Times Entrepreneurs Network

A Bristol start-up has built a commercially viable system to protect telecommunications from quantum computer hackers that is now being tested by BT Group. KETS Quantum Security has designed a silicon chip-based system that uses light to send quantum encrypted keys to users so data can be transmitted securely and any third parties that try to intercept it can be detected. Chris Erven, the company’s co-founder and chief executive, explained why the breakthrough was important and the next steps for his company as it looks to roll out the technology into "billions of devices". https://lnkd.in/evEAap2X #entrepreneurs #quantum #cybersecurity

Puresport, a sports nutrition company backed by rugby stars such as Finn Russell, has raised £3.6 million to diversify its range and fuel its expansion into the US. The brand chose to pivot away from its original focus in CBD products due to a "tough" regulatory environment. Daniel Temm, chief executive of Puresport said, "We’ve always known that we needed to widen the portfolio into a wider sports category but we really wanted to make our name for something niche that made us identifiable." https://lnkd.in/eMHwmkug #entrepreneurs @

Marisa Poster, co-founder of PerfectTed was concerned about how going on TikTok Live would impact her brand's image, but it ended up being "one of the most exciting three-hour periods" of her life. Poster said: "Just from the first live we sold two times our most aggressive forecast. I loved that 67 per cent of shoppers were non-followers which means they actually didn’t have previous engagement with the brand." https://lnkd.in/eWSpn4Yw #entrepreneurs

Big companies aren't the only ones taking advantage of AI, a study from the University of St Andrews suggests SMEs using it could more than double productivity. Kate Tompsett, owner of @Happy & Glorious, a gift shop for British-made goods in Canterbury, is regularly using AI in her small business. She said: "I’ve always said that I need an extra me working on the business and [AI is] kind of like a mini-me that I can get to sort of start me off and just make things a bit easier." https://lnkd.in/eC2gyx3a #entrepreneurs

Vizzy | B Corp™, which creates an alternative to CVs with personalised profile pages for jobseekers, is helping the likes of Burberry and PizzaExpress to avoid "catfishing" from AI enhanced job applications. Jess Woodward-Jones, co-founder and client director, said: “Gen Z are turning to AI to write their covering letters and their CVs, and that is massively problematic for businesses.” https://lnkd.in/gyPvaP7k #entrepreneurs

Companies are being urged by the Forces Employment Charity hire more ex-soldiers as research shows the benefits they can offer businesses. Karen Nell, learning and development manager at Methods, a digital transformation consultancy for the UK public sector with a gold award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, said: "They’re amazing. They bring a difference to the business that you don’t normally have and they bring along different ideas. I would never hesitate to hire an ex-military person." https://lnkd.in/ekzYDPBz #entrepreneurs

MV.Health started preparing for Trump's tariffs last summer, managing avoid extra charges by shipping 80,000 of its medical vibrators from China to the US in January. Soum Rakshit, co-founder and chief executive, said: "It doesn’t solve tariffs but it gives us enough time to set up US manufacturing. Which is really the only solution." https://lnkd.in/eP3w7axm #entrepreneurs

At 96, Norman Barrs is still working as the director of Henry Hardy Builders in London. His 80 year career in the construction industry includes helping to rebuild London after the blitz. Barrs has been identified as the oldest construction worker in the country by the Considerate Constructors Scheme, a not-for-profit industry initiative, from research commissioned by Rated People, which connects homeowners with reputable tradespeople. https://lnkd.in/e5BVnwa6 #entrepreneurs

The Sunday Times hosted more than 200 of Britain's leading tech entrepreneurs at our first annual #SundayTimes100 Tech networking awards dinner in London last week. It was quite a gathering. Congratulations to all 100 main table companies -- which grew their revenues by an average of 122% a year for three years to a combined total of £3.2 billion -- as well as to the up-and-coming stars that we featured as Ones to Watch. A big thanks to Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology for dining with us. And to our guest alumni stars, including Sir Robin Saxby, founding CEO of Arm, Alastair Bathgate, founder of Blue Prism, and Gareth Williams, co-founder of Skyscanner. With the help of our excellent sponsors Singer Capital Markets, HSBC Innovation Banking and BDO, we also recognised Evergreen Life, UrbanChain, Cycle Pharmaceuticals, Cera, Luminance and Quell Therapeutics with special awards on the night. And a massive thanks to Kiryl Chykeyuk and Ala Dziamidava, co-founders of HYPERVSN, for sharing Luna/Mike with us, our very well informed avatars. To find out more about our Sunday Times 100 Tech ranking, see here: https://lnkd.in/dCyAjxMn #entrepreneurs

Fees for overseas worker sponsor certificates rocket 120% from Wednesday. Experts say the Home Office’s rise is likely to only be the first in a series of rises as part of plans to generate £269 million more a year from visa administration. More employers are also being fined, as the Home Office clamps down on compliance failings. These include failing to track all sponsored employees at work and when they are on holiday, as well as making sure the correct documents are checked to prove they have a right to work in the UK. We talk to Audrey Elliott of Eversheds Sutherland to find out what is going on. https://lnkd.in/ebiwaBVc #recruitment #seasonalwork #regulations #visa