Lost in the policy maze: Why UK SMEs are missing out on tech gains
Reading Time: 3 minutes
AI is spreading through the UK economy, but not quickly enough. Recent UK evidence shows that around one in three firms with fewer than 50 employees adopted AI, compared with almost two in three larger businesses, while regional adoption ranged from 32% in the North East to 67% in London. What can government do toโฆ
The social economy is bigger business than you think
Reading Time: 4 minutes
The social economy is rarely part of conversations about competitiveness or economic resilience, yet it should be. Social economy organisations create jobs, deliver essential services and strengthen local economies across countries. But what does it take to build an environment that allows them to contribute fully?
Can cities work better for women?ย
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Women’s movements are often more fragmented due to unpaid caregiving, a pattern known as “trip chaining”, yet cities remain organised around linear home-to-work commutes. If care shapes the everyday reality of so many people, why are our cities still not designed around them?
SME decarbonisationย at a crossroads: What should governments do next?ย
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Going green is good for business and the planet. But as policymakers focus on geopolitical risks, energy security and the rise of AI, the low-carbon transition risks being sidelined, especially for smaller businesses. How can governments keep up the momentum?
Smart cities that leave no one behindย
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Smart city has become shorthand for digital ambition, but it still tends to conjure images of large cities, costly infrastructure and tech-led programmes that feel remote from everyday life. Sunderland’s experience points to a different approach. But what makes it different?
Tourism Beyond Tokyo: how Sendai is building a more resilient visitor economy
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Japan welcomed more than 40 million international visitors in 2025, setting a new record. While Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka dominate, other cities are working to raise their profile. How is Sendai seeking to grow internationally while ensuring tourism strengthens resilience and benefits local people?
Regenerativeย tourism:ย Rioโsย model for resilientย destinations
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Brazil has spent a decade building a purposeful tourism model that combines economic dynamism with environmental responsibility, restoring ecosystems, strengthening communities and generating lasting impact. Its approach is deliberate, not accidental. What can other countries learn from Brazil’s model?
Who’s visiting today? How real-time tourism data can help destinations stay ahead
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Rapid growth in visitor numbers can strain infrastructure, increase environmental pressures and erode a destination’s authenticity. Good data is essential for decision-makers managing these trade-offs. How can governments get the tourism data they need, and is Slovenia showing us what that looks like in practice?
Connecting communitiesย in Alba lulia: why urban-rural linkages matterย ย
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Thousands travel into Alba Iulia daily for work, school and services, while rural businesses supply food, goods and visitors that strengthen the city in return. The relationship runs both ways. What lessons can be drawn on building skills, mobility and collaboration between rural and urban communities?
COGITO Talksโฆย AI in small businesses: hype, hope or hard reality?
Reading Time: 7 minutesRecorded live for the first time at the 7th Digital for SMEs (D4SME) Roundtable, this special episode is hosted by Shayne MacLachlan and Alix Philouze. While 61% of SMEs report using AI, three quarters remain beginners, highlighting a gap between adoption and confidence. Joined by entrepreneurs Regitze Vestergaard Jacobsen, Robyn Baker and Leonardo Baggiani, theโฆ
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