Category: News

Chamber Member Moore Kingston Smith invites you to attend the next webinar in their Enterprise Series, on how to effectively negotiate the salary review process.

 

Fair and motivating remuneration can improve employee retention, productivity, and engagement. Effective salary reviews are key to ensuring that your people feel valued and continue to perform. With the review period fast approaching, are you equipped to run the process effectively?

 

In this webinar, our reward and people advisory experts will discuss navigating the salary review landscape, including how a robust salary review process can enhance your employee value proposition.

 

This seminar will cover:

 

• What a salary review process looks like, and the must-have considerations to making sure the end-to-end process is a success.

• The key stakeholders to include for the delivery of a successful salary review process.

 

• Budget considerations, and how market data can positively impact and support decisions.

 

• The importance of competitive salaries and the link to a stand-out Employee Value Proposition.

 

• Why all roles should be reviewed, and not just the high-potential ones.

 

• How reviewing job levels and your career framework benefits succession planning.

 

• Sense checking job titles; do they really match their roles?

 

• Why a ‘lessons learned’ post-review exercise is always a must-have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Register your place here: https://shorturl.at/apyz1  

 

The Dawn of Digital Identities

In this digital age, the concept of identity is fast adapting. Digital identities have transitioned from being a mere convenience to a cornerstone of secure online transactions in a plethora of sectors. With the global digital identity market poised to expand from $28 billion USD in 2022 to an impressive $71 billion USD by 2027, the focus is clearly shifting toward interoperability.

Decoding Interoperability

Essentially, interoperability enables a digital identity issued by one platform to be recognised, authenticated, and accepted by another. This cross-platform recognition is quickly becoming a non-negotiable feature in our digitised society.

One of the most significant advantages of interoperable digital identities is their potential to foster financial inclusivity. They offer a gateway to banking services for nearly 1.4 billion adults globally who currently lack traditional banking access.

Interoperable digital IDs also resonate with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which asserts every person’s right to recognition before the law. In the digital age, this right extends to digital identities accepted across platforms

Balancing the Pros and Cons of Interoperable Systems

While interoperability introduces certain complications like varying protocols and standards, these challenges are eclipsed by the manifold benefits. Interoperable digital identities eliminate the need for multiple usernames and passwords, thereby reducing the possibility of security lapses. They also ensure universal access to essential digital services, otherwise denied due to the absence of a particular type of ID, and enhance efficiency by expediting the authentication process across different platforms.

Data Security and Regulatory Compliance

Interoperability isn’t solely a matter of ensuring that different systems can communicate with each other; it also extends into the crucial areas of data privacy and security.

As the market for digital identities continues to swell, the dangers associated with identity theft are following suit. For instance, in 2022 consumers reported a loss of approximately $8.8 billion USD to various forms of fraud – a rise of over 30% from the prior year. Of these, 1.4 million cases – or 25% of the 5.7 million total cases reported to the FTC – were directly related to identity theft. These statistics underline the increasing importance of secure, interoperable digital IDs, especially those that incorporate biometric safeguards.

Complying with international data protection laws becomes essential in this context, and when coupled with state-of-the-art biometric technology, offers a compelling solution for both reliable and secure identity verification. Biometric features provide an unmatched level of security by utilising unique, difficult-to-forge physical traits, all while maintaining user privacy.

The Future Landscape of Digital IDs

Interoperable digital IDs fortified with advanced biometric measures are setting the course for the future. They offer a promise of secure, seamless, and all-inclusive access across varied platforms.

To explore more about how biometric technologies can power secure and streamlined digital identities, visit https://en.facephi.com/

 

The Trade Department at the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom has the pleasure to announce the brand new ‘Market Updates’ section!

 

At the Chamber we are committed to providing the most important updates on the different sectors of the British Market. Amongst these, we will be covering:

 

– British Trade Policy 

– Consumer news 

– Healthcare

– Energy 

– Automotive Industry 

– Regulations 

– Food and farming 

– Foodservice 

– Retail

– Logistics

– Education

– New Technologies

 

We aim to provide detailed market analyses, summaries of key developments and statistics, and perspective on industry news. In light of this, our team will be drawing on various sources that have been carefully selected due to the reliability of their market insights.

 

With this project, we aim to help our readers expand their knowledge of the British market and apply it to their upcoming endeavours.

 

Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn and subscribe to our Newsletter, where you will gain access to the most relevant updates from each month!

 

We recently met with the leading team of the Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (SRUK/ CERU) where we got to know their activities and their contribution to the development of links between Spain and the United Kingdom in matters related to Research & Development.

There are more than 3,300 Spanish staff in UK Universities and thousands of students (undergraduate, masters and PhD) whose role in the development of ambitious research and innovation programs in the UK is highly valued. Here at the Chamber, we look forward to contributing to SRUK/CERU’s role connecting researchers with businesses, to ensure that researchers can continue their careers in the private sector, and to promote the application of their research activities.

The Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (SRUK/CERU) is a volunteer-run, non-profit organisation which was officially established in 2012. SRUK/CERU is a network of Spanish researchers who carry their professional activities in the UK that facilitates the integration of newcomers and serves as a platform for exchanging advice and personal and professional experiences. SRUK/CERU facilitates collaborations between public and private institutions related to Research and Development (R&D) in the United Kingdom and in Spain, thus capitalising on the existing links between both countries and contributing to building new ones.

SRUK/CERU also represents the community of Spanish researchers in the United Kingdom and serves as a scientific advisor to public and private institutions in both countries. Finally, SRUK/CERU acts as a science communicator, thus seeking to improve the social perception of R&D both in the United Kingdom and in Spain. SRUK/CERU brings science closer to the public by means of seminars, scientific activities for all audiences, round tables, conferences, and symposia.

SRUK/CERU is an active member of the Red de Asociaciones de Investigadores y Científicos Españoles en el Exterior (RAICEX) and is spearheading the CONNECTS-UK initiative (Connecting European Communities Through Science in the UK). SRUK/CERU is spread across 9 local Constituencies in the UK and develops its initiatives by means of 7 Departments. Each of these is composed of a group of volunteers (> 100 Spanish researchers in the UK in total) who share experiences and spearhead activities. SRUK/CERU contributes to the personal and professional development of its members by recognising academic excellence through awards, offering travel grants, workshops and a mentoring programme to its members and by promoting the role of women in research, among others.

Find out more about our activities by following us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Subscribe to our newsletter by navigating to the bottom right corner of our webpage and become a member here.

 

The Spanish Government has approved the digital nomad visa aiming for non-European citizens to relocate to Spain.

 

This visa is one of the measures introduced by the Spanish Start-Up Law, alongside others at corporate or tax levels, that seek making Spain a leading destination country for innovative companies and digital nomads.

 

To provide a response to the important legal implications introduced by the Spanish Start-Up Law, Scornik Gerstein LLP has launched a hub, led by its Managing Partner Antonio Arenas.

 

This new legal hub not only redefines the way legal services are delivered, it also provides value to its users by providing free access to publications explaining the changes brought by the Spanish Start-Up Law

 

In the link below, you can download a guide about the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa, where the immigration department of Scornik Gerstein LLP addresses the following questions:

 

• Who qualifies for the Spanish nomad visa?
• Does the digital nomad visa include family members?
• How long can a digital nomad visa holder stay in Spain?
• Where must a digital nomad working from Spain pay its taxes?

 

 

 

 

Download Spanish Digital Nomad Visa

 

 

If you are interested in receiving further publications send an email to london@scornik.com

 

knowmad mood, a leading technology consulting firm in digital transformation, has announced its projections for 2023 and expects revenues of 172 million euros during the current year, 33% more than those of 2022.

 

knowmad mood expects to achieve an EBITDA of 8.53%, which represents 14.7 million euros, an increase of 41% over last year’s figure. Thus, these forecasts continue in the positive line of the results presented last month, where knowmad mood, formerly known as atSistemas, certified a 32% growth in its revenue compared to 2021.

 

knowmad mood and its a global strategy

 

knowmad mood begins 2023 strengthening the global expansion strategy launched in 2022 in the United Kingdom and the United States, with the opening of new offices and the acquisition of New Verve Consulting. By the end of 2022, the company opened a new office in Morocco, adding to the existing ones in Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Uruguay. Since last December, the company has also been listed on the BME Growth market.

 

knowmad mood formerly atSistemas

 

As recent milestones, the company has just announced its change of name and corporate image. Once known as atSistemas, knowmad mood decided at the end of May to announce its new image after 29 years, so as to be better aligned with its growth and global expansion goals and to face future challenges.

 

“These positive predictions are very important news for us because it means our strategy for the past few years is already paying off. Besides the expansion of knowmad mood, we are also showing that our recent acquisitions were a success and already bring positive results, not only financially but also in terms of adding value, resources, and expertise to our company. These projections are also a positive message to our customers and investors, as we hope they transmit both strength and security. We expect to continue to deliver good news during the rest of the year, both in announcements of new projections and in the reporting of results next year,” says José Manuel Rufino Fernández, CEO of knowmad mood.

 

About knowmad mood

 

knowmad mood is a digital transformation leading company that combines talent, technology and business to make the most of the complex challenges faced by the market through innovation and sustainable development with the commitment to add value to its more than 500 clients and supporting them in their digital transformation since 1994. It currently has more than 2,400 professionals, a revenue of 129.2 million euros in 2022, and locations in 7 countries including Spain, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, and Morocco where they provide architecture, development, systems integration, and managed services projects, adopting and promoting the best practices in the market. Currently knowmad mood has companies and brands within the group such as DEXS, Digital Experience School, a digital division that offers an integrated ecosystem of training solutions, technology, and services, oriented to the creation and continuous delivery of value in the learning and development processes of organisations, New Verve Consulting, specialising in the creation, development, and design of Atlassian solutions and products for different clients in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, and Incipy, a consulting firm specialising in digital transformation and strategy for businesses and organisations with a focus on people, a pioneer in Spain.

 

📞 +44 020 34 686 252 📧 marketing.en@knowmadmood.com

 

atSistemas is now knowmad mood. knowmad mood, a technology consulting firm leader in digital transformation with more than 29 years of history as part of the evolution of the company.

As part of its strategic plan for 2021-2024, knowmad mood seeks to become one of the main players in the technology sector in UK. atSistemas is committed to changing its corporate identity to knowmad mood to align the image and perception of the brand with its growth and international expansion goals.

 

The technology group is composed of:

– DEXS, the business division that offers an ecosystem of training solutions, technology, and services.

– New Verve Consulting, specialising in the creation, development and design of Atlassian solutions and products for different clients in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

– Incipy, a consulting firm specialising in digital transformation and strategy of businesses and organisations with a focus on people, a pioneer in Spain.

 

This rebranding fulfills the purpose of strengthening its position in the market through innovation and sustainable development with the mission to continue providing value to customers, drive talent, unify the digital strategy of the business with the skills and technical solutions and sets a new direction in the future of technology. See video of the evolution 👉 HERE To learn more about this evolution read more 👉 HERE

 

knowmad mood global strategy

 

knowmad mood comes as a declaration of intent that follows the company’s evolution and strengthens its position as a major multinational corporation. With this transformation, the company wants to align the perception of the brand with its positioning and international expansion goals. The idea is to ensure that the company’s international presence and the services it offers are in line with its current size, in terms of reputation and market recognition. For this reason, it is primarily an evolutionary process where the same corporate values and principles are preserved but more coherently expressed with the current situation of atSistemas, that of being a leading company in digital transformation and innovative technological solutions at the forefront.

 

The new corporate image of knowmad mood includes a new logo that creates a new visual expression of the company but leaves intact the corporate colours that have characterised the brand since its beginnings in 1994. This identity reflects an honest and transparent brand that speaks of an ecosystem of talent, partners, clients, and above all, a team of people connected to a common purpose. “The rebranding process has been a challenge, because, on the one hand, we wanted to transmit our new reality, but at the same time we wanted to communicate that we continue to preserve the values that have brought us here and are part of our identity and history. We want to continue to show that feeling of enthusiasm that we all have and the shared experiences that have led us to make the most of the challenges we have faced, no matter how complex they have been. This feeling of belonging and community has made us a great team, and this is the concept that we wanted to reinforce in this new identity. Because we are and will continue to be a team, and that is what makes us great,” says Jessica Iglesias Sánchez.

 

“We have absolutely no doubt that the job profile of the future is the ‘knowledge nomad’, people who are digital natives and are known for their creativity and innovative skills, and for creating a network with other people beyond borders. However, they are responsible, flexible, and passionate about their work, allowing them to be resilient in the face of adversity and to be in constant evolution and learning thanks to their great ability to adapt. This is our culture, our state of mind, and, ultimately, our spirit, and this is the inspiration for our name, ‘knowmad mood’. This new name allows us to express our identity in a coherent way, one that will be with us in our strategic growth and expansion goals for the future”, says José Manuel Rufino Fernández, CEO of atSistemas.

 

About knowmad mood

 

knowmad mood is a leading company in digital transformation combining talent, technology, and business to make the most of the complex challenges of the market through innovation and sustainable development with the mission of adding value to more than 500 clients and helping them in their digital transformation since 1994.

The company employs more than 2,400 professionals, a revenue of 129.2 million euros in 2022, and has offices in 7 countries including Spain, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, and Morocco, where they undertake architecture, development, systems integration, and managed services projects, promoting and adopting the best practices in the market.

 

Written by Chamber Member FACEPHI BEYOND BIOMETRICS LIMITED

 

H1: Your Phone’s Face ID May Not Be As Safe As You Think

 

Biometric features such as facial recognition scans and fingerprint sensors have revolutionised smartphones, making them powerful tools for efficient authentication. With a simple glance or touch, your phone can be unlocked, transactions authorised, and much more – all without the need for cumbersome PINs or passwords.

 

But while this novel technology offers impressive functionality and a higher security level than some traditional authorisation methods, it may not be as secure as generally presumed.

 

H2: The Verdict of the EBA

 

Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) is a crucial security protocol created to combat payment fraud. It necessitates the use of at least two of the following elements: something you know (like a password), something you have (like a phone), and something you are (like a fingerprint).

 

In its recent guidance regarding how SCA should be applied to digital wallets, the European Banking Authority (EBA) made it clear that using biometrics to unlock a phone should not be considered a valid SCA element (if that biometric data is not controlled by the financial institution). Essentially, device biometrics, such as Apple Pay’s Face ID, don’t offer substantial protection against fraud.

 

H3: Device Biometrics vs Biometric Identity Verification Solutions

 

Device biometrics, like Apple’s Face ID, are exclusively stored on the user’s device. They serve to unlock a password container and send the saved password to the remote server. This, however, does not verify the user’s identity. The remote server merely confirms the correctness of the password.

 

This method could potentially lead to serious security flaws, especially if multiple users register their biometrics on the same device and resort to PIN codes when the biometric fails, thereby enabling unauthorised access to personal accounts.

 

For example, consider a common situation where an iPad is shared amongst friends. Each person’s biometrics are registered on the device, and they all know the same entry passcode. Here, bypassing another friend’s Apple Pay facial scan by simply entering the shared pin code would be quite easy.

 

Therefore, any application that uses device biometrics for security, like a mobile banking app or Apple Pay, is only as secure as its weakest method of authentication: a simple PIN code.

 

In contrast, biometric identity verification solutions capture, encrypt, and transmit biometric credentials to a remote server. There, liveness tests and authentication confirm that the person in front of the camera is the same person who enrolled with the account. Until the user’s identity is verified, they cannot gain access.

 

Even if device biometrics, PIN codes, or the entire device are compromised, remote identity verification technology can protect the account and provide secure access to the legitimate customer.

 

H4: Biometric Identity Verification Solutions for Greater Peace of Mind

 

Using a robust biometric identity verification solution with passive liveness technology for payment authentication is highly recommended over mobile device biometrics. This method offers enhanced security and protection against fraudulent activities.

 

Implementing biometric identity verification solutions can help businesses ensure their customers’ identities are reliably verified and protected. This brings peace of mind to both the business and its customers.

For more information on secure biometric identity authentication, please visit www.facephi.com 

 

Madrid, 5th of June, 2023 – Konecta and Comdata have today announced plans to unite all of their markets under the Konecta brand, underpinned by the Group’s purpose to deliver outstanding customer experiences in a fast-paced and ever-changing digital world through the combination of talent, innovation, and industry expertise.

Konecta becomes a global leader in the attractive CX BPO market with close to €2 billion in revenues and a global footprint that provides ‘best shoring’ to local, regional, and global clients in a variety of industries, including financial services, technology, telecoms, e-commerce, utilities, the public sector, and healthcare.

The Group, headquartered in Madrid, serves more than 500 large corporations in 24 countries across Europe and the Americas, with the local expertise of over 130,000 staff.

Jesus Vidal Barrio, CEO of Konecta, said: “With the transaction, we have brought to life a global leader in the CX BPO market. Our commitment to anticipating the emerging needs of our clients, fulfilling their specific demands in each region, and gaining new markets will continue to be a pillar of our strategy. Working together, we will learn from each other, enhancing the wealth of skills we have cultivated on both sides. I am thrilled to write this new chapter of our history under Konecta.”

 

About Konecta

Konecta is a leading innovative global service provider in customer management business process outsourcing, with 130,000 passionate employees working in 30 languages across 4 continents and 24 countries.

Focusing on the unique needs and opportunities of each industry, Konecta offers a full range of end-to-end customer management solutions – including acquisition, retention, customer service, technical support, and collection – all based on a sustainable business model. These services are built on a portfolio of world-class expertise covering customer experience and process management, digital solutions and cutting-edge technologies.

Headquartered in Madrid, Konecta delivers global revenues of approximately €2 billion with more than 500 clients, covering some of the biggest names in telecoms, energy, banking, mobility, retail, and e-commerce.

 

For over 55 years Park Air has been a leader in ground-to-air radio systems for civil and military air traffic management.

 

• Park Air has delivered its T6 family of radios into the USA for over 25 years and provided the core radio design for the NEXCOM (V1) VHF radio program.

• Park Air has partnered with our US business for the Federal Aviation Administration’s NEXCOM (V3) program.

• The acquisition is complementary and enhances the portfolio and capabilities of Indra in the Civil and Military communications domain.

 

Madrid, June 2, 2023.- Indra, a leading engineering and technology specialist for the Aerospace, Defence and Mobility sectors, has entered into a binding agreement with NG to acquire Park Air. Park Air is a leader in ground-to-air radio systems and designs, manufactures, delivers and supports ATM radios throughout the world with two core product lines serving the civil and military sectors. Key customers include Air Navigation Service Providers Airports, Systems Integrators and Government Military Organisations. Ground to Air radios enable communication with aircraft during take-off, flight and landing.

 

Park Air’s operations include design and development, engineering, manufacturing, and customer training facilities. It has over 120 employees and a well-established partner and distribution network that delivers into over 100 countries.

 

Indra has no proprietary radio product, and this acquisition further expands our portfolio. Park Air and Indra are partnering in the US Federal Aviation Administration’s NEXCOM Version 3 (V3) procurement, the program to replace the existing enroute ground-to-air radios which are now reaching end-of life.

 

“This acquisition provides us with engineering and production capabilities for complex electronic systems. These capabilities are very synergetic with our current portfolio and can be used to grow our business with existing customers and develop new lines of business for Aerospace & Defence and Mobility”, said Marc Murtra, president of Indra.

 

“We are looking forward to exploring the growth opportunity for Civil and Military Air Traffic Management. We are ready for realizing the synergies between our centres in Spain, Norway and the USA through an integrated view of the global market”, said José Vicente de los Mozos, CEO of Indra.

 

The transaction is expected to be completed in H2 2023 and is subject to customary conditions.

 

About Indra

 

Indra (www.indracompany.com) is one of the leading global technology and consulting companies and the technological partner for core business operations of its customers worldwide. It is a world-leader in providing proprietary solutions in specific segments in Transport and Defence markets, and a leading firm in Digital Transformation and Information Technologies in Spain and Latin America through its affiliate Minsait. Its business model is based on a comprehensive range of proprietary products, with a high-value, end-to-end focus and with a high innovation component. In the 2022 financial year, Indra achieved revenue totaling €3.851 Billion with almost 57,000 employees, a local presence in 46 countries and business operations in over 140 countries.