Five ways technology can support staff during the cost-of-living crisis
In many businesses, technology can be crucial for improving processes, driving great efficiencies and building better collaboration and communication among employees. This is particularly important today as the effects of remote working are becoming more apparent – with employees reporting feeling more disconnected at work and experiencing communication issues.
As the UK moves into recession, the role of technology in supporting employees and businesses is going to become even greater. In this blog, we explore the latest research which shows how hybrid working during a cost-of-living crisis could lead to more complex and expensive challenges for staff and businesses, and how technology can provide a cost-effective solution.
- Topic:
- Human Resources
The expansion of fixed fees beyond low value personal injury has long been a contentious topic amongst practitioners, particularly those representing claimants. In the September 2021 government response to the extending fixed recoverable costs in civil cases, the government confirmed its intention to extend fixed recoverable costs to all fast track claims up to a value of £25,000 in the county court and for the majority of claims with a value between £25,000 - £100,000. In addition, a consultation opened in January 2022 to consult on extending fixed recoverable costs to clinical negligence claims with a value up to £25,000.
- Topic:
- Legal
Due to the complex nature of delivering legal services and the plight of ‘information overload’ the sector is renowned for enduring, it is no surprise that lawyers have been looking for ways to automate law firms for many decades.
Looking back really helps to put law firm automation into perspective, especially when we see how far the profession has come in less than 100 years. It is particularly insightful to see how automation has accelerated in the last 20 years, as it helps law firms recognise where they are on their digital journey and informs decisions in terms of where they should be heading next.
All of the tech developments listed below have contributed to, and enabled, the advancement of the case management and workflow automation tools that currently exist for law firms today.
- Topic:
- Legal
The main challenge for any profit-making organisation this year, including any practice of law, is undoubtedly getting back on track by being able to win and serve customers profitably again. However, the moving feast of challenges facing law firms each year always presents a number of additional specific challenges.
As a team of 400+ professionals working closely with solicitors, we gather a whole raft of relevant information about the profession. Because we are in the business of solving law firm pain points, we learn more about the challenges facing the legal profession every day. With this information we have compiled a list of insights highlighting what we believe are the 10 greatest challenges facing law firms as many start their new financial year in April 2022.
As the well-known adage goes: “Most businesses are faced with a number of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible problems.” Whilst many of the challenges (or great opportunities, depending on which way you look at it) on our list may appear incredibly tricky to solve, technology can help. As the software providers of choice for thousands of UK law firms, in this blog we reflect on the needle of innovation and how the tech can help.
This blog acknowledges each individual challenge recognised by the profession, and whilst we all appreciate that technology cannot solve everything, it certainly has a key role to play. Keep reading to explore the tech that already exists and how it will contribute to solving challenges for law firms, as well as the exciting tech developments on the horizon that will also play their part.
- Topic:
- Legal
This blog explores how law firms can take business intelligence to the next level and why it's important to do so. It recognises the age-old principle that the legal profession has been built upon: 'making data pay'.
Of course, the way we generate and see ‘data’ in the legal profession has changed dramatically over the last decade, and it goes without saying that it has become completely unrecognisable over the history of the last century. Looking back even further to when our 14th century solicitor-ancestors were scribbling away with quills by candlelight, at a time when people were only just able to officially study law for the first time, we can recognise, that by its simplest definition, the work of the legal profession is, and always has been, all about the expert handling and exchange of data.
- Topic:
- Legal
- Topic:
- Legal
Contract catering is a term that those working in the sector will be familiar with, but for many outside it – even those in hospitality – there is a lack of clarity about what ‘contract catering’ actually means and the kind of services it provides.
Contract catering is a multi-faceted sector, providing catering services to a whole host of organisations and businesses – from schools and hospitals to workplaces, museums and sports arenas - so the challenges it faces are varied and wide.
In order to identify its challenges, it is, therefore, helpful to the first outline precisely what contract catering is.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
No matter how large or small your business, one thing we all want and need to know is how well it is performing. Having a real insight into which business functions are thriving and which need a little more attention is key to making sure your service stays financially sustainable while delivering high quality care.
Whether you’re the business owner, a CEO, Finance Manager or HR Director, seeing this information can allow you to make the best business decisions to make sure the care you provide is the best it possibly can for the end service user.
If analysis from Ofsted is to be taken at face value, it seems that one way for a maintained school or academy to improve its rating is to join an already-thriving MAT. According to a report from the education watchdog, which looked at 1,600 inspection reports before and after joining a MAT, the majority of schools made significant improvements.
- Topic:
- Education
With the education purse strings showing no signs of loosening, budgeting and financial forecasting for schools, academies and multi-academy trusts (MATs) is becoming increasingly complex. Here, Jane Gibson explains how cloud-based school financial software can help simplify the process by eliminating a number of redundant or duplicated tasks which are draining staff resources and hindering productivity.
- Topic:
- Education
