Intelligent SME.tech Issue 47 | Page 7

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Personal fulfilment and freedom driving new wave of aspiring entrepreneurs
A new wave of aspiring entrepreneurs across the UK are prioritising wellness and personal fulfilment over traditional financial goals .
These are among the key findings of recent research , commissioned by the AI-driven business planning enterprise , Venture Planner , which polled the views of 2,000 people across the UK , who had previously considered starting their own business , either on their own or in partnership with others .
Venture Planner ’ s research revealed that more than a third ( 36 %) of the UK ’ s prospective business owners rank ‘ the freedom to be their own boss ’ among factors motivating them to become an entrepreneur , surpassing even the desire for financial independence or wealth , which was referenced by 31 %.
In addition , over a quarter ( 26 %) of prospective entrepreneurs referenced ‘ the chance to work on my passion ; every day ’ as one of the core factors driving their entrepreneurship , while 20 % pointed to personal growth and self-improvement .
Sage and Virgin StartUp announce partnership to empower UK entrepreneurs
Sage , a global leader in accounting , financial , HR and payroll technology for smalland mid-sized businesses ( SMBs ), has announced a new partnership with Virgin StartUp , Virgin ’ s not-for-profit company dedicated to helping UK founders start-up and thrive .
As the exclusive small business accounting partner , Sage will provide essential accounting tools and expertise to help UK founders make the best possible start in business .
The partnership will support all founders and entrepreneurs accessing support through Virgin StartUp . This includes applying for Start Up Loans , joining the new digital Virgin StartUp Community and participating in Virgin StartUp programmes . They are dedicated to empowering everyone , from those testing business ideas and launching into self-employment to those looking to grow and scale their start-up business to its full potential .
Sage and Virgin StartUp understand that timely support can turn the challenges faced by founders into new opportunities .
Husky and Swoop partner to transform the value of workplace pensions to SMEs
Husky Finance is excited to announce an innovative partnership with Swoop Funding that is set to transform how SMEs across the UK manage their workplace pensions , payroll and salary exchange ( SE ) services . This innovative collaboration simplifies complex pension enrolment and streamlines payroll processes , making it easier than ever for businesses to introduce salary exchange options through a single , integrated platform .
Ensuring compliance with auto-enrolment regulations is crucial for businesses . Noncompliance can result in significant fines and impact future due diligence and credit checks , with company directors also facing the risk of criminal charges under new regulations . The Pensions Regulator issues over 5,000 compliance notices each month , accompanied by substantial fines . Husky ’ s solutions are designed to mitigate these risks by providing reliable , automated support to ensure businesses remain compliant with legal requirements .
In addition , by utilising salary exchange , businesses can benefit from reduced National Insurance contributions .
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