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Cyvatar Named Finalist in Computing Security Excellence Awards 2020

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced that it has been chosen as a finalist for the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Security Solution Award in Computing’s 2020 Security Excellence Awards . Computing celebrates the achievements of the IT industry's leading security companies, solutions, products, and personalities that keep every other part of the industry operating. Award categories include product-and project-related recognition, organizational achievements, and accolades for outstanding individual success. Computing selected Cyvatar for its cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) solution for SMEs , an all-in-one subscription-based offering that builds bespoke solutions for customers who are not large enough to invest in in-house security teams, do not have the runway to experiment with multiple security tools as they scale, or cannot compete against larger firms for the scarce number of skilled resources available. By pairing skilled security experts with market-leading technologies across the security spectrum and pricing based on consumption, Cyvatar can deliver guaranteed business outcomes and demystify the complexities inherent in cyber defense. “Every organization is different, but most vendors don’t treat them that way,” said Cyvatar Founder Corey White . “We work side by side with our customers--not across the table from them--to break down barriers that impede a strong protective posture and create a flexible, affordable environment that fosters positive security experiences. No other services provider matches the quality of our technology partners, the deep skills of our security experts, or the business outcomes we guarantee.” Cyvatar believes in the democratization of cybersecurity, ensuring that protection from breaches is accessible and affordable to SMEs--not just to enterprises with deep pockets and dedicated security teams. It also believes in teaching and training SMEs to get the most from every dollar they spend on cybersecurity without the shrouded black-box approach that requires vendor-specific support to operationalize. And Cyvatar lives its values. Its promise to SMEs states that it will never tell customers to buy unnecessary products or hire unneeded resources; will ensure customers make the best security investments for functionality and value; and will consistently deliver maintainable and sustainable business, compliance, and technology outcomes. What security challenges are you trying to solve? What barriers do you face? Visit https://start.cyvatar.ai/ to explore the ways Cyvatar can help. About Cyvatar Cyvatar.ai is a transformative cybersecurity company that operates at the intersection of our customers and technology to define what a cybersecurity solution should be: guaranteed business outcomes that are measurable. We break down barriers to create positive experiences for passionate companies globally. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California. Learn more at https://cyvatar.ai/ and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter . Contact Details KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

October 20, 2020 08:34 AM Eastern Daylight Time

CMMC Center of Excellence Announces Memorandum of Understanding with Parava Security Solutions LTD

Interoperability Clearinghouse

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Center of Excellence ( CMMC COE ), hosted by the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a public-private partnership serving the public and private sectors for more than 15 years, is proud to announce a Memorandum of Understanding with Parava Security Solutions Ltd in the UK, and the establishment of the CMMC COE EU. This unique partnership will extend efforts to advance the goals and objectives for improving the cyber and supply chain security and resilience of the US Department of Defense (DoD) global Defense Industrial Base (DIB) network of contractors, suppliers, and vendors. The executed MOU establishes a cooperative agreement between Parava Security Solutions Ltd. and CMMC COE to partner in the furthering of their respective and complementary missions and objectives regarding the adoption, use, and expansion of CMMC based cybersecurity practices for the DIB contractor community and the information and communications technology community creating a broader CMMC ecosystem to improve security and resilience. Specific actions will include: The co-development of CMMC advisory services, cyber training and education programs to accelerate CMMC certification, increase cyber adoption and improve cyber protection & resilience. Co-sponsor symposiums, training programs and podcasts leveraging their combined cyber and IT expertise. Host regular working groups, with other partners, to enable collaboration and communications. Source qualified CMMC/ cyber professionals to serve as cyber advocates. Establish an independent Industry Cyber Security Advisory Council with peer organizations to advise and educate leaders across government and industry on the continued evolution and effectiveness of CMMC. The CMMC-COE ( www.cmmc-coe.org ) and the CMMC COE EU ( https://cmmc-eu.com/ ) will focus on bringing together the many disparate cyber and national security communities of interest to reduce complexity, improve awareness, and accelerate industry effort to become more cyber resilient against the growing threats from nation states and criminal enterprises. The CMMC-COE partner network will share a wide range of capabilities from member organizations, including; cyber standards frameworks, education, solution architectures, cyber mentoring, workforce, and other elements needed to scale to the demands of the entire DIB market place in the US and abroad (approximately 400,000 contractors). The CMMC-COE is establishing both a Market Place and Knowledge Clearinghouse that includes resources supporting the overall effort, including white papers; tutorials; recorded webcasts; presentations; and more.. to help reduce the cost and burden on small/medium size contractors already struggling from the impact of COVID. “This is a momentous occasion for us” , said Mr. John Weiler, Chairman of the Board at CMMC Center of Excellence , “Our European center will further help advance the goals and objectives for improving the supply chain security and resilience of the US Department of Defense (DoD) beyond North America”. For more information on the CMMC COE, please visit Americas: http://cmmc-coe.org email info@CMMC-COE.org or call +1-703-863-3766 Europe: https://cmmc-eu.com/ email andy@cmmc-eu.com or call +44 (0) 7734 113952 For more information on Parava Security Solutions, Ltd., please visit https://www.parava.org/ About Us ---------- CMMC-COE.ORG is a unique non-profit public-private partnership, with a vision to accelerate Cybersecurity Maturity Model (CMM) adoption, and reduce time & cost for security compliance for our partners by leveraging commercial best practices, CMMC standards, and innovative solutions for a measurable success. Our mission, focused on DOD mission objectives, cost containment and expeditious CMMC compliance, is to help the DIB improve cyber posture and resilience, and simplify its acquisition. The CMMC-COE is hosted by the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a public/private partnership (P3) chartered in 2007 as an honest broker to reach outside the confines of the Federal IT advisories that lack dynamic reach into the Global IT Market, and dedicated to the adoption of commercial IT management standards of practice and innovations emanating from the Global IT market. Team IT-AAC has already demonstrated the value of its decade long investment, and provides a unique value to agencies seeking to achieve accelerate the transformation of legacy processes and systems. Our Just-in-Time SMEs apply an innovative suite of Technology Business Management and Agile Acquisition Processes needed to assure the business value of commercial IT. The Interoperability Clearinghouse (ICH), is the managing partner that make up the 24 NGO/SDO organizations that make up the IT-AAC. ICH provides the contract vehicles, clearances, and critical resources proven to guide sustainable, measurable and repeatable processes needed to drive better investment decisions as the speed of mission need, while aligning existing processes, methods and workforce with IT reform mandates contained in Clinger Cohen Act, FITARA, IT MGT Act, EO13838. Parava is a cyber security advisory firm, with experience in providing strategic, tactical, and operational cyber security, risk oversight, and assurance services to Government agencies and private companies in Europe. For more information on Parava Security Solutions, Ltd., please visit https://www.parava.org/ For more information on the CMMC COE EU, please visit https://cmmc-eu.com/ Contact Details Bob Dix +1 703-975-6633 bob.dix@it-aac.org Company Website https://cmmc-coe.org

October 19, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Hospital Sisters Health System Selects Innovative Technology Product to Automate and Enhance Physician Compensation and Performance Management Capabilities

SullivanCotter

SullivanCotter, the nation’s leading independent consulting firm in the assessment and development of rewards programs and workforce solutions for the health care industry and not-for-profit sector, has partnered with HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Cardiovascular, two Hospital Sisters Health System ministries, to implement its comprehensive Provider Performance Management Technology™ (PPMT). Hospital Sisters Health System is a large, multi-institutional health system committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to communities throughout Illinois and Wisconsin. By leveraging PPMT™, an industry-first, cloud-based product that enables physician and APP engagement through transparent performance-based compensation administration and analytical capabilities, the organization is looking to automate and align the management of clinician pay and performance across its medical group. Driven by the need to provide a growing network of physicians with more accurate compensation and productivity data, HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Cardiovascular started the journey with an in-house application designed to enhance a process that was once very manual. Developing the right mix of internal resources and support to expand the application’s capabilities in line with the system’s evolving needs, however, proved difficult. “We required a more comprehensive system with the ability to flex and scale with us as we add or change value-based incentives, modify compensation plans and analyze the impact of Evaluation and Management CPT code changes. PPMT™ will now enable us to automatically deliver extensive supporting documentation with drill-down capabilities to the patient-level for our clinicians to access any time they want. Providing this visibility and transparency is critical as we navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing health care environment,” said Linda Dace, System Vice President of Finance, Hospital Sisters Health System. Designed to address a spectrum of physician, leadership and other key administrative needs, PPMT™ delivers centralized and actionable data tailored to the unique needs of each stakeholder. It combines years of health care compensation insight and expertise with an intuitive, automated technology platform, and serves as a single source of truth that helps empower physicians to drive desired outcomes and enhance organizational performance. PPMT™ incorporates SullivanCotter’s industry-leading benchmarking data into three integrated modules, including Provider Performance Management, Provider Productivity Insights and Compensation Management Analytics. Hospital Sisters Health System selected all three modules to help support their goals - allowing for a more cohesive approach to compensation and performance management. For more information on Provider Performance Management Technology™, visit www.sullivancotter.com/PPMT or contact us at 888.739.7039. About SullivanCotter SullivanCotter partners with health care and other not-for-profit organizations to understand what drives performance and improve outcomes through the development and implementation of integrated workforce strategies. Using our time-tested methodologies and industry-leading research and information, we provide data-driven insights and expertise to help organizations align business strategy and performance objectives – enabling our clients to deliver on their mission, vision and values. About SullivanCotter SullivanCotter partners with health care and other not-for-profit organizations to understand what drives performance and improve outcomes through the development and implementation of integrated workforce strategies. Using our time-tested methodologies and industry-leading research and information, we provide data-driven insights and expertise to help organizations align business strategy and performance objectives – enabling our clients to deliver on their mission, vision and values. Contact Details Becky Lorentz +1 314-414-3719 beckylorentz@sullivancotter.com Company Website https://sullivancotter.com/

October 13, 2020 10:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time

The Safest Mask is the One You Wear…..and Trust: How To Pick And Wear A Face Mask

YourUpdateTV

The CDC Director recently clarified that the COVID virus is airborne and therefore the usage of masks is now essential to protect you and those around you. Furthermore, the Director has said that masks may offer a higher level of protection against COVID than a vaccine. Therefore, it is essential is to actually use a mask which works and that you can trust. Currently, the vast majority of people are using either basic cloth masks or 3 ply surgical masks. However, these masks offer limited, if any, protection. Therefore, we wanted to let you know about the AirQueen which is a FDA 510K cleared N95 substantial equivalent medical mask that is so safe it is approved for use during surgical procedures. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/xkjxA6WeKxU The AirQueen is made with a highly advanced nano-fiber material to provide extreme protection with a minimum of 95% protection and an average in excess of 97% particle filtration (see the Nelson Labs reports on the website for more details). The nano-filter allows extreme breathability and comfort which, in addition to the excellent protection provided, is one of its strong value propositions. Another major advantage of the AirQueen mask is that it can be cleaned up to 10 times with a simple ethanol spray wash (also available on AirQueen.com) making it the most protective mask available which is also affordable. Even better is that the AirQueen is allowed to be sold to the general public which means you can provide the highest level of protection for you and your family and loved ones. Lastly, there is also a highly protective kids version, the Airbon mask, which is made from the same filter and manufacturing process as the AirQueen making it one of the safest masks for children on the market. During the nationwide media tour Dr. Bob Arnot discussed: The benefits of wearing a mask and why choosing the right one is important The proper way to wear a mask The availability of masks Technology behind the AirQueen mask, a FDA 510K cleared N95 substantial equivalent Please go to AirQueen.com to learn more about the AirQueen adult and Airbon kids masks and help the world put an end to this pandemic safely. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

October 07, 2020 12:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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2020 MULTICULTURAL MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE RAISES AWARENESS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES

Shades of You, Shades of Me

In recognition of October being Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, “Shades of You, Shades of Me,” (SOYSOM) a maternal mental health advocacy organization, is proud to host the 2020 Multicultural Maternal Mental Health Conference ( www.soysom.com ) , an interactive, virtual event that brings together mental health professionals, policymakers, medical providers, doulas, advocates and community leaders from diverse backgrounds to have informed, community-focused conversations surrounding maternal mental health. Hosted in Madison, WI, this special event will be broadcast virtually on October 22-24, 2020. Attendees can expect an exciting and informative forum with engaging and timely conversations surrounding the importance of culturally responsive care and services from top professionals, advocates and allies from all backgrounds, including Latinx, Asian, African-American, LGBTQIA, Native, Hmong and more. This year’s theme, “COVID-19 + Multiculturalism in Maternal Mental Health Care” will spotlight how the global pandemic has disproportionately affected diverse communities through a variety of sectors, including politics, business, incarceration, prevention services and healthcare. In order to offer an introductory bridge into speaking about mental health needs, the conference invites women at home to submit anonymous testimonials about their own challenges of motherhood, allowing for a personal connection to be felt by all virtual attendees. Maternal mental health is a major issue in the United States that is often overlooked and underfunded, especially in minority communities. Studies show that minority populations have less access to mental health facilities and services (Source: Eliminating Mental Health Disparities by 2020: Everyone's Actions Matte r, Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry). In addition, the added stress and anxiety surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic puts pregnant and postpartum women specifically at risk and further limits access to mental health services (Source: Maternal mental health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic , NIH). Because of this, SOYSOM is committed to bringing awareness to the specific mental health needs of women from diverse backgrounds, including the need for increased culturally competent mental health practitioners, increasing the national conversation surrounding policy that affects mental health services of diverse patient populations and dismantling stigma of mental health and women's reproductive needs and services for minority populations. “We are honored to host the 2020 Multicultural Maternal Mental Health Conference in a virtual capacity this year, so we can reach more people all across the country,” said Shonita Roach, founder of SOYSOM and Executive Director of the conference. “As a young mother who personally experienced depression and was in need of mental health services and support, I know first-hand how lonely and challenging it can be trying to juggle it all. Black, Hispanic, Native American, and other non-white women suffer disproportionately to white women and that is my motivation and inspiration for this conference: to debunk misconceptions about mental health and help other mothers from all backgrounds feel secure and confident in their journey through motherhood so they feel empowered to reach out if they are in need of support.” Roach’s journey to becoming an advocate for maternal mental health is one of loss, trauma, but also perseverance and redemption. Even after experiencing childhood sexual trauma by age four and growing up in the foster care system, Roach grew to be a bright young woman, excelling in academia in high school and graduating from college. In 2002, she experienced the ultimate trauma, the accidental death of her 21 month old child, in which she experienced postpartum depression and even contemplated suicide. After receiving extensive psychological care, therapy, parenting classes and spiritual healing, Roach is now a maternal mental health advocate for women of color, inspiring her to create the SOYSOM organization. “I would never want any woman to experience the extensive trauma, heartbreak and suffering in silence the way I did. My life experiences have shifted me to devote my energy towards advocating for all women to receive quality and accessible care during the perinatal time period. If we want tangible and substantial change for mothers of color, we must talk to them and learn from them, so that every mother thrives, which is our goal with the 2020 Multicultural Maternal Mental Health Conference.” Tickets are now available on the conference website, with individual sessions beginning at $89.95 and full conference passes priced at $300. For more information, including conference sponsorship opportunities or ticket sales, please visit www.soysom.com . For the most up to date highlights on the conference, use hashtag #DevotionStartsWithin on social media. About Shades of You, Shades of Me: Shades of You, Shades of Me is an organization that is committed to helping women of color advocate for maternal mental health. The organization is proud to host the 2020 Multicultural Maternal Mental Health Conference on October 22-24, 2020, an interactive, virtual conference bringing together professionals, advocates and moms from diverse backgrounds to have informed, community-focused conversations surrounding maternal mental health. For more information, please visit www.soysom.com. ### Contact Details Kendra Cole +1 312-953-0768 Kendra@KendraColePR.com Company Website https://www.soysom.com/

October 06, 2020 09:08 AM Central Daylight Time

“We Will Follow Him to the Ends of the Earth”

Miracle Flights

After years of improper medical treatment for clubfoot, 8-year-old Lucy Arnold was finally on the road to recovery. Then her doctor moved a thousand miles away. For Lucy’s parents, the question was never if they would follow Dr. Matthew Dobbs, who relocated his specialty practice from St. Louis to West Palm Beach last month. The question was how this family of 12 from Benton, Arkansas, could manage the significant cost of travel to make it work. “It used to be an easy six-hour drive to get to St. Louis, but the move added an extra burden,” says Lucy’s mother, Amy. “You have airfare, hotel and transportation on top of deductibles and co-pays.” Then a Facebook post from Miracle Flights caught Amy’s eye. The national charity provides free plane tickets to families who need access to specialized medical care far from home. Lucy and her parents took their first Miracle Flight on September 19 for surgery to correct Lucy’s left leg. The family leaves today on their second flight for follow-up casting. “Miracle Flights has taken such a burden off our family financially,” says Amy. “They also took all of the planning off our plate. They found us the best flight options and even lined up ground transportation from the airport to the hospital. It saved us so much time, we could just focus on Lucy.” The clubfoot that affects Lucy’s left leg presents with another rare condition: spina bifida. While only 0.05% of Americans have spina bifida, between 30 and 50% of those affected also have clubfoot. The condition can nearly always be corrected with proper treatment. For Lucy, that proper treatment has been difficult to find. Lucy’s medical journey began in her native China and continued with serial casting treatments in the United States. After three failed procedures, her parents knew it was time to seek yet another medical opinion. Research led them to nationally renowned clubfoot specialist Dr. Dobbs. “We are so thankful we found Dr. Dobbs,” says Amy. “We will follow him to the ends of the earth.” And Miracle Flights will pay for every flight to get there. To lend your support to Lucy’s journey—or to request a flight for your own family—visit miracleflights.org. About Miracle Flights Miracle Flights is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free air transportation to children and adults who need help reaching specialty medical care only available far from home. The organization, founded in 1985, has provided 132,482 flights and typically books more than 600 flights per month on commercial airlines across the United States. To request a flight, learn more or donate, call 800-359-1711 or visit miracleflights.org . Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram . Contact Details Erika Koff +1 702-251-9783 ekoff@miracleflights.org Company Website https://miracleflights.org/

October 06, 2020 08:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cyvatar Launches All-in-One Cybersecurity-as-a-Service to Disrupt the Industry with $3 Million Seed Round

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced that it has raised $3 million in seed funding from Bill Wood Ventures to launch its all-in-one cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) offering. The company will use the capital to disrupt the $130 billion cybersecurity industry with guaranteed business results, to speed customer adoption of subscription-based security services, and to fuel the development of its outcomes-driven solution, Genesis Platform. Cyvatar Co-Founders Corey White , former chief experience officer at Cylance, and Craig Goodwin , former chief trust and risk officer at Fujitsu, formed the company to combat decades of wasteful spending in the industry—waste generated by an overabundance of point products that do not integrate quickly or easily into most security environments and too much noise from security vendors whose genuine differentiation can be difficult to determine. There are also staffing shortages exacerbated by a prolonged skills gap. Cyvatar leads a fundamental shift in the market, offering holistic, tailored security solutions rooted in best-of-breed technologies from across the industry. “It’s no secret that CISOs and their teams are the losers in today’s cyber arms race,” said investor Bill Wood. “In fact, most organizations use less than half of the functionality in the technology solutions they own. Cyvatar has developed a winning CSaaS model by combining customer-centric strategies with skilled security experts and market-leading technologies to deliver guaranteed business outcomes.” The Cyvatar approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions and enables small and medium-size businesses to achieve security compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently. And in the crowded and noisy security space—where more than 4,500 security solutions are currently available—the need for organizations to show value from their security stacks is a top priority. “As a longtime builder of successful security programs, I understand the difficulty many organizations face trying to get all the tools in their security stack to work together effectively and provide sufficient risk controls,” said Al Valerio, head of IT and cybersecurity at Virtualitics. “Cyvatar’s all-in-one offering gave us a comprehensive security framework—not just a few pieces—enabling us to remediate vulnerabilities in record time, achieve synergy among all of our security tools, maintain compliance standards required by our government customers, and reduce user friction. If it weren’t for Cyvatar’s vision and execution, completing our mission quickly and within budget would have been impossible.” The company’s strategy includes a robust partner network to bring bespoke solutions to customers who are not large enough to invest in in-house security teams, do not have the runway to experiment with multiple security tools as they scale, or cannot compete against larger firms for the scarce number of skilled resources available. Cyvatar’s partner ecosystem spans nearly two dozen companies. “We believe in the democratization of cybersecurity,” said Cyvatar Founders Corey White and Craig Goodwin . “Protection from threats and breaches should not be accessible only to organizations with deep pockets and dedicated security personnel, and it shouldn’t be delivered in a shrouded black-box approach understood only by the vendor. We’re on a mission to demystify cyber defense by offering an all-in-one subscription-based service that provides organizations of any size the ability to achieve measurable security outcomes that drive quicker time-to-value without sacrificing their security postures or compliance standards.” Whether customers need to meet intricate compliance requirements in order to grow their sales pipelines, to remediate after a breach, to prevent future incursions, or to respond to a third-party risk assessment, Cyvatar helps them achieve outcomes quickly, without the noise, complexity, or hurdles in traditional security approaches. What security challenges are you trying to solve? What barriers do you face? Visit https://start.cyvatar.ai/ to explore the ways Cyvatar can help. About Cyvatar Cyvatar.ai is a transformative cybersecurity company that operates at the intersection of our customers and technology to define what a cybersecurity solution should be: guaranteed business outcomes that are measurable. We break down barriers to create positive experiences for passionate companies globally. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California. Learn more at https://cyvatar.ai and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter . About Bill Wood Ventures Based in Austin, Texas, Bill Wood is one of the most experienced venture capitalists in Texas. His track record spans over three decades and parallels the emergence of Austin as one of the world's strongest technology-driven economies. He has provided start-up financing, board-level guidance and mentoring to dozens of start-ups, several of which have sustained multibillion dollar market capitalizations. Bill is a past recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur-of-the-Year award. He was also the winner of the Austin Technology Summit's "Pillar of the Community" award, recognizing his lifetime contribution to the community. Finally, he was the inaugural inductee into the Austin Technology Hall of Fame. Contact Details Aileen Casmano +1 323-300-4927 aileen@cyvatar.ai Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

October 06, 2020 08:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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UK SMEs lose £2.2bn as customers fall into administration during lockdown

Stockwood Strategy

SMEs across the UK are counting the cost of the lockdown as they prepare for a testing final quarter of 2020. Risktech business Nimbla , surveyed* 2,000 UK SMEs and found that £2.2bn in revenue (for goods and services provided during lockdown) has been lost because those customers fell into administration. A number that is set to increase dramatically over the course of the next year. More than a third (38%) of SMEs are still waiting to be paid an average of £59,013, for work they completed before the lockdown. Worryingly, a fifth (21%) of these companies believe they will never recover the full amount, losing on average £24,903 because those customers have gone into administration. Looking at the bigger picture, this is worth £2.2bn in revenue across all SMEs (with outstanding payments) that will not be realised. Lost time and revenue Businesses reported, on average, 6 invoices go unpaid every year with half of these worth £41,193 written off due to their customers becoming insolvent. Yet, surprisingly, only 4% of business owners take out trade credit or invoice insurance, which protects the supplier against their customers’ insolvency. Business owners do spend time thinking about a potential insolvency event with their customers. In the event that happened, most of them (83%) would continue trading but the impact on cash flow would lead to changes in asking customers for deposits, requesting shorter payment terms, declining larger projects and fear their credit scores falling. Business owners spend, on average, two weeks chasing an invoice payment which eventually was never paid because the customer became insolvent. Flemming Bengtsen, CEO at Nimbla commented: “The impact the lockdown has had on SMEs, who are the heart and soul of the UK economy, is astonishing. Many have survived several attacks during the pandemic and, now, knowing they won’t get paid for the work they did is another huge body blow. There could be more bad news on the horizon for smaller businesses as high street chains face difficulties and potential insolvencies.” Looking ahead Businesses anticipate making, on average, £263,000 revenue between now and the end of the year. However, as customers seek longer payment terms from 30 to 60 days to settle invoices, three in five (60%) business owners are nervous about not getting paid at all with expectations that one in six customers will become insolvent before the end of the year. This is a major issue as more than a third (36%) of businesses were heavily concentrated, reporting that more than two-thirds of their revenues came from a handful of customers. Overall, business owners reported 61% of their customers said they were doing well in terms of their revenue, going steady with sales and generally content with the business environment. Yet, business owners were sceptical about their buoyant spirit, with only a quarter (26%) believing what they say. Flemming Bengtsen added: “The current uncertain economic environment means doing business isn’t easy, it’s made all the more difficult with SMEs anxious about getting paid. Trading on trust and confidence has deteriorated. It is time, as a collective, to bring this back. Business owners cannot afford to bury their heads in the sand; they should protect themselves and insure against the potential insolvency of their customers.” ENDS Notes to the Editor *Research findings based on a survey of 2,000 UK companies (who are employers with a minimum turnover of £250,000) conducted for Nimbla in September 2020 by LM Research & Marketing Consultancy (Market Research Society approved partner and ESOMAR corporate member). About Nimbla Nimbla makes sure businesses get paid for their hard work, even if a customer becomes insolvent. Founded in 2016, the risktech company is on a mission to give SMEs the confidence to trade with a peace of mind using invoice insurance. Nimbla’s digital insurance platform backed by expert risk analysts, allows businesses to check a buyer’s ability to pay and insure individual invoices against non-payment in a fast and affordable way. This will enable business owners to safeguard against insolvent customers, expand into new and existing markets and secure better borrowing terms. The platform can be accessed directly ( www.nimbla.com ) and through partnerships with Barclays and Starling Bank. Based in London, Nimbla aims to bring the trade credit industry into the 21st century. Challenging traditional insurance models, the cover is flexible and adapts to fit your business — whether it’s a one-off invoice or multiple transactions. Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 bilal.mahmood@nimbla.com Company Website https://www.nimbla.com/

October 06, 2020 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Construction industry rallies in rebuilding Britain, finds Skrap survey

Stockwood Strategy

The construction industry is rallying from the aftermath of the lockdown as builders report steady workflow and recovering revenues, finds a survey* of 2,000 UK construction companies by Skrap , the on-demand construction hire specialist . Almost half of construction businesses (44%) reported that workflow has reached pre-lockdown levels. The bounce is such that almost a quarter (23%) of businesses felt they would hit at least 2019 revenue levels and possibly see a 20% increase. This is despite nearly two-thirds (63%) of businesses still waiting to be paid, on average, £47,784 for work they did pre-lock down. However, this is an improvement from June 2020 when they were waiting for £157,642. Of the work that is being done, building contractors are seeing the greatest demand from residential projects (48%) and public sector work (30%) such as roadworks and in schools. However, of those businesses seeing a partial slowdown in work, they pointed to the uncertain state of the economy which is delaying investment decisions. Construction industry business owner Jamie Herd, MD of Lords builders’ merchants commented: “We’ve seen sales of supplies increase steadily over the past 3 months and orders to the end of 2020 look good especially in London and the home counties. The government’s favourable loan schemes have boosted the cash flow of construction businesses to enable them continue their work and overall, there is a bullish mood that work is returning to normal in the industry”. Hussain Hilli, co-founder at Skrap commented: “Although building activity shrunk during the lockdown, this survey provides a cautious note of optimism for the construction industry. It’s not surprising this wave of optimism comes from residential work as people continue to work from home and consider their new needs. The decision to scrap stamp duty on homes below £500,000 has also got home owners active. Government policies are taking effect and builders are benefiting but a lot will rest on how investors see Brexit playing out on the UK economy”. 2020 expectations Boris Johnson’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ initiative is making a difference. Almost half of builders (46%) said they had benefited from the policy announcement and were expecting more contracts from this in the next few months. However, they do feel that investment in house building developments is being held back. This is chiefly down to investors being vary of valuations given the impact Brexit could have on the economy coupled with the lack of urgency from the government to support this crucial infrastructure need. Looking ahead to the end of the year, builders fear the biggest disruption to business will be a second wave of COVID19 cases leading to another mass lockdown impacting delivery and demand of projects. Brexit The majority of construction businesses are confident that there will be little fallout from a no-deal Brexit. They felt the Government would negotiate a good trade deal in time and it will be business as usual. However, they do feel the greatest concern in the run up to Brexit centres on workforce availability. This is understandable as up to a quarter (25%) of their workforce are non-UK nationals. Ends Notes to the editor * Research findings based on a survey of 2,000 UK construction companies (who are employers with a minimum turnover of £250,000) conducted in September 2020 by LM Research & Marketing Consultancy (Market Research Society approved partner and ESOMAR corporate member). About Skrap Founded in 2017, Skrap offers on-demand services for skip and construction hire resources. Every year almost 100m tonnes of construction waste is collected in the UK and construction businesses spend £5b in collecting this waste, and a further £15b on other hire services. Skrap intends to remove the hassle from ordering a skip and other construction hire needs to make this experience simple and user friendly. Skrap’s strategic ambition is to automate the entire construction hire supply chain across major cities globally over the coming years. Founders Marwan Field, Hussain Hilli and Ahmed Rao came across the problem while running a construction business where logistics were unorganised and fragmented; prices were asymmetric, and the marketplace of suppliers and brokers were doing everything manually. Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 bilal@skrap.xyz Company Website https://www.skrap.xyz

October 06, 2020 03:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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