Intelligent SME.tech Issue 31 | Page 6

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HedgeFlows launches with £ 2 million funding to empower SMEs for international trade
HedgeFlows , a FinTech platform for small- and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ), has launched following a £ 2 million funding round .
The HedgeFlows platform enables SMEs to seamlessly manage foreign payments , cashflows and invoices , giving ambitious companies access to services which are often denied by the big banks . The company is fully licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority ( FCA ).
The company was founded by former bankers , Alex Axentiev and Neh Thaker . Axentiev has previously overseen emerging markets and currency trading services for international banks and helped numerous multinational corporations manage their international finances . Thaker has held senior executive roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Standard Chartered , including Global Head of Financial Markets with multi-billion dollar revenues and over 1,000 employees across 50 + countries .
In a similar way to companies such as Xero and Quickbooks which have revolutionised the accounting market , HedgeFlows aims to empower businesses to better plan and manage their financial needs in any currency .
ShipStation adds UPS to its UK carrier services as it continues to expand European footprint
Almost two-thirds believe they are underqualified for a role in STEM
ShipStation , a leading cloudbased e-commerce shipping solution , has announced that UPS is live on its carrier services platform in the UK . This new collaboration gives UK merchants using ShipStation access to UPS ’ s domestic and international shipping services at discounted rates , making it easier to scale their delivery operations , save on shipping costs and grow their revenue .
Quick and easy to set up , the integration gives merchants
more choice and transparency when it comes to shipping . Merchants will also have the option to drop off at a growing network of nearly 35,000 UPS Access Point locations across Europe for greater convenience and control over their deliveries .
With no volume commitments , all merchants with a ShipStation account can add and access UPS as they streamline their delivery operations .
Dana Nino , Vice-President of Marketing at UPS , said : “ Having easy access to UPS ’ flexible , reliable shipping options at discounted rates will help SMEs achieve their business goals and thrive in the world of global e-commerce .”
More than three in five ( 61 %) people believe they do not have the right academic qualifications to pursue a career in Science , Technology , Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM ), with the cost of training found to be a major barrier to the industry .
A report that questioned more than 14,000 job seekers and students , released by IBM , revealed major misconceptions around pursuing a career in STEM , with the majority of respondents unclear about opportunities and training available . The research found that 61 % of students and those looking towards a career change are actively aiming to secure a new job over the next 12 months , although more than
half of those are unfamiliar with the STEM landscape and of what is considered to be a STEM role .
A lack of female representation has also been highlighted as a pressing issue for the industry , with women making up just 26 % of the current tech workforce , according to Tech Nation .
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