Category: Best Business Newspaper

Scottish bank named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list

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UNITY Trust Bank, which supports organisations to deliver positive social impact, has been named by The Sunday Times in its annual Best Places to Work Awards.

The prestigious list recognises and celebrates the UK’s best employers, based on feedback from employees and an independent assessment of six key areas, including workplace culture, leadership, employee engagement and wellbeing.

An impressive 91% of employees said that they were proud to work for Unity Trust Bank, and 90% felt that their work was worthwhile. When looking at measurements for workplace happiness, Unity’s highest ranking was for ‘Instilling Pride’ (89%), with an average happiness score of 85%.

Commenting on the award, Julia Tarpey, Director of Human Resources, said:

“Being named in the Best Places to Work is a fantastic achievement, and recognition of the inclusive, diverse and collaborative culture we foster at Unity Trust Bank, which our people are proud to be part of.

“Our colleagues share Unity’s vision of creating a better society by contributing to economic, community and social change, and are fundamental in supporting customers so that they can make a positive impact. We are dedicated to living these values by supporting the growth of every individual, enabling them to prosper both personally and professionally.

“From designing our new head-office space with a focus on promoting wellbeing, to funding industry qualifications that allow employees to pursue their career ambitions, and empowering individuals to deliver social impact through company volunteering days and the employee-led ‘Unity & Me’ forum, we recognise that people are at the heart of Unity’s success, and are proud to invest in their wellbeing.”

Unity Trust Bank has a Gold standard for Investors in People, is a Real Living Wage and Disability Confident Employer, and a signatory of the Women in Finance Charter, which is a commitment to see

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Scotland’s best workplaces crowned at BCO Awards

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SCOTLAND’S most outstanding workplaces have been announced, with British Council for Offices’ Awards going to six office buildings across the country. 

Held at the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow, on 26 April, the BCO’s annual Scottish Awards Lunch recognised projects that demonstrate best practice in office design, fit-out, operation and sustainability, setting the standard for excellence across the sector.

The winners of this year’s competition in Scotland stand out for their unparalleled drive to set new sustainability benchmarks, as well as for ensuring occupiers and local communities are at the heart of each development.

In its second year, the ESG Award continues to celebrate the achievements of offices that excel in responding to the sector’s changing environmental, social and governance needs.

The BCO Regional Award winners for Scotland are:

  • The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), Renfrew (Corporate Workplace)
  • 1 New Park Square, Edinburgh (Commercial Workplace)
  • Deloitte, Edinburgh (Fit-out of Workplace)
  • Statkraft, The Garment Factory, Glasgow (Projects up to 2,500m2)
  • Eastworks, Glasgow (Refurbished/Recycled)
  • The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), Renfrew (ESG)

The annual Chair’s Award for an outstanding contribution to the property industry in the region, was presented to Graeme Bone, MD of Drum Property Group.

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, Renfrew, was presented with not only the coveted ‘Corporate Workplace’ but also the award for ESG. Built for the University of Strathclyde and designed by HLM Architects, the judges were hugely impressed that it sets a new standard in environmental and energy achievements, earning BREEAM ‘outstanding’. A pivotal anchor for future development, NMIS is attracting global manufacturers as well as bridging small innovative businesses with larger organisations in an inspiring collaborative space.  Its commitment to sustainability, innovation and industry collaboration is quickly establishing NMIS as a beacon of excellence.

Parabola’s ‘1 New Park Square’, Edinburgh, designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris,

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The Best POS Systems for 2024

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The right POS features will make it easier to run your business and streamline your processes. Here are some features you should look for in a POS system.

Payment Processing

Most businesses begin looking for a POS system because they need a way to complete customer transactions. Many POS providers go beyond accepting credit cards and debit cards, allowing you to take online and contactless payments. In the process, you’ll receive detailed insights about your daily sales, so you’ll always know how your business is performing.

Inventory Management

Basic POS systems may support only a product catalog, while others have POS inventory management features that allow you to track inventory at the component or ingredient level. Some plans include purchase ordering and vendor management features to simplify your reordering process. Consider whether standard inventory tools will be sufficient or if you will need advanced features to keep your business well stocked.

Customer Management

Customer management features vary among POS systems. Some allow you to capture basic information, such as your customers’ email addresses, so you can build an email marketing contact list. Other POS systems are CRM-enabled, with features that let you generate CRM metrics and create customer profiles, including contact information, purchase histories, preferences, birthdays and notes.

If you prefer more extensive customer relationship management than you can find in a POS system, read our reviews of the best CRM software to find a solution.

Loyalty Programs

To ensure a loyal customer base, you must reward your best customers. A POS system enables that with built-in loyalty software. The top POS systems can track information on your customers’ shopping and dining preferences and help you design customer loyalty programs and rewards programs around that data. You can customize rewards based on how frequently customers shop at your store and

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Golf Business News – ECCO GOLF LT1 named best spikeless golf shoe in 2024 by MyGolfSpy

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The new ECCO GOLF LT1 (pictured) has been ranked as the best spikeless golf shoe of 2024 by prominent independent golf equipment testers, MyGolfSpy.

The LT1 received an overall score of 9.6 out of 10 by the revered testing website, beating 27 other hybrid golf shoe options to claim top spot. 

The review highlighted the supreme comfort provided by LT1, citing the upper and dual foam cushion design in the hybrid shoe. Another stand-out feature mentioned was the waterproof exterior, with LT1 providing the best defence against the elements, along with the shoe’s exceptional traction and stability.

“We’re extremely proud to have received this level of recognition for the LT1,” commented Thomas Maymann, Head of Product for ECCO GOLF. “The entire team at ECCO GOLF is thrilled with the LT1, and this award from MyGolfSpy just emphasises what a great shoe it is. We are pioneers of the hybrid shoe phenomenon and this ranking underlies our commitment to continue to make our shoes even better.”

At the heart of LT1 lies ECCO’s most recent technological advancement: ECCO LYTR. This revolutionary approach combines ECCO’s renowned FLUIDFORM technology with all-new ECCO LYTR Foam, a cutting-edge material engineered to deliver unparalleled cushioning and rebound. ECCO LYTR Foam is seamlessly integrated into the shoe’s sole and when combined with ECCO’s ultra-soft PHORENE material in the midsole, it creates a flexible, cloud-like sensation for the wearer.

ECCO has integrated a number of other advanced technologies into the LT1, including the E-DTS™ NET design on the outsole, an evolution of the acclaimed DYNAMIC TRACTION SYSTEM™. This ensures exceptional durability and provides golfers with unrivalled multi-directional traction for superior performance on-course.

The ECCO GOLF LT1 also offers a sporty, contemporary look, with an outsole that provides a modern visual twist to the shoe. Notably, the shank,

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Loblaw ending 50% discount on some food items raises concerns about anti-competitive behaviour

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The revelation that Loblaw will end its 50 per cent discount on perishable foods like meat, fruit and vegetables as they near their best-before dates should attract the attention of Canada’s Competition Bureau, says one industry expert. 

Prof. Sylvain Charlebois, the director of Dalhousie University’s Agri-food Analytics Lab, believes the action taken by the grocery chain to align its policy with other food retailers might be considered anti-competitive behaviour.

In an email to Charlebois Monday, Loblaw spokesperson Catherine Thomas said the company is moving away from offering a range of discounts between 30 and 50 per cent on “serve-tonight” products and toward “a more predictable and consistent offering, including more consistency with our competitors.”

“If this is not collusion, it certainly appears to be very close to it,” Charlebois wrote in a column for the Toronto Sun, describing the practice as “discount fixing.”

Meanwhile, NDP MP Alistair McGregor has written to the commissioner of the Competition Bureau asking for a “thorough investigation.” In the letter, he stated that he believed Loblaw’s “co-ordination raises suspicions of possible collusion or anti-competitive business practices within the Canadian grocery retail sector.”

While such a move to scrap the popular discount may anger some consumers, some experts say there’s nothing to suggest it runs afoul of competition laws.

WATCH | An end to deep discounts at Loblaw-owned grocery stores: 

Loblaws will no longer offer 50% discount on expiring food

Loblaw-owned grocery stores will lower the discount on perishable foods like meat, fruit, and vegetables near their expiration date from 50 to 30 per cent.

‘Conscious parallelism’

Instead, what Loblaw appears to be doing is known as “conscious parallelism” — the ability of competitors to watch what others are doing in order to copy them, according to Jennifer Quaid, an associate professor of law who

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5 Hot Jobs for MBA Graduates | Best Graduate Schools

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A graduate degree is not required for most business positions, but it is advantageous – especially for employees looking to climb the corporate ladder, earn a higher salary or sharpen leadership skills.

However, the current job market is competitive, says Liz Chilla, senior director of full-time programs in the MBA Career Management Center at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in Georgia.

MBA graduates “cannot underestimate the importance of networking in getting selected and preparing for interviews,” she wrote in an email. Those “that engage with their network effectively are more likely to stand out among other talented applicants.”

Higher-salary business industry jobs like consulting and tech, for instance, are currently experiencing hiring freezes and layoffs, says Lisa Shatz, assistant dean and director for MBA programs at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Naveen Jindal School of Management. For MBA graduates who want to go into consulting, she suggests “finding opportunities out there in consulting when consulting firms aren’t hiring. So that means possibly targeting smaller firms that have a specific area that’s still growing,” like health care consulting.

“As students are looking at MBA programs and thinking, ‘I want to get into some of these industries that aren’t hiring so it’s a bad time,’ I would argue it’s actually the best time,” Shatz says. “They’ll be in school while the economy is coming around.”

She adds that “especially in the consulting world as capital becomes expensive, these companies are holding back on their projects. That’s why consulting firms don’t have projects and are laying people off. But there tends to be a really quick recovery. As soon as capital becomes less expensive and the economy comes back, every company is going to want to put those projects back out there.”

Experts urge business school alumni in the job market to

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Binghamton University graduate programs ranked among best in nation by U.S. News

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Several of Binghamton University’s graduate programs placed prominently on this year’s prestigious U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools list.

This year’s highlights include business and pharmacy programs cracking the top 100; and three programs from the College of Community and Public Affairs.

“I’m happy to see so many Binghamton graduate programs recognized on this well-respected list,” said President Harvey Stenger. “These are top-tier programs that provide students with the knowledge and preparation they need to become experts in their fields, and this ranking affirms that.”

Each year, U.S. News ranks graduate programs based on business, education, law, nursing and other fields; more than 80 programs were ranked this year. Rankings are based on statistical surveys of programs and reputation surveys sent to academics and professionals. Some programs are ranked by a unique methodology. For example, business rankings compare full-time MBA programs on “career placement success, student excellence and qualitative assessments by experts.”

Rankings for 12 of the disciplines this year are based on surveys from academic leaders at peer institutions. Highlights from this year’s rankings include:

  • The College of Community and Public Affairs saw its public administration program jump from #72 to #65; social work was ranked #77 and education was ranked #130.
  • The School of Management jumped from #104 to #90 for business, reaching the top 100 for the first time.
  • The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was tied for #95 for pharmacy.
  • Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science saw its computer science program jump from #105 to #96.
  • Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences was ranked #102 for nursing and #159 for occupational therapy.

“That several programs across a wide variety of disciplines were named to this year’s list speaks to the strength of our graduate offerings and the breadth of

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U.S. News & World Report Again Ranks UConn MBA Among the Best

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U.S. News & World Report has again ranked the UConn School of Business’ part-time MBA program, known as the FLEX MBA, as among the top graduate business programs in the nation.

The 2024-25 Best Graduate School Rankings were released today and the UConn program now ranks at No. 33 in the nation. That’s up from No. 37 last year and reflects a steady increase from the No. 70 ranking in 2018-19.

Mia Hawlk, Executive Director of MBA Programs, attributes the ranking increase to a commitment to the student experience, the creation of innovative courses, and the dedication of faculty and staff.

“To see our ranking go up that much over six years is really impressive,’’ she said. “We find ourselves in the company of private colleges, but we are delivering the same level of excellence at a much lower cost.’’

“Our program is never stagnant. We’ve recently added innovative courses, addressing sustainability in business, artificial intelligence for managers, emotional intelligence in business, and revolutionary technologies,’’ she said. “These are just some of the many ways we distinguish ourselves from our competitors.’’

Professor Jose M. Cruz, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs at the School of Business, said it is an honor to rank so highly in such a competitive hierarchy.

“The UConn MBA program has consistently defined the pinnacle of excellence in a fiercely competitive landscape,’’ Cruz said. “Renowned for its rigorous curriculum, active student involvement, emphasis on vital leadership cultivation, and robust career support, the program stands as a beacon of quality and innovation.’’

Cruz said students appreciate the ability to tailor their studies with specializations that include business analytics, digital marketing strategy, finance, management, or supply chain management. They can also opt for a comprehensive general MBA degree.

The FLEX MBA program is offered in-person in Hartford

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The Best Business Schools In The USA

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Find out which business schools top the US News MBA Ranking in our breakdown of the best business schools in the USA

The Wharton School and Stanford Graduate School of Business are the best business schools in the USA, that’s according to the US News & World Report. 

The Wharton School has regained its number one position after slipping to third place in 2023, and Stanford shot up to first place from its position in sixth last year. 

Last year’s first place, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, dropped down to joint third place with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management which placed second last year.

MIT Sloan rounds out the top five best US MBA programs, coming in fifth. 

US News & World Report ranks the best business schools in the USA each year based on metrics including graduate salaries and bonuses, employment rates, GMAT scores and GPAs, and MBA acceptance rates.

Best Business Schools in the USA: M7 Business Schools dominate the top 10

The top five schools that make up the best business schools in the US are all members of the elite group known as the M7 business schools. The other members of that club, Harvard Business School, and Columbia Business School, sit in sixth and joint 12th place. The M7 are widely regarded as being among the best business schools in the world. 

Elsewhere in the top 10 are Yale School of Management, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, and NYU Stern School of Business in joint seventh, while Dartmouth Tuck and Virginia Darden rank 10th in the US, according to US News. 

The success of this year’s winners, Wharton and Stanford, can be put down to both schools’ impressive overall performance at both the enrollment and graduation stage. Both schools boast top

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Seven of the North-east’s best bakers will come together to support industry stalwart

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MECHELLE Clark, who is the former owner of Aberdeen’s well-known grilled cheese shop Melt, which closed in 2020 due to the pandemic, has rallied her baking friends together to help raise funds for the local hospital following her shock health scare.

The 41-year-old who has baked all of her life was diagnosed with the BRCA 1 gene six years ago and in 2018 discovered she had breast cancer during an annual check. Mechelle underwent a double mastectomy as well as an 18-hour reconstruction surgery in November 2022. However, complications including developing sepsis have resulted in Mechelle undergoing 11 surgeries to date, with a further two to three expected.

The Big Booby Bakesale will take place at Parx Café on Rubislaw Terrace on Sunday May 5 from 11am to 3pm where customers can purchase goods from the takeaway window that was put to use during the pandemic.

It will raise vital funds for the Plastics and Burns Unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) where mastectomy reconstructions are carried out. All of the proceeds raised will go towards purchasing new state-of-the-art boxes that can be provided to patients on the ward ahead of their surgeries. The money will also be used to purchase a new piece of much-needed kit for the unit.

Mechelle, who now works at Trellis Coffee Shop in Newburgh, Aberdeenshire as the head baker, has recruited a star-studded line-up of talent from businesses across the city and shire. They include Bandit Bakery, Sourcloud Bakes, Feingeback and The Crusty Slice in Aberdeen, plus The Highlanders Bakehouse in Crathie and The Culinary Kiwi Bird in Insch. The team at Parx Café will also make bread and goodies for the occasion.

Mechelle Clark outside former business premises
Mechelle Clark outside former business premises

All of the bakers will donate their baked goods for the day for free to

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