Business News Archives - Small Business Insider

Dinghy’s on-demand insurance cover integral to future of modern work

Posted on October 25, 2019 Written by Administrator

Dinghy, the London-based insurtech pioneers behind the UK’s first flexible, on-demand insurance cover for freelancers, are prominently featured in a new report – “The Impact Entrepreneur: Building a New Platform for Economic Security in Modern Work” – from the RSA (Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. The report can be read in full at the following link:

https://www.thersa.org/globalassets/pdfs/reports/impact-entrepreneur-report.pdf

Due to its deep understanding of the freelancing contingent, Dinghy were one of a cohort of early-stage ventures who were invited to take part in the RSA’s Economic Security Impact Accelerator (ESIA), all of whom are focused on affecting systems change around the rapidly growing freelance workforce.

Thanks to the rise of the freelancer, the world of work is evolving at a rapid pace. But is the swiftness of that change happening at the expense of the economic security of those driving it forward? The goal of all ESIA participants is to ensure that doesn’t happen.

Over generations, the vast majority of the workforce have become indentured to the economic safety net that ‘regular’ employment provides. Injured at work? You’ll be paid until you’re fit, healthy, and ready to return. Want to go on holiday? Just book some leave. Having a baby? Most companies have excellent parental benefits in place.But if you’re self-employed – currently – a large part of that safety net is cut away. With the number of people working for themselves now close to 5 million, the pioneers involved in ESIA are looking for ways to make sure that people can live and work securely.

Fabian Wallace-Stephens, Researcher at the RSA Future Work Centre, believes that Dinghy are key players in the battle to secure financial security for the freelance workforce:

“Changes in the way people work have led to a growing sense of economic insecurity in Britain. The rise in self-employment and emergence of the gig economy has left many workers lacking important protections including sick pay and pension contributions. While volatile incomes can exclude them from essential financial services such as mortgages”.

“The Economic Security Impact Accelerator is aimed to support a cohort of entrepreneurs that are working to build a 21st century safety net for economically insecure workers. Dinghy are playing a critical role here, helping to ensure ‘parity of esteem’ between employees and freelancers through access to new types of insurance”.

Dinghy co-founder Robert Hartley, who offered an insight into the groundbreaking work the company are carrying out in a presentation at the RSA in September, notes: “If the future of work is freelance – a fact that seems indisputable – then what does it mean for society as a whole when freelancers won’t get paid if they’re sick or injured and can’t work?

If the current trajectory continues, the world of work in 10 years is going to look very different from how it is today. We need to recreate the economic safety that ‘traditional’ employment offers in that new environment.

Dinghy was founded by freelancers, for freelancers. We know how difficult it can be. Part of our mission is to make economic exposure a thing of the past.”

Hartley continued: “Participating in the Accelerator has allowed us to seed coalitions between other like-minded companies, all of whom share the same passion for economic security.

Our foundations were built on that concept. We don’t charge superfluous fees. We enable freelancers to be flexible. We offer insurance cover which is affordable and easy to access. By keeping costs down we only give freelancers what they need, when they need it – giving them the financial space they require.

A huge part of our ethos is about using our position and our expertise to give something back to the people we insure. The creation of a new shared platform for economic security is essential, and we’re delighted to be involved.”

The Dinghy platform in particular lends itself to the provision of other products that will help freelancers offset the loss of the traditional cover and benefits that ‘regular’ employees take for granted, and the company is actively looking at options along that path. Watch this space.

So – what happens now? The report refers to Dinghy and its co-participants – Trezeo, Labour Xchange and Indycube in particular – as a “coalition for gig worker power”. All share a common view: independent workers are not simply a minority to be “dealt with”, but are a powerful force that will become a mainstream identity as more and more people take up flexible work. All are dedicated to ensuring that people can thrive in “independent by choice” lifestyles, on all tiers of the income spectrum.

Ultimately, Dinghy’s participation in the Accelerator has allowed it to engage with a core group of other changemakers looking at the same issue, each from a different angle.

As the old saying goes, two heads are better than one. Imagine, then, what a whole roomful of them can do.

About Dinghy

London based Dinghy offers on-demand business insurance to freelancers, with cover that can be turned on or off, up or down. There are no fees or admin charges and customers are charged by the second for cover used.

The revolutionary nature of our platform allows freelancers to match their insurance to their on-demand work life, reduce their costs, and alleviate cash flow concerns. Policies can be bought in three minutes, and all claims and policies can be handled online 24/7 through the Dinghy mobile app and website.

Underwritten by Allianz, Dinghy offers professional indemnity, public liability, cyber liability, business equipment and customised legal expenses to cover the needs of freelance professionals.

Launch of new lifestyle fundraising App Chatraise helping turn hobbies into fundraising events

Posted on July 19, 2019 Written by Administrator

A new app that allows like-minded people in the same area to organise charity fundraising events based on their hobbies launches the UK this week (18th of July).

Incorporating elements of JustGiving and Meetup, Chatraise is a community platform that helps users looking to turn their hobbies into fundraising events – whether it’s by setting up an event or joining an existing one. Chatraise connects those who want to raise money with those who are looking for fun activities to take part that also helps their favourite charities.

The platform allows users to explore and join fundraising experiences that fit their lifestyle, including activities they may have always wanted to try.

Founder Emmanuel Linardatos refers to this as Lifestyle Fundraising® – the process of raising money for charity through everyday activities. Linardatos was inspired to create the platform after finding a lack of variety in charity events, with the majority catering to a select few interests.

“Fundraising is currently dominated by one-off events or challenges such as skydiving, distance runs and exotic treks,” explained Linardatos. “As these events don’t fit everyone’s lifestyle, they discourage many people from raising money for good causes.

“Those who like to raise money through these types of events also struggle to reach their target. This makes sense, considering that they’re asking people to sponsor them without giving them the chance to be part of the experience. Only the fundraiser has the fun.”

This perceived lack of diversity in donor-led fundraising events limits the potential income of the charitable sector and its ability to solve big issues.

“Chatraise brings people together to make friends, have fun, and change the world in the process.”

Chatraise allows fundraisers to create almost any type of event to raise funds for a chosen charity. These can include yoga sessions, workshops, short runs, or even music festivals. Other users in their area are then able to browse events on the platform and donate to the charity in order to join them. The platform connects those who want to raise money with those who are looking for fun activities to take part that also helps their favourite charities.

Last year, UK charities received more than £10bn^[i] from individual donors. However, as Linardatos notes, while this number is massive, it does not come close to solving the issues that charities are trying to tackle.

He believes that the UK launch of Chatraise, which also coincides with an equity crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube, will help to kickstart a global Lifestyle Fundraising® movement.

“Individual fundraising and donations play the most important role for most charities,” he said. ”So, if we want to seriously address issues that we care about, individual fundraising should get the attention it deserves.”

Linardatos added: “Individuals should not have to go out of their way to fundraise or make a donation. The fundraising sector should put the donor first by making it as easy as possible to create and join genuinely fun activities that fit into many different lifestyles, rather than those happy to go for a run or jump out of a plane!”.

Following the successful soft-launch of its pilot app, Chatraise will launch in the UK an^[ii]d Switzerland with more than 100,000 charities on the 4th of July.

Chatraise was founded in 2017 by Emmanuel Linardatos, a Lancaster University business graduate and COO of Linardatos Publishers for six years. He helped to turn the publishing company to profitability and make it the sector’s second-biggest firm in less than two years.

About Chatraise

Chatraise is a Lifestyle Fundraising platform which combines JustGiving and Meetup in one app, allowing its users to create and join events based on the activities they love.

Home

Tweets by chatraise

https://www.instagram.com/chatraise/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/linardatos/

www.crowdcube.com/chatraise

Citations

https://www.cafonline.org/docs/default-source/about-us-publications/caf-uk-giving-2019-report-an-overview-of-charitable-giving-in-the-uk.pdf

Portable and smart medical devices: how they can change lives

Posted on October 30, 2018 Written by Administrator

Wireless connectivity and miniaturisation have seen the bulkiest of devices shrink down to once-unthinkable sizes, allowing complex, life-changing technology to become portable.

We all enjoy our smartphones, mp3 players and other entertainment and communications devices, but the portability of medical devices can be truly life-changing and, in many cases, life-saving.

Up until recently, people with debilitating conditions have been confined to the hospital, due to the sheer size, weight, power requirement and complex nature of many medical devices. With the rise of portable medical devices and the proliferation of smart home technology, these people are increasingly able to live with their conditions at home, and look after their own health as they travel.

The sign of a modern assistive health device, beyond portability, is the inclusion of e-health technology. We’re now able to monitor things such as our blood pressure, glucose levels and heart rate in real time, view trends and share them with our doctors, and treat a variety of conditions remotely and efficiently.

Some examples:

Blood Pressure Monitors

Blood Pressure Monitors such as the Nokia BPM+, Omron EVOLV and the QardioArm Wireless BPM are highly-portable and come without the tubes or wires common to tabletop versions.

They instead attach to your upper arm and use smart technology to record and monitor your blood pressure.

The Nokia BPM+ is able to sync with your smartphone via Bluetooth to help you keep track of your measurements, while providing feedback and advice.

QardioArm and EVOLV also detect instances of irregular heartbeats and warn you of such irregularities. Additionally, QardioArm allows you to monitor your blood pressure across multiple locations to help you understand how set, setting and activity can impact your heart’s health.

Portable EKG/ECG Monitors

Portable EKG/ECG monitors assess the activity of the heart and are commonly used during electrocardiogram tests. While old models would display data as graphical lines on paper, 21st century versions record and display data digitally, allowing you record and keep track of your movements quickly and easily.

Most newer models even include LCD screens and include sensors to let you view results in real time.

Devices such as AliveCor allow you to take your pulse via your fingers and monitor your heart rate anywhere, while an accompanying app lets you view an electrocardiogram on your smartphone.

The Omron HCG-801 allows you to track heart pain, palpitations, and shortness of breath, even when these conditions are fleeting. Even Apple is developing an advanced heart-monitoring feature for future versions of its smartwatch.

CPAP devices

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices brought home to people what looks like hospital-worthy breathing equipment. But for sleep apnoea sufferers these devices are a godsend. They use airflow to regulate breathing and stop airways from closing during sleep.

Originally the home devices were tabletop versions, that are noisy, require the use of a long tube, rely on a plug connection and are far from ideal for travelling with. But this is changing. For example, Airmony is a portable, washable, quiet version that’s scalable for adults and children. It’s also the first to be tubeless.

It is also a smart device that uses e-health tech. By recording data as you sleep, users are able to monitor their sleeping patterns and share the findings with their doctor to help develop better treatment plans.

Air Quality Monitors

Carrying an inhaler is now not the only thing you can do to alleviate asthma symptoms or allergies. The compact Atmotube with USB connectivity uses sensors and a mobile app to alert you of presence of harmful gases and compounds, and measures the air temperature and humidity in your vicinity.

Some people may simply want to keep track of the air quality in their area. The GermGuardian Smart 4-in-1 also detects prevalence of dust, pet hair and pollen, while the thumb-sized Wynd Wearable acts as a smart portable air purifier.

The Extech CO250, as the name suggests, is used solely for detecting carbon dioxide. On the other hand, the IQAir AirVisual Pro uses AI and laser technology to compare the air quality in your home with that outside, which may be used by those living in large, polluted cities.

Glucose Monitoring Systems

New smart, portable glucose monitoring systems such as the Contour Next One and True Metrix Air let you measure the glucose levels in your blood with test strips on the go.

The smart element is that these little devices are able to connect to your smartphone in order to monitor your own blood sugar levels over time and share them with a doctor.

The benefit of being able to test your glucose levels remotely is that you can do so before and after exercise, meals out, or in any situation that you might need to do so remotely without the usual blood test.

Massage Devices

Pains caused by arthritis, sciatica or Carpal Tunnel can now be alleviated on the go.

The TechCare Massager Touch uses a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator and a Powered Muscle Stimulator to administer electric pulses to your skin in order to stimulate nerve fibers and block pain signals to your brain. It has 24 massage modes and can even simulate deep tissue and acupuncture massages.

Other devices such as the TheraRUB Percussion Head Massager, work on both the head and feet to stop muscle spasms, while the Shiatsu Neck Massager/Foot Massager/Kneading Massage Pillow imitates a shiatsu massage to eliminate pains in multiple areas.

In conclusion; the focus on the portability of medical devices is helping to bring healthcare into the 21st century, allowing people to look after their health at home and on the go, and could provide doctors with much clearer information about particular medical issues.

If you have a condition that requires regular treatment and attention, it’s worth doing some research on the availability of portable medical devices – they really can be life-changing!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jaume Palau is the creator of Airmony, a next generation sleep apnoea device. Portable, light and tubeless, Airmony pushes a continuous flow of air to help sleep apnoea patients breathe during sleep. It includes sensors for e-health tech, allowing patients and their doctors to monitor sleep patterns.

Airmony was founded by Jaume Palau, an Electronics Engineer of more than 25 years and a developer of devices for biotech research labs. A long time sleep apnoea sufferer, Palau found existing sleep apnoea devices to be oversized, outdated and unsuitable for travel.

The device’s development was supported by renowned sleep specialist, Dr Eduard Estivill – now Airmony’s Medical Advisor – who founded the Estivill Sleep Clinic almost 30 years ago. Estivill has had more than 200 papers published in scientific journals and millions of his books have been sold.

Website: http://www.yourairmony.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tbiom-airmony/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TBIOMED/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tbiomed

Crowdcube: https://www.crowdcube.com/companies/airmony/pitches/bgBaeZ#

Healthcare, birthdays off and gym membership are among perks Brits want from employers

Posted on May 23, 2018 Written by Administrator

Private healthcare, an extra day’s holiday on their birthday and free gym membership are among the perks Brits want from employers, according to a study.

Researchers polled 2,000 office workers to identify the benefits they would like to see from their place of work – including flexible working hours, a nice desk and staff discounts.

Other desirables include company holidays away, being able to make personal calls at work and having space to be creative.

However more than half of those polled don’t think there really is such a thing as the perfect employer.

Commissioned by office products suppliers, Lyreco, the research found 68 per cent believe their current workplace lacks perks.

Helen Moran, category manager – paper and office products at Lyreco, said: “Our team are visiting UK offices selling and delivering products every single day, so we wanted to fully understand current work trends and how office life has changed over the years.

“We also wanted to explore what creates the wow-factor when visiting an office or learning more about how a company looks after their staff.

“It really highlighted the importance of making the right decision when it comes to ordering office items as 39 per cent of workers agreed that good quality office supplies can help show that bosses value staff.”

The research also found an incredible seven in 10 have considered quitting their job at some point during the past 12 months.

Almost half of office workers regret accepting their current job and just one third plan to stay in their role for the rest of their career.

The top things most likely to make those polled quit are nightmare commutes, overwhelming workloads and an intimidating boss.

Other reasons include being underpaid, bullying work colleagues and a massive lottery win.

Amid this, two thirds think work is more stressful now than it was as recently as five years ago.

While seven in 10 would like their bosses to give them more time and space to think things through properly.

And just 22 per cent of office workers believe they have enough freedom to be creative at work.

Carried out through OnePoll.com, the research identified the top things which would make those polled happier at work – including more emphasis on employee health and well-being.

Other boosts include recognising the staff who do the little things around the office – such as tidying the kitchen or doing the filing – and giving the office a makeover.

On this note, it also emerged half of office workers think the look and feel of an office affects how well employees do their job.

And almost half think good quality office furniture can help make workers feel more valued at work.

Interestingly, office surroundings or more specifically desks can also make workers envious of their colleagues.

The most likely causes of desk envy include co-workers who get to sit next to the window, those who have more privacy around their workstations and those who have more space.

The study also explored office décor and how it can boost productivity and found landscape photography, artwork and prints featuring inspirational quotes make a positive impact.

Helen Moran added: “The survey findings have kick-started a drive for Lyreco to delve deeper into UK workplaces and find offices that truly make you go wow.

“We will be revealing more on our social channels over the coming weeks with advice, inspiration and special offers that can help improve work stations around Britain.”

TOP 20 – PERKS WANTED BY OFFICE WORKERS

Relaxed attitude
Supportive colleagues
Flexible working hours
A close-knit team
Light hearted atmosphere
Good pension scheme
Being able to book time off at the last minute
Flexitime
Private healthcare
A fun place to work
Training schemes
Space to be creative
Employee discounts
Gym membership
Being able to take personal calls during office hours
Getting an hour-long dinner break
Extra days holiday on your birthday
Nice desk or workspace
The latest technology and tools to do my job
Company holidays

The rise of Hobbypreneurs

Posted on August 8, 2017 Written by Administrator

A new report launched today by Britain Thinks and Investec Click & Invest, the new online investment management service, reveals unprecedented numbers of people are making huge changes to their lives because they have greater confidence in their own abilities, despite economic uncertainty, changing work patterns and less job and financial security.

This has fostered a stronger ‘can do’ attitude in society, and the report describes this trend of more people making radical changes to take control of their lives as ‘Resetting’ and says there is no age limit to this. Over one third of the British population have already ‘Reset’, and a further 32% of the population are planning to make major adjustments in the next five years, such as changing to a more rewarding career, setting up a new business or even turning a hobby into a profit-making venture.

However, a post General Election snap poll conducted as part of the analysis shows that this trend has become even more pronounced in light of increased uncertainty. 85% of the population now say they would like to have even greater control over their future, and over half (56%) are now likely to make a major change in the next five years.

Almost one third (30%) of existing ‘Resetters’ have set up their own business and a further 22% have made a hobby pay – a new group of entrepreneurs the report calls ‘Hobbypreneurs’. A further 30% have changed careers to do something more rewarding. They are also much more focused on financial planning and investments than the population as whole.

The report was commissioned by Investec Click & Invest (www.clickandinvest.com), the new online investment management service for individuals with £10,000 or more to invest. Click & Invest combines the experience of a team of Investment Managers and over 180 years of wealth management experience with the convenience and ease of an online service, opening the door for individuals who wouldn’t usually be able to access traditional wealth management services.

Click & Invest has an in-house Research team and a dedicated team of Investment Managers who create and actively manage investment portfolios on behalf of clients. These teams constantly analyse the markets to make investment decisions, and select the best funds from whole of the investment market with the aim of outperforming the market to deliver returns for clients.

Commenting on the report, Viki Cooke, Founding Partner of Britain Thinks, said: “Our research identifies that across the population there is a move towards empowerment as people recognise that in a world of increasing uncertainty, they need to take control of their lives and ‘Reset’. This has implications for work and careers, lifestyle and financial planning. We see this as a societal trend which is set to continue.”

Jane Warren, CEO of Investec Click & Investec said: “We commissioned this report to ensure that we really understand the way our clients are thinking. What is exciting is that people are approaching their futures in a positive, planned and strategic way to ensure they live their lives the way they want to. This includes carefully and considered financial planning and decision-making.”

Andrew Summers, Head of Collectives at Investec Wealth and Investment, highlights the benefits to UK PLC of the report’s findings: “Small businesses have long been the engine room of the UK economy, so the fact that more people are taking control and setting up their own enterprises is likely to have a positive impact across all sectors”.

Positive attitude to taking control

The research reveals that across the population, there is a very positive attitude to making fundamental changes to the way we live our lives:

79% agree “there’s no age limit on making a big change to your life”
79% agree “I’d rather do something I love than something well paid”
75% agree that “gaining life experience is more important to me than material wealth”

This is against a backdrop of huge political and economic uncertainty around Brexit, changing expectations of work with almost three quarters of respondents (71%) recognising that there is no such thing as a ‘job for life’. There’s also a greater onus on personal responsibility in terms of financial security with 87% agreeing that being financial secure is important to achieving your goals. These factors are providing impetus for people to take greater control of their lives.

Two groups of Resetters

The report identifies two distinct types of ‘Resetters’ amongst those who have taken proactive steps to live their lives differently. 10% of the population are ‘Recent Career Resetters’, of which 68% have changed their career to something they feel more passionate about in the last year, gone freelance (23%) or set up their own business (26%). Their average age is 35, they are more educated (49% have a degree compared to 29% of the general population), less likely to own property (49% compared to 61% of the general population) and less likely to have children (48% do not have children compared to 39% of the general population). They are also more likely to have some savings and investments (84% versus 78% for the general population).

The second group are the ‘Seasoned Resetters’ which account for 19% of the population. This group has achieved both a career change and lifestyle change – 32% have set up their own business and 26% have made a hobby pay. They tend to be older with an average of age of 52. Almost three quarters (70%) are property owners, compared to 61% of the general population and are more likely to have higher value savings and investments.

Consistent across all ‘Resetters’ is that they are driven, motivated hard workers. They also ensure that the changes they make do not have a negative impact on them or those around them. To do this, they plan in three ways – they ensure their financial security, strategically plan the changes they are going to make and ensure they are well connected making them well-placed to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.

Financial planning – ‘Recent Career Resetters’ are more likely to start an investment plan than the general population (55% compared to 27%) and 34% of ‘Seasoned Resetters’ describe themselves as already financially secure compared to 20% of the general population.
Strategic planning – 81% of Recent Career Resetters agree that they are always working towards their next goal compared to 61% of the general population and Seasoned Resetters tend to have achieved more goals than the average person.
Making connections – Recent Career Resetters are almost twice as likely to be networking than the general population and Seasoned Resetters are very well connected in comparison to the general population – they are much more likely to be volunteering (63% vs 25%) and around four times more likely than average to be a member of a local organisation or board (13% vs 3%) or be a non-exec director (12% vs 3%).

These findings have major implications for the way that people in Britain today approach planning their futures as they seek to take greater control of their lives. The changes are not random but strategic. Resetting requires planning – particularly financial planning – to ensure that the goals people want to achieve are attainable.