• Northern Ireland-based Abacus Professional Recruitment is aiming to offer complete transparency to its customers through using global independent online review and star-rating platform Feefo.

The firm has invested in the software to enable customers to generate completely voluntary user reviews, with the firm stating that in March its team secured a star rating for 4.9/5.

• Business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK is partnering with cyber security start-up’s Immersive Labs’ Digital Cyber Academy (DCA) to upskill some of its own people, as well as using it to post open positions for new joiners.

DCA is a cloud-based cyber security identification and upskilling platform that encourages full or part-time students around the world to develop cyber security skills by immersing them in real-world exercises. Employers can then identify highly skilled and engaged users to fill relevant roles and help narrow the UK’s growing cyber security skills gap.

• Optionis, a professional services provider to contractors and small businesses, has teamed up with contractor and freelance community trade association the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE) to offer a range of services to its clients and to collaborate on initiatives to support contractors.

As part of the agreement, contractors using one of the following Optionis Group companies – ClearSky Contractor Accounting, SJD Accountancy and Nixon Williams – will automatically receive the full benefits of IPSE membership, including regular newsletters, invitations to member-only events and specialist insurance cover.

The partnership starting today sees eligible Optionis contractors receive additional benefits at no extra charge, including insurance cover for accident, sickness, jury service and maternity/paternity adoption grants.