Companies that are comfortable with failure are more nimble, innovative and successful, says John Harmeling, chief marketing officer at Grant Thornton in the US

Predicting the future need not be a stab in the dark. There are plenty of practical steps businesses can take to prepare for the challenges ahead.

New research from Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR) reveals that going into 2016, EU businesses remain surprisingly resilient in their outlook despite risks posed by the migrant crisis, terrorism etc. Yet 2016 also brings fresh questions as US firms report a dent to their confidence amid concerns over export markets and the strength of the Dollar.

Kenya’s economy is becoming more dynamic. For businesses seeking to expand, it could be the perfect stepping stone into the region.

An increasing number of commentators and researchers think there might be a link between purpose and growth. So what does a purpose look like, and how can you define yours?

As productivity rates fall, businesses and governments need to find new ways to make inputs work harder if living standards are to be maintained.

As global attitudes towards tax change, tech companies need to future-proof their tax practices to stand up to enhanced scrutiny. The way in which companies markets and sells its services can also have tax implications. Therefore, one thing is clear – tax matters, and ambitious tech companies need to develop a tax strategy that can keep pace with their growth aspirations. 

5 October 2015 was a good day for companies operating across borders, with agreements on global transfer pricing rules (Base Erosion Profit Sharing or BEPS) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). 

Globalisation is accelerating. While businesses are looking to unlock new revenue streams and governments are encouraging economic diversification, the increased connectivity of the digital age is lowering barriers to entry, opening up more international growth opportunities for dynamic businesses. 

Aston Manor Cider, one of the world’s largest independent cider producers, is no stranger to the export market. The UK-based company’s specialty beverage is available in more than 20 countries including the USA, Russia and a number of African nations

Low productivity growth is a concern for policymakers across the globe. Steve Perkins, global leader for technology, says boosting R&D is the way to compensate for ageing populations and slower employment growth.

Fifty years on from the world’s first personal computer going into mass production, the Grant Thornton International Business Report reveals the scale of technology’s influence on business with the majority of firms now planning to automate operations and practices, potentially resulting in job losses. 

The European Commission (EC) recently announced plans to explore creating more integrated and deeper capital markets across its 28 Member States. Targeting a 2019 launch, the Capital Markets Union (CMU) aims to streamline financial markets and allow businesses access to more diverse financing sources, regardless of geographic location within the EU. Grant Thornton recently submitted recommendations to the EC on those efforts we believe can most help mid-sized businesses (MSBs) benefit from the proposal. 

Video case study: UK company Berry White used crowdfunding platform CrowdCube to scale up internationally. Here's how they did it.

Ed Nusbaum, global CEO at Grant Thornton tells governments not to ignore mid-market businesses.

Companies are increasingly focused on high-quality strategic transactions, with less time spent on investigating peripheral opportunities, according to our International Business Report (IBR), a survey of 5,400+ business leaders in 35 economies.