www.managedITmag.co.uk 5 compliance and risk management concerns (39%); and slow data transfer for real time applications (36%). However, respondents said the repatriation process was made more difficult by the complexity of moving applications back to internal systems (38%), inflexible contracts or cloud vendor lock-in (36%) and lack of internal skills for repatriation (41%). Stewart Laing, CEO of Asanti, said: “Cloud is powerful – but not perfect. The lesson here is that infrastructure strategy needs to be driven by business needs, not vendor hype. We strongly advise UK organisations to revisit their current and future hosting strategies with a more critical eye, especially as AI workloads, regulatory scrutiny and cyber threats escalate.” … BT launches SME cyber training programme Following a spate of cyber-attacks on UK businesses, BT, in partnership with Be the Business, has launched a dedicated cyber security training programme highlighting the practical steps SMEs can take to defend themselves against new and emerging threats, including AI-driven attacks and stolen credential breaches. The Be the Business Cyber Security Report (May 2025) reveals that 42% of small businesses and 67% of medium-sized companies have experienced a cyberattack in the last 12 months. However, 39% of SMEs still don’t provide cyber security training for their teams. … UK firms turn to freelancers to fill skills gap UK businesses are turning to freelancers to counter persistent skills shortages and soaring salary expectations, claims freelance platform Fiverr. Four out of 10 business leaders surveyed for the third annual UK Future Workforce Index say they are working with more freelancers than ever. Almost nine out of ten (87%) plan to engage freelancers up to 10 times in the next six months. This trend is being driven in part by recruitment challenges – 35% of businesses are struggling to fill fulltime roles due to a lack of available talent (cited by 49%) and unreasonable salary expectations (41%) – and in part by a desire to remain lean and agile. Over one third (35%) of businesses say they are saving over £40,000 per month by using freelancers, with the average monthly saving exceeding £33,000. One in five is using freelancers to access critical AI expertise. Almost half (46%) of freelancers report increased earnings thanks to AI, with 44% charging a premium for AI-driven work. Almost three quarters (70%) of freelancers say they earn more now than when they were in full-time employment. fiverr.com … In landlines we trust Over one third (35%) of British consumers say they wouldn’t trust a small or medium-sized business that only uses a mobile number, according to new research by Zen Internet. Almost half (48%) say big businesses that have a landline are more trustworthy – rising to 54% among Millennials aged 28-43. As the UK races toward a digital telecoms future, with the PSTN switch‑off due to be completed by January 2027, Richard Tang, CEO and Founder of the connectivity, voice, cloud and networking solutions provider, highlights the value of a landline number. He said: “The type of number you use is more than just technical, it’s psychological. It sends a message about how established and trustworthy your business is, signalling scale, support and commitment. As the final deadline for the switch-off of the UK’s traditional phone network approaches, businesses need to rethink not just how they communicate but how those methods are perceived by the public.” Almost half (44%) of respondents prefer to communicate with businesses by phone: 63% believe it is quicker and/or easier to explain things verbally and half say a phone call feels more personal and allows for better connection. Only 13% favour texting or in-person contact, and just 4% have a preference for social media. https://business.zen.co.uk/voice … The UK’s most familyfriendly employers Working Families, the national charity for working parents and carers, has recognised the UK’s top familyfriendly employers at the 2025 Best Practice Awards held at London’s Apothecaries’ Hall. This year’s winners are: Best for Mothers – Pan Macmillan Best for Fathers – Royal Air Force Best for Carers & Eldercare – Crown Prosecution Service Best Family Network – BNP Paribas Best for All-Round Flexibility – Ten2Two Limited Best Small Employer – ACEVO Best for Mental Health & Wellbeing – Nationwide Building Society Best for Supporting Different Pathways to Parenthood – Principality Building Society Family-Friendly Champion of the Year – Aileen McNiven, ILF Scotland workingfamilies.org.uk 30,000 steps in the right direction Environmental charity the John Muir Trust is challenging UK organisations to raise money for the environment and promote health and wellbeing in the workplace with the launch of the Step Up for Wild Places challenge. This initiative invites organisations to sponsor employees to ‘climb’ four of the UK’s most iconic peaks during the working week – or at least to take the equivalent number of steps from base to summit and back again in their own neighbourhood. Participants have a choice of four mountains – Ben Nevis, Schiehallion, Blà Bheinn and Helvellyn – each with a different step count. Ben Nevis is highest with a step count of 30,000. Funds raised will go towards conservation work in the area surrounding the chosen mountain, such as peatland restoration, native tree planting, removal of invasive species and path repairs. To find out more or request a Step Up for Wild Places starter pack, visit www.johnmuirtrust.org NEWS continued...
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