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Embrace social value or get left behind warns CIOB
Construction SMEs risk losing out in a competitive market if they don ’ t embrace the use of social value in procurement , so says a new report by the Chartered Institute of Building ( CIOB ).
The report , Social Value and SMEs , says a relatively small number of construction SMEs are up to speed with what social value is , how it is delivered and how it is measured . It predicts those who choose to ignore it will lose out when it comes to bidding directly for work in the public sector or for Tier 1 companies , which have had no choice but to move fast on social value since it was introduced into public sector procurement in 2020 .
It also adds that social value is more likely to feature in private sector procurement over time , as councils are expected to factor it into planning applications , meaning almost all projects will require its suppliers and contractors to demonstrate social value .
UK business confidence recovers but dark clouds on horizon , warns FSB
The Federation of Small Businesses ’ ( FSB ) quarterly survey has found that business confidence has recovered . The report noted that confidence is being restored after a decline at the end of last year , but ‘ dark clouds ’ are on the horizon as costs remain high .
The study found that sentiment improved among small business owners and sole traders over the first three months of the year . However , the FSB ’ s confidence measure scored minus 2.8 points in the first quarter of the year , which means more firms felt pessimistic than optimistic . Interestingly , there was an improvement from the confidence drop in the final quarter of 2022 , which had a negative reading of minus 45.8 points as retailers and hospitality firms were struck by higher costs and reduced consumer spending .
The report found that the tech and science sectors were leading the way with a positive confidence reading of 14.9 points .
Survey reveals Italian merchants prefer POSs as the safest , fastest and most convenient tool
As a tool for collecting cash , Italian merchants see Point of Sales ( POSs ) as the safest ( 81 %), fastest ( 71 %), the best way to meet customer requests ( 79 %) and to simplify the management of the point of sale ( 70 %). This is the snapshot provided by the BVA Doxa survey for Nexi , a leading PayTech company in Europe .
It interviewed a sample of small- and medium-sized retail and restaurant merchants and freelance professionals in Italy to analyse their preferences , needs and expectations in collecting cash at the POS and on the move .
Twenty-nine percent of the sample also expressed interest in the possibility of using their smartphone to receive payments . They said they would appreciate : its sustainability ( 62 %), not having to carry a too cumbersome POS for receiving payments on the move ( 48 %), being able to accept payments anywhere without any worries ( 49 %) and the possibility of doubling the cash desks in the store ( 45 %). �
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