Kate's Comment

With a number of channel companies recently named in the 2nd iteration of the G-Cloud programme, Kate Craig-Wood, MD of Memset explores what real opportunities the G-Cloud offers the channel. I have been involved in the G-Cloud project almost from the beginning; as the technical co-lead on Phase two of the project, proposing the detailed architecture (on the Cabinet Office…

Following yesterday’s Autumn statement here are my thoughts and responses. Corporation tax going down to 21% in April 2013 Obviously I welcome the reduction in corpration tax. As a fast growing business we re-invest most of our profit after tax into accelerating our business growth, so if we are taxed less we grow faster and recruit people more quickly. Incidentally,…

First, I am delighted that the chancellor has stated an intent to make the UK Europe’s technology centre. Now that the old “big three” of finance, retail and construction are floundering, technology really has the potential to become a major engine of growth for UK PLC. Cloud computing is a prime example; we already have something like a 10% global…

Why I’m skeptical of why George Osborne’s ‘credit easing’ scheme is likely to help British SMEs if it relies on the existing banking system. Further, I believe that now is a golden opportunity for British technology, especially cloud services, with the potential for us to become a new global export and engine of growth for UK PLC. However, without change, ideally with the Chancellor’s help, we will keep selling our golden geese and fail to grasp this opportunity. Here is why and how.

Blogging, microblogging and social networking services are rapidly growing in use by businesses. Can they be beneficial to businesses or are they a pointless waste of time? I take a detailed, frank (I may rename this post “How to lose friends and alienate people on Twitter by being too open about the calculating approach I take” and balanced look at one of the biggest, Twitter, with some tips on how you can make strategic use of it.

We’ve been running all our business systems over the ‘net for years (including instant messaging, email, document management, project management & collaboration) by using open source software. Both Nick & I are huge fans of open source, so I thought I’d share why and how we use it within Memset.

The vast bulk of our customers are SMEs, and we have helped many migrate to the cloud. Here I shall explain what cloud computing is (from an SME perspective), why you should be thinking about it and share my tips on how to get the most benefit from the cloud.

I was recently asked to present at the OSCON conference in San Francisco in July 2010. I presented on the role of cloud computing in government IT and joined a panel to discuss the future of cloud computing.

Today we heard the emergency budget from the new coalition government. Here are the points most pertinent to me as an IT entrepreneur running a high-growth technology company.

Covered areas: Corporation tax, Depreciation & annual investment allowance (AIA), Loans for SMEs, Entrepreneur’s relief and VAT.

A look at the areas of the 2010 budget that are potentially good news for high-tech SMEs, including lending, capital gains tax freeze, investment incentives, education, broadband levy and government contract allocation.