12.3% annual increase, with the average asking price at £1,021.

The hotspots for investment opportunities: 

  1. Manchester is one of the most prominent for investment opportunities with an average property price of £214,886 and gross rental yield of 8.46%. The demand in Manchester is 1:5, and with an 18.8% predicted growth by 2026, there is a sustained amount of demand that can provide a robust opportunity for investors. 
  2. Liverpool provides an average property price of £143,800 and gross rental yield of 7.15%. By 2026 the predicted growth will be around 18.8%, with around 75% aged 17-29 – this is a prime location for investment. 
  3. Birmingham provides an average property price of £217,659 and gross rental yield of 7.40%. By 2026 the predicted growth will be around 15.9%, with further regeneration efforts expected to take place in the future – Birmingham qualifies as a stable investment. 

London has always been a popular choice for investors, however, in recent years there has been a shift to the North – due to London’s ever-rising prices. Cities such as Liverpool and Newcastle have seen a significant increase in investment over the past few years, and this is expected to continue as more people look to move away from the capital.

Final thoughts

There are a number of trends to consider if you’re a landlord in the current market. By remaining aware of all the trends that are currently emerging and what is expected to remain a prominent feature in the future, you will be able to optimise your opportunities. 

Rising mortgage rates and inflation is becoming an issue for many households in the UK, following the stability of the property market in the future more trends may emerge – particularly in regards to energy efficiency and new-build developments increasing in popularity. 

How to use the Death Cross Trading Pattern for Success

The death cross is a technical analysis pattern that can be used to predict the future direction of an asset’s price. It indicates that the trend may have reversed, and a downtrend will likely follow. The crossover occurs when the short-term moving average falls below the long-term moving average, such as in the example below.

To use this pattern for binary options trading, you should wait for an appropriate confirmation signal before entering any trades. Some traders also wait for the price to confirm movement after crossing over into bearish territory by closing at or near its low point for two consecutive candles or hitting resistance levels. You could also use technical indicators such as Bollinger Bands to help with your entry points. Take a closer look at some key factors you’ll need to consider when making trading decisions using this pattern.

Advantages of Using a Death Cross Pattern

The death cross is a powerful trading pattern that can help you find good entry points for short-term binary options trades. Since it occurs when an asset breaks down from a long-term support level, the odds are stacked in your favour to make money on your trade. You’ll also want to look for technical indicators like Bollinger Bands or moving averages that confirm the downtrend and provide additional confirmation before entering any trades. Remember that this pattern provides only one piece of evidence in your decision-making process and should be used along with other analysis methods as part of your broader trading strategy.

Disadvantages of Using a Death Cross Pattern

There are two major disadvantages to using this pattern for binary options trading. First, you’ll have to wait until the price breaks below the support level before taking any positions. Since it’s not always a precise indicator, you may miss out on some good entry points when the trend starts to move in your favour before breaking down into bearish territory. Secondly, there will also be times when false signals occur as traders buy into an asset once it breaks above its resistance level and then fails to keep its momentum going. This can result in significant losses if you don’t consider these factors before entering a trade.

So one more time, what is death cross in trading death cross is one of many technical analysis patterns that can be used for binary options trading. To be successful, you’ll need to combine it with other methods, such as Bollinger Bands and technical indicators, to improve your trading results. However, when used properly, this pattern can provide an edge that can help you find good entry points for short-term trades in any market.

The Best Time to Use the Death Cross Pattern for Binary Options Trading

When choosing a time frame for your binary options trade, you’ll need to consider the type of asset you want to trade and how long you plan to hold it before closing out your position. For example, suppose you’re trading stocks or indices. In that case, chances are that a longer-term expiry, such as one hour or four hours is more appropriate since these assets tend to move in either one direction or the other over time without much volatility. On the other hand, currencies and commodities tend to be more volatile, making them ideal choices for shorter-term trades, such as 60 seconds or five minutes. It’s also important to consider the current market conditions and how they relate to your chosen expiry time.

When trading binary options, there are no right or wrong choices when selecting a specific time frame for your trades. It all depends on what asset you’re trading and whether the price is trending upwards or downwards about its support and resistance levels.

However, it would be best if you never forgot that the death cross pattern is only useful in bearish markets. Any breakdown below a long-term support level will warrant using this method over any other technical indicator. But if an asset breaks back up through its resistance level without following through on its downward momentum after the crossover, consider waiting until it happens again before using this pattern.

To succeed when trading binary options, it’s important to keep your analysis simple by using only a few indicators to help identify good entry and exit points for your trades. This will allow you to make quick decisions based on the available information without taking on too much risk in any trade.

The death cross-trading pattern is a strategy that can be used by any trader to trade in the financial markets and achieve success successfully. The method involves identifying particular entry and exit points marked on a price chart. This allows traders to make accurate predictions about future market movements and avoid being caught out by sudden changes in price direction. In this article, we will look at the deas-trading pattern in more detail and show you how to spot it on your charts.

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One of the key advantages of the death cross is its simplicity – there are only three steps involved in using it:

  1. Identify the trend: First, you need to identify a suitable trend for the death cross indicator to work on. The simplest way is to use a simple moving average (trend line) and observe how it relates to price action over time. In a bullish market, prices will be above the trendline; in bearish markets, they will be below it. So long as this relationship remains constant over some time – usually around thirty minutes or longer – this can indicate what kind of market we are dealing with.
  2. Establish support/resistance levels: Once you have identified that there is indeed a clear trend in place on your asset, you should then move on to identifying the support and resistance levels for that trend. These are the key areas where you will be looking to place your trades, so you must get them right.
  3. Enter a trade: Once you have identified the death cross pattern on your charts and the support/resistance levels are in place, you can enter a trade based on this signal. The first entry point will be at or close to the support level; once this has been breached, we can look to exit by placing an order above resistance (assuming it is reached).

The capital markets offer traders numerous ways of making money using technical analysis and charting patterns. There may be fewer indicators than in other financial markets. However, the death cross is still useful for any trader looking to place binary options trades in financial markets.

The beauty of this strategy is that it’s quite simple to understand and implement. This makes it an ideal choice for less experienced traders beginning their journey into binary options trading. However, there are some important things you should bear in mind before you begin using the death cross pattern:

– The pattern only works when prices trend downward (for downward crossovers) or upwards (for upward crossovers). If prices were not trending when the crossover occurred, this would be useless as a method of predicting future market movements. Of course, this will depend on what asset you are trading in, but the simpler a chart is to analyze, the better.

– Bear in mind that several other indicators can be used alongside this strategy to improve your chances of success. For example, using Bollinger Bands can help you understand whether there’s too much volatility and, therefore, the high risk involved with a given trade while also helping you avoid entering positions at the wrong time.

Bottom line

In conclusion, to use the death cross or any other technical indicator for success in binary options trading, you’ll need to develop a sound strategy and ensure that other factors support your analysis before entering any trades. The last thing you want to do when making trading decisions based on this method is to rely entirely on one piece of information while forgetting all the other factors contributing to an asset’s performance over time. However, by using multiple methods together, you can increase your chances of success over the long term with this market-tested pattern.

Divorce Is the Next Big Social Change Post-Covid

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COVID-19 prompted a dramatic shift in the way we live our lives, from hybrid home-office working and renewed importance on local communities, to increasing unemployment and growing mistrust in governments. In the aftermath of these big social changes, there is a new transformation on the horizon.

If you are considering divorce, then reading up on the details of the new Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 in the Wiselaw no fault guide will give you a clear picture on what to expect. However, in this article, we look at how the pandemic, and the new no-fault divorce laws together are signalling a shakeup in today’s culture.

An increase in divorce rates

It is expected that divorce rates will rise in the coming years. But why? What is driving this potential upsurge? Following periods of extended lockdowns spouses had time to reflect on life’s priorities, with some couples finding their marriages no longer served them. According to the Office of National Statistics, there was an increase of 9.6% in granted divorces from 2020 to 2021. While some couples savoured more time with their spouse, it had the reverse effect on others.

The pandemic’s impact

New demands on working from home, money pressures and home-schooling also had an impact on the quality of relationships. The pandemic prompted people to think differently about the direction of their life, with some people able to work from home, they decided to move out of cities or seek change through new romantic relationships or a change in career. The extra time for contemplation also caused some to consider divorce more seriously, with the opportunity for divorce increasing due to the introduction of no-fault divorce.

What are the new divorce laws?

Prior to April 2022, couples who wanted to divorce had to place blame on the other party. In other words, they had to detail that the marriage had broken down because of the others’ fault, using one of the five grounds for divorce. These were: desertion, unreasonable behaviour, adultery, or separation after two or five years.

Those seeking a divorce would have to decide who was going to take the ‘blame’ for the divorce. However, this is no longer necessary. Divorcing partners can now divorce through a joint application and they can also cite ‘irretrievable breakdown’ as the reason for the divorce, instead of one of the five grounds. The aim is to bring in a more amicable divorce procedure so that couples can part ways simply and limit any emotional damage to children involved.

The impact of the new laws

During the pandemic, there was also a rise in domestic abuse cases, believed to be as a result of lockdowns. The new laws introduced are hoped to go some way in supporting victims of domestic abuse. Unlike the old laws, divorces can no longer be contested – an element which historically allowed abusers to continue to coercively control their spouse throughout proceedings.

Despite the positive changes, opposers of the reforms believe that there will now be a big rise in divorces, with spouses supposing the new process will be quicker. However, the new law also introduces a 20-week reflection period after a divorce has been initiated. This timeframe has been introduced to offer couples the chance to consider their decision to divorce and/or make plans for their living arrangements and other practicalities.

Conclusion

Although there was an immediate spike in divorces following COVID-19 lockdowns, thanks to the timing of the new divorce reforms in 2022, and easier access to a more simple and amicable divorce, the number of cases still has the potential to rise again in coming years.

Notes to the North Pole: Lovell Launches Festive Letter Competition

Lovell Homes are welcoming in the festive season at three housing developments across the North-West, as they launch their ‘Notes to the North Pole’ campaign. To get into the spirit of the Christmas season, leading housebuilder Lovell have asked children to write a letter to the North Pole, sharing their favourite things about the holidays, and how they plan to spend time with friends and family this year.

Festive post boxes have been placed outside the marketing suites at three of Lovell’s latest housing developments – Spinners Quarter in Salford, Eden Park in Middleton and Shawbrook Manor in Leyland.

A letter template and festive activity pack can be downloaded through the QR code on the post boxes or through the Lovell Homes website. As well as being a fun community campaign, one letter from each development will also be selected at random to win a £100 M&S voucher.

Anne-Marie O’Doherty, regional sales director at Lovell Homes, said: “Notes to the North Pole is all about bringing a sense of magic and joy in our communities, and allows youngsters to reflect on the true meaning of this time of year, including friendship and family.

“We are also excited to spread a little festive cheer – especially given the cost-of-living crisis – and offering families the chance to win a voucher to spend in M&S.”

Schools close to the developments have been asked to join in with the campaign to get children writing letters and sharing their experiences. Lovell is also encouraging people to take part on Instagram by tagging @lovell_homes and using the hashtags #LovellNorthPoleNotes and #LovellAgrees to share their festive photos.

Anne-Marie continued: “It’s lovely to be able to work with the local community on this campaign as something fun and creative, but also an opportunity for children to think about different or shared experiences in their communities.

“The Spinners Quarter, Shawbrook Manor and Eden Park developments will be perfect to celebrate the festive season as they boast a range of family-oriented homes with room to grow and places to explore – offering plots ranging from two to five bedrooms.”

For more information about Lovell Homes please visit www.lovell.co.uk or follow @Lovell_UK on Twitter. 

Continued growth for SysGroup PLC, reporting a 15% profit increase in H1 2023

In the last set of results, Liverpool-headquartered, multi award-winning tech consultancy, cyber security, cloud hosting and managed services provider SysGroup PLC announced a 15 percent increase in profits.

For the 6 months ending 30 September 2022, the company saw profits (adjusted PBT) increase to £1.1m from £0.96m in H1 2022. Revenue also increased from £7.58m to £11.32m in H1 2023, a significant jump of 49 per cent.

The news follows a spate of expansion for SysGroup in the first half of FY23 as it completed its first two acquisitions since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The £4.8m acquisition of Truststream Security Solutions Ltd helped to enhance its cyber security offering and bolster SysGroup’s presence in Scotland with the addition of its Edinburgh operations, whilst the £1m acquisition of Orchard Computers Ltd has strengthened its South-West operations.

With these latest acquisitions, SysGroup now operates in 6 locations across the UK; Liverpool, Manchester, Newport, Bristol, Edinburgh, and London.

The successful launch of the multi-tenanted SysCloud 2.0 offering has also accelerated business growth during the last six months, offering mid-market customers a bespoke cloud solution with enhanced flexibility and security.

Looking ahead to 2023, despite an increasingly pessimistic economic outlook, growth projections remain robust for the business. The team will be continuing their work with key decision makers within their customer-base, working closely to add value through considered technology transformation.

SysGroup will also be looking to continue its recruitment drive to create additional jobs across the regions. With the recruitment market beginning to ease after a competitive year, its workforce has already returned to optimal levels, creating greater opportunities for growth of both the business and workforce over the coming year.

Adam Binks, CEO of SysGroup, said: “We’re pleased to have delivered yet another strong six months, with recent operational investments and improvements over the last period allowing us to meet the targets we set at the start of the year. Faced with the current negative economic backdrop, technology remains crucial in helping businesses to improve efficiency and protect margins.

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Adam Binks, SysGroup CEO, is “pleased” with the company’s success.

“The two acquisitions we made in last six months have strengthened our offering even further and seen the addition of further talent to the Group. Additionally, this has brought us a new base of customers which we can service better from our enhanced footprint that now covers the whole of Great Britain.

“Strategic acquisitions and recruitment will continue to be a key focus for us moving forward, with impressive new talent and advanced expertise allowing us to cement our position in this highly fragmented market.”

Netherlands tech firm Workspace 365 chooses Manchester as its UK base.

Digital workplace platform Workspace 365, headquartered in the Netherlands, has decided to base its UK operations in Manchester.

Workspace 365 simplifies business software and empowers employees to be more efficient, enabling businesses to unlock their teams’ potential. Originally from the Netherlands, it has now launched in the UK – with Spaces in central Manchester operating as its British headquarters.

Workspace 365 allows users to access all their software requirements via one adaptive visual dashboard, either on their computer or their mobile device via an app, and boosts productivity by giving each employee up to 30 minutes of their working time back per day.

Erik Nicolai, CEO and co-founder of Workspace 365, commented: “Our continued growth in the Netherlands is testament to the increasing organisational need for user friendly, bespoke digital workspaces, accelerated by the hybrid working movement in response to Covid.

“Workspace 365 is a unique product which we were keen to launch in the UK to enable British businesses to meet growing employee demand for digital workplace experiences. With its thriving tech ecosystem and talent pool, Manchester was the natural location for our UK headquarters, and we’re excited to be a part of this great city,” he added.

Workspace 365 moves away from the traditional computer desktop to a bespoke, employee-centric digital workspace solution. The interface allows users to access the individual pieces of software they need to do their job from anywhere, using any device that is connected to the internet.

The applications – which will be specific to each individual user based on their needs – are accessible from the ‘one stop’ Workspace 365 platform, which means users no longer need to open separate windows for tasks such as word processing, spreadsheets, web browsing or email.

This will empower each individual Workspace 365 user by saving them time – estimated to be up to half an hour – in their working day, which will allow them to focus on their core tasks. In turn, it will also streamline processes, simplify document management, and increase collaboration and engagement by improving communication, via apps such as Yammer. It also simplifies software adoption and access to information.

A key benefit of Workspace 365 is its simplified single sign-on, which significantly reduces concerns surrounding password management. Owing to its user-friendly interface, the product is also accessible to those with lower IT literacy and can act as a bridge between legacy and cloud applications.

The system, which is already in use in continental Europe, has been built with evolution firmly in mind. New updates are released every three weeks and each user has a personalised dashboard aligned with the specifics of their role, regardless of how it may change. This includes the Hub, a platform on which knowledge can be shared and announcements – both company-wide and bespoke to the employee – are made.

Aimed at medium-to-large businesses with 200+ users, Workspace 365 allows for a smooth transition to the cloud as it integrates technologies into a secure, browser-based workspace available as an app on any device.

Goal Setting in College: Write My Essay About Academic Goals

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As a student, you probably have a hectic schedule with numerous things on your calendar. Write my essay, apply for scholarships, review notes for exams—a variety of different things can be rather distracting unless you have clear goals to focus your efforts on. Let’s take a closer look at why goal setting is crucial for students and what kind of goals can actually help you achieve success.

Importance of Setting Goals as a Student

Goal setting has a number of benefits. In the first place, it brings more clarity and structure to your academic routine. While completing a course or getting a degree is an obvious long-term goal to have, it is not enough to keep you organized and motivated throughout the semester. Instead, try to create smaller, more practical objectives. For example, order essay online from a trusted writing service in advance and have enough time to proofread it or have a daily reading routine. Through discipline and structure, you build healthy study habits that, in turn, help you succeed. 

Goals also keep you accountable and boost your motivation. By setting a goal, you make a commitment. For example, if my goal is to get an A in English, I know why I need to put in some extra effort when I write my essays. Knowing why you’re doing something helps you get down to work even if circumstances are challenging. This is why setting goals is crucial to the accomplishment of your objectives. 

Goal setting has a number of benefits. In the first place, it brings more clarity and structure to your academic routine. While completing a course or getting a degree is an obvious long-term goal to have, it is not enough to keep you organized and motivated throughout the semester. Instead, try to create smaller, more practical objectives. By incorporating a custom term paper from EssayPro into your strategy, you can ensure that your academic requirements are met with precision and professionalism, leading to better grades and a more comprehensive understanding of the subject.

What Makes a Goal Effective

A good goal is a SMART goal: 

  • Specific

Your goal should state exactly what you need to do to achieve success. Instead of setting a goal to study more, determine what books you want to read or what courses to take. For example, “I will write my essay paper with best authors in USA by Friday, so I need to check the DoMyEssay review on EssayReviews.com by Wednesday” or “I will read for 2 hours on weekends.” Specific goals facilitate meaningful and tangible progress. 

  • Measurable

You need to have some kind of criteria to measure your progress. Let’s say you want to read more. But how much is “more,” and how can you tell you’ve achieved your goal? To make this goal measurable, determine how many pages you want to read per day or books per month. It will be easier for you to track your progress and enjoy the results of your work. 

  • Achievable

It is important to dream big, but you have to keep your goals realistic at the same time. Try to evaluate if it is possible to reach the desired goal by your deadline, considering the available resources. 

  • Relevant

Your goals should resonate with your wants and needs at the moment. Make sure you ask yourself why your goal matters and how it aligns with your other objectives. 

  • Timebound

You become more motivated to follow your goal if it conveys a sense of urgency. To achieve it, set a deadline. For instance, “I will write my essay online by Monday.” You can also divide your goal into several more manageable steps by setting a deadline for each milestone. In this case, these could be research, outline, draft, and editing. 

Write It Down

“I have my goals outlined. Should I write my essay now?” Writing down your goals in the form of a list or an essay makes your goals more thoughtful and tangible. 

Grab a pen or your laptop, and don’t hesitate to write down everything you want to achieve: from smaller short-term objectives like to write essay with DoMyEssay to larger goals like earning a degree or landing the desired job. This is a great way to make them more real. 

It also helps to keep your goals visible. Either pin them somewhere in your study space or simply revisit your notes every now and then to check on your progress and get a boost of motivation. 

What’s Next?

Once you’ve figured out your goals and have them written down, use these tips to move forward:

  • Start small by focusing on little milestones and short-term goals. They will build your confidence and move you closer to significant achievements.
  • Set aside time to work on your goals. 
  • No journey is without obstacles. So plan for them. Do you feel overwhelmed and can’t do your homework? Send someone write my essay requests. Having a plan B helps you tackle any issue and stay on top of your coursework. 
  • Remember to reward yourself for achieving goals, big or small. It’s important to celebrate your hard work. 
  • Nothing is set in stone. If your priorities change, adjust your goals. Goal setting is always a work in progress.

The Bottom Line

Goal setting might be an overwhelming thing to do, especially if the future still seems uncertain. Yet, this is a powerful way to determine priorities and focus your efforts on things that matter to you most. 

When you set a goal, you find your “why” that motivates you, keeps you organized, and helps you measure your progress. It will make you achieve the desired results in no time!