01732 759725 05 magazine BULLETIN reminder that cybersecurity is not just about technology – it’s about people. By founding National Social Engineering Day, we’re creating an annual reminder to stay vigilant and informed about the evolving tactics used by cybercriminals. By educating ourselves and our teams, we can transform the human element from the weakest link to the strongest defence against cyberthreats.” www.nationaldaycalendar.com ... I am Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton has taken the chequered flag in a poll of the UK’s most popular ‘spoof names’ – the false identities British consumers use when they don’t want to give personal information to businesses. Analysis of 140 million customer records by data consultancy Sagacity reveals the UK’s five most used spoof names to be: q Lewis Hamilton w Harry Potter e Gordon Ramsey r Taylor Swift t Indiana Jones Sagacity research shows that when people choose not to divulge their real name, 60% will use a spoof name, 35% will use a profanity and 5% will resort to gibberish. ... Free business advice Small Business Britain is offering 500 free places on its Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme starting in September. The programme run in partnership with small business platform Xero and ARU Peterborough university is designed for the UK’s 5.2 million microbusinesses that have historically been ineligible for Government support aimed at more established start-ups, such as ‘Help to Grow’. Since launching in 2022, the Small and Mighty programme has boosted the skills of nearly 3,000 sole traders and micro-businesses, including Denise de Gromoboy, Founder of Denalis Jewellery. She said: “I’ve worked for SMEs in the past but there were definite gaps in my knowledge as a business owner. The course filled those gaps, gave me so much more help and information as well as increasing my confidence. I’ve also met so many other small business owners and the support of this group has been invaluable.” The six-week online programme combines training in business management and finance with two hours of free mentoring and access to a support network of small businesses. https://smallbusinessbritain.uk/ small-and-mighty ... A pivotal moment for black entrepreneurs The Black Business Network (BBN) and Lloyds Bank have joined forces to launch a free online platform designed to support Black entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journey. The Black Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Network (BEECON) gives members access to grants, loans and investment opportunities; a vibrant peer community; events and networking sessions; a database of over 200 UK-based organisations dedicated to supporting Black entrepreneurs; and targeted resources and programmes for every stage of the business journey. Shari Leigh, Founder of Black Business Network, said: “We are thrilled to launch BEECON, a platform born from BBN’s deep understanding of the systemic barriers that Black entrepreneurs in the UK face. The platform represents a pivotal moment for the Black entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing an ecosystem designed to level the playing field for Black entrepreneurs in the UK.” https://www.blackbusinessnetwork. online/support-hub ... Boosting performance through technology Technology took centre stage at Paris 2024, with solutions based on AI, Internet of Things, 3D Printing and other fields making an impact in multiple areas, from the performance of Top 10 new office buzzwords Rippl, the employee recognition, rewards and benefits app, has scoured Reddit and TikTok to identify this year’s workplace buzzwords. Following the emergence of ‘quiet quitting’ and ‘the Great Resignation’ in 2023, it has identified 10 new expressions widely used on social media. They are: q Acting your wage – Putting in a level of effort appropriate to your wage; w Monk Mode – An intense period of uninterrupted focus with no external distractions; e Performance punishment – Being overloaded with colleagues’ work because you can take on more and operate above expectations; r Loud suffering – Publicly sharing how busy you are and how close you are to ‘burnout’; t Fake happy – Putting on a happy face whilst hiding your exhaustion; y Woliday – Spending your annual leave working; u Interview insanity – A long and strenuous interview process that doesn’t include any updates or feedback; i Office peacocking – Making offices more attractive to entice employees back post-pandemic; o Ghost jobs – jobs that don’t actually exist posted by businesses to give the impression they are thriving; and 1) Quitting guilt – Feeling guilty for quitting an unhealthy work environment and leaving colleagues behind. Any favourites of your own? Please email to [email protected] continued... Shari Leigh Denise de Gromoboy
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