Category Archives: EU

EU, European News, News

Ursula von der Leyen re-elected as President of the European Commission

Written by Martin Banks

In what some have called a “pivotal moment” for the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as the President of the European Commission.

With 401 votes in favor, von der Leyen (VDL) will serve once more as the head of the EU’s executive.

She was re-elected by MEPs in Strasbourg a secret ballot on 18 July.

Image credit: CC-BY-4.0: © European Union 2019 – Source: EP”. (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

A majority of MEPs at the parliamentary plenary in France voted for her in the four mainstream groups: the EPP, S&D, Renew and Greens.

This will be von der Leyen’s second term as Commission President. She was first elected by MEPs in July 2019.Parliament is currently composed of 719 MEPs, so the necessary majority was 360 votes.

However, some 284 voted against her getting re-elected, and 22 cast blank or invalid votes.

Just ahead of the vote, von der Leyen presented her political priorities for the next five years during a debate with deputies. The next step will be to confirm the 26 Commissioners and their portfolios.

All must appear at confirmation hearings with MEPs in the coming weeks.

The Greens said the vote “confirms a four-group democratic majority in the House and prevents the far-right from driving the agenda of the EU over the next five years.”

A large number of MEPs from the Right were elected to the EU Parliament in the recent EU elections.

The Greens, in a statement, said, “The four group majority is holding firm and is vital for defending our democracy against the far-right. We want to build on this majority to deliver for citizens.”

It said, “We welcome the commitments she has taken to build on the success of the Green Deal, to develop a climate-neutral industrial policy and boost just transition funding.”

It warned, “We will carefully scruitinise whether the new Commission as a whole will live up to our demands.”

Further reaction to the vote came from the EPP leader Manfred Weber, a German MEP, who said he considers von der Leyen’s election “to be a victory for democracy and a united Europe.”

He added,”Europeans want a democratic Europe, not a radical one. With the election of Ursula von der Leyen, we are strengthening a democratic Europe.The vote was also a vote for clear priorities: prosperity, security, and stopping migration. The next Commission will embody the EPP spirit.”

The S&D Group, the 2nd biggest after the EPP in the parliament, also voted to back the former German defence minister for another term in office.

Its leader Iratxe Garcia Perez said, “We have made the Commission’s Political Guidelines the most social and the greenest ever. With our demands, we shaped the chapter on the social dimension and we achieved a clear commitment not to cooperate with the far right, on the fight against climate change, and on a just transition.

“For the first time, the EU will have a European strategy against poverty and we will finally address the problem of housing, with a Commissioner for housing. And this will happen because we asked for it.”

However, there was severe criticism of von der Leyen from some quarters including the ECR group who voted against.

In a speech on Thursday, ECR Co-Chairman Joachim Brudziński (Law and Justice party) told von der Leyen,she had been “a very poor president, perhaps the worst.”

He added, “As ECR, we unenthusiastically supported your candidacy five years ago. We made this decision, choosing the lesser evil.”

He went on, “Your management style was terrible. Decision-making in a narrow group of German advisors, arrogance, hypocrisy, lack of cooperation with commissioners, exuberant ambitions and passionate concerns about your own image.This was your work style.”

Some in the world of NGOs were also highly critical, with Vicky Cann, Corporate Europe Observatory researcher and campaigner, saying von der Leyen’s “priorities have drastically changed compared to her first mandate.”

“Five years ago, she promised a transformative Green Deal but is now openly embracing corporate lobbyists and their deregulation agenda.”

Cann added, “At the beginning of her first mandate, von der Leyen lauded the Green Deal as a tool to reconcile the economy with our planet, a strategy that “gives more back than it takes away.” Despite her warm words, her first term as EU Commission president saw strong political, financial, and regulatory support for corporate power.

“By reappointing von der Leyen, the European Parliament has given corporate power a green light to keep on pushing its damaging pro-business and anti-regulation agenda.

“This is an agenda that is already well heard in VDL’s Commission and which does not bode well for ambitious action to tackle the cost of living crisis, nor the use of fossil fuels, harmful chemicals, and pesticides,” she claimed.

However, the EU wide body representing the electricity sector, Eurelectric, said it “welcomed” her renewed mandate.

Eurelectric’s Secretary General, Kristian Ruby noted, “Von der Leyen set out a pragmatic, yet ambitious agenda for the next five years to address the new challenge landscape the EU is facing with geopolitical tensions, sharpened industrial competition, on top of the impacts from increasingly extreme weather.”

“In particular, Eurelectric welcomes VDL’s announcement of a new Clean Industrial Deal to keep industry competitive while decarbonising. We support the call for implementing the Green Deal and positively note the reference to scaling-up investments in low-carbon green infrastructure as well as the creation of a Savings and Investment Union to back this vision with the necessary financial means.”

More comment on Friday came from Chiara Martinelli, Director at Climate Action Network Europe,who said, “Von der Leyen’s commitment only to 90 percent emission cuts is a step in the right direction but a missed opportunity to align EU’s ambition with science and equity by achieving climate neutrality by 2040 at the latest. She could at least have supported the EU’s scientific advisory board’s and the upper end of her own Commission’s Impact Assessment’s 95 percent reductions.”

Petri Salminen, the president of SMEunited, the EU wide body representing SMEs, said, “Small businesses emphasised the need to finally make policy on the basis of the 99,8% companies in Europe, instead of for the 0,2% and called for focus on implementation in this new mandate. We welcome that von der Leyen in her Political Guidelines states that future legislation must be designed with small businesses in mind. However, we have seen SME washing before, and therefore call to act according to this statement now.

“The 24.3 million entrepreneurs, craftswomen and -men and small business in Europe appreciate the recognition given by von der Leyen, when she refers to ‘we all know there is no Europe’ without SMEs.”

 

About the author

Martin Banks is an international freelance journalist with 44 years experience covering national and international stories.

EU, Europe, Global Trade

The Benefits of Doing Business in Switzerland

There are few places in the world where businesses can thrive as they can in Switzerland. An economic powerhouse, Switzerland’s well-regulated market, political stability, and innovative spirit make it an ideal choice for business expansion.

Switzerland’s robust financial sector, its tradition of precision and quality in manufacturing, attractive tax system, and a highly skilled, multilingual workforce are also factors that make it an increasingly attractive proposition for foreign entrepreneurs and established enterprises alike.

While starting a business anywhere comes with its challenges, the benefits of setting up shop in Switzerland are too significant to ignore. Below, we’ll break down the many advantages of doing business in this booming market.

Note: If you’re planning to travel to the country from the UK to conduct business from 2024 onwards, you’ll first need to apply for an ETIAS Switzerland.

Stable Economy & Strong Currency

Switzerland is known for its incredibly stable economy. In a world where economic instability can be a significant risk factor for businesses, this is a substantial advantage. The Swiss Franc, one of the strongest and most stable currencies worldwide, can provide security and confidence for businesses trading internationally.

Innovation and Technology

Switzerland is not just a land of financial services, cheese, timepieces, and chocolate – it’s also a hub of innovation and technology. Known for its high-quality education and research institutions, Switzerland consistently ranks among the top in global innovation indexes. This robust innovation landscape is particularly ripe for businesses in the tech sector to explore.

Excellent Infrastructure

Switzerland’s advanced transport, telecommunications, and energy networks provide a robust foundation for businesses. Additionally, its central location in Europe grants easy access to other key markets in the region.

Attractive Tax Regime

Switzerland has one of the most favourable tax environments in the world. Its federal structure allows cantons (Swiss states) to set their corporate tax rates, leading to healthy competition and attractive rates for businesses. In addition, several tax treaties help avoid double taxation, making it an ideal place for international business operations.

Business-friendly Regulations

Switzerland’s business laws are not just robust, they’re also very business-friendly. The country’s legal framework supports entrepreneurs by making it easy to set up and run a business. There’s minimal red tape, which means you can focus on growing your business rather than navigating bureaucratic hurdles.

Political Stability

Switzerland’s democratic system, underpinned by a decentralised, federal structure, provides certainty and predictability. Businesses in Switzerland can operate knowing that sudden political upheavals are unlikely to disrupt their operations, providing a conducive environment for long-term strategic planning and investment.

Access to Highly Skilled Workforce

Switzerland’s education system is world-class, resulting in a highly skilled and multilingual workforce. The country’s strong emphasis on vocational training and continuous professional development makes the labour market very dynamic. As a result, businesses operating in Switzerland have access to a talent pool that’s hard to match.

Intellectual Property Protection

Switzerland’s stringent intellectual property laws provide strong protections for businesses, particularly those in innovation-driven sectors such as pharmaceuticals, technology, and precision engineering. These robust laws ensure that businesses can develop and commercialise their innovations without fear of infringement.

High Quality of Life

Switzerland is consistently ranked among the countries with the highest quality of life worldwide. The Swiss work-life balance, healthcare system, education, public safety, and the natural beauty of the country are all major draws. This ultimately helps businesses attract and retain top talent from around the globe.

Downsides of Doing Business in Switzerland

It’s also important to be aware of some potential drawbacks of doing business in Switzerland. One of these is the high cost of living and operation. Everything from office rentals to salary is significantly higher than in many other countries.

Another challenge is the complex regulatory landscape. Although generally business-friendly, some sectors are highly regulated and may require navigating through a complex system of rules and regulations.

Furthermore, while Switzerland is renowned for its multilingual workforce, businesses may face language barriers in certain regions. The country has four national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Depending on the region, the dominant language changes, which could pose communication challenges.

Finally, while Switzerland is not an EU member, it maintains numerous agreements with the EU. This can sometimes result in legislative changes that businesses need to adapt to quickly.

While there are undoubtedly challenges, the benefits can far outweigh these for many businesses. As with any country, the key is to do thorough research and planning, understand the market and the regulatory environment, and make informed decisions. The potential rewards of operating in a stable, innovative, and business-friendly environment like Switzerland can be significant.

 

Brexit, EU, Europe, News

How Has Brexit Impacted UK Businesses?

Brexit, or the UK’s formal withdrawal from the European Union, has been a divisive issue ever since it was put to a national vote in 2016. After Vote Leave’s narrow victory, the withdrawal process began proper – met with widespread protest centred on the potential economic and cultural damage the agreement would cause.

The withdrawal agreement came into effect formally on the 1st February 2020, with negotiations having drawn out across nine months of extensions and delays – after which, the true economic cost of the poorly-designed withdrawal package has slowly but surely been revealed. As the UK teeters on the precipice of recession, with the pound at its lowest value in decades, how did we get here – and how have businesses in particular been impacted?

Withdrawal, and Barriers to Trade

In withdrawing from the EU, the UK lost a key seat at the negotiating table regarding the design and implementation of EU law. But the agreement did not stop with leaving the EU; the agreement did not see the UK apply to remain in the single market, a trading zone incorporating the EU and four non-EU nations that enables the free movement of goods, services and people.

This decision was a political one, as right-wing parties and organisations fought for Brexit on the principle of reducing immigration as much as seeking independent prosperity. A concession to remain in the single market meant keeping doors open to migrants – even if migrant workers formed an essential part of the UK’s economy, particularly in agriculture and medicine.

The addition of red tape to trade, as a result of trading from outside the single market, has drastically increased costs relating to both import and export. In so doing, it has disincentivised international businesses to attempt trade. This has crippled the UK’s economy, and had a real impact on the emergence of the inflation crisis that threatens profit margins and household budgets alike.

Trading With Europe Today

But while Brexit has introduced manifold barriers to trade with Europe, international trade agreements are still possible for businesses with the right infrastructure and approach. The key difficulty arises from dealing with the import and export laws of individual nations, as opposed to enjoying the regulatory freedoms of a united trading bloc.

This essential difficulty means that businesses require in-depth legislative knowledge to properly remain compliant during trade; in order to facilitate a positive and regulatorily sound business relationship with international clients, partners or suppliers, a business might utilise the expertise of a global legal firm to navigate relevant legal requirements.

This is, unavoidably, another cost to add to the balance –further rendering international trade as a less profitable venture than before the withdrawal agreement. However, it also illustrates that there are solutions that enable continued trade with the European continent.

Government Action

With the dire situation laid bare, more pressure is mounting on the government to act. Businesses are floundering as a result of untenable costs from navigating arcane shipping legislation, while exports to Europe are decreasing to the extent that businesses are closing. In-roads are being made with Northern Ireland, which has been a key sticking point for relations with the EU – and after which re-negotiations may be possible.

Brexit, Business, EU, Export, News

BCC research finds little love for EU Trade Deal

71% of UK exporters say EU trade deal is not enabling them to grow or increase sales and only 1 in 8 think it is helping them grow or increase sales

New research carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce of more than 1000 businesses has highlighted a host of issues with the UK’s trade deal with Europe. The BCC believes urgent steps should be taken to address these problems so the UK Government’s ambition to increase the number of firms exporting can be met.

Overall, just 8% of firms agreed that the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) was ‘enabling their business to grow or increase sales’, while 54% disagreed. For UK exporters, 12% agreed that the TCA was helping them while 71% disagreed.

There is similar discontent with the deal among Welsh businesses, of which 51% trade with countries inside and outside of the EU and 10% solely export products and services to the EU.

Only 9% agreed that the TCA was enabling their business to grow or increase sales, while 59% somewhat or strongly disagreed. When asked which market the UK should pursue trade deals with, 46% of businesses in Wales suggested that the UK Government should prioritise modifying the current deal with the European Union.

Paul Slevin, President of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “It is clear from this latest research that SMEs in the UK are feeling the brunt of issues arising from the new TCA with the EU, and particularly in Wales where almost two thirds of businesses trade with the EU in some way.

“To rectify this and increase the number of firms exporting, steps will need to be taken to improve the trade deal and reduce the impact on SMEs. While the current agreement is in place, we are offering specialist trade training courses to guide businesses through trading with the EU post Brexit.”

William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “This is the latest BCC research to clearly show there are issues with the EU trade deal that need to be improved. Yet it could be so different. There are five relatively simple steps that UK and EU policymakers could take to ease the burden placed on businesses struggling with the trade deal.

“Nearly all of the businesses in this research have fewer than 250 employees and these smaller firms are feeling most of the pain of the new burdens in the TCA.

“Many of these companies have neither the time, staff or money to deal with the additional paperwork and rising costs involved with EU trade, nor can they afford to set up a new base in Europe or pay for intermediaries to represent them.

“But if both sides take a pragmatic approach, they could reach a new understanding on the rules and then build on that further.

“Accredited Chambers of Commerce support the UK Government’s ambition to massively increase the number of firms exporting. If we can free up the flow of goods and services into the EU, our largest overseas market, it will go a long way to realising that goal.”

 

The Five Key Issues for UK Exporters

The BCC’s five key issues, and the solutions needed, to improve EU trade are:

 

1. ISSUE: Export health certificates cost too much and take up too much time for smaller food exporters.

SOLUTION:  We need a supplementary deal on this which either eliminates or reduces the complexity of exporting food for these firms.

 

2. ISSUE: Some companies are being asked to register in multiple EU states for VAT in order to sell online to customers there.

SOLUTION: We need a supplementary deal, like Norway’s with the EU. This exempts the smallest firms from the requirement to have a fiscal representative and incur these duplicate costs.

 

3. ISSUE: As things stand CE marked industrial and electrical products will not be permitted for sale on the market in Great Britain from January 2023. The same is true for components and spares.

SOLUTION:  We need action from the Government to help businesses with these timelines. Many firms are far from convinced about a ban on CE marked goods in Great Britain.

 

4. ISSUE: UK firms facing limitations on business travel and work activities in the EU.

SOLUTION: Government needs to make side deals with the EU and member states to boost access in this area as a priority for 2022.

 

5. ISSUE: Companies starting to be pursued in respect of import customs declarations deferred from last year.

SOLUTION:  We need a pragmatic approach to enforcement to ensure companies recovering from the pandemic do not face heavy-handed demands too quickly on import payments, or paperwork.

Cybersecurity, E-Commerce, EU, News

New report spells out ominous warning for European retailers facing a 350% increase in fraud pressure

Automated attacks, widespread consumer and policy abuse, new payments regulation and heightened fraud attacks will plague the holiday season and beyond, a new report warns

 

As the holiday shopping season hits full stride, ecommerce retailers across Europe face a new era of malicious attacks spurred by a COVID-inspired transformation in ecommerce and a 350% increase in fraudulent online orders, according to data published today by Signifyd, the market leader in guaranteed commerce protection.

Signifyd says in a new report that retailers can expect a more perilous fraud landscape through the holiday shopping season and beyond. The heightened threat is thanks in part to the growing sophistication and diversification of organized fraud rings.

“The State of Ecommerce Fraud in Europe” report  further reveals:

  • A 350% increase in fraud pressure by mid-2021, as measured by Signifyd’s Fraud Pressure Index. The Fraud Pressure Index charts the change in the number of presumably fraudulent orders detected on Signifyd’s Commerce Network, which comprises thousands of retailers.
  • A doubling of consumer abuse in the first half of 2021 — including false claims that an online order never arrived or that an order that did arrive was in unsatisfactory condition. Fraudsters and consumers make such claims in order to keep a product while receiving a refund.
  • A dramatic increase in fraud rings’ use of bots. Automated fraud attacks increased 146% in 2020.

“Between the acceleration of ecommerce, changes in consumer behavior and the arrival of SCA, few would argue that commerce is not in a state of great transformation,” said Signifyd Managing Director, EMEA Ed Whitehead. “The State of Fraud report lays out in detail how these changes came about and offers merchants actionable strategies and solutions to keep up in a dynamic industry at an historic time.”

The pandemic ushered in a “golden age of ecommerce fraud” fueled by several factors, the report says. They include:

 

  • The increasing share of retail revenue attributable to ecommerce.
  • A dramatic wave of first-time online shoppers.
  • The need for fraud rings to move from protected segments of the buying journey to more vulnerable ones.

“Fraud is a moving target,” said Ollie Marshall, managing director of Maplin, and one of several retailer leaders quoted in the report. “As fraud protection becomes more sophisticated, fraud rings find new vulnerabilities to attack. We shut them down and they move on. I have no doubt they’ll be back.”

European retailers are facing historic fraud pressure at a time when the payments landscape is undergoing upheaval due to the enforcement of PSD2’s Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirement. The addition of SCA’s robust two-factor authentication process has been rolled out across much of Europe and will be enforced in the UK beginning in March.

SCA was instituted to protect retailers and consumers from online fraud. The beginning of SCA enforcement across Europe has resulted in an average transaction failure rate of 26% post-SCA enforcement, according to payment services consultancy CMSPI.

The Signifyd report explores the conversion issue and reviews some of the strategies retailers are embracing to enjoy the benefit of added protection without introducing added friction to their customers’ buying experiences.

“Overall, the solutions which have been put in place have the potential to work well. A key factor for success is that all aspects of the payment ecosystem are ready and that there is effective communication and interoperability amongst the players,” Andrew Cregan, head of finance policy for the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said in the report. “The experience for the customer must be straightforward, but also it must be communicated well beforehand, so that it’s fully understood.”

Beyond offering a primer on best practices in the SCA era, The “State of Ecommerce Fraud in Europe” explores how several types of fraud attacks — including account takeover, automated card testing, synthetic identities, return fraud, mule fraud and unauthorized reselling — have morphed and are likely to remain prevalent.

“In our recent Global Payment and Risk Mitigation Survey, the majority of merchants surveyed reported increases in synthetic and account takeover fraud over the previous year,” John Winstel, global head of fraud product at FIS, said in the report. “As these and other new fraud trends emerge, the safeguarding of a merchant’s revenue requires smart, dynamic protection against fraud throughout the payment lifecycle.”

Awards, EU, News

Bachem recognised as a winner at the Swiss Biotech Success Stories Awards 2021

Bachem is pleased to announce that the company has been recognised as one of the five winners of the Swiss Biotech Success Stories Awards 2021. 

They have been recognised for the value that they have consistently achieved for the past 50 years — a success story based on quality, innovation, sustainability and technological leadership. The company has grown over 50% in the last five years —  operating with sites across the world — and now offer more than 5,500 different biologically active peptides, amino acid derivatives and oligonucleotides.

The prestigious awards, bestowed by the Swiss Biotech Association, celebrate those who have made important and sustainable contributions to the biotech industry in Switzerland. Selected success stories such as Bachem are showcased to illustrate how Swiss biotech companies contribute to helping patients and improving health care worldwide. The award reflects Bachem’s passionate and unwavering support to their customers in discovering breakthrough medical advances that will significantly improve the life of patients.

It is important to celebrate these success stories and to show the world how vital biotechnology is for the future of humankind to survive and thrive. These life-changing innovations are a result of crucial scientific methods which need substantial financial and public support to keep moving forward.

Thomas Meier, CEO of Bachem AG, commented:

“I am happy that Bachem has won a Swiss Biotech Success Stories Award. Within fifty years, we have grown from a small company of two people to a leading provider for the world’s biopharmaceutical industry. This award is a testament to the team of talented and dedicated people that are the foundation of Bachem’s long-term success. I would like to thank the Swiss Biotech Association for this recognition.

We are proud of our strong Swiss heritage as we are of the strong global impact we can make for our customers and ultimately patients worldwide.

At Bachem, we take a long-term approach and continue to see broad-based growth, both in terms of products and geography. Despite the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to build new production capabilities and hire people across all our sites.”

Luca Bolliger, President of the Jury of Swiss Biotech Success Stories, commented:

“The tag for our initiative is Success Stories, but what we really mean is Value! Bachem is an entrepreneurial story that consistently created value for the last 50 years in Switzerland and abroad. Like with the current laureates and the one to come, it is important to celebrate valuable achievements within the life sciences ecosystem but it is also essential to share it with the public to educate, and the young generations as a palatable path forward for their future.”

Success categories

Bachem was chosen as a winner due to a number of success categories, including:

  • Completed achievement with lasting impact
  • Creation of jobs in Switzerland
  • Enabler for the biotech industry
  • Involvement of one or more Swiss citizens
  • Product approval and sustainable revenues
  • Swiss-based company / institution
  • Swissness: Think global, made in Switzerland

The company is honored to be recognized by the association and will attend the Swiss Biotech Day event on September 7 in Basel where the award will be collected personally.

Education, EU, News

Politecnico di Milano School of Management ranks in the top 100 for its Global MBA in America Economia rankings

Politecnico di Milano School of Management’s Global MBA now ranks 51st in the world in the latest rankings by America Economia.

Educational acknowledgement, multiculturalism, networking and an advantageous geographic location are the key attributes that positioned the business school’s MBA in this ranking of the Best Global MBA Programmes for Latin American students.

Vittorio Chiesa and Federico Frattini, Chairman and Dean of MIP Politecnico di Milano say: “This ranking recognizes our MBA’s strong global position, but also the technical and professional dimensions that help establish its strong reputation within Latin America.”

The programme ranks at the top for its multicultural experience, as well as an impressive 79% for ‘innovation’.

This ranking is unique as it focuses on alumni, taking into account variables such as previous and subsequent income, the time it takes to recover the cost of the programme, job offers derived from having obtained the MBA, and changes in position or responsibilities in a company.

America Economia recognizes Politecnico di Milano School of Management as the leading Italian Business School for Latin American Students and indeed across the globe.

Background Screening, EU, News

Sterling pushes forward with European expansion

With a growing demand for local language capability as part of a global background check experience, Sterling, the leader in employee screening services, is expanding its international operations by opening a European base in Wroclaw, Poland.

While initial plans to open a physical office were delayed by COVID-19, Sterling remained resilient and hired its first employees in Poland virtually in mid-May. Since then, the business has successfully onboarded and trained all new starters to be fully operational despite the challenges posed by COVID-19.

The company’s decision to open an office in Poland was conceived as a result of extensive analysis, as well as discussions with clients where fulfilment in local languages was in high demand. This prompted Sterling to conduct a search to identify a base for a European office that could serve a multitude of markets.

After whittling down locations, Sterling selected Wroclaw, Poland, due to the country ranking highly for several criteria, with easy transport links from its UK headquarters in Swansea, and the vast array of linguistic skills available in the country. The Poland team are already serving customers and is set to quickly scale from five to 40 staff, serving 13 languages in Europe.

Steve Smith, MD of Sterling, commented on the move, stating:

“Last summer, we conducted a client advisory board meeting where businesses shared what their perception of a truly multi-lingual experience looked like. While there are great levels of language fulfilment in areas such as form-filling software, truly regional local language capabilities are far rarer. We’ve had multilingual proficiencies from our HQ in Swansea – but this move will allow our approach to flourish.”

“We are delighted with how well we have been able to get operations up-and-running in the midst of a chaotic last couple of months. All of our staff in Wroclaw are now fully operational and serving our clients, saving them time, money, and providing a more complete, holistic experience for anyone screened in these regions.”

Kate Ellis, VP EMEA Operations at Sterling, commented:

“The increasing globalised nature of business and society at large calls for a far more tailored approach when conducting crucial business processes like background checks – perhaps even more so with the rise in remote, fluid workforces that has been accelerated by recent events.”

“By ensuring there is local language expertise on the ground in Poland, Sterling will be able to take its customer fulfilment to the next level – and ultimately reduce risk for clients and candidates. We are delighted with our results so far and the speed with which staff have been trained and onboarded during COVID-19.”

“From our company analysis of our Swansea operation and business in Asia, local language capability has been shown time and again to have vastly better results. Going forward, we will also be able to offer great opportunities to our internal staff, and continue to hone our expertise. I’m truly looking forward to developing our operations further in Wroclaw to better serve our customers.”

Brexit, Business Software, EU, North of England

‘UK Businesses would not have been ready for Brexit’, reveals survey

As the original deadline for Brexit passes today, new research from global software consultancy Thoughtworks reveals that almost two in three businesses would not have been ready.

The research reveals that almost two in three UK businesses (63%) admitted they would not be ready for Brexit by 31 October.  26% of businesses said they need a further 6-12 months to get their company Brexit-ready – it seems that the EU extension will therefore come as good news.

The national survey asked 1,026 business leaders how long it would take their business to adapt to the key regulatory, economic and data issues that will come as a result of Brexit.

There was little variation between a hard or soft Brexit on business readiness (37% for both scenarios). Only 14% of business said they were already fully prepared for Brexit –  and whilst this rises to 37% being ready by 31 October – the majority are calling for more time, with 9% of respondents saying they will never be ready.

The ThoughtWorks study also explored business sentiment across UK cities. Whilst London is seen to be at the centre of Brexit debate, it was firms in Leeds and Birmingham that were most likely to be fully prepared for the key impacts of Brexit (for both a deal and no deal scenario).

In Manchester, business leaders were most likely to say they needed an additional 6-12 months to be ready for the impact of Brexit on their company (39%).  Some were calling for even more time – around a quarter of businesses in the Newcastle said they needed until 2021 to be ready (23%) – and some businesses in Liverpool needed five years (13%). Looking at the regional picture, businesses in Scotland and the north were least likely to be prepared for Brexit on 31 October.

How long businesses need to adapt to the key regulatory, economic and data issues that will come as a result of Brexit

Already prepared 14%
By 31 October 23%
3 months 16%
6 months 13%
12 months 13%
2 years 6%
5 years 4%
10 years 1%
Never be ready 9%

How long businesses need to adapt to the key regulatory, economic and data issues that will come as a result of Brexit: Percentage of business that are ready now or will be by 31 October – by city.

  In event of a no deal Brexit In event of a deal Brexit
Leeds 57% 46%
Birmingham 47% 41%
Bristol 40% 29%
Cardiff 38% 33%
Nottingham 36% 34%
London 36% 32%
Glasgow 33% 36%
Edinburgh 31% 31%
Manchester 30% 33%
Liverpool 29% 29%
Newcastle 28% 22%

Brexit readiness by sector

Businesses in the construction sector were those most likely to say they would be ready for the impact of Brexit by the end of October – whereas those in manufacturing and the education sectors were least likely to be fully prepared. Businesses in retail (31%), health (29%) manufacturing (29%) were most likely to say they would need a further 6-12 months to adapt to the key regulatory, economic and data issues that they believe will come as a result of Brexit.

How long businesses need to adapt to the key regulatory, economic and data issues that will come as a result of Brexit: Percentage of business that are ready now or will be by 31 October – by sector.

  In event of a hard Brexit In event of a deal Brexit
Construction 41% 38%
Tech & Media 40% 40%
Health 39% 34%
Retail 35% 36%
Finance 35% 39%
Public Sector 33% 34%
Manufacturing 30% 30%
Education 29% 35%
Professional services 27% 20%

Brexit readiness by business size

The ThoughtWorks research also found that the size of a business also had a bearing on its perceived readiness for Brexit. Nearly a quarter of small  businesses (23%) said they were prepared for the upcoming deadline compared to just (7%) of larger companies[1].

Kevin Flynn, Director at ThoughtWorks UK commented:

“After a period of unprecedented economic and political uncertainty, we asked businesses around the UK how prepared  they were for the key regulatory, economic and data issues  they believed will result from Brexit. It is a concern that the majority of businesses surveyed  say they do not feel they are ready, and this changes little for the deal or no deal Brexit scenarios.

“In the weeks ahead, we will look more closely at how businesses plan to adapt to the new post-Brexit era. Supply chain disruption, employment of EU citizens, the falling value of the Pound and transfer of data between the UK and EU are key issues cited today as challenges for businesses. There will no doubt  be opportunities from market uncertainty and we expect to see the tech gap widen, as tech-centric agile businesses adapt quickly whilst those whose technology holds them back will likely fall behind or struggle to survive.”

For more information visit: www.thoughtworks.com

EU, News, Regional News

Vienna Named Best Global Destination for Startups

Vienna is the prime location for budding entrepreneurs starting a new business, according to new research conducted by the UK’s leading freelance marketplace, PeoplePerHour.

Historically known as a city of culture and music, Vienna has not been left behind when it comes to business and is now a haven for startups. Offering the best quality of life around, exceptional commute experience, a diverse talent pool, strong healthcare provision, low-cost office space and good internet speeds, the city seems to have everything entrepreneurs would need to get a new business up and running. 

The Index was devised using a variety of data to rank each city according to the factors most likely to impact upon startups, such as availability of coworking spaces, quality of life and strength of the local talent pool*.  PeoplePerHour created a metric to provide a definitive Index, ranking the top 25 cities in terms of suitability for startups.

Second place in the 2019 Index was awarded to Tokyo. As Japan’s capital gears up for next year’s Olympics, it seems that sport is not the only thing on the city’s mind. With the second-best healthcare provision in the Index and good coworking spaces, commute times and quality of life, Tokyo also presents a fair prospect for new business startups. 

Madrid takes third place, performing pretty well across the board. While Brussels (5th) and Paris (8th) also make the top ten, helping Europe to put on a strong showing for startups overall. 

London, in 16th position, is the only British city to make the Index. With a strong reputation as a startup hub, London’s placement may well come as a surprise to some – especially as it comes second place overall for coworking space availability.

However, the high cost of office space, longer commute and comparatively poor quality of life conspire to reveal that England’s capital might not be the startup Mecca most people believe it to be.

That being said, to achieve a top twenty five ranking in a global index isn’t to be sniffed at either. 

Xenios Thrasyvoulou, founder and CEO of PeoplePerHour, comments:

‘Startups have become increasingly important in recent years, contributing around £200billion to the UK economy annually. Globally, their impact is immeasurable – yet enormous. So, it’s vital for cities to provide an infrastructure capable of nurturing new businesses, if they wish to continue to flourish. These fledgling businesses are benefiting from more affordable business services than their predecessors too, from the boom in co-working spaces to the ability to access the best on-demand talent using platforms like PeoplePerHour without the traditional overheads associated with employees.

‘From Vienna in first place, to Beijing in 25th, any country that can be seen to be making provision for new business can be credited with planning for the future and laying the foundations for a strong economy. There is uncertainty in Britain at the moment, both in home politics and with regards to ‘Brexit’, so it’s perhaps not surprising that London has only made sixteenth position, but we hope to see London climb into the top 10 in coming years.‘

Link to research microsite: https://www.peopleperhour.com/startup-cities/index.html