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IRIS Software Group acquires payroll industry stalwart Bridgehead

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– Founded in 1984, Bridgehead (also known as Harper Morris Payroll, Bridgehead Europe and Bridgehead UK) manages UK payrolls and employee benefits for domestic organisations of all sizes

– Both companies have strong synergies with regards to core values and culture, and the combined payroll and benefits offering truly complements IRIS’ broader managed payroll services portfolio

LONDON, Sept. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — IRIS Software Group (IRIS) is today announcing it has acquired Bridgehead, also known as Harper Morris Payroll, Bridgehead Europe and Bridgehead UK. Founded in 1984, the business is a stalwart of the payroll industry, delivering exceptional care and attention to customers of all sizes in the UK.

Bridgehead provides an extensive range of fully managed payroll services and employee benefits with a close-knit team of experienced specialists dedicated to providing a friendly, responsive and supportive service. This closely aligns with IRIS’ mission to take the pain out of payroll and HR processes so professionals can get it right first time, every time and focus on delivering value to their business.

David Lockie, Chief Operating Officer at IRIS, says, “Bridgehead joining the IRIS group adds growth and scale to our broader managed payroll services portfolio. As an established payroll provider in the UK, Bridgehead has an unrivalled market reputation, and its hyperfocus on customer satisfaction over the last 40 years reinforces a strong synergy between our cultures.”

Richard Barnes, CEO of Bridgehead, says, “For nearly four decades, our team of experienced and committed payroll specialists has consistently delivered excellent customer service to our portfolio valued customers. I am incredibly proud of everything the team has accomplished and I know IRIS is an incredibly safe pair of hands for both our colleagues and customers.”

As statutory requirements such as Real Time Information and Pension Auto-enrolment make life more complex, running payroll is in turn increasingly complex. Bridgehead is a BACS Approved Bureau and its proprietary software is HMRC accredited for real-time information online filing and Basic Payroll Values. The business perfectly complements IRIS’ global strategy to scale significantly in the managed payroll segment over the coming years. 

Alongside offering a full range of payroll services – Payroll Bureau, Hosted Payroll and Fully Managed Payroll – Bridgehead also provides trusted advice and practical assistance with other HR and employee benefit matters, from employment contracts to recruitment and individual tax advice. All staff will join IRIS’ dedicated team of professional payroll experts to take the pain out of processes and enable customers to focus on the work they are valued for. 

This move demonstrates IRIS’ commitment to investing in people and products that broaden its service offerings for businesses in the UK market. The two companies have strong synergies with regards to core values and culture, with a key focus on developing and maintaining long-lasting relationships with customers. 

David Lockie continues, “Bringing Bridgehead into the IRIS family enables us to combine our decades of experience, to remove the complexity from payroll and ensure our customers can comply with the evolving legislature landscape. We are delighted to welcome Bridgehead to the IRIS family and will continue to support its growth and invest in its people to benefit both existing and new customers. Over the coming years, we will continue to look for further opportunities to build scale in the managed payroll sector as part of our long-term ‘build, buy, partner’ strategy.”

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IRIS is expanding its portfolio and would like to speak to successful UK, North American and international businesses. Those interested in learning more about joining IRIS Software Group should contact [email protected].

Media contact:
Emma Lawton
07539713763
emma.lawton@octopusgrp.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/iris-software-group-acquires-payroll-industry-stalwart-bridgehead-301923415.html

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President Emmerson Mnangagwa met this week with Zambia’s former Vice President and Special Envoy Enoch Kavindele to discuss SADC’s candidate for the AfDB

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President Mnangagwa, who is SADC Chairperson, reaffirmed his own country’s and SADC’s enthusiastic support for Zambian candidate Sam Maimbo

LUSAKA, Zambia, Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Special Envoy Kavindele released the following statement following the meeting:

“I am elated to witness the growing success and momentum of Sam Maimbo’s candidacy to become the next President of the African Development Bank. I am filled with gratitude to our friends across both SADC and COMESA for their continued support and good wishes.

Sam has garnered such wide consensus due to his being uniquely qualified to deliver the transformative change and empowerment our continent needs. Sam’s 30 years in development work is defined by driving outcomes, improving processes, and investing in people. The AfDB needs a hands-on leader who is laser focused on delivering results and who is unafraid of making tough decisions in order to best serve our continent. Sam is that leader. Sam has the track record and experience to drastically enhance the pace, scale, and impact of the Bank’s work in service of the people and governments of Africa.

Our region has a proud history of supporting fellow Southern Africans. For example, we all recall Lusaka’s role in hosting the African National Congress’ headquarters during the dark days of Apartheid oppression.

It therefore gives me no pleasure to observe my South African brothers, who have themselves leant on Zambia’s steadfast friendship over many decades, fail to rally behind both SADC and COMESA’s chosen candidate for the AfDB. Africa’s urgent economic development challenges demand transformational leadership at the AfDB, it is all of our responsibility to put forward the best candidate for the job. This is not the time or place for a government to act with narrow self-interest, we all must act in the continent’s and AfDB’s best interest.

I thank Sam Maimbo for his lifelong service to our entire continent, and I am eager to witness his enormous impact as President of the AfDB.”

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Stay Cyber Safe This Holiday Season: Heimdal’s Checklist for Business Security

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LONDON, Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Heimdal Security shares a practical holiday cybersecurity checklist, offering expert insights to help businesses safeguard against cyber threats this festive season.

With reduced staffing, remote work setups, and a surge in online shopping creating heightened vulnerabilities, this guide offers actionable tips to enhance business security.

Going beyond basic advice, the checklist also highlights the most common holiday scams and features videos showcasing real-life examples of Christmas-themed cyber scams and effective prevention strategies.

Key Tips to Protect Businesses This Holiday Season:

  1. Strengthen endpoints: Ensure devices are updated with antivirus and endpoint protection software; consider Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and application whitelisting.
  2. Prepare for phishing spikes: Train staff to identify suspicious emails, enforce robust email filters, and establish protocols for reporting unusual activity.
  3. Secure remote access: Mandate VPN usage, monitor unusual logins, and deactivate inactive accounts temporarily.
  4. Segment and shield networks: Isolate sensitive areas, deploy DNS security and advanced firewalls, and maintain full visibility over network traffic.
  5. Apply timely patches: Regularly update all systems and test patches in a controlled environment to minimize disruptions.
  6. Mitigate supply chain risks: Assess vendors thoroughly and limit their access to essential systems.
  7. Have a response plan ready: Tailor incident protocols for the holidays, create an on-call rotation for the IT team, and enable rapid action against suspicious activity.

Cybercriminals thrive on holiday distractions, but with proactive measures like phishing training, secure endpoints, and network segmentation, businesses can stay ahead of potential threats,” said Alex Panait, System Administrator at Heimdal Security.

Common Holiday Scams That Businesses Should Watch For:

Cybercriminals often tailor their tactics to exploit the festive season. The most common scams include:

  • Spear phishing: Emails disguised as holiday bonuses or event invitations that steal credentials or spread malware.
  • Malicious holiday E-Cards: Festive greetings that contain links deploying ransomware or spyware.
  • Fake E-Commerce sites: Fraudulent websites offering discounts to steal payment information.
  • Insider threats: Distracted or disgruntled employees mishandling or exploiting sensitive data.
  • Corporate travel scams: Fake booking platforms targeting business travelers.
  • Business email compromise (BEC): Fraudulent requests for urgent wire transfers during year-end financial rushes.

For more, read the full article here or watch the video on YouTube to see how these threats unfold and learn actionable prevention strategies.

About Heimdal:
Established in Copenhagen in 2014, Heimdal® empowers CISOs, security teams, and IT administrators to improve their security operations, reduce alert fatigue, and implement proactive measures through a unified command and control platform.

Heimdal’s award-winning cybersecurity solutions span the entire IT estate, addressing challenges from endpoint to network levels, including vulnerability management, privileged access, Zero Trust implementation, and ransomware prevention.

For further press information:

Madalina Popovici
Media Relations Manager
[email protected] 

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/stay-cyber-safe-this-holiday-season-heimdals-checklist-for-business-security-302337465.html

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According to Tickmill survey, 3 in 10 Britons in economic difficulty: Purchasing power down 41% since 2004

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The people who have the most problems are women (30%) and are between 35 and 49 years old (39%)

ROME, Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The purchasing power in the UK has dropped by 41% over the last 20 years. Today, £100,000 left in a bank account since 2004 without being invested would now be worth £59,021.

This figure is one of the findings from a study conducted by Tickmill, an international online trading broker that compared the economic situation in the UK and the European Union through the infographic “Purchasing Power and Cost of Living: UK vs EU”.

The analysis reveals a slight decline of 0.4% in the UK’s purchasing power, which currently stands at £41,573. In contrast, the European Union has seen a modest rise of 0.1%, reaching £40,874.

Why is purchasing power declining in the UK? One key factor is the cost of living. If the UK were still part of the European Union, it would rank as the fifth most expensive country, behind Ireland, Luxembourg, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

Unsurprisingly, 3 in 10 Britons are struggling with the cost of living. Women (3 in 10, compared to 25% of men), those aged between 35 and 49 (4 in 10), households earning less than £15,000 (6 in 10), and single parents (1 in 2) are among the most affected groups.

Among UK nations, Northern Ireland is the hardest hit, with 34% of its population facing financial difficulties, followed by Wales (31%), England (28%), and Scotland (22%). In England, the North East has the highest percentage of people struggling, with 4 in 10 residents affected. Even in London, the high costs impact 1 in 4 adults.

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In response to these challenges, Britons are making significant adjustments:

  • 53% have cut back or delayed spending on smaller items like eating out, entertainment, subscriptions, clothing, toys, books, etc.;
  • 52% have reduced household energy consumption;
  • 48% have decreased their grocery spending;
  • 41% have scaled back or postponed major expenditures, such as holidays, cars, and weddings;
  • 26% are working longer hours, taking on overtime, or pursuing additional jobs to earn extra income.

The British also made changes on the financial side. One in four adults has been forced to dip into their savings or investments to cover daily expenses. Moreover, 44% have stopped saving or investing entirely or have reduced their savings and investments—a 4% increase compared to 2023.

The lack of investment is another critical factor contributing to the decline in purchasing power. It is estimated that 13 million UK residents hold £430 billion in cash deposits but do not invest. The reasons? Seventy-four percent say they cannot compare investment products effectively, and 43% are afraid of losing their money.

A lack of knowledge and fear are preventing many savers from taking advantage of an important opportunity: preserving or increasing their purchasing power in the long term.

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