News Archives - Page 37 of 53

A Digital Company Shaping the Future of Bricks-and-Mortar Retail

Posted on April 2, 2019 | by root

Coniq is Europe’s leading CRM and Loyalty provider for retail destinations. In December, the firm’s CEO and Founder, Ben Chesser, was named “CEO of the Year in Retail CRM & Loyalty Solutions” for 2018 by CEO Monthly Magazine. We spoke with Ben who took time out of his busy schedule to offer insight into Coniq’s work and operations.

When it comes to global retail destinations, few firms have more of an influence on a mall’s future success than Coniq. Through its best-in-class CRM solutions, they give clients a cutting-edge advantage, leading the way to a better understanding of consumer behaviours and, in turn, creating better shopping experiences. Coniq has levelled the playing field between the ecommerce and traditional retail sectors, offering a way to gain shopper insight in a way that had never previously been attempted in the offline market. That is the crux of Coniq’s well-deserved and hard-earned success: Understanding customers is the cornerstone of the offline world’s future success, revolutionising best practices and launching the industry into the modern technological age.

As Ben Chesser, the charismatic CEO of Coniq explains “Coniq is a dynamic, fast-growing PropTech business which already provides loyalty and CRM services in 16 countries. Put simply, our CRM platform allows shopping centres, outlets and business districts to introduce loyalty
schemes that gather data they have never seen before. For the first time, retail destinations can understand which customers are spending where, when and how much. Consumers spend $7 trillion in shopping centres worldwide and we provide our clients with actionable data on how customers are transacting in their locations.”

“The insight we create not only benefits the landlord, but it also benefits the retailers; the data we generate can help them understand how they are performing versus their peers in the same location, and over the years we have built up excellent relationships with the brands – more than 1,000 retailers trust and operate the Coniq solution in their stores.”

With clients that include some of the most respected names in retail, including; Value Retail, VIA Outlets, Unibail Rodamco Westfield, Compagnie de Phalsbourg, Neinver, and Meyer Bergman, Coniq have refined their product to meet some of the most demanding standards. More than that, they have excelled through their commitment to innovation and outstanding customer service.

Here, Ben takes a moment to comment on his company’s approach to service and what it truly means to provide a seamless and robust service. “Our business is a SaaS model, which is supported by services that make us unique. We have a dedicated brand engagement team to help destinations source offers which provide rich content for loyalty customers. This team speaks over fifteen languages and is ready to deploy support to our clients at a moment’s notice.”

“In addition, Coniq have launched more loyalty programmes and developed more CRM strategies than any other provider in the retail space. This unrivalled experience means that clients often ask for our consulting team to help them create a programme that matches their business objectives; we consult, model and deliver everything ourselves, rather than using external agencies that lack the specialist knowledge about the sector.”

More than anything, as Ben is quick to emphasise, Coniq’s success has been driven by a passion to build the best CRM tool for retail destinations.

“Coniq is a totally product focused company. Ultimately, our main goal is to create the best possible tool allowing shopping malls to create great offline shopping experiences for their customers and create long-term, sustainable value for their assets.”

This passion is evident across the entirety of Coniq’s team. Their expertise and drive to succeed is one of the firm’s strongest and most fundamental assets. “Our staff are everything – we have a fantastic culture at Coniq. I like to think of us as a community. Every Monday, we get the entire company together and share everything that is going on. We have that great combination of a relaxed atmosphere and a team that works incredibly hard to deliver for their clients and to build the best product we can.”

When it comes to the future, Ben explained that Coniq is already planning to expand into new territories. “The plan for 2019 has three key themes; to continue to be a catalyst for data-sharing that improves the customer experience and adds value for retailers and landlords; to expand our client base in the full price sector; to secure a number of customers in key territories, such as the Middle East.” Further, Coniq plans to utilise artificial intelligence to better find and understand shopping trends in a way that humans never could. It is clear that Coniq’s future is defined by constant refinement and improvement, as they seek to become the definitive tool for modern retail.

Finally, on the subject of the challenges facing the retail industry as a whole, Ben talks about how Coniq’s unique position in the market only increases their value in the years to come. “The challenges
we are seeing in the retail sector are precisely what makes Coniq’s product even more relevant and an essential part of a centre’s future success; Shopping centres are high-value real estate that are feeling pressure from online competitors, changing consumer habits and structural retail changes.”

“Coniq helps malls identify and reward their most valuable customers, building engagement with the centre as a brand, and driving sales. In a competitive landscape, the retail destinations that gain first mover advantage in this space will create considerable value for their investors.”

Law firm Ashfords launches new Charitable Foundation with Devon Adventure Therapy charity award

Posted on March 29, 2019 | by root

Law firm Ashfords LLPs’ newly established charitable foundation, The Ashfords Foundation, has awarded its first grant in Devon to the charity Adventure Therapy.

The charity was established in 2017 to improve the emotional well-being of children and adults with unique health conditions, impairments or limitations through outdoor activities and adventure-led pursuits; from coasteering, surfing and kayaking through to climbing, horse riding and archery. Activities are provided free of charge and the charity is funded entirely by charitable donations and the support of the communities it serves.

Rob Emery, founder of Adventure Therapy said: “The therapeutic benefits of time spent outdoors, in nature and adventure should not be under-estimated. It can motivate, aid rehabilitation, improve vitality and help to create treasured memories for our clients and their families. Our range of activities build self-confidence and develop skills and abilities, through individual and group sessions, team work and leadership. We are extremely grateful to the Ashfords Foundation for their generous donation which will help us to develop as an organisation and reach a greater number of people to support.”

The grant of £750 will fund improvements to Adventure Therapy’s IT equipment and also assist with marketing and communicating the charity’s services to the individuals, families and organisations who may benefit from Adventure Therapy in Devon.

The Ashfords Foundation has been established with very clearly defined objectives to support smaller charities and community organisations through two grant programmes: Supporting Communities and Preserving Communities. The first offers one off grants of up to £750, while the second supports established charities and not-for-profit organisations develop a solid foundation for the future, helping them build sustainability for the long term with grants of up to £5k. In each case, both Applicants and the project they are seeking funding for, should be local to one of Ashfords‘ offices in Bristol, Exeter, London, Tiverton and Taunton. Further details are on the Foundation’s website: www.ashfordsfoundation.org.uk

Chair of Trustees, John Toth, said: “Both our Charity of the Year and existing CSR programmes have been very successful, and partners and staff at Ashfords have been fully engaged in both, as well as in wider charitable fund raising. It is that very success that led us to look more closely at how the firm might make a real difference in the communities in which we live and work, bringing together all of Ashfords‘ charitable giving as well as building a sense of common purpose among our people.”

www.ashfordsfoundation.org.uk

50% of Brits Feel Too ‘Holiday Shamed’ to Use Their Full Annual Leave

Posted on March 28, 2019 | by root

Life is busy. What better to look forward to than a holiday, time to reset your mind and rest your body? ‘I need a holiday’ often heard echoed around the workplace, longing for a rest, for time away from work with our friends, family and loved ones, or simply some time to ourselves. Holidays are the welcome reward for our hard work, right?

Well, maybe not. Although we all think of holidays from work as a sacred time to savour, it seems that as a nation we are, in fact, squandering time reserved for holidays.

Recent research from tombola has uncovered what’s happening to Brits holidays, as last year 44% of Brits failed to use all of their holiday allowance. In fact, 23% of them still had 5 or more days of holiday left at the end of 2018, which means that almost a quarter of Brits worked an extra week. This does, however, beg the question – why?

Why are Brits neglecting to make the most of their relaxation time?

The British workplace culture has changed over the years and developed into a relentless, demanding place for many. The culture of working is a fast-paced one with many inputs; face to face, through mobile, text, chat apps and emails. So much so, that tombola’s survey results show that Brits feel ‘too holiday shamed’ to use their full holiday allowance. In fact, 38% of Brits disclosed that their reasoning for not taking their full holiday allowance was because they were ‘too busy at work’. This was followed by another 12% who either said their bosses didn’t approve or that their co-workers would feel they ‘weren’t contributing’ if they took a holiday.

Today, many of us are able to work anywhere anytime, and while this can be convenient, it can also be damaging. Even when we can and are taking full advantage of holidays we’re entitled to, it’s increasingly difficult for many of us to switch off and leave work where it belongs, at work.

Increased accessibility allows us to bring work burdens and deadlines with us in the form of mobile phones and laptops. For some this continued interaction can be almost encouraged by employers, 33% of respondents admitted to being contacted by work when on holiday and 44% admitted to checking in with their work emails.

Worse still, beyond not taking full advantage of entitled holidays, only 36% claim never to work overtime, leaving 18% working overtime a couple of times a year, 23% doing so weekly and 23% doing so daily! This means that not only are we not taking the time which is owed to us as approved paid leave but that we are also handing over extra time! Of those of us who do take the opportunity of holiday during their working year, 20% take no more than three days at a time, little more than a weekend.

Why does it matter how few Brits are taking their holiday?

Aside from the fact that holiday is an allowance which is not being utilised, it has been found that the longer the holiday we take, the better it is for us. Research undertaken by the University of Helsinki, Finland has proven that taking holidays (and the longer, the better) can significantly reduce stress, one of the biggest killers, which in summary means that taking a holiday can be directly beneficial for our health.

With such dedication to the workplace surely Britain must be an incredibly productive place, bypassing holiday for the forwarding of the workforce. Well, not quite; in a rundown of the most productive countries in the world, Britain comes in at number 17! Further still, these findings proved a correlation between more holiday taken and fewer hours worked and higher productivity. The most productive countries worked fewer hours weekly and took more holiday annually; the top 3 counties working between 27 -31 hours per week and enjoy between 4 – 5 weeks paid holiday. If we’re looking for a role model, Luxemburg could be it, working an average of only 29 hours per week, each employee’s productivity contributes £1,506. 17 weekly to the countries economy. In comparison, Brits work at least 3 hours more weekly, take less holiday and only contribute £559.92 per person per week.

It seems that working through our holiday and working overtime too is not actually aiding anyone, not employers, not the economy and not ourselves!

Get more productive this year and start taking better care of yourself, utilising the holiday you are given is the perfect place to start. So, go ahead – get planning!

Know Your Customer Secures International Recognition on Seven Different Occasions

Posted on March 27, 2019 | by root

Global RegTech company Know Your Customer recognised at seven International Events & Awards across Europe and Asia in March 2019.

Dublin & Hong Kong – Global RegTech company Know Your Customer has received an exceptional number of recognitions during the month of March.

Know Your Customer provides digital solutions to global clients across a variety of regulated sectors to quickly and accurately identify and verify companies and individuals during client on-boarding, ensuring companies can confidently conduct their KYC and anti-money laundering (AML) functions.

On 6 March 2019, Know Your Customer was announced as the winner of this year’s FinTech Awards by ET NET in the “Outstanding Identity & Transaction Authentication Solution” Category. The FinTech Awards recognise excellence and innovation in the use of IT in financial services in Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area. ET Net, the online publication part of the Hong Kong Economic Times Group, is the leading organiser of the Awards in collaboration with Cyberport and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP).

Also on 6 March 2019, representatives of the Know Your Customer Hong Kong team were among the prize winners at the Innovation Challenge organised by the Dai-ichi Life Group in Shenzhen. The aim of the competition – which involved 121 organisations from 37 countries – was to discover innovative technology with the potential to disrupt the InsurTech industry and transform Dai-ichi Life Group’s value chain. Know Your Customer was awarded third prize.

On 19 March 2019, FinTech News Hong Kong featured Know Your Customer as one of the Top 20 FinTech Start-Ups in Hong Kong in the “Compliance and RegTech” category. As a media outlet entirely dedicated to the FinTech industry and its trends, FinTech News HK had been tracking the performance and announcements from hundreds of Hong Kong-based FinTech companies before selecting their list of top 20 organisations for 2019.

The latest addition to the list of accolades includes the FinTech Certificate of Merit in the “RegTech, Risk Management and FinTech Security” category awarded to Know Your Customer at the prestigious Hong Kong ICT Awards ceremony on Friday, March 22nd. Established in 2006 with the collaborative efforts of the industry, academia and the Government, the Hong Kong ICT Awards aim at recognising outstanding information and communications technology (ICT) applications and encouraging innovation and excellence among Hong Kong’s ICT talents and enterprises.

Know Your Customer is also currently shortlisted for a number of awards in Europe.

These include the WealthBriefing European Awards 2019, for which Know Your Customer is nominated in the “Compliance” category. Showcasing ‘best of breed’ providers in the global private banking, wealth management and trusted advisor communities, the WealthBriefing European Awards were designed to recognise companies, teams and individuals which the prestigious panel of judges deemed to have ‘demonstrated innovation and excellence during 2018’.

Know Your Customer is currently shortlisted in the National Technology Awards in the “RegTech Project of the Year” category. The National Technology Awards, organised by National Technology News, celebrate the pioneers of new technology and help drive standards and encourage excellence in the industry.

Finally, Know Your Customer is also shortlisted in two different categories in the RegTech Insight Awards 2019, organised by the renowned A-Team Insight Group. Public voting followed an initial review that selected Know Your Customer as one of the finalists in the “Best KYC Software for Customer On-Boarding” and “Best Data Solution for KYC” categories. Award winners will be announced on 3 May 2019.

Know Your Customer CEO Claus Christensen expressed his enthusiasm about the series of recent industry recognitions;

“We are absolutely delighted with the recognitions that we have received from prestigious awards and industry associations across our two key markets, Asia and Europe. These successes are a testament to all our team members’ relentless work over the last few months and I could not be prouder of what we have achieved as a team. With such a great start of 2019, I am really looking forward to what the rest of the year will bring”.

Banuba Secures $7 Million Funding, Launches New SDK Bringing Augmented Reality (AR)

Posted on March 26, 2019 | by root

Banuba, a pioneering artificial intelligence lab specialising in computer vision and augmented reality, has secured a further $7m in funding bringing its total investment to $12m, from investors including VP Capital and Larnabel Ventures, a fund of the prominent entrepreneur, Said Gutseriev. The funding will be used for the continued development of Banuba’s technology, which enhances the capabilities of cameras on smart devices, opening up exciting new opportunities for companies wishing to launch AR-based apps, as well as for end-users.

At an already significant time for the business, Banuba is also announcing the launch of its new SDK which enables brands to utilise 3D Face AR in their Apps, meaning users can benefit from cutting-edge face motion tracking, facial analysis, skin smoothing and tone adjustment. Banuba’s SDK also enables app developers to utilise background subtraction, which is similar to ‘green screen’ technology regularly used in movies and TV shows, enabling end-users to create a range of AR scenarios.

Banuba’s technology equips devices with ‘vision’, meaning they can ‘see’ human faces in 3D and extract meaningful subject analysis based on neural networks, including age, gender, and even utilises spectral analysis of time-varying colour tone enabling it to monitor heart rate. Banuba SDK also includes ‘Avatar AR’, empowering developers to get creative with digital communication by giving users the ability to interact with – and create personalised – avatars using any iOS or Android device.

Viktor Prokopenya, founder of VP Capital, comments: “We are in the midst of a critical transformation between our existing smartphones and the future of AR devices, such as advanced glasses and lenses, where camera-centric apps have never been more important. While developers using ARKit and ARCore are able to build experiences primarily for top-of-the-range smartphones, Banuba’s SDK provides them with the very latest AR technologies, which works across any iOS or Android device, bringing AR and camera-centric app experiences to a far broader and more diverse user base.”

The new Banuba SDK is available to download now in the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play Store for Android.

We may be staying in the UK after Brexit, but will our data stay with us?

Posted on March 22, 2019 | by root

The weather forecast may say that we share rain clouds with Europe, but our data storage clouds may be harder to access after Brexit. We have all heard of the cloud and store large amounts of data on it both professionally and personally (with companies such as Google, Amazon and Microsoft). It has even been embroiled in nude photo scandals. The cloud is becoming more and more vital to businesses, but do we know where it actually stores our data?

A large proportion of the cloud is stored in physical servers in mainland Europe and, with Brexit looming, this may be an issue. CEO of, technology infrastructure specialists TransWorldCom, Paolo Sartori warns that professional services need to be planning ahead of Brexit and the ensuing transition period as day-to-day business may be overwhelmingly affected by breaks in connectivity and data availability post-Brexit.

Currently, the EU grants an adequacy deal to 12 non-EU countries which allow data to flow freely across borders. We could apply for this, but there is no indication on how long that may take. In the meantime, the DMA says that the issue of our servers being the EU whilst we are out “could potentially bring EU-to-UK data flows to a halt.”

This could affect companies big and small. Hypothetically, a large UK data processing company with EU-based customers and an EU data centre may find it can no longer move their data back to the UK. In the words of the DMA, “it would lose control of its own data.” Similarly, a small company selling knitwear in the Scottish Highlands might want to sell scarves to a French customer. Now, the company can store their email addresses and previous orders with ease. After Brexit, the company may need an EU-approved standard contractual clause.

The remedy to this possible data and connectivity nightmare? Paolo suggests “Firms should consider solutions such as private servers and contractual agreements to combat this uncertainty”. This would ensure that, whatever happens after 29th March, their data would remain safe and accessible.

TransWorldCom notices that SMEs often cap their long-term growth by overlooking operating costs and instead investing in promoting sales, search engine optimisation and marketing. Particularly when it comes to business infrastructure and technology, the Brexit negotiation period has the potential to impede nationwide productivity both due to an extended state of limbo in addition to two years of uncertainty that came before the vote. Resilience planning boils down to futureproofing hardware, data, and cloud-based file. Unless British businesses prepare properly through the use of hybrid or private connections to servers, they could well lose control of their own data.

TransWorldCom offers these do’s and don’ts for SMEs futureproofing their enterprise against the potential effects of Brexit.

● Consider investing in private or hybrid connections to the servers that hold your data

● Invest in infrastructure relative to your goals, not your current business position

● Consider technology investments as productivity boosters. For example, what would you do if the internet went down for a week?

● Think of contracts as an overall cost rather than comparing just the upfront or monthly payments

● Appreciate the value of the service offering when investing into technology, particularly if it is crucial to the running of your business

Don’t

● Ignore laws from Britain and the EU. GDPR came in last year and changes may well take place after Brexit. Always ensure that you supersede the legal basics so remain compliant, even if the laws change.

● Purchase contracts for today. Consider whether the product will still be relevant and fit for purpose in three or five years time

● Underestimate the reliance that you and your business have on a working internet connection, and consider how much business you would lose if you couldn’t get online

● Overspend on unnecessary extras. IT experts are not always trying to sell to you, so speak to them and get plenty of opinions

Once the details of Britain’s leaving the European Union have come to fruition, access to our data, laws around storing personal data, and access to the Cloud across borders will become clearer. However, in the immediate future, ensuring that your company knows what could happen after Brexit is the first step in securing access to free-flowing data and continuing business after the 29th March.

Qarar Consultancy: Experts in Data-Driven Business Solutions

Posted on March 21, 2019 | by root

Qarar Consultancy: Experts in Data-Driven Business Solutions

Serving clients across the Middle East and North Africa, Qarar Consultancy is a leading decision analytics company specialising in offering consulting, and software technology to deliver tailor-made advanced analytics and automation solutions. Earlier this year, Qarar’s CEO, Zaid Kamhawi, was recognised in CEO Monthly Magazine’s CEO Top 100 programme for his firm’s innovative approach to data-driven business solutions. On the back of this well-deserved win, we profiled Qarar to find out more about the firm’s work and operational excellence.

Data is the driver of modern business: contained and often hidden within business data are key insights, value and revenue opportunities. As the professional landscape continues to be changed through continual technological development, businesses around the world are finding that staying at the cutting edge of their sector is dependant on their ability to adapt to the latest of these technological advancements. Above all else, data has become a key weapon in any company’s arsenal, allowing them to better understand their customers and their spending behaviours. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that enduring success relies on a need to recognise these behaviours and evolve accordingly.

Perhaps no businesses rely on these insights more than the retail banking and lending sectors, who cater their products and services to the latest consumer trends. Here is where Qarar Consultancy have focused their efforts, strategically partnering with their clients to tap into a vital information stream, help them achieve their strategic goals and maintain a competitive edge over their peers.

As a result of their advisory services and data analytics solutions, Qarar’s clients are able to optimise risk, spending, product penetration, attrition, collections and – ultimately – profitability. For many, Qarar is an invaluable strategic ally in a world that has drawn itself ever closer to digitisation. In turn, Qarar have ensured that they remain at the forefront of this notoriously competitive industry through a dedication to utilising state-of-the-art modelling techniques and statistical methodologies to generate meaningful and actionable insights.

Further, macroeconomic and geopolitical factors are also accounted for to ensure that Qarar provide a truly holistic and comprehensive approach in real time to allow for highly-targeted portfolio management. Qarar’s predictive decision analytics are delivered through experienced data science consultants and advanced analytical techniques applied throughout the customer lifecycle. As lending institutions are realizing the need to take key steps to harness their rapidly growing internal data, Qarar is playing a critical role in helping these organization build data-driven models with great predictive power by applying these advanced tools. The results are critical to optimising risk management in today’s challenging global environment, but also in improving lead conversion, customer profitability and customer experience in a competitive landscape where every organization is fighting for their share of wallet. However, Qarar’s role in achieving maximum value from applied analytics goes beyond just the data and models and focuses on helping clients operationalise developed models, fine-tune their strategies, and change their culture and processes. Qarar is seen as a trusted partner to clients, treasuring long-lasting relationships over transactions. Clients have long complimented their responsiveness, agility, adaptiveness to new requirements and their focus on simplicity over complexity.

On top of that, Qarar also generates regular banking and financial industry reports for credit providers to keep up with the latest industry information and benchmark against competitors. One recent example of this lies in Qarar’s role as an analytics arm to the Saudi Credit Information Company (SIMAH), the leading credit reporting agency in the region. On the back of this partnership, Qarar has developed a whole range of data driven services that allow organisations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to unlock the massive potential value that is inherent in credit bureau data, allowing them to understand and adapt to changing consumer behaviours, increasing penetration of the customer base.

Moreover, Qarar believe that, in the vast world of advanced analytics, specialisation is key – which is why they have focused their efforts on serving only a small number of industries. As such, Qarar’s future lies in recognising the imminent trends that look set to shape these industries. Trends such as the rise of machine and deep learning analytical techniques- building momentum towards empowered machines, the need for organisations to source talent to interpret AI-driven platforms and, finally, the global drive towards digital transformation, particularly in financial services.

By all regards, Qarar Consultancy have distinguished themselves through a continued dedication to excellence in a time where data and greater levels of insight are invaluable to today’s businesses. For the retail banking and lending sectors, they offer a guiding light into the minutiae of their customers behaviours, leading the way to renewed growth and greater efficiency.

Company: Qarar Consultancy
Address: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Website: http://qarar.org
Telephone: +971 4 375 9363

Fake News or Libel?

Posted on March 21, 2019 | by root

Jayne Clemens, Michelmores, and Jacob Dean (Barrister at 5RB Chambers)

What’s the difference?

The media bandy these terms about on a daily basis, but what do they really mean?

Fake news and libelous material are both false. In the case of libelous publications a complainant can sue for damages if they’re able to demonstrate how the published material has caused, or is likely to cause, them serious harm. Fake news may well cause no harm at all, particularly if no one believes it. In short: libel is fake news, but fake news is not necessarily libelous.

Fake news and the individual

When considering fake news, where better to start than with Donald Trump himself? In the case of Malik v Trump the claimant was a Muslim Londoner. He sued Trump in the English High Court over some of the statements Trump made as a presidential candidate on the campaign trail, particularly in relation to Muslims. These included the claim that there were “places in London and other places that are so radicalised the police are afraid for their own lives”.

Mr. Malik’s claim was struck out by the High Court. The Court recognised “the strong feelings which the statements made by Mr. Trump have elicited” and that they may have “caused real upset and a sense of injustice to a section of the London community and more widely”. Nonetheless, the Court found that Trump’s statements made no specific allegations against the claimant which were actionable under English law.

The Judge was able to reach this conclusion without considering whether the statements in question were true or false. This illustrates one of the crucial differences between fake news and those falsehoods which are legally actionable through a libel claim: actionable libels must say something about the claimant.

Defamation and the ordinary reasonable person

What the words say about the claimant has to be defamatory with regard to him or her. Since the threshold for bringing libel claims was raised in the 2013 Defamation Act, these words must now be seriously defamatory. They have to have caused the claimant’s reputation to be seriously damaged in the eyes of the ‘ordinary reasonable person’.

In the case of Brown v Bower [2017], the Judge had to determine the meaning of words in a short passage in Tom Bower’s biography of Tony Blair. The words at issue referred to historic allegations made by the News of the World about Nick Brown MP, the Labour Chief Whip, having used rent boys.

The Judge found that the words meant there were reasonable grounds to suspect that Mr. Brown had used rent boys. There was no suggestion by Tom Bower that the allegation was true, but the Judge said that the “issue of whether it is defamatory to say of someone that s/he has paid individuals (male or female) for consensual sex is controversial. Judged by 2017 standards, do ‘right-thinking people’ regard such a statement as defamatory?”.

This is a question which will be tried in 2019. The claim will fail if the trial Judge decides that the allegation, irrespective of whether it is true or false, would not seriously damage Mr. Brown’s reputation in the eyes of the ordinary person.

An allegation which is so general that it does not refer to a specific individual, or for that matter to a specific company, is unlikely ever to be actionable. But there may still be other legal avenues for redress for a false allegation which is not defamatory.

Personal Data

Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR, and the Data Protection Act 2018, individuals have a right, in appropriate circumstances, not to have inaccurate information published about them.

The Court can order a Data Controller (who exercises control over the processing of data and carries data protection responsibility for it) to erase or rectify inaccurate personal data, and to inform those to whom this data has been published that it has been erased or rectified. It can also require the Data Controller to pay damages for any distress caused. One example of a Data Controller would be a publisher of news.

Although journalists who publish inaccurate data in good faith enjoy strong protection relating to free speech, the Data Protection legislation can be a powerful weapon against the non-journalistic disclosure of false information. However, this legislation protects the rights of individuals, but not of companies.

So, where do businesses stand?

A company may take legal action where false allegations have caused it, or are likely to cause it, financial loss. This is known as ‘suing in the tort of malicious falsehood’. It requires the claimant to prove that the allegations have been published dishonestly and must be supported by cogent evidence of bad faith.

Whether faced with fake news or libel, CEOs need to be prepared to act quickly and decisively to stop the spread of false messages and curb their effect. Every company Board should have a crisis management plan and understand how to deal with requests for information; particularly how to address awkward questions from the press.

Prompt intervention by a well-coordinated team of in-house staff and trusted external advisors will almost certainly limit, and in some cases invalidate, the impact of fake news or libel.

Kosbit wins ‘Highly Commended’ Award for Innovating Managed Service Solution of the Year

Posted on March 20, 2019 | by root

Kosbit LLC, a global IT solutions leader specialising in business processes and managed outsourcing services, made the finals of the European IT & European Software Excellence Award. Out of hundreds of companies that reached the final round of the award process, we were ranked at the top and received the “highly commended” award for the Innovating Managed Service Solution of the Year 2019.

Now in their 11th year, the European IT & Software Excellence Awards are given for IT solutions that demonstrate leadership in customer issues, delivering better business solutions, a clearer understanding of data, and more efficient and profitable outcomes.

The European IT and Software Excellence Awards review leading companies for solutions such as MSPs, Solution Integrators, Solution VARs and ISVs across Europe. This year was a record year for entrants, with over 450 solutions submitted from across Europe in different categories.

“There were many detailed entries in the various Innovation categories, showing that the industry is alive and open to new possibilities related to advanced technology provisions,” said John Garratt, Editor of IT Europa, who heads the judging panel.

Hajrë Hyseni, CEO of Kosbit, stated, “We’re delighted to be awarded ‘highly commended’ for Innovating Managed Service Solution of the Year 2019. This clearly shows our commitment to excellence and innovation which has been praised by our global partners, such as AT&T.
In recent years, Kosbit has successfully made many inroads, providing innovative and high quality IT managed service solutions to several global clients. As a result, Kosbit was named the Best Outsourcing Provider by the IAOP, which selected the 2018 Global Outsourcing 100. Now Kosbit is nominated for three categories in this prestigious European award. This is a real testament to our team’s commitment to excellence and high quality.”

Samuel Knight CEO joins fellow business owners to tackle poverty in the region

Posted on March 19, 2019 | by root

On the 21st of March, Steve Rawlingson, CEO of Newcastle-based, Samuel Knight International will be sleeping overnight at St James Park for the annual CEO Sleepout. The initiative will see several such events take place across the country to raise funds and awareness for homelessness in the UK. To date, the charity has raised over a staggering £2 million, with £110,000 raised for the Newcastle sleepout in 2018 alone.

Commenting on the upcoming event, Steve Rawlingson said:

“I’m ecstatic to be taking part in the CEO sleepout this year. Newcastle isn’t just my home, it’s the place where I’ve been able to set up and successfully grow my business, so to be able to give back to those in the community really means a lot to me. It is close to both my heart and our business values to help those around us and support the wellbeing and health of our people. Companies in this region do a fantastic job in creating prosperity and job opportunities, but it is important to look further than growing headcount and also focus on supporting those in less fortunate positions. By taking part in this event I hope to help raise the much needed funds to assist those in need across the region, and I’m even giving away a signed Newcastle FC football to one lucky person donating through my Just Giving page.”

How Workplace Safety Measures Can Save You Money

Posted on March 18, 2019 | by root

Accidents happen, it’s a fact of life. But one of the most frustrating and upsetting things for an employee to go through is being injured in a preventable accident. There were 71,062 non-fatal injuries to UK workers between 2017/18, which in turn, caused UK workplaces to lose a total of 3.9 million working days. This is a problem for both employees and employers in the long run.

The cost of workplace injuries is substantial too. In 2016/17 the total came to £5.2 billion — this cost includes all the financial aspects of a workplace injury, including lost working hours and any pay-outs for accident at work claims made. .

Ensuring you have the correct equipment
Having the correct equipment on hand can make all the difference. In 2017/18, the construction industry suffered the most fatalities from work accidents, with 38 deaths. Agriculture had 29 deaths, and manufacturing suffered 15 fatalities. These industries in particular often require certain safety equipment to abide by health and safety regulations – and wearing the equipment could separate your employees from a near death experience and a non-fatal injury.

One example is that, naturally, a hard helmet on a construction site helps to reduce the risk of head injuries. If your staff fail to wear the required hard hat, any of those injuries could be a direct cause of not wearing the correct safety equipment. Protective glasses should also be worn by employees that are exposed to debris, dust and bright lights that could damage the employee’s sight.

Of course, there are other items of protective clothing too. These include steel toe cap boots, hi-vis clothing, safety gloves and noise cancelling headphones. Implementing a work policy that says your staff are required to wear safety clothing and equipment is the first step to preventing workplace injuries that could lead to fatal deaths or long-term work absences, which cost your company money.

Training
Correct training is vital in the role of risk reduction. Every employee should be briefed on the safest fire exits around the premises, as well as what the procedure is in case of an emergency. In fact, many premises are permitted to carry out practice fire drills to ensure all members of staff are aware of the routine.

It does, of course, extend beyond fire safety training. In the manufacturing industry, which is the third most dangerous environment for fatal injuries in the workplace, some job roles require particular training and qualifications to use machinery. Where hazardous or dangerous machinery is involved, staff must be trained on how to use it – and must use the correct safety equipment and clothing at all times. 135,000 of the 555,000 non-fatal injuries in 2017/18 led to over 7 days of work absence — providing your staff with the appropriate training could save you a big cost seen through a loss of working hours due to workplace injuries.

Individual roles may need specific training too. Some processes will need employees to gain the correct certification to be able to carry them out with reduced risk of injury and know fall protection options. For example, in the construction industry, any employee who will be navigating a crane will require a Construction Plant Competency Scheme (CPCS) licence.

Additional training
The best way to identify risks is to perform regular internal audits. For example, slips, trips and falls caused 31% of non-fatal injuries in the workplace in 2017/18. The main causes of slips, trips and falls in the workplace are uneven floor surfaces, unsuitable floor coverings, wet floors, changes in levels, trailing cables and poor lighting – all of which can be prevented or marked out safely if the proper regulations are followed. Legally, businesses must follow The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which stipulates that employers must ensure that floor spaces are in good condition and free from obstructions. Furthermore, the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 legally require businesses to provide and display the appropriate safety signs when there is a potential risk too – whether that is a wet floor sign, or signs indicating loose cables or exposed electric cables.

These safety measures are designed to protect everyone and everything within a business. Take a look through your current processes regularly to ensure they are still performing correctly.

DACH reaching a critical point in talent levels, according to analysis by Berlin-based talent expert

Posted on March 18, 2019 | by root

Businesses across the DACH region are reaching a critical point where the gap between the supply and demand of talent is becoming a growing concern. That’s according to research from Alexander Mann Solutions which included in-depth interviews with major employers in the region such as Arla Foods, Lufthansa and Merck, as well as an analysis from Berlin-based business school ESMT.

The global talent acquisition and management firm found that this scarcity of talent is particularly prevalent in the IT and digital fields. This could potentially damage the region’s tech innovations as Marcel Kalis of the careers department at ESMT business school suggests: “Berlin is an international hothouse for digital but there aren’t anywhere near enough people with the right skills to fuel it all.”

The report, Talent Sourcing at the heart of Europe, revealed numerous challenges to talent attraction across the region, with the growth in popularity of Mittelstand companies – highly successful firms run by ‘owner-entrepreneurial families’ that focus on longevity – limiting the active candidate pool.

As Tobias Bartholomē, Head of Recruiting and Sourcing at Lufthansa Group, explains: “German companies seem to be better than many others at creating a family feeling in their cultures and engender a climate of loyalty where individuals can feel guilt-ridden if they leave. Consequently, people are often looking for a reason not to move.”

In order to attract talent in this environment, employers across the region need to rethink their hiring processes, as Maxine Pillinger, Director of RPO Solutions at Alexander Mann Solutions, explains:

“Many German companies still follow very ‘traditional’ application processes which can often be time-consuming and bureaucratic. Any organisation that is willing to eschew this approach in favour of something more modern and engaging has the opportunity to seize good candidates well before competitors are able to make any sort of meaningful offer. Given the scarcity of available talent – with the unemployment level in Germany standing at just 3.3% – businesses must also take a more flexible approach to job specifications and seek a greater balance of skills and capabilities rather than a focus on every tick-box being filled. With talent acquisition set to become more complex and competitive in the coming months, we’ve opened a new office in Berlin to better support our growing DACH client base.”