Monthly Archives: December 2021

Education News, News

Yorkshire-based edtech startup shapes the future of physical activity in UK schools

An education technology firm based in Doncaster is shaping the mental and physical wellbeing of school pupils across the UK with 100 schools expected to sign up in the first year.

Myphizz is an app designed to encourage the mass participation of physical activity in both primary and secondary schools. Using a live leaderboard, children have the ability to set their own imaginative and creative challenges in classrooms, playgrounds or at home and compare results both across their school and nationally. Teachers also have access to a functional control dashboard which measures individual pupils’ activity levels. 

By drawing on the expertise of schools, the app gives pupils control over their own physical activity and supplements school curriculums. The app also works with a growing number of inspirational role models to encourage children to become more active. 

One of those role models is British Olympic sprinter, Adam Gemili. He said: “The mental and physical wellbeing of children has never been more crucial; with lockdown restrictions having a negative impact on activity levels, many children are now sadly not meeting the recommended level of exercise. 

“myphizz gives children autonomy and empowers them to manage their own levels of physical activity through choosing exactly the types of exercise they enjoy. Whether they’re completely new to physical activity and enjoy inventing their own fun and wacky physical challenges, or they’re an aspiring athlete!”

The app was created by a group of four ex teachers who wanted to encourage children to engage in a more active, healthier and happier lifestyle. Two full time software developers have worked with the founders to employ the latest programming techniques to realise the initial concept of myphizz. The technology, which runs through secure schools networks and is only visible to school communities, can be accessed via PC, tablets or mobile phones.

Anthony McBride, a founder of myphizz, said: “A key part of the myphizz app has been building on our positive relationships with schools that we have through our other projects. It’s crucial that we ensure inclusivity for pupils, while providing schools with a sustainable way of offering more creative opportunities for physical activity. 

“With schools still being impacted by the pandemic and children potentially missing out on physical activity whilst isolating at home, myphizz provides a way for schools to continue communicating and engaging pupils in exercise whilst not in the school setting. It’s an absolute honour to have the opportunity to build a lasting impact on the health of our young people and encourage them to get involved in sport.”

Siobhan Roe, teacher at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Halifax who’s used the app, added: “myphizz has been a huge hit amongst our year three pupils – there’s been such a buzz in the classroom with every single pupil involved in creating, sharing and accomplishing activities. The children have rushed home to tell their parents all about their ‘phizzes’ and we can’t wait to see the rest of school enjoy it.

“The platform is so easy to use and I’ve found the images to describe the ‘phizzes’ really useful as it helps a lot of the children with their reading and spellings as they compare words and pictures. The mix of activities that can be set is incredible – we’ve used myphizz for practicing our times tables as well as challenging each other to do as many press-ups as possible!”

Over the next five years, myphizz hopes to have signed up 700 schools and become an instantly recognisable name in education. The business also plans to solidify the link between elite sporting organisations and schools to scout the next generation of talented athletes, and have made a positive impact on the lives of young people across the UK.

For more information, please visit myphizz.com.

Commercial Property, News, North of England

World-leading technical engineer Integral UK arrives at Birchwood Park

Birchwood Park, the North West’s largest out-of-town business destination, has welcomed business service provider Integral UK to the park, making it the 22nd new occupier to make the move to the park in 2021.

The move by Integral UK will see up to 70 employees working out of its Birchwood Park office, situated just outside of Warrington, and will create further job opportunities and boost footfall to the local area.

Integral UK, part of the JLL Group, will be taking 10,540 sqft of space in Birchwood Park’s Chadwick House to house a contact centre for its help desk, which supports thousands of directly employed mobile engineers across the U.K.

Birchwood Park is considered the perfect location for Integral UK due to its prime location and being situated right in the heart of the North-West. It is well connected to several key towns and cities across the region and ensures access to wider recruitment and talent pools in Warrington, Manchester and Liverpool.

Richard Wharton, director in Jones Lang LaSalle’s national office agency team, commented: “Following an extensive search of the Birchwood area, including the serviced office market, Chadwick House was the unanimous choice for Integral’s new northern office, bringing all staff together on a single high quality floorplate within a scheme offering a wide range of amenities.”

Martin O’Rourke, Commercial Director at Birchwood Park, also commented: “We are proud to welcome yet another occupier to Birchwood Park, in what represents a hugely successful calendar year for the park. Integral UK makes for yet another world-leading business joining our occupiers here at Birchwood Park.

“We’ve designed our whole site to provide as many versatile workspace options as possible, along with the very best in transport links and amenities and we hope Integral UK’s employees are able to make the most of the facilities on offer.”

To find out about the diverse range of businesses located at Birchwood Park, please head to https://www.birchwoodpark.co.uk/ or call the team on 01925 851536.

Charity & CSR, News

Bourne Foodbank welcomes generous donation from local housing developer

A housebuilder based in Bourne has delivered a loaded car boot full of supplies to Bourne Foodbank, following a collection held by staff at its head office.

Allison Homes, which is building new homes across the East, donated the food for those in need of essential supplies this Christmas.

Bourne Foodbank, based off Spalding Road, is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks supported by The Trussell Trust, which works to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

The local foodbank, which opened in 2013, is run by Churches Together as a service to Bourne and the surrounding villages, and has over 40 volunteers and trustees who work to assist as many people in need as possible.

Maureen Cornell, Operations Manager at the Bourne Foodbank, said: “We are delighted with the generous donation from the staff at Allison Homes and we know many families will be blessed by the items over the Christmas period.”

Samantha Hart, Sales and Marketing Director at Allison Homes, said: “As a responsible housebuilder, we believe it is hugely important to help local people and organisations however we can.

“Christmas is all about coming together, and nobody deserves to go hungry, especially during the festive period.

“It has been a huge pleasure to be able to contribute to Bourne Foodbank and those who benefit from its services, and we hope our donation will offer a helping hand to those in need.”

A food collection point is located at Tesco in Bourne, open Monday to Saturday from 6am to midnight, and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Foodbank opening hours are Tuesday, 1pm to 3pm and Friday, 9am to 11am.

Items which the foodbank is currently in need of are baked beans, UHT milk, jam, marmalade, fruit juice, squash, shampoo, washing up liquid, laundry washing liquid or powder, and soap or liquid handwash. Tinned items include soup, fish, fruit, ham, pies, custard and vegetables.

For more information on how to make a donation to Bourne Foodbank, visit https://bournefoodbank.org.uk/how-to-help/. More information on Allison Homes can be found at https://allison-homes.co.uk/.

News

Why you will regret keeping your mouth shut

Written by Jon lam, Toastmasters International

We are often reminded of the old adage that we “were born with two ears and one mouth for a reason.” It is so we can listen more than we speak. However, after missing out on many business opportunities by simply being a ‘good listener’, I realised that I needed to start opening my mouth more. As the saying by Mahatma Gandhi goes, “if you don’t ask, you don’t get it.” This does not mean that you will instantly win business deals by simply asking for it though, since it depends on how you communicate the ask.

And that is why I decided to start working on my communication skills by exploring the world of public speaking. If you are a leader in your organisation, read on to learn why keeping your mouth shut might be ruining your opportunities to get ahead in the world of business.

 

You will miss out on key leadership opportunities

 Successful businesses are often spearheaded by strong leaders and it’s often those who speak up that get elected for leadership positions. Susan Cain, author of the book “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” explains that “extroverts are routinely chosen for leadership positions and introverts are looked over, even though introverts often deliver better outcomes.” This is because they are not considered as “leadership material”.

There is therefore a strong case to develop your public speaking skills so that you can communicate across ideas that truly inspire others. By doing this, you will gain more visibility in your organisation and strengthen your credibility among your peers too. Start developing this skill by taking on any speaking opportunity that arises at work, even if you feel apprehensive. After speaking, be open to receiving feedback so you know where you can improve in your next speaking opportunity. With consistent practice, you will find it increasingly comfortable to speak with impact in public.

 

You may be losing out on opportunities to collaborate

Finding common ground with others is often a crucial step taken when trying to build partnerships. Unless you meet someone who can mind-read, you’ll most likely have to tell them about your ideas. Again, this is where public speaking comes in. I recall practicing my speaking skills, specifically voice projection and good body posture before volunteering to talk at events. And after sharing my ideas at these events, I was approached by like-minded attendees who resonated with my ideas. These meaningful connections resulted in new business partnership opportunities that would not have happened if I had not learned to communicate my ideas in an engaging manner.

When speaking at any event, it is important to first have a grasp on the audience that you are speaking to. After this step, leverage techniques, such as humour to share your ideas in an engaging manner. By doing so, you will increase the chances of creating new connections with others who resonate with your ideas and who might turn into potential business partners.

 

Mentor others

By practicing how to speak publicly, you will be harnessing communication, one of the most important skills any leader can possess. However, practicing alone will only give you one angle on how to speak. Successful businesses were not built single-handedly by one person, therefore it’s paramount to also take up opportunities to mentor inexperienced speakers in your organisation. By doing this, you will gain a fresh perspective and new ideas on how to improve your own public speaking style. Additionally, you will be able to help build a stronger and more impactful team that can help propel the organisation forward. As with anything, do not wait and start taking up speaking and mentoring opportunities whenever you have the chance as you will only grow through experience.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jon Lam is a member of Toastmasters International, a not-for-profit organisation that has provided communication and leadership skills since 1924 through a worldwide network of clubs. There are more than 400 clubs and 10,000 members in the UK and Ireland. Members follow a structured educational programme to gain skills and confidence in public and impromptu speaking, chairing meetings and time management. To find your nearest club, visit www.toastmasters.org

News

Hochiki ready to showcase cutting-edge life safety technology at Intersec 2022

Following a year off, Intersec is back and Hochiki Middle East FZE, part of the Hochiki Group, are excited to announce that they will be at the event in January. The expert Middle East team will be sharing a range of industry leading and greener products, as well discussing what the future holds for fire system design and how customer insight is driving this innovation.

 Sophisticated design combined with powerful customer insight

The Hochiki Middle East team of experts will be on hand to demo the new L@titude system. With huge investments made in the research and development of this product, led by customer insight, this latest model combines the very latest in hardware and software and is the company’s market leading control and indication system.

Sophisticated enough to operate anywhere in the world, in multiple languages, across all manner of applications – from schools and hospitals, skyscrapers filled with thousands of office workers, apartment blocks and entertainment venues, cultural and commercial spaces as well as international travel ports, manufacturing warehouses and logistics hubs. The system has been designed to be simple to configure and easy to use by anyone, utilising touchscreen technology with a graphical user interface to help display vital information. It is EN approved and recently DBI certified for the Danish market following its EN54 Part 13 approval.

Greener life safety products

For visitors looking to improve their energy consumption, the Hochiki team will be providing live demonstrations of the power saving and environmentally friendly FIREscape emergency lighting system. Consuming only 0.1W once fully charged, the lower energy consumption directly correlates with lower CO2e emissions; providing building owners with a greener and more cost-effective solution.

A new generation of Hybrid Wireless Fire Detection

Other products available for demonstration at Intersec will be Hochiki’s next generation of hybrid wireless fire detection products, Ekho. At the core of the system is the wireless Translator module. It is hard-wired to the fire alarm control panel loop and communicates continuously with the wireless devices. Wireless Expander modules are then used to extend the self-healing radio mesh network, increasing the reach and capacity of the overall system.

 Commenting on attending the event, Hochiki’s Middle East Managing Director, Mr Shinsuke Kubo said, “We’re really excited to get back to live events and meet with our customers face to face. There is nothing quite like live demonstrations and we are attending with three of our most innovative pieces of life safety technology, so this year’s event really will be the best yet.

If you want to learn more about how our world-leading solutions can protect your business, people, and assets, as well as drive a more efficient operation, then do visit our stand.”

 Intersec will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre 16-18 January 2022, head to stand 4-B22 to speak to the Hochiki team of experts.

Mental Health, News

Men offered lifeline to combat isolation

Men suffering from isolation or loneliness are being offered a lifeline through a new online support network being launched in the new year.

New Let’s Get Men Talking sessions are being organised by the SNJ Charitable Trust, based in Wolverhampton, to offer a social outlet to men who may be suffering in silence.

The sessions will be held weekly from Tuesday, January 25, and men are being encouraged to sign up now.

SNJ already hosts online Chat and Chai social sessions for women which have proved hugely popular after starting during lockdown. Women from as far afield as Scotland, St Albans and London now regularly join in those sessions.

SNJ founder and chief executive Neena Julka said now it was time to reach out to men, who may have been left isolated during the pandemic and need a social outlet.

“It’s just so difficult for men and boys to open up and share,” said Neena.

“But they are suffering in the same way as anyone else. These sessions will be run by men for men of any age.

“We know of men who can’t get out and about, they may be looking after spouses and they can’t socialise.

“This will give them a support network and someone to talk to. If they are not tech-savvy we can provide training to help with that.”

Neena said three men were now being trained up to run the sessions.

SNJ, based in the Lakshmi Sweets and Restaurant building on Dudley Road, Blakenhall, was set up with the aim to improve the lives of people in both the UK and India.

Anyone interested in joining the new sessions can call 07823 891071.

To find out more about the work of SNJ, visit https://snjcharitabletrust.org/

News, Thought Leadership

The Changing Face of Business: Top Trends from Management Today CEO, Joanna Swash of Moneypenny

As the new year approaches, we should reflect and learn from our mistakes of the past year (as well as those of others), pandemic and all, and see the opportunities to rebuild back better.

Here are my business tips for a successful and profitable 2022:

#1 Purpose.

The perfect companion to authenticity is purpose. We need purposeful businesses.

Connect people to the purpose, the why behind why your business does what it does and why they do what they do, make it a habit – part of your culture and DNA and people will feel that they are part of something, engaged and looking to the future.

#2 Celebrity.

It is about creating a culture that gives your employees the red-carpet treatment. They are just as significant in the success of your business as your customers so treat them that way. It’s a virtuous circle.

This is where it takes a little time and effort but it will be rewarded. By definition, humans are individuals so we all have different motivators, different reactions and different experiences. None are more important than any other, just different. And, in making your people feel like celebrities you are recognizing their value and giving them the best environment to be the best that they can be.

#3 Superpowers.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all around us, it plays a significant role in our day- to-day lives. If machines can free up time from time-consuming admin, it leaves your people free to focus on their strengths. Not only this, it can help your people become even better at what they do. It can help deliver better data insights to support planning and forecasting, providing actionable intelligence to drive your customer experience.

It is time to make your organization ready to embrace technology in order to give your people, and your organization, the superpowers that they need to stay ahead of the game.

#4 Embrace AI.

The AI revolution will continue. Technological advancements in AI and NLP (Natural Language Processing) will have the most significant day-to-day business impact. We believe the future is for AI to augment humans, not replace them, allowing them to have better conversations. In telecoms it enables better conversations using technologies, allowing development of solutions that provide an understanding of intent and sentiment that can propose best actions for call handlers to use, for maximum efficiency. The outcome is a better customer experience too.

#5 Authenticity.

If you are authentic, and your people are authentic, then your brand becomes authentic. And, as today’s ever more demanding consumers seek connections with organizations, this will be priceless. We need to see leaders and organizations displaying the characteristics of honesty, empathy, reliability and openness, even a little vulnerability. It begins and ends with you.

#6 Outsource.

The pandemic has taught us to focus on what we do best and to bring in experts when we need specific solutions. Businesses that adopt this model can grow, innovate and pivot faster which makes them more competitive in the constantly changing and evolving business environment we all operate in.

Outsourcing will continue to surge.  Many businesses outsourced their phones, Live Chat and receptions during the pandemic, realised the benefits in terms of cost and efficiency, and so will continue to outsource other non-central functions so they can get on with what they do best.  In addition to outsourcing of comms, you could look at options to outsource HR, marketing, and sales.

#7 Security.

Most companies have been doubling down over the past few years to improve security and reduce the thread of cyber-attack but an area that has been largely forgotten is securing the supply chain. Every piece of software we install within a business has the potential to become a cyber threat, so you need to take action now to protect against this.

For example, the SolarWinds attack in 2021 impacted up to 18,000 companies including Fortune 500 companies and multiple agencies in the US government, all from the fact that the SolarWinds software had been compromised by cyber criminals. The impact of cyber threats coming from trusted companies in our supply chain is enormous. Ensuring trust in the supply chain will be a huge area of focus in 2022.

#8 Integrate.

Finally, I am a firm believe that people should ‘stick to their knitting’, in other words, do what they are best at and get others to fill in the skills gaps. This applies to leaders being self-aware and building a team around them that makes a great whole. But it also applies to organizations.

Today, most things can be outsourced. The future is in working together in close partnerships, simply being an integrated extension of the business. The service or solution may be based in a different building or country, but it will simply be an extension of the new way of working…together.

www.moneypenny.com

Moneypenny is a global leader providing telephone answering, outsourced switchboard, Live Chat and customer contact solutions and is the most trusted partner to large and small businesses. Moneypenny has an award winning culture and over 1000 staff based in the UK and the USA. It handles over 20 million calls and live chats for 21,000 businesses. It blends brilliant people superpowered by leading edge tech solutions to deliver seamless customer engagement outcomes.

News

A10 Networks Boosts EMEA Channel Programme With New Hires and Collaborative Partnership Approach

23 new partners have joined the programme since the start of 2021 as A10 Networks appoints new channel leader to drive activity in UK&I, Benelux and the Nordics

A10 Networks today announced the significant ongoing success achieved by its channel programme in 2021, with 23 new strategic partners signed up in the last year and plans to further develop channel initiatives in 2022, particularly in the APAC region.

At the start of 2021, A10 Networks refocused its five key strategic channel pillars encompassing building ecosystems, channel enablement, lead generation activities, deal registration and working with distribution. Now towards the end of 2021, A10 Networks has signed up 23 new partners as a result of this laser focus on its channel, which now comprises over 80 partners and 30 distributors.

Furthermore, A10 Networks continues to work with strategic alliance partners, Dell and Ericsson. These alliances will be a key focus in 2022 driving combined technology solutions that deliver better business outcomes for customers.

New business development initiatives are underway within the distribution community with joint-funded resources assigned in territories such as the Middle East, UK&I, Benelux, DACH, Africa and Scandinavia working with distributors such as Exertis, Ingram, Netex, V-Valley, 2SB, MUK and others.

A10 Networks also launched its new Affinity Technical Ambassador programme in EMEA in 2021 which is gaining great traction with strong technical collaborations within key partners underway to harness and enrich the knowledge level of partners. The company has also focused on taking partners on a progressive journey and its Elevate to Elite initiative has been successfully enabling partners to make the transition to Elite partner status.

Chris Martin, Channel Sales Leader for EMEA & APAC at A10 Networks comments: “We’ve seen real positive momentum in the channel in 2021 despite the pandemic. In fact, our virtual offering has meant that we have consistently grown with no negative impact from COVID-19. But this isn’t just off the back of our offerings but also demonstrates how important the channel is in helping customers to protect against the evolving nature of cyberattacks. This increase in attacks combined with the need to operate in a new environment that encompasses both remote and office working and spans both the digital and physical world. It demonstrates just how important it is for enterprises to work with trusted partners.

“We are also hiring new talent to support our growth and I’m delighted that Samantha Sene has joined us to help drive our channel strategy forward in region. With our programme now firmly established we can concentrate on developing deeper relationships as we focus on working with quality partners.”

Samantha Sene joins A10 Networks as channel sales leader for UK&I, Benelux and the Nordics. Samantha has an enviable track record in helping organisations to develop new markets to sell through partner organisations to end users. An ambitious cybersecurity sales leader, Samantha has strong experience in creating growth strategies and building high-performance teams.

Prior to joining A10 Networks, Samantha was a Business Unit Leader at Infinigate for more than four years and prior to this a Vendor Sales Manager for Dell and SecurEnvoy for over three years at Infinigate. As a result, Samantha has been recognised as a key player in the industry and a CRN Women in Channel Awards Finalist.

Samantha Sene comments, “It is an exciting time to join A10 Networks. The channel programme is now firmly established and there is a lot to build upon in 2022. I’m keen to grow the partnerships by leading joint partner planning processes, including performance objectives, guiding our partners through critical milestones and using my skills to build further customer success and innovation.”

Gambling

How The UKGC Has Helped Shape A Safe Online Gaming Industry

In a little over 2 decades, the online gambling industry has seen exponential growth. In the early 2000s, the first online casino was launched by casino games pioneers Microgaming, with many others following suit. Avid slots players and casual gamblers loved the novelty of playing their favourite slots and casino games online, seeing no need to travel to a land-based casino to engage in their favourite activity.

Of course, as with any new industry, it meant that there were a few loopholes and rules being exploited by some businesses. Early on, it was hard for online gamblers to ascertain which casino was safe to play at or which gambling site was legit because this was before UK online gambling licensing and regulations were put into play.

There were, back in the day, many offshore casinos that didn’t follow rules or practices which meant that the UK public could easily, through no fault of their own, access gambling sites that were wide open to fraud and exploitation. By this we mean gambling sites that didn’t pay out winnings, casinos that offered rigged games, casinos that didn’t care about responsible gambling – the list could go on. Whilst not all casinos pre-legislation were dishonest – it was a case of weeding out the wheat from the chaff, with some being caught out.

 

UKGC Enforces Licensing For Safe Online Gambling Sites

Times have thankfully changed, however. The UKGC (which stands for the UK Gambling Commission) was established under the gambling act of 2005 and was formed to regulate the affairs of the UK gambling industry, with an immediate focus on online casinos and gambling sites. The UKGC is the sole gambling regulator in the UK, ensuring that all businesses wishing to operate in the UK must have a valid UKGC license.

Instead of providing a single license covering all gaming activities, the UKGC provides remote licenses for every type of experience an online gambling site may want to offer. UK Gambling licenses cover Casino Games, Slots, Betting, Bingo, Lotteries and Poker, eSports Betting, Virtual Betting and more – anything that requires a real money wager.

To obtain a UKGC license is a lengthy and expensive affair, though, without it, the doors are closed to any operator wishing to operate in the UK. Gambling sites successfully regulated by the UKGC must ensure many obligations are met. Failure to comply would mean a heavy fine and/or a license suspension or revocation.

 

Safer Gambling Tools & New Measures

As a UK Gambler, UKGC licensing has meant that they are now much safer and protected, no matter where they choose to play online (so long as they opt to join a UKGC licensed gambling site). Today, punters can appreciate the many benefits and measures put into place by the UKGC, designed to keep them safe and within the realms of responsible gambling. These include:

Fair Games: All casinos and slots provided by UKGC licensed casinos are supplied by premium game vendors which are 3rd party tested to ensure fairness. Companies such as eCogra and iTechlabs work alongside the UKGC to make sure games act accordingly to their stated RTP %, outcomes are 100% random and they pay out as stated.

No Gambling on Credit: In 2020, The UKGC passed new legislation, setting an immediate ban on gambling on credit. This meant no person could use credit cards or any form of other credit, to gamble online. This move was to prevent vulnerable people from gambling with money they didn’t have.

Fair Bonuses & Promotions: UK Gambling sites must offer customers fair bonuses that are not misleading. This means that they cannot offer “free” bonuses if they are not free. Advertising of such bonuses must always come with terms and conditions so that customers know exactly what’s involved when taking them. What’s more, no longer are UK Gambling Sites allowed to slap on high wagering requirements – they must be fair.

Responsible Gambling Tools: In another effort to protect those from problem gambling, the UKGC enforces licensed operators to offer in account tools and monitor players to ensure they are not gambling dangerously or recklessly. This means players can easily access tools such as deposit limits, self-exclusion (Gamstop), time out features, reality check pop up notifications and time session limits when gambling online.

Proving Source of Wealth: A newer rule, some operators must request customers to provide details on a source of wealth declaration. Whilst some people think this is a step too far, certain high rollers must declare that they can indeed afford to deposit the levels they are, by filling out an SOW form. This is to show regulators that casinos and gambling sites are ensuring that customers are not gambling with money they can’t afford to lose or are earning enough to cover large gambling budgets.

The bottom line is that the UKGC ensures players can enjoy a safe, fair and responsible gambling experience, regardless of where they play their games: whether that’s at a land-based casino, in a betting shop at UK online gambling sites.

 

 

News

Investment 101: The Basics Of Crowdfunding

 

Getting into the investment world can be difficult. With so many options and varying advice available, it can leave some of us feeling confused and even daunted by the process. However, Crowdfunding can potentially provide an alternative route for people looking to build their portfolio and aid them in considering their future investments.  It allows individuals to invest small amounts of their money across multiple ventures, rather than investing all of their capital into one. 

What is Crowdfunding?

In the past, if an individual wanted to fund a project by investment from others, they would need a large amount of capital in order to do so. ‘Capital’ is used to describe any form of personal wealth, including disposable income, inheritance or other assets a person may own. Without capital, those looking for investment into their business, project or products would have to find another way to raise the money in order to get their project off the ground.

There are a few ways to gain more capital such as securing a loan. Borrowing a specific amount of money can allow a project to go ahead; however, this comes with a level of risk that must be considered beforehand. Taking out a loan can be seen as risky to some due to the requirement to maintain consistent payments and the possibility of a high rate of interest. This means the accrual of debt to pay back the loan itself, but also, as loans typically come with an interest rate, it means owing even more money than has been lent. Failing to stick to a consistent payment plan can also affect credit scores and make future investment almost impossible. 

Another option is to ask family, friends or even a private investor for the additional capital. This is not available to everyone and can sometimes even lead to strained or awkward conversations with loved ones. 

Crowdfunding is another alternative route which is seen as a little less traditional but has risen in popularity since the 2000s. Crowdfunding is the concept of obtaining funding from a large group of people providing crowd validation, investor confidence, potentially faster funding, and a chance to build relationships and a community.

To crowdfund for a business, project or product means being able to request the required funding from a number of people who share a common vision or ideal. Typically, this means that a group of people will band together and make individual contributions of all different sizes to provide the capital necessary.  

As an individual’s investment can range from small to large, this also makes investments available to people who previously had no opportunity to explore the potential wealth an investment into a project or business might bring.

The Four Different Types of Crowdfunding

With the knowledge of what crowdfunding is, it’s vital to understand what the four different types are. 

Firstly, there is the Debt or Loan crowdfunding, which can also incorporate Peer-To-Peer (P2P) Lending. A pool of investors will lend capital towards a project or company and then in return, will receive a debt instrument that they will pay a fixed amount of returns and interest on, until the loan is fully repaid.  It should be noted that there is risk involved in deploying capital into debt or loan instruments and investors should always ensure they have read the risk warnings and taken independent advice.

The second type is Donation based crowdfunding, with websites such as GoFundMe and JustGiving sit. This type of crowdfunding allows individuals to donate a small amount of money to one, larger funding aim. Typically, this is used for a charitable purpose and the donors will not receive anything in return, just the feel-good factor of helping a worthy cause or the knowledge that they helped projects they are passionate about get off the ground. 

Thirdly, is Reward based crowdfunding.  This is where people will donate their capital to an ongoing project and in return, get the use of a service or prototype version of goods.  Typical examples of this type of crowdfunding are Kickstarter and Indiegogo.

Finally, is Equity crowdfunding, where individuals get the opportunity to invest in a business or project in return for equity. This means they have invested in a potentially viable asset and are actively involved in the investment process as passive shareholders. To be a passive shareholder means that the individual’s equity investment is used to fund a project (usually property), but they have no active part in the project, as the fundraiser takes care of the day-to-day business related to the project.  The crowd investors should receive regular updates on the project and in return for their deployment of capital, they may receive a potential Return on Investment (ROI) and in some cases a potential percentage share of any additional profits.  However, it should always be noted with this type of investment, that capital is at risk and returns are not guaranteed and you may lose some or all of your investment.