Issue 5 2023

Issue 5 2023 Featuring:

Welcome to the May issue of Corporate Vision Magazine. A monthly publication dedicated to delivering the latest insight and news from across the corporate landscape. Now finding ourselves mid-way through Q2, we’re excited to keep exploring new ways to achieve business success – and a key way of doing this is by ensuring robust internal systems, whether the technology you’re using inhouse, or the team who make everything happen. In this issue, we’re keen to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the technological side of your business from data outages and cybersecurity issues. We showcase our award-winning businesses who are providing a range of first-rate solutions to keep business’s digital assets and staff safe when using technology at work. Also crucial to a thriving working environment is providing staff with the coaching they need to grow both personally and professionally. By exposing teams to a positive and enthusiastic training environment, they are encouraged to learn, grow, and improve, which in turn has a highly beneficial impact on a business. I hope you find this all to be informative and insightful, and wish you a wonderful month ahead. In the meantime, I look forward to welcoming you back again for the June edition of Corporate Vision. Rebecca Scotland, Editor Website: www.corporatevision-news.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility. Editorial Team Sofi Bajor, Senior Editor | Rebecca Scotland, Editor Alejandra Garcia, Writer | Isabella Mifsud, Writer Emily Godbol, Writer | Michelle Strozykowski, Writer Design Team Daniela Levinte, Graphic Designer Lauren Baldwin, Graphic Designer

Issue 5 2023 3 Contents 4. News 6. AVTECH Software, Inc.: Protecting People, Property, and Productivity 7. MetaCompliance: Engaging Cyber Security Awareness Training for Employees 8. FiiT4GROWTH: On Route To Success 10. Abax Launches First-of-its-Kind Inventory Management Solution in the UK 11. Amazon Cleaners to Lead Coordinated Strike Action in 9 Different Workplaces 12. UK Company Insolvencies Will Continue Upward as Rising Interest Rates and Cost-of-Living Crisis Puts the Squeeze on Debtor’s Funds 13. Channel Bans for Business Communication Deemed Ineffective at Mitigating off-Channel Communications Risks, New Study Finds 14. Software Specialists Box UK Join Wales Tech Week to Share Ambitious Vision of a Global Centre of Expertise

4 HR transformation is top priority, but time and budget constraints cause delays • 12% of organisations are currently undertaking transformation, with 81% planning to over the next two years • Over half of HR managers blame a lack of resources and/or time to implement change, but only 34% of C-Suite agree • Considerable misalignment shown between C-Suite and HR Managers on understanding the availability of resources and/or time to implement operational changes HR transformation is considered a priority for organisations, with 81% of organisations having it on their roadmap over the next two years. However, more than three in five organisations (65%) have had HR transformation delayed. AdviserPlus’ latest research revealed that only 4% of organisations recently completed HR transformation, with 12% currently undergoing operational changes. Half of C-Suite (50%) and HR managers (52%) agree that costs and budget constraints are the biggest challenges. Whilst C-Suite and HR managers agreed on other most pressing barriers, such as ‘Complexity of the task’ (50% and 44% respectively) and ‘Completing priorities/projects’ (31% and 33% respectively), the most considerable misalignment occurred in understanding the availability of resources and/or time to implement operational changes. Whilst over half of HR managers (51%) flagged it as an issue, only 34% of C-Suite considered it a barrier to successful HR transformation. Michael Campbell, Commercial Director at AdviserPlus, experts in employee relations management, said: “It’s concerning to see that whilst the perception of barriers aligns, there is a disconnect in awareness of the resource pressures HR teams are under. Any transformation project will only be as successful as those responsible for implementing it, so this gap in understanding the resource issue could be a significant barrier to success. The misalignment must be addressed to ensure HR transformation initiatives can be successfully implemented.” When considering the biggest drivers of HR transformation, changes to the working environment were considered the highest challenge by both C-Suite (59%) and HR Managers (55%). Campbell explained further: “The results suggest that the complexity brought by hybrid and remote working is a significant pain point for both HR teams and business leaders. In addition, the ‘Changing recruitment market’ and ‘Changing diversity and inclusion needs’ are also significant drivers, which again point to challenges created by changes in the motivations of employees, as we’ve seen with The Great Resignation and quiet quitting trends experienced in 2022. “However, with the right HR transformation strategy delivering better employee engagement and freeing HR teams to be more strategic, these factors can be positively impacted.” Conducted in partnership with the Empowering People Group, AdviserPlus’ HR Transformation Conundrum Research analysed answers from 100 C-Suite leaders and 120 HR managers from businesses with 1,000+ employees to understand the drivers of HR transformation and the barriers to implementation. “Interestingly, 4% of organisations claimed to have completed HR transformations. As organisations and the needs of people within it continuously evolve, HR transformation isn’t ever really complete,” concluded Campbell.

Issue 5 2023 5 News The UK’s feel-good PR agency reveals consumer sales are up by 4.5% since last spring as people continue to spend • The latest ONS retail data shows that retail value sales grew by 4.5% in March • This figure was a 15.7% increase from the figure in February 2020 • Volume sales fell by -0.9% compared to February 2023 Lem-uhn, the feel-good PR agency, reveals that sales are up by 4.5% as consumer spending power continues to be felt despite the cost of living crisis. The latest Office for National Statistics retail sales data from March also shows that this figure has increased by 15.7% compared to February 2020. Lem-uhn believes the data suggests that UK consumers are still looking to shop however they are prioritising products that add value to their lives. The company has also found that volume sales made a small decline of -0.9% in March compared to February. However, this number could be attributed to a natural decline following Valentine’s Day sales the previous month. Despite the mixed picture, Lem-uhn believes that this sales momentum will continue into 2023. In particular, the feel-good PR agency expects to see traditional spikes in sales in the lead-up to gifting occasions like Christmas and Easter. The latest retail sales data also shows that there were sharp increases in sales across most categories in October 2021 and October 2022 as shoppers began to prepare for Christmas. With the cost of living pressures expected to ease over the coming months, Lem-uhn believes that more brands will prioritise advertising and marketing spend later in the year to support increased sales. The company has recently begun to see increased interest in its PR services as more businesses look to tap into trending stories in the news to capture the attention of conscious shoppers. Riannon Palmer, Managing Director of Lem-uhn comments: “The cost of living crisis has been scary for retailers. With it dominating public discourse, there has naturally been worry that people will spend less. However, the data shows that people are still spending. Consumers have become more conscious shoppers researching and thinking before making purchases. This means when they do spend they are spending on products that give them value, whether that be by its price or the value it brings to their lives.”

organisations must soon comply with requirements to monitor temperature and heat index to prevent heat-related illnesses. Room Alert is perfectly positioned to help organisations of all types protect their employees by complying with this new guidance. Because of this, AVTECH strives for further growth in the coming years, aiming to see a marked increase in installations of Room Alert across Europe. To facilitate this, in January 2023, the company acquired one of its most valued UK resellers to increase distribution throughout the UK and EU. Additionally, the company is planning to release a newly rebranded mobile app which will help its users manage their Room Alert with even more ease than before. This will undoubtedly improve customers’ experience and increase demand for the product. As many businesses have, AVTECH have recently faced challenges caused by supply chain issues. However, the company oversees its manufacturing supply chain from start to finish, so it has been able to consistently keep almost all of its products in stock and available for same day shipping. Over the years, AVTECH has invested millions of dollars into its manufacturing and inventory to protect its domestic supply chain. Its top priority is always keeping Room Alert monitors, sensors, and accessories in stock. The company frequently releases stock update articles to keep customers in the know. For organisations looking to prevent data centre outages and increase workplace safety, AVTECH’s Room Alert is the perfect solution. The company is dedicated to helping clients avoid environment-related downtime, ultimately helping them prevent problems that can cause catastrophic losses. We congratulate AVTECH Software, Inc. on its success in the Corporate Excellence Awards 2023 and look forward to seeing what the future holds for the company. Contact: Russell Benoit Company: AVTECH Software, Inc. Web Address: https://avtech.com/ Mar23013 Protecting People, Property, and Productivity Founded in 1988, AVTECH Software, Inc. is a leading provider of proactive environment monitoring solutions, through which it empowers organisations to protect their people, property, and productivity. The company’s primary product, Room Alert, is the world’s leading proactive environment monitoring platform, trusted by organisations of all sizes across the world. As a result of its innovative solutions, AVTECH has been awarded Leading Environment Monitoring Software Development, USA, in the Corporate Excellence Awards 2023. Since its inception, AVTECH has created solutions that help its clients monitor their computer networks and facilities, ultimately warning staff of any environmental issues that could cause downtime. These issues can range from extreme temperature, humidity, and heat index concerns to unexpected power loss to water leaks or flood conditions. Currently used in 187 of 196 countries, AVTECH’s flagship product, the Room Alert platform, consists of monitors, sensors, and software that work cohesively to help businesses avoid environment-related downtime. Room Alert is invaluable to countless organisations across the world, including thousands of small businesses, one of the world’s largest retailers, a large majority of the Fortune 1000, the United Nations, every branch of the military in the US, and many state and local governments. AVTECH is proud to celebrate its 35th anniversary this year. The company’s longevity is what makes it so unique; it has seen every situation that can cause problems or downtime. Using this extensive experience and expertise, it offers specific solutions that are tailored to suit the customer’s exact situation. In many cases, new customers approach AVTECH after they have already experienced a problem that resulted in a significant loss of revenue and productivity. For example, their HVAC may have failed, causing their data centre to overheat and resulting in server failure, data loss, and customer service interruption. Alternatively, an unexpected construction accident may have occurred outside of their warehouse, causing pipes to leak into the facility and damage a large amount of their inventory. Customers who have experienced a similar serious issue can trust AVTECH’s Room Alert to ensure that it never happens again. In recent years, AVTECH has noticed an increase in customers who want to add a Room Alert system to their business continuity plans before they experience a costly problem. The company believes that environment monitoring and Room Alert are comparable to network security. In the modern day, a new organisation wouldn’t open its doors without data and network security in place. However, this was not always the case; there was once a time when businesses failed to consider firewalls and antivirus software. AVTECH believes that environment monitoring is headed in the same direction, swiftly becoming essential for any organisation to ensure they don’t face unexpected downtime. Following the recent Covid-19 Pandemic, environment monitoring has only grown in importance as organisations encourage more remote working. Even with employees working from home, they should still monitor their physical facilities and networks in order to prevent downtimes and ensure optimal environmental conditions. In addition, those who rely on having people in their facilities are monitoring the environment more closely than before the pandemic to ensure conditions that promote good health. Furthermore, due to recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance regarding employee wellness,

Issue 5 2023 7 Mar23286 With over 18 years of experience in the Cyber Security and Compliance industry, MetaCompliance provides best-in-class solutions that help organisations keep their staff safe online, secure their digital assets, and protect their networks from malicious software. Its comprehensive training platform is designed to capture employees’ attention and make meaningful changes to their related behaviours. As a result, MetaCompliance has won Best Cyber Security Training Provider, England, in the Corporate Excellence Awards 2023. Today’s cybercriminals are increasingly advanced; attempted cyberattacks are a matter of “when” rather than “what if”. It’s important now more than ever that companies do everything they can to protect themselves from falling victim to these crimes. Dedicated to facilitating this, MetaCompliance is a global cyber security specialist that provides software solutions and eLearning content designed to educate employees on the dangers of cyber attacks through phishing and ransomware. Through this, the company helps organisations minimise risk and avoid reputational damage. The MetaCompliance platform was created to fulfil the need for a single, comprehensive solution for the management of customers’ cyber security, information security, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and data protection requirements. By utilising the power of MetaCompliance, customers can optimise their cyber security and compliance response to meet the demands of the modern digital world. The company’s platform, MyCompliance, provides a fully integrated and multilingual hub of Security Awareness Training capabilities that can be purchased both as a comprehensive solution or on a modular basis. The platform’s unique Learning Management System allows customers to create their own courses and mitigate security risks. They can save time by using the prebuilt templates and automated planning functionality, making it easier than ever for businesses to implement an effective cyber awareness programme. The platform provides an engaging learning experience for users, all year round, to ensure cyber security threats stay at the forefront of their minds. Furthermore, MetaCompliance’s award-winning Elements library consists of engaging eLearning content and interactive short courses that allow staff to learn through smaller, digestible amounts of training. This helps customers effectively foster cyber security and privacy awareness within their organisation. Customers can also access an extensive guide that explains how they can protect themselves and their business from phishing attacks. MetaCompliance’s MetaPhish product provides an easy-to-use antiphishing software that aims to increase employee vigilance, helping customers mitigate phishing and ransomware attacks. The software allows businesses to create an internal phishing drill that educates staff and increases their awareness of email threats. MetaCompliance also offers policy management software which helps customers automate the complete policy lifecycle. Through this, businesses can increase policy participation, embedding a culture of compliance within their organisation. This is essential for protecting their organisation from brand degradation and threats to their reputation. The MetaCompliance platform was created based on the belief that cyber security starts with the employee. It was designed to offer the highest quality cyber security and compliance eLearning content available on the market, focusing on staff awareness and security risk management. This sets the company apart from others in the industry and makes it a trusted partner for optimal cyber security solutions. MetaCompliance has worked hard to keep up with the evolving needs of its clients. There has been a profound shift in how people consume content and information. Security training has been left behind, which has encouraged the company to consider how it can motivate employees to take genuine ownership of their security behaviours in a different way. MetaCompliance has created an innovative approach, striving to deliver personalised security awareness using AI advances and automation techniques. It believes that all content should be targeted and relevant to the recipient, designed to hold their attention, and delivered in a convenient way. With this, MetaCompliance plans to lead the way in the industry, maximising continuous engagement of users with cyber security content. Operating in the ever-evolving digital world, MetaCompliance works to stay ahead of the curve. Its services have become increasingly important over the years. We congratulate the company on its success in the Corporate Excellence Awards 2023 and look forward to seeing what innovative solutions it brings to the market in the coming years. Contact: Carole Ankers Company: MetaCompliance Web Address: https://www.metacompliance.com/ Engaging Cyber Security Awareness Training for Employees

Individual growth is the catalyst for collective change, which is exactly why FiiT4GROWTH focuses on employees on an individual level as well as a team. It offers customisable programs such as 1:1 coaching, group coaching for 4-6 people, and online training. This is available either inperson or online to employees at all levels. FiiT4GROWTH uses science-based approaches in its coaching programmes to help elevate a company’s workflow that currently feels stagnant and with no signs of growth. It is able to create highperformance teams, empower all employees, strengthen the culture of the company, and help with succession planning to help companies reach new highs. This leads businesses to grow because their employees are also developing individually. The coaching programmes will also increase job satisfaction which means they will show up to their roles in a completely different way. The team is at the heart of what FiiT4GROWTH is able to achieve. It is made up of coaches, trainers, and a support team that guide, oversee and support each company’s journey towards reinventing and reaching their full potential within their industry. Passionate about what they do, the team creates a positive and enthusiastic environment for clients and their employees which encourages them learn, grow, and improve. They want to see clients succeed and not only that, but they also have the tools to ensure that they do. The core values of the company are spirit of excellence, failing forward, purposeful action, leadership and influence, a growth mindset, and being bold, brave, and brilliant. It presents clients with a positive essence as the company is built around values that are empowering and nurturing. FiiT4GROWTH makes available a perspective to learning that isn’t daunting, or boring, but instead something to be curious and excited about. Often with learning there is a shame surrounding making mistakes, however with the failing forwards value, it does the opposite. Instead, it celebrates mistakes and shows that they are purposeful in the road to success as they are the biggest teachers, and also that making them doesn’t mean you go back where you started, but that mistakes are part of the journey forward. The approach that FiiT4GROWTH uses for its clients, it uses internally too. It supports its employees by implementing the techniques of its On Route To Success FiiT4GROWTH specialises in high performance coaching for commercial leaders and their teams. It provides companies with the mindset, skillset, and tools to reach their full potential. FiiT4GROWTH is able to help its client’s employees grow personally while also developing professionally within their roles. coaching programs. The team’s individual growth is reflected in what FiiT4GROWTH it is able to achieve as its employee’s dedication to improve and learn new things helps the company thrive. Clients are meet with an experience to learning and growing that is enjoyable and inspiring, not one to dread. As positivity is truly contagious and so is success, by practicing what it preaches, FiiT4GROWTH acts as a role model to its clients and shows them what its possible when making use of its services. That said, it has recently been recognised for its dedication to providing high quality services to its customers. FiiT4GROWTH now holds the title for Best Coaching & Leadership Development Program Provider 2023 – UK. Business Excellence is something that FiiT4GROWTH represents, from the programmes that it offers, to how it delivers them, it provides its clients with a pleasant and effective journey towards improving and growing. Its customers are proud to share their experience with FiiT4GROWTH as they praise the positive impact its approaches have had on their companies. For example, one shares, “FiiT4GROTH High Performance Coaching has given me a greater clarity of what I am doing each week and I am better prepared for bigger events. I feel that my leadership is far more tangible, and I have delved more deeply into learning programmes that will support key initiatives and learning.” In addition, another says, “I was fortunate enough to meet our FiiT4GROWTH Coach at what was arguably the perfect time for our group to come together, have honest conversations and align on our vision for what’s next. Through their positive energy and genuine engagement with all the team, they enabled months of progress in a matter of days. I have attended many external facilitated leadership sessions, and there is no doubt in my mind that FiiT4GROWTH’s personable approach and commitment to our case, made them one of the best I have worked with.” The future that awaits FiiT4GROWTH is full of surprises as it hopes to positively impact the world alongside its hardworking and inspiring employees. We look forward to seeing the great impact it has to all its future clients in the years to come. Contact: John Roussot Company: FiiT4GROWTH Web Address: https://www.fiit4growth.com/ “Culture is critical for our success, and the impact we want to have in the world. If our people feel seen and heard, if they are focused, inspired, engaged, energised and equipped to succeed, then they will succeed. It’s then our responsibility as leaders, to inspire, encourage and uplift them so that they can be their best and do their best. We want to create an environment for our people to communicate, collaborate and co-create the future.” “We build sincere relationships with our clients, helping them unlock their potential, liberate their greatness, and by doing so, inspiring others around them to do the same.”

Issue 5 2023 9

Feb23479 Abax Launches First-of-ItsKind Inventory Management Solution in the UK New van store inventory solution guarantees vans are always fully stocked ABAX, one of Europe’s leading telematics companies, has announced the launch of ABAX Smart Inventory, an award-winning van store inventory solution. ABAX Smart Inventory offers a ground-breaking service: it provides real-time oversight of customers’ tool inventories, across multiple vehicles, ensuring that vans are always fully equipped and ready for the next job, without the need to physically check them. If a van doesn’t contain a required tool, drivers and fleet managers will be alerted within minutes to any items they have forgotten or left behind. This allows them to recover equipment quickly, thus minimising any loss of income from jobs lost or delayed because vans aren’t fully equipped. In this way, the solution also helps to tackle the estimated 38 hours spent by individual workers each year seeking lost or forgotten tools. It also helps to reduce the cost to businesses from lost tools. One customer in the UK construction industry noted that drivers waste around 50 hours a week returning to collect forgotten items, with around £200,000 worth of tools missing in the last year. Whilst construction is an industry that clearly benefits from the solution, it is being trialled by ambulance services, helping to ensure that all vehicles are fully equipped and ensuring lifesaving equipment is not left behind. Any industry or business that operates multiple vehicles that carry valuable, critical tools, assets or equipment will benefit from using ABAX Smart Inventory. Craig Allan, UK Commercial Director, ABAX, said: “We have developed ABAX Smart Inventory to meet clear customer needs that many have said they’ve been trying to resolve for years. We know our customers regularly waste significant time, money and resources because their vans aren’t properly stocked, or because they have left tools behind. “Tracking systems are helpful in identifying where the items are, but ABAX Smart Inventory goes much further – it provides peace of mind for fleet managers and business owners, as they know drivers always have the tools they need to get on with the job in hand. Already our clients using the solution have found it drives efficiencies and saves them time, money and resource.” To use the solution, customers create an inventory using their ABAX system, and can assign individual tools or items of equipment to a single vehicle. If, for instance, a van leaves a site for 10 minutes without one of the allocated items, the driver and fleet manager receives an alert, enabling them or a colleague to quickly retrieve the forgotten piece of equipment. Morten Strand, CEO ABAX added: “At ABAX, we are always striving to make our customers’ everyday lives easier by helping them to manage their mobile business – it’s what we call Smart Mobility. “ABAX Smart Inventory will help customers from multiple industries to deliver huge efficiencies. It’s the first solution of its kind in the market, and through ABAX Smart Inventory we are confident that we will unlock additional opportunities with new and existing clients.”

Issue 5 2023 11 Feb23633 Amazon Cleaners to Lead Coordinated Strike Action in 9 Different Workplaces • Low-paid and migrant members of the United Voices of the World (UVW) union have voted to strike at nine different workplaces across London after returning a resounding Yes vote in ballots released today (22 May) • Workplaces involved in the dispute include billion-pound global giants Amazon and MercedesBenz, as well as the prestigious London School of Economics, and private and state schools in South London, Government buildings and luxury flats • Dates in June for simultaneous and coordinated strike action across London and the South East, for improved pay and working conditions, will be announced next week • This is set to be UVW’s biggest coordinated industrial action to date as members join the current strike wave across the private and public sectors. Cleaners, carers and concierge workers, UVW members across the public and private sectors, have returned a massive mandate to strike for dignity, equality and respect. The low-paid, Black, brown and migrant workers are joining forces across the following nine workplaces; an Amazon warehouse, a Mercedes-Benz showroom, London School of Economics, Streatham and Clapham private school, La Retraite state school, Sage Nursing home, the Department for Education, luxury apartments West End Quays and media powerhouse Ogilvy at the Sea Containers’ building. Among the demands, the workers want a pay rise to cope with the increased cost of living. In some cases they are asking for a modest increase to the London Living Wage (LLW) of £11.95 per hour, such as at Amazon and Mercedes, which both behemoths have astonishingly refused, while some are demanding £13 and even £15 an hour. Others are asking for their lawful entitlement to annual leave pay and amended contracts which is being denied such as at the LSE; at Streatham and Clapham School the cleaners are calling for full sick pay and an end to outsourcing; and in the Department for Education the workers are demanding parity with civil service benefits while in other sites the workers are resisting detrimental changes to the timetable. UVW members work early in the morning and through the night so that students, teachers, academics, sales people, office workers and civil servants can live, study and work in clean and safe spaces. They deserve dignity, equality and respect. Magaly Quesada Herrera, a UVW member and cleaner at La Retraite, said: “As a general rule the vast majority of cleaners get up between 4am and 5am. We have to work at least 10 hours a day to barely make ends and tend to work several jobs of 1-2 hours. The jobs are in different places which means we are on the streets for approximately 12 to 14 hours a day, eating many times in buses, far from our families and with hardly any rest. On many occasions our only contact with our children is during the week and over mobile phone.” José Francisco Mora Varón, UVW member and cleaner at Amazon Warehouses said: “For those workers that are not yet union members; I recommend that you join the struggle. Do not allow fear to defeat you. Don’t keep quiet. This is the strategy that companies use to make us believe that they are in the right, so that we let ourselves be trampled on and so that we let ourselves be pressured. We might not be working in handcuffs or shackles. But psychologically companies try to put pressure on us, they try to shackle us, so as workers we do not claim our rights. We don’t have to tolerate or allow any kind of bullying, any kind of exploitation or any kind of ‘modern day slavery’. To those workers that are already union members, don’t let your bosses divide you, don’t be afraid of losing your job because at the end of the day in almost every company in the UK the same thing is happening.” Kadijatu Jalloh, UVW member and cleaner at the Department for Education, said: “We are all frustrated and we are overworked, our demands are just and fair. They don’t talk to us right, they talk to us like children. We are parents, we have grandchildren, we have the right to be respected so we have come together as one. Just because I am a cleaner and they sit down in their offices it does not make them better than us or more important than us. When we strike they will know and see how important we are.” Petros Elia, general secretary for UVW, said: “The majority of our strikers are outsourced to third-party companies, which pay them poverty wages with the silent complicity of their very wealthy clients. It’s a disgrace that multinationals like Amazon or Mercedes-Benz make billions in profit on the backs of precarious, migrant and majoritarily Black and brown workers, while spouting moral values of equality, diversity and inclusion. UVW is at the cutting edge of a defiant, growing insurgent movement in which workers refuse to be disrespected, undervalued and invisible any more. Our UVW members will be reminding everyone on the picket line that enough is enough. We call on the union movement to join them in their fight for justice, dignity and respect.”

Feb23669 UK Company Insolvencies Will Continue Upward as Rising Interest Rates and Cost-of-Living Crisis Puts the Squeeze on Debtor’s Funds Corporate failures are impacting payments throughout the value chain and is causing real pain for small businesses With the number of registered company insolvencies at 1,685 and 183 compulsory liquidations in April 2023 - nearly twice the number in April 2022 – the pressure on UK SME cashflow remains very real. This is according to Lynne Darcey Quigley, Founder & CEO of Know-it. “The headline figure issued by the Insolvency Service this week for April appears to indicate a 15% drop in the number of insolvencies, but the reality is these figures remain considerably higher than pre-pandemic levels and also during a period of considerable government support,” stated Lynne Darcey Quigley. “But as ever the devil is in the detail and the fact that compulsory liquidations have doubled year-on-year, paints a very different picture, representing what it does as a result of an increase in winding-up petitions presented by HMRC.” “The impact of the value chain of company failures is stark. Failure to make payments on time is the leading cause of business failure. Our goal is to elevate the social conscience of larger businesses that don’t pay on time and unite small business owners in tackling this issue. A business that is concerned about late payments should take action by implementing an end-to-end credit management process,” continued Darcey Quigley. Interruption of cashflow can be a result of delayed payments that negatively impact a business’ income and ability to trade effectively. Some businesses may be unable to hire new employees or invest back into their business due to invoices not being paid on time. Worst-case scenarios may lead to the business closing its doors. Although delaying payments by clients and customers is not new to businesses, two out of five (40 percent) SMEs report that they are more likely to see late payments following the pandemic. According to The Insolvency Service, of the 1,685 registered company insolvencies in April 2023: •183 were compulsory liquidations, which is almost twice the number in April 2022; • 12 were CVAs, which is 20% higher than April 2022; • There were 122 administrations, which is 8% higher than April 2022; • There were 1,368 CVLs, which is 23% lower than in April 2022; “An economy that is constantly plagued with late payments will hinder its growth, and hard-working business owners will be thrown into a never-ending cycle of uncertainty. The stresses of chasing late payments should never be a challenge facing SMEs in Scotland and the UK, however the problem is only getting worse as these latest figures illustrate. “SMEs are particularly vulnerable and have been significantly impacted by the crisis, subject to extended payment terms by big corporations. As we have seen from the data, businesses are left with little choice but to carry on and work with businesses deemed bad payers, often to their own detriment. To avoid organisations continuing in this vicious cycle it’s imperative business leaders are made aware of the tools and resources available to them, which can mitigate credit risk, reduce debtor days and increase cashflow,” concluded Darcey Quigley.

Issue 5 2023 13 respondents believing that U.K. regulators would be taking action next. These predictions are coming to fruition, with the Prudential Regulation Authority recently issuing a censure against a bank in the U.K. for its failure to monitor WhatsApp communications. However, while firms believe that U.K. regulatory action is coming, only one in 10 (10%) of firms said they will be prepared when they do. “A tougher regulatory stance will naturally ignite a sense of alarm across compliance teams, however a crack-down in the U.K. will help firms change the culture around communications compliance and ensure that the wider business also takes the issue seriously,” comments Rob Mason, Director Regulatory Intelligence at Global Relay. “Compliance teams can continually remind their colleagues of the importance of meeting regulatory obligations, but nothing is quite as effective as the regulator handing a hefty penalty to one of your competitors.” Mason continues, “Regardless of regulatory action, firms need to reconsider their approach and embark on a strategy they trust and know will be effective. Paradoxically, the solution for compliant communication may not be to limit communications, but to seek enablement rather than restriction. “The logic is clear, if you have a solution that allows you to capture business communications, you will be compliant. So, if you enable and capture all communication channels, you remove the potential for messages to fly under the radar, mitigate your risk, and can be confident that your business is communicating compliantly, or be able to determine instances where you are not. The solution to managing communications technology, is the technology itself.” Feb23680 Channel Bans for Business Communication Deemed Ineffective at Mitigating offChannel Communications Risks, New Study Finds New research from Global Relay reveals that compliance officers are banning staff from using WhatsApp, WeChat, and similar applications, despite only 3% strongly agreeing that banning is an effective solution for compliance. In light of a series of regulatory actions in the United States, the majority (59%) of firms have banned the use of WhatsApp, WeChat, and similar applications according to new research released today by Global Relay, the leading provider of electronic communication compliance and archiving solutions. Despite the majority taking this approach, only 3% strongly believe that channel bans are an effective solution to ensure compliant communications at their organization. Additionally, 13% believe they are somewhat effective, while just over a quarter (28%) are unsure about their efficacy. It’s clear that a better, more effective solution to this problem is required. The survey informs Global Relay’s Industry Insights: Compliant Communication 2023 report, a compilation of responses from compliance officers across the financial services sector as well as other regulated industries about their management of communications channels and devices. When asked what their key concerns were regarding enduring compliance for business communications, 62% cited that they were most worried about getting staff to comply with recordkeeping and supervision rules, while over half (54%) stated that they are having difficulty monitoring all communication channels. Given the rapid pace of innovation, this will only become more difficult as new methods of communication open up. “The fact that organizations have decided to ban these communications channels is a clear sign that they understand the severity of the risk they pose, and this is an attempt to ensure they have a degree of control over the issue,” comments Chip Jones, Executive Vice President at Global Relay. “Added to that, when – and if – the regulator comes knocking, they can clearly show that they have taken action to attempt to mitigate this breach of regulation.” Jones added, “However, it’s clear that there not only needs to be a more effective approach to ensuring firms stay on the right side of the rules when it comes to monitoring communications channels risk, there also needs to be a cultural shift within organizations. Currently, getting people to take measures seriously is more challenging than staying on top of all communications activity, which would certainly be enough to keep any compliance manager awake at night. This balance needs to shift.” To date, the U.S. has been the focus for much of the regulatory action against off-channel communications; however, respondents agreed that the U.K. would be following suit with almost half (49%) of “The fact that organizations have decided to ban these communications channels is a clear sign that they understand the severity of the risk they pose, and this is an attempt to ensure they have a degree of control over the issue,” comments Chip Jones, Executive Vice President at Global Relay.

knowledge sharing, connecting, and collaborating, to help drive further innovation and creativity across all sectors. “Across Wales Tech Week we will fuse the benefits of technology with the power of people, to work toward Wales’ future as a global centre of tech expertise.” The third day at the ICC will be the inaugural Talent4Tech event, designed to attract the next generation of tech talent, from apprentices to graduates to returners and transitioning workers, to inspire their journeys into the tech industry. Mar23049 Software Specialists Box UK Join Wales Tech Week to Share Ambitious Vision of a Global Centre of Expertise Box UK, a Drum Top 50 Digital Agency specialising in innovative software and web design for its global client portfolio, has partnered with Wales Tech Week 2023. Headquartered in Cardiff for over 25 years, Box UK specialises in the design, development and delivery of high-profile bespoke software development projects for clients such as the RS Group, The British Medical Journal, Sodexo and the Welsh Government. As a Silver Partner, Box UK will be sharing their inspiring enterprise portfolio to showcase the realm of what is possible when you combine the right tech and the right people to drive engagement, growth, and innovation. At Wales Tech Week, Box UK will share their expertise to help attendees discover how digital technologies can be used to deliver lifesaving information more quickly, educate teams and customers, grow sales, build new revenue models, and otherwise enable and transform businesses for the better. Innovation and digital transformation are essential for organisations to survive and thrive and it is critical to have the opportunity to learn from real-world examples. Taking place on 16 to 18 October 2023 at the International Convention Centre (ICC), in Newport, South Wales, Wales Tech Week will host world-class speakers, investors and leading tech organisations, as well as an exhibition and more from innovators, entrepreneurs and the wider supporting Welsh tech industry ecosystem. Paul Evans, Chief Operations Officer, said: “Box UK has been designing, developing, and delivering large-scale digital platforms that millions rely upon, for more than 25 years. “Partnering with Wales Tech Week gives us a global platform to showcase the impact and opportunities digital innovation brings to organisations. “Box UK is driven by our unending passion for technology and the role it plays in shaping the world. We look forward to sharing our insights and expertise at Wales Tech Week.” Founded by Technology Connected, the leading network for Wales’ technology industry, Wales Tech Week 2023 follows on from the successful virtual events in 2020 and 2021, where the festivals reached an audience of more than 4,500 people across 57 countries. Avril Lewis, Managing Director for Technology Connected added: “We are delighted to have Box UK join us as a Silver Partner at Wales Tech Week. “Headquartered in Cardiff with a presence in London and remote workforce across the UK, Box has a global mindset and global presence to match. They are an excellent example of the software and web expertise Wales has to offer. ”I know Box UK will inspire the business leaders and organisations attending the event. Wales Tech Week will be a key opportunity for

Issue 5 2023 15 Mar23116 The more we progress towards a technologically prominent society, there’s always a concern among businesses that their revenue management may not be up to snuff. With so many changes occurring so rapidly, trying to keep up can be beyond daunting. Everyone needs a little assistance from time to time, and nobody is more willing to extend a hand to help you manage your revenue than Revenue AI. With its inspired AI software, you’ll have an award-winning companion available 24/7 to assist you with all of your revenue management needs. In the current decade, businesses as a whole have so much to juggle. On top of having to adapt to new online trends every single day, you have to manage your incomes, as well as deploy new business strategies on a constant basis. As a result, it can leave any person of any skillset overwhelmed with the task of having to match the pace of their swiftly evolving industries. Revenue AI understands better than most that, in order to stay competitive in your industry, you have to act within a strong network. However, with the steep increase of retailers, manufacturers and competing businesses across the cyberspace, it has become increasingly tricky for most businesses truly thrive and produce the results they’re wanting. It’s not impossible, but Revenue AI is on-hand to offer a solution that can make life that little bit easier. With its brilliant AI software, Revenue AI completely eliminates the difficulty of trying to manage your revenue by yourself. It acts as a companion that’s present whenever the situation relies on it, and it’s able to not only calculate where your business could improve, but will alert you of any changes on a frequent basis. This incredibly intuitive software is able to analyse your business, from its core mechanics to its priorities, and can recommend the best courses of action via its augmented decision-making capabilities. Thanks to its fantastic programming prowess, Revenue AI has created a go-to approach for any of your revenue management difficulties. Its AI software has a range of features, including portfolio architecture, where it can track how consumers view your brand, and identifies opportunities to fill spaces in your industry’s market to appeal to more and more customers. In addition, it allows you to effortlessly learn what your clients want, and how to personalise offers and promotions to suit their needs. This way, you’ll be able to build firm relationships with your consumers, and compile a loyal clientele who will trust you to know exactly what they’re looking for. Revenue AI’s software has everything you need to make the entire process of online revenue management as streamlined as possible. Revenue AI has mastered what it means to make revenue management easy for any business. Through its fantastic understanding of the developments facing almost each business in almost every industry, it’s been able to concoct a universal assistant software that has your needs and company in mind. Regardless of whether you need constant updates to keep consumers engaged with your business, or require a little extra assistance in understanding how your business could change to match recent evolutions in online marketing, Revenue AI’s fantastic software has everything you could ask for. As a result, revenue management just got much more intuitive. With Revenue AI’s software, you can relieve yourself of some of the pressures that partner your revenue management processes, and allow an AI that can replicate years of training to help grow your business. The world is changing, and technology is becoming far more advanced. But, with Revenue AI’s award-winning software, you can effortlessly take your place at the forefront of the digital age. Contact: Duygu Kargin Company: Revenue AI Web Address: https://revenue.ai/ Best Revenue Management Software 2022 On top of having to adapt to new online trends every single day, you have to manage your incomes, as well as deploy new business strategies on a constant basis. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: www.corporatevision-news.com

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQxNTg3MQ==