Back at it 🛠️ Why we’re planning socials for Christmas 🎄

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Back to work, back to school. As routines snap back into place, we're looking at how businesses can support the people underneath them. We've been looking at how businesses can support working parents through the term-time juggle, with some honest thoughts on "mum guilt" from one of our own HR consultants.

Speaking of the next generation: graduate vacancies have nearly halved in a year, so we asked our members what's really holding back hiring and it's not as simple as "young people aren't job ready."

On the subject of getting started, not every founder's first client comes from a slick pitch. Iselle Maddocks met hers at a local business workshop, and the lessons from that project still shape how she runs her business today.

Then there's the inevitable admin you can't ignore: the second MTD quarterly update lands on 7 November, and everything you need to know is here.

And yes, we're saying it in September: Christmas. A third of businesses expect to bank a fifth of their annual takings in December alone, so if your social strategy is still having drinkiepoos in the sunshine, here's how to plan it properly before the golden quarter arrives.

'That first project gave me the confidence that I was on the right path'

MTD quarterly updates: Everything you need to know

Supporting working parents as the new school year begins

Planning your marketing and social media strategy for Christmas

Graduate jobs are down 50%: We asked SMBs what's holding back hiring

🛍️ Apply for a free spot in our Powering Local Businesses Christmas pop-up shop, running 30 November to 12 December in London. Applications close 11 October.

🏛️ Where is government technology heading next? Join the Government Technology and AI Conference 2026 for insights on AI, procurement and digital delivery – use 10OFF

🤖 Access fully-funded AI training with courses designed to support adoption, boost productivity, and turn technology into a catalyst for change.

⚡ Business energy tariffs explained: Which one is right for your small business?

💬 Join conversations with like-minded members in Groups