Monthly Archives: August 2024

AI

Leading digital tax solutions partner hosting ‘power of AI’ seminar alongside industry figureheads

APARI Pro, a digital self-assessment solutions partner, is set to host a speaker event alongside the AI industry’s most notable names.
The modern business landscape is a constant source of evolution, with the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) beginning to implement its way into organisations worldwide.
And APARI is at the forefront of bringing this revolution into the digital tax industry, offering services across accountancy, platforms and individual self-assessments.
The company is passionate about discussing these industry changes with other members, and is set to host a seminar around ‘The Power of AI for Personal Tax’ at London’s Home Grown Club on Tuesday 24 September.
Speakers include former Dragons’ Den investor Piers Linney, strategic growth expert and 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson MBE, Evelyn Partners’ Head of Technology & Transformation Services Laurence Kiddle, and APARI Founder & CEO Sudesh Sud.
The event will explore how accountancy firms can utilise AI-driven self-assessment solutions and leverage artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency, improve compliance and boost ROI in tax.
Matt Dawson MBE is set to open the event, and added: “I am very proud to be invited to launch this exclusive event. AI is going to have a huge impact on the way we work going forward.
“At the event you will learn how to unlock the power of AI to boost efficiency and maximise ROI in tax digitisation, so I implore everyone: don’t miss out!”
Piers Linney also added: “Exploring the importance of AI integration in business has been at the forefront of my focus for a number of years. The effect its implementation can have on accountancy, wealth management and e-commerce services in particular is huge.
“I recommend everyone to reserve a spot at this event, and not miss out on this innovative opportunity.”
Sudesh Sud commented: “I’m really looking forward to showcasing how AI is set to transform the way we work.
“I’ll be sharing insights on how our AI solutions can drive efficiency, cut costs, and boost revenue, all of which are incredibly important in modern business. I can’t wait to see everyone on September 24.”
The event runs from 10am until 2pm, with lunch and networking opportunities for the final hour and a half. For more information, or to register your interest for the exclusive event, visit: https://www.apari-digital.com/ai-seminar
Technology

VertiGIS Announces New Global Cloud Infrastructure Platforms for Customers

Following the launch of VertiGIS Networks, VertiGIS Studio and VertiGIS FM, the company is excited to continue to scale with its cloud platforms hosting all its applications.

VertiGIS, the leader in spatial asset management solutions, today announced its new cloud infrastructure to unite all VertiGIS solutions into global cloud platforms.

Having grown through multiple acquisitions over recent years, VertiGIS has a variety of different product applications, and it has now unified these solutions under cloud infrastructure platforms.

The primary platform will be Microsoft Azure’s public cloud, which offers high degrees of flexibility, scalability, security, compliance, and privacy – all of which were decisive in VertiGIS choosing Azure over comparable cloud providers. Additionally, Azure has data centers around the world, ensuring low-latency access to services. This global footprint was beneficial to VertiGIS which operates in 23 countries and has a global customer base.

Christoph Ihnenfeld, VP Global IT VertiGIS said: “Many of our customers are still on-premises but they are struggling to manage their infrastructure in today’s modern digital environment. This is where cloud really comes into its own, enabling organizations to move their existing applications into a cloud infrastructure. We are also providing customers with the option of a private cloud managed service capacity depending on their needs, but we believe many will take advantage of the multi-tenant SaaS infrastructure that we have set up. The advantage of Azure is that it seamlessly integrates with on-premises data centers to Azure or vice versa, which means we can provide our customers with choice, depending on where they are in their cloud journey.”

This means that VertiGIS customers can reduce their hosting costs while optimizing their technology in a more secure, scalable, and modern environment. VertiGIS understands that customers struggle to host a cloud environment internally; often they don’t have the resources or expertise. VertiGIS’ new cloud platform will help to alleviate these challenges.

Additionally, many organizations are not equipped to adequately deal with the increasing threat of cybersecurity vulnerabilities. VertiGIS has obtained SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001 certifications which asserts first-class cybersecurity posture, ultimately giving customers peace of mind that their applications and data are truly secure.

VertiGIS already has a wealth of experience in deploying and managing cloud environments and was recently recognized as having attained the ArcGIS Cloud Services Speciality designation from Esri, a market leader in GIS, with whom VertiGIS has a strong partnership. To attain this speciality, VertiGIS demonstrated proficiency across key areas of cloud including cloud deployments, systems architecture, migrations, and managed services for ArcGIS, undergoing a rigorous review and certification process.

For security and privacy reasons, some companies do not want to store their data in public cloud environments where they must share resources with other users. For customers concerned about where their data resides and is stored, VertiGIS is working with a secondary private cloud provider, Open Telekom Cloud (OTC), part of Deutsche Telekom.

Based in Germany, this provider is already supporting a couple of large VertiGIS customers, with the city of Berlin, and the cities of Hamburg and Bremen utilising this infrastructure. VertiGIS also offers an additional hybrid-cloud option which allows customers to use its SaaS infrastructure for applications while keeping their data behind their own firewall. This is a unique option that also addresses customers’ concerns about data privacy or ownership.

Based upon decades of deep industry experience and research into cutting-edge technology, VertiGIS will continue to invest in configurable, cloud-ready solutions and infrastructure that solves real-world challenges for its customers.

Thomas Buchmann, Senior Cloud Architect at VertiGIS concludes: “We want to offer our customers ultimate choice and the VertiGIS platform is flexible and configurable to address their unique requirements. We’re adept at making sure that customers stay on top of the latest trends whilst remaining responsive to the pace of technology change and ensuring their environment meets future requirements.”

About VertiGIS 

VertiGIS is a leading asset management and geographic information systems (GIS) solution provider and software developer. Their focus is on the development of software solutions and services that enable professionals in the utilities, government, telecommunications, and infrastructure market segments to connect their business processes with spatial management technology. Used by more than 5,000 customers and millions of end users around the world, VertiGIS’ product portfolio is designed to enhance the capabilities of leading GIS software, especially Esri’s ArcGIS®. For more information visit www.vertigis.com. 

Business Leaders, Creative News, Entertainment, Leadership, News, Thought Leadership

Navigating the spotlight: How to be the face of a business

Being the face of a company comes with its own set of challenges and responsibilities. Whether you’re steering a business through turbulent markets or captivating audiences on stage, your reputation can significantly impact your brand’s success. Especially, in today’s interconnected world, where every word can be scrutinised and leaves a digital footprint, the art of cultivating and safeguarding a positive reputation is now more critical than ever.

Offering valuable insights, Terence Rodia, Founder of YOU Management provides practical, firsthand advice.  From strategies on maintaining authenticity while projecting a professional image to handling critiques and negative comments, here, Terence aims to empower business leaders and performers alike with the tools needed to thrive in the spotlight.

As the founder and public face of YOU Management, how do you approach maintaining a positive reputation both for yourself and your company?

Maintaining a positive reputation for both myself and YOU Management has definitely been a journey, full of challenges and rewards. As the founder and public face of the company, I’ve always believed in presenting a genuine and holistic view of who I am. This means celebrating all facets of my identity, including being a proud gay man who loves to share joyful moments. Whether it’s intimate family gatherings, exciting travels, or lively parties, I embrace these experiences and share them on social media.

I get that my vibrant personal life might not always seem to fit the traditional mould of a rigorous work ethic, however, there are equally many times that I have worked long hours and overtime or been stressed with a mountain of work to finish. But I choose not to share these moments online as they’re not the positive fun parts of my life I want the world to see. I’m dedicated to showing that a passion for life and a commitment to work can go hand in hand. Through consistent hard work and dedication, I’ve built YOU Management into a company recognised for its achievements, driven by heart and passion to succeed for our clients.

Authenticity is the cornerstone of my brand, and I strive to ensure that both my personal and professional lives reflect this. My goal is to demonstrate that being true to oneself can coexist with professional excellence. By staying genuine and grounded in my values—integrity, positivity, and hard work—I aim to inspire my team at YOU Management, our clients, and the broader community.

It’s about showing that you don’t have to hide who you are to be successful. You can be your full, authentic self and still achieve great things. And that’s a message I hope resonates with everyone who interacts with me and YOU Management.

How has social media impacted how performers represent themselves?

Back in my performing days, social media wasn’t nearly as prevalent as it is today. This gave us performers the freedom to separate our personal and professional lives much more easily. We could hit the town after a show, let loose, and not worry about our actions being plastered online and causing issues the next day at rehearsal. It was a different world back then.

Nowadays, things have changed dramatically. Casting directors regularly check social media to assess a performer’s credibility and reliability. For example, if someone cancels an audition claiming they’re sick but then posts about a night out, it can seriously harm their reputation. This is why I emphasise to my clients the importance of integrity. Managing your public persona, especially in today’s social media-driven world, is crucial for long-term success. It’s all about understanding how your online presence can impact your career and making sure it works in your favour, not against you.

Can you share a pivotal moment where managing your reputation as a performer and business leader intersected? How did you navigate it?

A specific moment which springs to mind occurred when I was performing in A Chorus Line. At that point, I had already established YOU Management and was navigating the delicate balance of being a performer while running an agency.

I had the unique experience of signing one of my fellow cast members, a friend I had previously worked with. This situation required me to smoothly navigate the dual roles of friend and agent. Despite our personal relationship, I maintained a professional distance, ensuring that my decisions as an agent were always in her best professional interest, not influenced by our friendship.

As a founder of a global business, what strategies do you employ to ensure consistent messaging and reputation across various locations?

At YOU Management, we’re all about consistency across our global operations, and we’ve got some great strategies to make sure we achieve this. First off, we make sure every agent truly represents the core values and spirit of our company. This starts right from the hiring process, where we carefully screen candidates to find those who naturally resonate with the heart and principles of YOU Management. We believe that maintaining our values is so important that it’s a key part of our hiring process, ensuring that every team member meets our high standards.

Communication is another critical element of our strategy. We stress the importance of valuing and respecting our clients as artists, and this is a big part of our training and everyday interactions. By fostering a culture of respect and client-focused service, we ensure that our agents consistently provide top-notch experiences, which in turn, reflects positively on our brand.

—

Terence Rodia is the Founder of YOU Management

Carbon Reduction, Climate, Climate Action, News

UK leading the way on Net Zero – but are European neighbours set to overtake?

When it comes to awareness of the term Net Zero, Brits are the reigning champions in Europe, according to a major new report from Cadent – but we’re losing ground on changes of magnitude.

 

Net Zero League Table

  UK Germany Netherlands
Awareness of term 87% 61% 53%
Knowledge of changes needed 38% 42% 33%
Believe changes in home are difficult 25% 12% 20%
Replaced gas boilers 19% 24% 23%

Sample of over 3,000 people across the UK, Germany and Netherlands.

 

The UK is one of the most advanced nations in Europe in terms of understanding Net Zero but new findings show our European neighbours are more likely to have made bigger, more impactful energy efficiency / carbon reduction changes.

The research, conducted by Cadent in partnership with Verve and a team of leading academics, indicates Net Zero is more widely talked about in the UK – and a higher proportion understand it to mean ‘reaching carbon neutrality’ – whilst a greater percentage in Germany (39%) and the Netherlands (47%) say they’ve never heard of the term before.

However, the British public sees changes like recycling and reducing food waste as being key tactics to creating effective change, with the research uncovering a lower adoption of sustainable changes in the home in the UK than in Germany and the Netherlands.

Consumers have mixed attitudes to replacing gas appliances and many cannot see a vision for change . Changing a boiler, for example, could save money and reduce carbon footprint, yet one in three Brits say they will never consider this.

 

Mark Belmega, Director of Social Purpose and Sustainability at Cadent, said: “Somewhat reassuringly, our research confirms that change is possible and it is already happening, albeit gradually. But it also raises serious concerns about the pace at which we’re moving.

“If the UK is to meet its ambitious environmental targets each and every one of us is going to have to change our behaviours, but larger-scale changes will have the greatest impact and people in the UK appear less comfortable with making these.

“It’s likely to be because changes such as replacing gas central heating, involve a higher upfront cost, while solutions such as recycling are simple to do and can actually save money in the short term. Our discussions with academics, social media analysis and literature reviews also point to the absence of a clear and inclusive vision, inconsistent messaging and a lack of appropriate infrastructure, that are all essential macro-level conditions that are required to stimulate larger scale behavioural change.

“What we need is a human-centric vision from a trusted source, as well as structures, systems and technology that enable uptake of new behaviours. At Cadent, we’re committed to supporting our customers through the energy transition and it’s essential that the industry is united, with a positive and cohesive message and a consistent plan.”

 

Technology

Resilience Blueprint: Strategic Steps to Build Operational Resiliency

Written by Sean Tilley, Senior Director of Sales at 11:11 Systems

Globally cybersecurity is soaring to critical levels of concern for organisations. The Veeam 2023 Data Protection Report highlights that 85% of organisations have been hit by at least one cyber attack, illustrating the difficult journey towards recovery. The average recovery from an attack can drag on for a staggering three weeks, not only impacting operations but also carrying with it significant financial implications. Therefore, cyber resilience must adopt comprehensive strategies to ensure operational and cyber resilience. This means companies must not only take proactive cybersecurity measures to prevent disruptions but must also implement reactive measures to ensure a quick response and complete recovery in the event of a successful cyber attack. 

To improve their cyber resilience and smoothly adapt to regulatory shifts, organisations must embark on a strategic journey, weaving together crucial strategies and best practices to ensure they not only survive a threat but thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape. 

The role of risk assessments in crafting effective layered defence strategy 

To start the journey to cyber resilience, companies must implement a multi-layered security approach that includes firewalls, antivirus software, intrusion detection systems, and other defensive mechanisms. It is also important to minimise the human risk and to achieve this organisations must make sure that their staff are trained on cybersecurity best practices and the implications of non-compliance with regulations. This training should be an ongoing process that employees take part in.Organisations need to implement systems to continuously monitor operations for signs of potential disruptions as well as conduct regular reviews of resiliency plans to ensure they remain current and effective.  

It is also vital that comprehensive risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities in the systems take place regularly. This process should align with the requirements of relevant regulations and standards like GDPR, HIPAA, NIS2, and DORA. It is also valuable to evaluate how the regulations affect the business and at the same time verify if the organisation is covered.  

The dual power of technology investments and regular updates 

Investing in cutting-edge solutions for data protection, disaster recovery, and real-time oversight to stay ahead in compliance can go a long way in improving a company’s defences against possible attack. It is equally valuable to review and update policies and procedures to mirror the current compliance landscape, covering everything from data protection to crisis management and ongoing operations assurance. This not only provides the organisation with peace of mind that it is adhering to the regulatory requirements but it also provides best practice advice on how to keep data safe and secure in the event of a breach. 

In addition to this, companies must ensure their technology arsenal is fortified with the latest security patches as this routine maintenance can prove detrimental to defending against recognised threats. 

Bridging education and access control with the power of continuous monitoring and testing 

The weakest link in an organisation’s cybersecurity chain is human error. While mistakes happen, companies can minimise the possibility of employees falling for phishing attacks or similar by driving an education culture where employees are made aware of cybersecurity awareness risks and trained to avoid becoming victims.  

However, while education is important is not enough to completely minimise risks.  Stringent access controls form the backbone of a comprehensive security strategy, ensuring that the principle of least privilege is rigorously applied meaning that each member of the team possesses only the keys strictly required to unlock their duties, significantly reducing the surface area for potential security breaches. This approach, known as Zero Trust, provides security teams with the tools needed to constantly monitor the IT environment and ensure they are equipped to detect and respond to possible threats immediately. At the same time, it is equally important to ensure ongoing mapping and testing are carried out to stay on top of any new sophisticated threats and vulnerabilities.

Integrating Incident Response Plans with data back-up and recovery protocols 

The main target of ransomware attacks is the data. To protect it, organisations must start with reliable backups, where they can significantly reduce the danger of data loss. To do this it is vital to frequently backup critical data using cutting-edge data security methods and regularly test the recovery procedures. Incorporating cyber incident response drills into recovery tests and emphasising the ability to restore operations in a clean room environment are also important steps for resilience in the event of a cyberattack or data loss.  

By incorporating these key strategies and best practices, organisations can navigate the shifting regulatory terrain with solid cybersecurity infrastructure that will help them not only withstand threats but integrate resilience into their core operations and culture.  

Fundamental to the resilience strategy is a thorough, routinely updated Incident Response Plan. This roadmap should clearly outline the actions for handling security breaches, aligning seamlessly with regulations and being prepared to adjust strategies based on lessons learned from past disruptions and emerging threats.

Board-level strategies and expert engagement enhance third-party risk management 

As part of most new regulations, boards of directors are going to be legally responsible for organisations not being compliant. As such it is necessary for the resilience plan to include senior stakeholders in cyber risk management. Further, evaluate the security posture of the supply chain, focusing on the partners and third-party vendors and ensure that they meet security benchmarks, especially when managing sensitive data. Collaborating with different cyber resiliency experts and managed security service providers is also beneficial as they provide specialised skills and resources to keep abreast of regulatory updates and new compliance requirements. 

In today’s digital age, the landscape of cyber threats and regulatory requirements is ever-changing, therefore maintaining compliance and resilience is more challenging than ever before. When it comes to cybersecurity and cyber recovery, businesses must evaluate their strategies from multiple angles. This includes business risk, technological vulnerabilities, reputation management, and regulatory compliance perspectives. Given the absence of a one-size-fits-all approach, the role of a specialised partner becomes pivotal. Organisations must choose the right partner for their business needs offering services that cater to the unique needs of cybersecurity, data protection, recovery and compliance.    

Logistics, UAE

The UAE: Why it’s The World’s Leading Logistics Hub

Written by Vitaliy Chiryassov, CEO of UPPERCASE

 

Today, the UAE is one of the largest trade and logistics hubs in the world. 

Roughly 60% of the cargo shipped to the GCC region arrives through the UAE’s 12 commercial ports, passing through one of its 310 berths, which together are capable of handling 80 million tons.

Logistics is a big industry in the UAE. This sector accounts for up to 10% of the country’s GDP, and experts predict that the market will exceed 31 billion U.S. dollars by 2026.

But what is driving the UAE’s logistics growth and making it a vital hub for DHL, Aramex, UPS and hundreds of other companies? Let’s find out.

 

Why the UAE is a logistics powerhouse

The UAE didn’t just become one of the biggest logistics players in the world by accident. Several factors have contributed to its success. These include (in no particular order)

  1. Strategic geography.
  2. Transport infrastructure.
  3. Government support.
  4. Innovative infrastructure.

Let’s explore each one in detail:

 

1. Strategic geography.

Dubai sits on the southeast coast of the Arabian Gulf, bridging the East and the West.

Multiple major shipping routes pass through the UAE: the main east-west shipping lane, connects the Far East to Europe via the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Hormuz links the Middle East to Africa. This forms a convenient pathway to major consumer markets: the EU, China, and Africa,, with a population of over 1.3 billion people.

The UEA’s central location is equally convenient for air routes. Two-thirds of the world’s population is within an 8-hour flight radius, with major cities like London, Paris, Singapore, and Hong Kong just 7 hours away. Mumbai, with its huge consumer market, is a mere 3-hour flight from Dubai.

Even the time zone works in Dubai’s favor.

Situated in the (UTC+4) zone, it falls conveniently between the major business hours of Asia and Europe. This means an office in Dubai can coordinate operations with both markets during their respective working hours — a big advantage when you work with international partners.

 

2. Logistical Infrastructure

Firstly, the UAE has a robust maritime infrastructure. The country operates 16 commercial ports, the largest of which is the Jebel Ali Port — this port is the biggest in the Middle East, the ninth busiest in the world, and boasts the largest man-made harbor with 67 berths. It serves more than 150 shipping lines and handles 19 million containers per year.

Secondly, the UAE has invested heavily in its air cargo capabilities. For example, Dubai World Central (DWC), also known as Al Maktoum International Airport, handles up to 16 million tons of cargo annually — it’s the largest airport in the world by cargo capacity. 

Finally, if you need to move goods quickly within the GCC region, the UAE has modern highways and railways. A prominent example is the Etihad Rail project. This 1,200-kilometer rail network, currently under development, will connect the UAE’s ports and industrial zones with Saudi Arabia and Oman.

3. Government Support

The UAE government supports logistics companies through various initiatives. Perhaps the most well-known is the World Logistics Passport program.

The World Logistics Passport works similarly to a loyalty program — it’s free to join, open to all, and members receive a range of benefits, such as fast-track processing and reduced fees at partner ports.

What makes this program unique is that membership is divided into tiers: white, silver, gold, and platinum. The higher the tier, the more benefits the participant receives. To move up a tier, a company needs to grow at a pace above the market average.

The program counts 23 member countries, including India, Brazil, and South Africa, and over 130 registered logistics partners.

It is said that members of the World Logistics Passport experience an annual increase in trade of 5-10%, thanks to the benefits it provides.

 

4. Innovations in logistics

We’ve mentioned that the UAE has some of the world’s most developed logistical infrastructure. But it doesn’t rely solely on sheer scale — the UAE government also supports innovation to drive the growth of the logistics industry.

For example, the massive throughput of UAE’s ports and airports wouldn’t matter if shipments were stuck in customs, waiting for clearance. Processing hundreds of millions of tons of cargo puts a significant strain on the system. The UAE is solving this challenge with AI — DP World’s CARGOES platform uses artificial intelligence to streamline customs procedures and ensure shipments are processed swiftly.

Another standout project belongs to DP World — it’s called Cargospeed. This megaproject, currently under joint development with Virgin Hyperloop One, is a high-speed cargo delivery system that will use hyperloop technology to transport cargo at speeds of up to 1,000 km/h, faster than air travel and at the cost of road transportation.

 

5. Business-friendly ecosystem

The UAE leads the Arab world in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Rating and ranks 6th globally in reputation according to the Global Financial Centres Index.

This success comes from the simplicity of starting a business and its favorable business environment, particularly in free zones. These areas offer foreign businesses a range of advantages: no import or export duties, a streamlined tax regime with 5% VAT rate, and affordable registration and license renewal. Logistics companies operate in the KEZAD, JAFZA, DAFZA, Dubai South, SAIFZ, HFZ, and AFZ zones.

Free zones in the UAE are themed, meaning they gather entrepreneurs from the same or similar industries. This is done deliberately to create a close-knit community of businesspeople who help each other grow.

For example, the offices of DHL, Aramex, and Panalpina are located in the Dubai South free zone. If you open an office there, you’ll be having morning coffee in the same cafe as representatives of these logistics giants — an excellent opportunity to make useful acquaintances and perhaps even partnerships.

 

What’s next for UAE logistics?

Experts predict that because of the compound effect of the reasons above, the UAE’s logistics market will grow at a CAGR of 7% (the forecast looked as far as 2030). As the UAE continues to embrace innovation, there are a few trends that stand out.

Experts predict that because of the compound effect of the reasons above, the UAE’s logistics market will grow at a CAGR of 7% (the forecast looked as far ahead as 2030). As the UAE continues to embrace innovation, here are 2 trends that will shape the UAE logistics sector in the near future:

Firstly, the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI) plans to increase the number of electric and autonomous trucks on the UAE’s roads. In the near future, 2,000 electric trucks and 200 autonomous trucks will be roaming the UAE’s roads.

Secondly, the second stage of the Etihad Rail, opened on February 28, 2023, connects Ghuweifat on the border with Saudi Arabia to Fujairah on the east coast. The Etihad Rail will provide AED 186 billion in economic benefits over 40 years, and its full-scale exploitation is only just beginning — locomotives will reduce the number of trucks, cutting transportation costs and CO2 emissions.

 

Changes are coming to the UAE’s logistics, but what will remain unchanged is the country’s commitment to development. Whether it’s hyperloops or rail networks that cut road traffic and connect major economies, whatever the UAE’s logistics has in store, one thing is for sure — it will be exciting!

 

Thought Leadership

5 Essential Skills Every Business Leader Should Possess

Bradley Honnor, MD of MatchFit outlines traits of impactful leaders and common leadership pitfalls

Bradley Honnor, MD of MatchFit, (a specialist Learning & Development consultancy, focused on delivering sustainable high performance, and employee health & wellbeing through leadership, communication & culture development) is an experienced psychotherapist and close observer of human behaviour, who has over the years learnt to understand the subtle actions that point to an individual’s likely leadership capabilities.

Sign 1: A lack of engagement and interest

Poor leaders often struggle to engage positively with their teams, creating negative experiences during interactions. Their fixed mindset dismisses new ideas with an “it’s always been done this way” attitude, causing team frustration. They frequently appear disinterested and too busy, which are common negative traits.

In contrast, good leaders show genuine interest, actively participate in discussions, and remain open to learning and communicating beneficial insights for the entire team.

Sign 2: Inconsistent or unclear communication

Poor leaders often struggle to communicate effectively, relying on impersonal means such as emails to fire out instructions and tasks. Meaningful connections with team members through personal interactions aren’t established, leading to misunderstandings, poor team engagement and an undermining of a team’s cohesion and effectiveness. While not all effective leaders are inspirational communicators, avoiding common communication mistakes is important for maximising team performance.

Sign 3: Inability to balance leadership priorities

Effective leadership requires balancing team needs, individual development, and task completion—a balance often lacking in poor leaders. John Adair, a leading authority on leadership, highlights this with his model. He argues that focusing solely on individuals undermines team cohesion, whereas emphasising team performance can neglect individual needs. Overemphasis on tasks harms both team and individual performance.

Promoting skilled salespeople or technical experts to leadership roles often results in task-focused leaders who overlook the pressures on their team. Unlike these, effective leaders nurture individuals, develop cohesive teams, and achieve goals while being accountable. Football managers exemplify this balance: they inspire the team, support individual players, and strategise for wins.

Sign 4: Lack of endorsement from colleagues

At MatchFit, we regularly work with individuals and teams to develop their leadership capabilities.  During this process, conversations inevitably occur about their leaders and whether they are having a positive or negative impact on those in the room.

Poor leaders typically lack the respect and confidence of their colleagues, a reflection of their ineffective leadership style. In contrast, effective leaders earn respect through their actions, integrity, and ability to inspire and motivate others.

Sign 5: Inability to deliver results

Ultimately, leadership is measured by results. Poor leaders often preside over declining morale, sub-par team performances, and diminishing financial outcomes. Their inability to create a high-performing culture and achieve tangible outcomes undermines the organisation’s success. Conversely, effective leaders demonstrate a track record of success, inspiring confidence and driving performance through strategic vision, collaboration and accountability.

Assessing leadership, of course, is always complex and rarely clear cut. A leader might excel at team and individual engagement, yet lack vision, clarity, and the ability to lead the team to make a useful contribution to the business. The lesson, then, is one of self-awareness – and the willingness of a leader to continually evolve and develop.

 

News, Tech, Technology

Contact Centre Solution TCN Wins New Client Apa Prod and Helps Set Up Its Customer Care Centre

TCN, a global provider of a comprehensive cloud-based call centre platform for enterprises, contact centres, BPOs, and collection agencies, has announced it has signed a new client – water utility provider Apa Prod.

TCN, has also successfully assisted Apa Prod, a well-known Romanian regional water and sewage provider, in establishing its contact centre. TCN has EU offices in Bucharest, Romania and Shrewsbury, West Midlands, UK.

Apa Prod serves over 70,000 B2B and B2C clients, being the water supplier for Hunedoara County in western Romania. Recent EU regulations have mandated that utility companies in Romania operate as independent entities. As a result, TCN not only facilitated the creation of Apa Prod’s customer support department but was also selected as the software provider to enhance the efficiency of their customer service.

Victor Marcu, TCN EU Business Manager, emphasised the significant help TCN provided to Apa Prod in establishing its customer support department from scratch. 

“Based on our extensive experience in this industry, we managed to help Apa Prod truly understand the customer’s perspective in interacting with the omni-channel contact centre, and from there, how to implement the necessary functionalities and professionally train its agents. It is already using TCN software for approximately 100,000 customer interactions per month. This is just the beginning.

“It was quite complex, as Apa Prod is a client that needed a lot of functionality, which they found with the TCN Operator platform. It can make calls, communicate via chat, SMS, and email, while also analysing calls and benefiting from relevant reports for all these interactions,” said Victor Marcu.

He added that Apa Prod uses a combination of traditional call centre agents and self-service tools for tasks such as metre readings and bill balance information. TCN also provided consultancy to streamline services and support improved communication with customers.

Dorin Gligor, General Manager of Apa Prod, said:

“I believe that, in the medium term, implementing such a solution was the only way to improve the communication experience with our customers. At the same time, automating some interactions will increase the efficiency of Apa Prod’s contact centre.”

“We wanted to automate our interactions and improve the customer experience, and we chose TCN because it was the best company that could offer us a product to meet our needs.”

He praised the advanced technical solutions provided by TCN and the exceptional customer support, ensuring that staff can maximize the benefits of the technology.

Kerry Sherman, Vice President of TCN, commented: “I am delighted that our EU team has managed to assist Apa Prod, providing not only the technical solutions needed to run a busy and demanding contact centre but also consultancy on how to properly interact with their customers.

“In the UK, many of our clients are in the collections and accounts receivables sector. This contract shows how TCN’s cloud-based software solution is versatile and can assist many different sectors. We look forward to a long-term relationship with Apa Prod and to helping them grow in the area of customer interaction.”

TCN has over two decades of experience in building cloud-based contact centre systems, with thousands of clients worldwide across most continents, handling billions of interactions annually. In addition to the UK and Europe, TCN has global data centres and offices, including in the USA, Canada, India, and Australia.

For more information about TCN, visit www.tcn.com

Coaching, Coaching and Mentoring, News

Emotional coach Vanessa Moore reveals new corporate offering

VanessaLoves.Life, a pioneering emotional coaching company spearheaded by the esteemed ‘naked coach’ Vanessa Louise Moore, is delighted to announce the launch of its innovative corporate proposition designed to transform workplace dynamics and foster a thriving emotional environment.

Vanessa, renowned for her transformative approach to emotional well-being, focuses on identifying and removing emotional blockages that hinder personal and collective progress. Her philosophy of ‘naked coaching’ strips back the layers that mask our true selves, enabling individuals to live in the present and achieve a state of peace and authenticity.

The new corporate programme promises to equip teams with essential tools to enhance their emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and interpersonal relationships. Tailored specifically to the needs of each organisation, Vanessa’s bespoke workshops will address vital workplace issues including ego management, stress reduction, breaking down silos, cementing connections, dealing with toxic behaviours, enhancing pride, boosting company loyalty, and effective conflict resolution.

Vanessa offers a full-day workshop for teams of up to 15 attendees at a cost of £3,000. For those seeking a shorter session, a half-day workshop is available for £1,800. These sessions not only provide invaluable insights and strategies but are also complemented by a unique follow-up support system.

All attendees will benefit from ‘Bliss Whispers’, a complimentary service providing daily voice notes of positivity and motivation from Vanessa herself, free for one month following the session. This ongoing support ensures that the seeds of emotional well-being and productivity planted during the workshops are nurtured to fruition.

“Today’s workplace demands more than just technical skills. Emotional intelligence and team cohesion are critical for achieving sustained success,” says Vanessa. “Our new corporate offerings are designed to address these needs directly, providing teams with the strategies to overcome hurdles and excel together.”

Each workshop will be uniquely crafted in partnership with in-house teams, following a detailed consultation, to ensure that the specific challenges and dynamics of each team are comprehensively addressed. With Vanessa’s expert guidance, companies will see a significant transformation in how their teams operate, leading to improved morale, increased productivity, and a stronger corporate culture.

News, Training

Industry Specialists Helping to Bridge the Skills Gap

INDUSTRY specialists are helping plumbing and heating engineers to become more ‘Eco-savvy’ with set training courses.

Staffordshire Training Services were awarded a Government grant – which is aimed at filling a sizeable skills gap in the industry and is centred on heat pump installation, as well as meeting policy targets to decarbonise housing.

In the last 12 months the Stafford-based company has already provided air source and ground source heat pump training to just under 100 engineers via the Heat Training Grant, and expects to more than double that by 2025.

Director Gareth Hassall said: “There is a huge skills gap within the industry and has been for quite some time and something needed to be done to help engineers out there to meet the demand.

“The heat training grants which the Government announced in 2023, are for training providers in England – and we were successful – which is allowing us to support more eligible engineers.”

Gareth and his team – who have decades of experience behind them in the plumbing, heating and educational sector are able to provide Air Source, Ground Source, or combined Level 3 accredited qualification courses at their training centre located at the Tollgate Industrial Estate, or on site throughout Staffordshire and further afield.

“Heat pumps can be used to heat homes and produce hot water and are all part of the Government’s wider plans to becoming net zero in the future,” adds Gareth.

“They are vital to the industry in going forward and are a critical factor in decarbonating heat, therefore providing this education and qualification is really important to increase qualified installer numbers in the UK – which is why we have also agreed to provide the training for the same fee as the £500 heat grant training vouchers we have received – meaning engineers who meet the criteria are actually getting this for free from us.”

Director Matt Ramsell added: “Unfortunately there has been a skills gap and the Government are aiming to support this with these grants.

“I cannot stress how much it’s worth understanding just what changes are going to be coming to the industry – such as legally binding climate targets – and how ‘air to water’ and ‘ground to water’ heat pump installation numbers will be increasing year on year.

“Thousands of heating engineers will need to learn everything there is to know about the heat pump technology for the future.”

For engineers seeking more information about eligibility, and access to the training and support provided by Staffordshire Training, please visit their information page – https://www.staffstraining.co.uk/renewables/free-heat-pump-funded-training/ – or telephone 01785 562146.