SMEs
There are many hurdles to scaling a successful company. Here's how the best in the business cleared them, and what you can learn from them.
MT Asks: What do CEOs make of the 2023 Autumn Budget?
Tax cuts, discounted rates and AI support were just a few of the policies laid...
Insolvencies at 14-year high in April to September
Rising interest rates, debt levels and prices are seemingly to blame for the highest number...
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The best path to finding product-market fit
It requires non-stop iteration, thinking broadly, and using data to the fullest.
What do business leaders make of Threads?
MT Asks what CEOs think of the latest social networking platform.
What joining the Royal Navy taught one CEO about leadership
In conversation with Cas Paton, chief executive of OnBuy, on how his naval training prepared...
The British Chambers of Commerce speaks out on its alternative to the CBI ...
The British Chambers of Commerce talks to MT about its plans for the Business Council,...
CBI members back lobby group in ‘crunch’ vote
The CBI says that it has secured a “strong mandate” from members after it asked...
From Bangladesh to Wall Street: The all-inclusive leader
Durreen Shahnaz, chief executive of Impact Investment Exchange, opens up about her time on Wall...
‘Pro business’ government slammed by Burberry boss over VAT refunds
Gerry Murphy, chairman of the luxury fashion brand, told the Prime Minister the decision to...
How to be a neurodivergent leader
Michael Queenan, chief executive of Nephos Technology, takes us on a journey of self discovery...
Should entrepreneurs create exit plans?
While your business might only be on its first legs, having a plan for when...
Why we need more women investors to back women founders
Access to adequate funding is still a major barrier to the success of businesses founded...
The story behind the plantcare brand loved by Gwyneth Paltrow
Jack Lewis, founder and CEO of Sowvital, talks to MT about how his love of...
Entrepreneurship is reaching a critical mass and the global economy will never be ...
It's no longer looked upon with disdain to be an entrepreneur; it has become a...
GTech CEO: “How I reduced company spending from £1.7m per month to under ...
Gtech’s boss took a page out of Einstein’s book when the company’s growth went “out...
COP27: “Net zero by 2050? You can’t do it. Stop bullshitting," blasts one ...
As COP27 kicks off, one CEO explains why Elon Musk’s electric vision is flawed, how...
The Royal Family jeweller: "You're only as good as the next invoice you ...
In Conversation With...Kiki McDonough, the doyenne of British fine jewellery, tells MT about the importance...
Why entrepreneurs should celebrate their wins
From team morale to burnout, here are four reasons why it's time founders start celebrating...
Inside Latvia's first unicorn
Print-on-demand group Printful have become the first Latvian start-up to gain unicorn status. MT speaks...
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How private equity partnership can help you grow your business
Whether it’s accelerating existing growth, making acquisitions or expanding overseas, private equity partnerships can help...
SMEs going for growth with £633m investment plans
SMEs are expecting to spend an average of £111k on growth strategies in the next...
“Experiencing maternity discrimination twice ignited the activist in me”
5 minutes with… Gemma McCall, CEO of discrimination reporting software Culture Shift
How can SMEs cope with the latest hike in inflation?
MT Asks: With the latest inflation update from the Bank of England crushing any business...
"I used to take every 'no' personally. Now I am more resilient"
5 Minutes With… Tash Grossman, CEO and founder of Slip, the "receipt revolution" app that...
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Strong partnerships: an introduction to private equity
Private equity partnerships offer a range of opportunities for business leaders, explains LDC’s John Garner...
SMEs overwhelmed by climate change demands
Despite their best intentions, entrepreneurs across the UK are struggling to tackle the effects of...
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My Ambition: what I learned when I doubled revenues to £37m in 2 ...
Richard Tredwin, former CEO of SRL Traffic Systems, explains how he helped the company realise...
“If I didn’t succeed I would be doing a disservice to my brother” ...
Founder of Machine Compare, Ben Findlay, talks with MT about how the sudden death of...
Spring Statement: A win for SMEs
As the “year of the squeeze” bites, the nation tuned in to the Spring Statement...
“My best time management hack? Set yourself a made-up deadline”
5 Minutes With…Lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Eloise Skinner.
What SMEs can do to avert the coming funding crisis
If SMEs are to survive and thrive, they need to explore different financial options and...
Why it's time to drop the job title 'founder'
Be the chief or be the boss, but don’t be the ‘founder’, writes Otto Stevens,...
Why Neom's co-founder interviews every new recruit himself
Neom Organics’ co-founder, Oliver Mennell, on avoiding tension with your co-founder, global expansion and why...
'How I prepared for the scariest presentation of my life'
It’s all about dressing smart and presenting with confidence, says Deepak Tailor, who appeared on...
What to do if you get turned down by investors
A lesson in spinning a negative situation into a positive outcome.
Is the Government doing enough to help businesses during Covid?
MT Asks: Almost two years on from Britain’s first lockdown and as offices re-open, business...
A guide to navigating corporate distress
A restructuring expert from Weil, Gotshal & Manges explains how to cope in tough times....
Scottish Business Minister: "We only want investors that share our values around fair ...
After Edinburgh was named the Best City for Business 2022, MT caught up with the...
Piers Linney: 'The elephant in the room is inflation'
WATCH: Three trends the former Dragons Den investor thinks SMEs should watch out for in...
'Learn from my mistake - don’t be reliant on one supplier'
5 Minutes With… Rosie Khandwala, ethical beauty pioneer and founder of Sugar Coated.
Businesses need to step up - they can't survive in societies that fail ...
Leaders must participate in a necessary, fundamental reimagining of business in order to future-proof their...
Has WFH killed company culture?
MT Asks: Leaders give their verdict on remote working, “nothing can really replace human connection."...
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My Ambition: Building a global healthcare consultancy to improve patient care
Jan Steele, co-founder and non-executive director of Lucid Group reveals the steps she took to...
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'
5 Minutes With...ToucanBox's founder and CEO, Virginie Charles-Dear: “It's easy to become the boss when...
Autumn Budget "another damp squib" for small business owners
Now that the dust has settled on the Autumn Budget, MT analyses what it means...
Cult Beauty's Jessica DeLuca: "Companies are bought, not sold"
In Conversation with Cult Beauty's co-founder Jessica DeLuca, who recently sold her business to The...
4 ways to instantly improve your customer service culture
While every company inherently wants its customers to have a faultless and perfect experience every...
“They try to get a reaction – we don’t give it to them” ...
Jamal Tahlil and Edgar Chibaka, crowned Business Persons of the Year at last week’s Black...
“A four-day week gets complex as you grow”
Start-ups listen up: Baked In founder Joe Munns advises how to manage a four-day week...
How businesses are coping with Britain’s shortages
MT Asks: What does the current crisis actually mean for businesses?
If Facebook disappeared for good, could you still reach your customers?
If Monday’s blackout has taught business owners anything, it’s that it’s time to assess whether...
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My Ambition: Pioneering software as a service in the property sector
Mark Goddard, former CEO of Property Software Group (PSG), reveals how he capitalised on an...
How I cut my 80-hour week down to just 14 hours
"The constant vigilance became overwhelming. I was working to the bone," writes Alister Esam. Here's...
How I prepared to step back from my business
One minute briefing: Born Social founder Rob O’Donovan’s leadership transition was ‘beautifully boring’.
Intelligence report: How to scale a business
From prototyping to prospering, here is MT's expert step by step guide to growth
“Most start-ups don’t need investment – it’s a sick obsession”
Shane Ryan is the founder of healthy ready-meal brand Fiid. He tells his fellow start-up...
Would you pay your staff more than yourself?
Rachel MacLynn, founder of dating services firm The Vida Consultancy, sees it as an investment....
How to raise angel funding following a recession
After two years of bootstrapping the business, Busuu’s CEO Bernhard Niesner raised angel money. Here’s...
Leadership clinic: Is this the right time for M&A?
Octopus Group co-founder and chief executive Simon Rogerson answers questions on starting up, scaling up...
How to build a business without burning out
Entrepreneurs are at risk of a ‘recovery paradox’, say researchers.
What every founder needs on their board
One minute briefing: So, you’re growing your company and want to shake up your board...
Don't baulk at hiring pregnant women
Vida Consultancy founder Rachel MacLynn says a few months of leave is a blink of...
6 ways to stay close to your customer
It’s time for firms to switch from short-term survival tactics to serving their customers' post-pandemic...
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My Ambition: Building a global brand for women everywhere
Tracy Lewis, global CEO, NED and investor on starting from nothing, spotting the right opportunity...
Leadership clinic: My staff are refusing to come into the office
Octopus Group co-founder and chief executive Simon Rogerson answers questions on starting up, scaling up...
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My Ambition: Putting data at the heart of a growth strategy
Serial entrepreneur Gehan Talwatte discusses the importance of asking the obvious questions.
6 simple steps to disaster proof your business
How to scenario plan for the post-pandemic future.
British Business Bank: Stop panicking over inflation
“It also doesn't look like Britain is heading towards a recession,” says the Government-owned bank’s...
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My Ambition: Creating an inclusive world for millions worldwide
Martin McKay, Founder and CEO of Texthelp, aims to help stroke victims, people with dyslexia...
"I don't want to be the external face of the brand"
Management Today’s resident agony uncle, Octopus Group chief executive Simon Rogerson, offers advice on stepping...
6 tips for running a family business (without ruining Christmas)
Management Today asks family-led businesses how they work together successfully.
"Why I took my company public at an early stage"
One minute briefing: The CEO of dynamic pricing platform Quicklizard, Pini Mandel, outlines the strategic...
"Women need to get better at asking for funding"
Investor Lara Morgan says that start-up financing is a boys' game, but that doesn't mean...
5 ways to run your SME more efficiently
When it comes to your most precious resource - time - less can be more....
Why crowdfunding is harder than you think
And how to do it well: A short cat furniture case study.
How Presto Music nurtured its first-party data to drive sales
The classical music store's strong interactive online community helped the business grow 25% year-on-year.
"Making a positive impact brings greater returns than the stock market"
Tickr founder Tom McGillycuddy says targeting ethical and sustainable investments generated growth.
"Redundancies poisoned our culture - what should we do?"
Management Today’s resident agony uncle, Octopus Group chief executive Simon Rogerson, offers advice for winning...
The start-up disrupting university textbooks
Management Today meets Perlego founder Gauthier Van Malderen.
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How CEOs can improve sales
“Hitting those sales targets no longer sits with sales teams, instead it should start and...
How iwoca became the UK’s fastest-growing fintech
“It’s been the craziest time of my whole life,” says CEO Christoph Rieche.
How this dynamic pricing start-up surged during lockdown
AI firm Quicklizard’s CEO Pini Mandel pivoted to make the most of the acceleration of...
“Be persistent but not annoying”: How to get your products listed with big ...
Founder Andy Sutton got his luxury cat furniture start-up Catipilla stocked by Pets at Home...
This speech recognition tech knows when you're angry
AI firm Speechmatics has had one of the best years in its history, says "accidental"...
How Astrid & Miyu gave virtual sales a personal touch
Shuttered shops inspired a waist-up approach to fashion, says the jewellery brand founder Connie Nam....
Beyond platforms: The next generation of digital business models
Interaction field companies solve bigger problems than conventional platform ecosystems.
How I pivoted to a direct-to-consumer model
As health consciousness increased because of Covid-19, so did the demand for kombucha. But with...
Recruitment hacks: How to find a diamond in the rough
Management Today’s panel of leaders share their tips for finding non-obvious talent.
In conversation: Laura Tenison, founder of JoJo Maman Bébé
The entrepreneur launched her mother and baby brand in 1993 after a head-on car crash....
Founders: When should you step down?
Our panel of founders on finding the right time to step aside and find a...
Q&A: "I need new funding but I'm worried it will distract me from ...
Management Today’s resident agony uncle, Octopus Group chief executive Simon Rogerson, soothes another founder’s dilemma,...
Growth tips: Everyone needs to know where they fit
One minute briefing: Railsbank head of people Claire Green’s former international rugby success has informed...
A quick guide to motivation
Do you start with relationships or results?
Leadership clinic: I'm struggling to delegate as the business grows
Octopus Group co-founder and chief executive Simon Rogerson answers questions on starting up, scaling up...
3 ways to retain customers when you're forced to shut up shop
Non-alcoholic aperitif firm Æcorn needed to find ways of being relevant when physical availability was...
How "low code" is transforming software development
Business costs could plummet as point-and-click platforms become the norm.
There’s no point being a manager if you’re not there
The leader that made me: Railsbank’s head of people Claire Green on being sidelined by...
How Jo Malone created buzz without spending money on advertising
The perfume entrepreneur calls her marketing strategy "walking the dogs".
What you need to know about setting up a subsidiary business in the ...
European business lawyer Steen Rosenfalck answers some frequently asked questions.
Why you don’t always want to hire ‘the best’
One minute briefing: Too many stars can make a dysfunctional constellation, says Cantab Capital Partners...
One way you’re giving feedback all wrong
You know the old adage about having one mouth and two ears?
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A small business's guide to Peer Networks
The importance of peer group networks and access to mentors for business leaders has grown...
FAQ: Brexit vs employment law
What the new free trade agreement means for employment rights, business trips to the EU...
The 5 key qualities of a great start-up leadership team
A seasoned investor shares what seed funders want to see in founding management teams.
"Invest in packaging, not expensive TV adverts"
One minute briefing: David Milner grew Tyrrells crisps and Lily's Kitchen into household names. Here...
Xmas party plans from the C-suite
Management Today finds out how leaders are marking the season to be jolly.
How to give great customer service on a tight budget
A missed delivery reveals some important - and inexpensive - lessons on turning disaster into...
How to stop missed targets ruining morale
This year has shown that some things are just out of your control, says this...
How to spot a bad idea that looks like a good one
Behind every flop was someone who thought they were onto a blockbuster.
How to position your business for acquisition
One minute briefing: Scale-up CEO David Milner sold Tyrrells crisps and premium pet food brand...
“Starting a business is like walking on hot coals”
Serial entrepreneur Norman Crowley believes both are dependent on being brave but not foolhardy.
How to host a virtual work Xmas party
It’s beginning to look at a lot like a video call Christmas.
How to think like your customers
Lockdown makes it harder to understand their motives, but there are ways of getting close...
What will the US election result mean for your business?
As businesses navigate COVID-19 and Brexit, the incoming administration could provide some much needed certainty....
Why founder CEOs don't listen
New research suggests that founders are more likely to ignore their management teams than other...
5 behaviours of top-class managers
This is what you want your employees to say about you behind your back.
When it’s time to fire someone pronto
Letting that bad hire who doesn’t fit in or align with business values stick around...
The science of managing high performing teams
Groups can achieve flow - an unfettered psychological state of creativity and productivity - if...
Want to improve employee engagement? Pay more (but not too much more)
Financial wellbeing: "Money can't buy you happiness, but it can buy you a jet ski...
How can you prepare for a no-deal Brexit?
We asked leaders which contingency plans (if any) they have in place before the Brexit...
“Without the office you’re just a cog in the machine”
One minute briefing: WFH can take away the sense of belonging that holds everyone together,...
An entrepreneur's tip for getting tough
One minute briefing: Resilience involves more than enduring trauma. You need to look after yourself,...
How a quick 'thank you' improves company culture
Research shows gratitude journals help with team cohesion and wellbeing.
Remote working is actually good for creativity
Productivity goes up too, but collaboration suffers, according to Management Today research.
Should you ditch the office for a WeWork?
Business leaders say no, so Management Today finds out why the office is here to...
The long-term consequences of working from home
Not having to commute generally leaves workers generally happier, but there’s a darker side to...
1 in 4 companies considering office exodus
If people continue to work from home, expensive urban locations will start to lose their...
How to motivate people from a distance
Recognising success in a remote or hybrid environment requires a little creativity, says Insight SVP...
How to make your team more accountable
‘Do as I do’ works a lot better than ‘do as I say’.
Coffee Republic founder: How to create a bootstrapping culture
Workplace Evolution Podcast: Sahar Hashemi brought the American coffee shop concept to the UK. Here...
How to create an entrepreneurial culture in any business
One minute briefing: Octopus Group’s CEO and co-founder Simon Rogerson on getting people comfortable with...
Sarah Willingham: I will never start another business again
The entrepreneur and investor on top leadership skills, pivotal career moments and Dragons' Den.
How to keep your team motivated (home office version)
Management is harder when you can't look someone in the eye.
“You literally have to rewrite your job description”
One minute briefing: In hard times, your network becomes more important than ever, says Prezi...
Remote working forever? No thanks
EKM's CEO Antony Chesworth has had no problems working from home, but he has no...
Lockdown finance: Tips for talking to your bank & managing cash flow
Video: Funding Xchange's Katrin Herrling answers some common questions.
How to defuse conflict in your remote team
And five signs the atmosphere is turning toxic.
NextGen winners: The firms that will lead Britain's recovery
Agility, impact and vision define our next generation of great companies.
"We used to dance; now we march": How M&As can kill culture
If you're not careful, you can destroy the very thing that made the acquisition valuable...
We’re systematically promoting the wrong people… and it’s got to stop
You can identify potential leaders through these five behaviours.
How to get your sales team to embrace data analytics
Buying shiny (and expensive) new tools won’t do much good if no one trusts them,...
Coronavirus: The damaging impact on SMEs
A fifth of the UK's workforce could be off sick.
A CEO’s guide to smart decision-making
You spend enough time doing it, but have you ever thought about how you do...
What Tinder can teach you about recruitment
How to make sure top talent swipes right on your business.
Public failure can be the best thing that happens to you
But too often businesses stigmatise it, says investor Ewan Kirk.
Crash course: Management by walking around
Tom Peters made this bureaucracy-buster famous 40 years ago, but it's easier said than done....
How to hold on to top staff when promotion isn't an option
Smaller, flatter firms can struggle to offer their rising stars senior roles, but that doesn't...
Crash course: How to find hidden talent
The best person for the role might be closer than you think.
Why you're terrible at recruitment (and can AI help?)
The short version is you're full of biases and your hiring processes are badly designed....
Virgin StartUp's Linda Grant: "I reinvented myself as a non-exec"
After stepping down as the MD of Metro, Linda Grant wasn't ready to retire -...