When you need to find business funding fast, what are your options and what are the quickest ways for you to secure more finance? We talk you through the most viable fast funding options for SMEs who need finance in a hurry, and include practical tips on how to ensure your funding application goes as […]
The area of tax for small businesses is not straightforward, in fact it can be a real minefield for the unwary. However, if you take a little time, and work with your accountant, it’s usually possible to find ways to save some tax. To help you think about ways you and your business could pay […]
Numerous businesses throughout the UK have begun embracing a “green” approach in regards to their daily operations. From installing LED light bulbs within offices, to outsourcing information storage solutions to cloud-based systems, these are all excellent practices in terms of sustainability. (more…)
Many brick-and-mortar businesses rely upon a fleet of vehicles to perform day-to-day activities. Whether arriving to a construction site, transporting materials between two different locations or meeting with customers to discuss a future project, it is important that every vehicle delivers quality results. (more…)
Despite the good news that the vaccine is being delivered, Covid-19 will be with us for some time yet. Given this, small business owners need systems in place so that they can operate safely, and cope with a situation that will continue to change at short notice. (more…)
The novel coronavirus outbreak has changed the world as we know it. For businesses specifically, the pandemic has introduced an increased reliance on technology – but unlike the previous gradual progression of technology in the workplace, this has come at an unprecedented pace. (more…)
I think everyone is counting down the days before they can officially say goodbye and good riddance to 2020 – a year like no other… for all the wrong reasons.
Over the festive season, it can be tempting to enjoy a care-free break with loved ones, or as Sid Madge of Meee explains, we could opt for a low-key Christmas, reduce the health risk and kick-start our businesses for 2021 instead. (more…)
I wonder what your attitude is towards work? Perhaps you can relate to the person who said: “I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.” (Jerome K. Jerome.) Or Douglas Adams’s observation: “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” (more…)
Working from home became the default situation for the majority of people from early 2020, and it hasn’t been an easy transition. The advantages of cutting down on the commute and spending more time with family are often offset by the strains of ad-hoc home office setups, ‘zoom fatigue,’ and social isolation. (more…)
According to the founding father of Microsoft Bill Gates: “If your business is not on the internet, then your business will be out of business.”
The statement is bold and even controversial, but the Internet is without doubt, an excellent opportunity to tell as many people as possible about your business. (more…)
Moving from face-to-face meetings to online has been a challenge for many small businesses. From choosing what platform to use to deciphering platforms’ jargon, online meetings have presented more worries that are more than just the typical nervousness you might feel before giving an important business presentation. (more…)
If you have a legal issue that you need help with, most people will turn to a solicitor. But these can be expensive, charging upwards of £200 per hour, putting them out of reach for many smaller legal issues, where the fees simply don’t make sense.
However, not all legal problems need a solicitor. Some can be handled, from start to finish and just as well by a paralegal – and they will cost you a lot less. (more…)
As we head into 2021, home working is set to continue for many businesses, so making sure your employees’ home working environment is productive has never been more important.
Technical experts have high value to add to businesses in their ideas and information. However, often the problem comes when they have to communicate it to people outside their industry at either conferences, client meetings, or even internally to senior management.
At some point in your journey as a small business, you’ll probably come across a common dilemma – you need an accountant. But what’s the best solution for your business? Should you hire an in-house resource, outsource the work to a third party, or try and manage it all yourself?
Got time, money and effort to waste? I thought not! Whether you’re working on something totally new or improving something that already exists, whether you are thinking about a marketing campaign, entering a market or set of features, I am going to recommend that you test before you invest.
To think we started 2020 relieved that we had made our businesses GDPR-compliant and believing the biggest challenge for the year ahead was Brexit. Then there was talk of a deadly virus in China and, within a few short months, it became apparent that we were in the grip of a global pandemic.
A manager’s main role is to ensure that everyone else in their team is capable of doing their job to the best of their ability. Whether that be giving them the tools and equipment they need or cultivating the work environment that will allow creatives to thrive.
As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the economy and forces the UK into a second lockdown, the housing market is booming. However, while demand and house sales are high, it is taking longer for transactions to complete because of the backlog from the first lockdown, limited availability of surveyors and increasingly stringent lending criteria […]
With the UK set for its first digital Black Friday following a second national lockdown, many companies are hoping to capitalise on what is usually the busiest shopping weekend of the year.
Business accelerator programmes have become increasingly popular over the last decade. Governments are looking to support new businesses and private companies, often involving angel or VC investors, in the hope of finding early-stage opportunities they can help grow, and subsequently invest in when the time is right.
The second lockdown is causing uncertainty and worry for many business owners. However, lockdown 2.0, as it’s known by many, is the perfect time to ensure that your digital marketing campaigns are performing well, to help you gain the results you need to get through these troubled times. So, how do you make the most […]
From full national lockdown and the gradual easing of constraints, to a three-tiered regional system of restrictions and then back into another national lockdown. It’s been a long and arduous time for everyone since Covid-19 first reached our shores earlier this year, and even more so for the many hardworking business owners up and down […]
When it comes to writing a business plan, there is one single golden rule that dwarfs all others – your business plan must address each of the key concerns of your potential backer. If you fail on this first point, all the other things you should and shouldn’t do pale into insignificance and even a […]
With COVID cases again on the rise and the world bracing itself for months more of strict social distancing measures, for many, the remote working environment is here to stay. While the first priority during the pandemic has been crisis response and emphasising the importance of health and safety, over time, naturally attentions have turned […]
Leading during a global pandemic is like learning to ride a bike again. You may already know how to ride a bike or how to lead your organisation, but do you know how to ride a bike – how to keep yourself and your organisation upright and moving forward – when the ground around you […]
The various devastating events of the past year have taken a significant toll on the mental health of countless people across the nation. For many, this has been made worse by the necessity to work remotely. Where some have thrived whilst working from home, many others have found that this isolation has had a detrimental […]
It’s been a bruising year for small business not just as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic but also because of the endless uncertainty around Brexit. With so many challenges, and so many unknows, it can be hard to know what to do for the best.
My new book, The Book of Real-World Negotiations: Successful Strategies from Government, Business and Daily Life not only focuses on real world negotiation examples, but a subplot that clearly comes through in the book is the power that stories possess when it comes to negotiating.
There are now more online business ventures in existence than ever before. This only stands to reason, as we have already witnessed countless shoppers migrate to the digital community when purchasing everyday goods and services. While this creates opportunities for budding entrepreneurs, there are many challenges to overcome for an online business to become a […]
Although the sole trader route, which is commonly referred to as being self employed, is the most popular way of running a business in the UK, there are significant advantages of operating as a limited company. Here, we highlight 10 of the biggest benefits a limited company gives you over working as self-employed.
Starting a business may be exciting, however there are a few things that you need to make sure that you get right from the beginning. Here are eight top tips for startup success that business expert, Carl Reader, shares in his new book, BOSS IT;
Raising investment is no walk in the park, especially in the current climate, but thorough preparation will make capturing the attention of investors and ultimately convincing them that your investment opportunity is right for their portfolio much easier.
What do I mean by “Leadership Simulator”? A Leadership Simulator is a situation where we can hone our skills, make mistakes without catastrophic results, celebrate our innate qualities and those of our teams, and initiate new ways and ideas without suppression or consequence. Developing leadership skills is important for start-ups and other small businesses to […]
Small businesses look to be facing very precarious times for at least the next year. The pandemic of 2020 has brought with it serious financial uncertainty and a global recession that it will no doubt take a while to recover from. Arguably, it is more important now than it has ever been for businesses to […]
It is often said, both interms of technology and life in general, that if you want something done well, then it is best to do it yourself. And for startups developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), this is very true.
The COVID-19 pandemic has given businesses around the world a lot to consider. As the virus has upended the lives and livelihoods of many, there are few sectors that have been immune to its effects. And naturally, many business leaders have been thinking long and hard about how they can best adapt to the circumstances […]
We live and work in unprecedented times. The term VUCA – an acronym developed by the US military to describe the state of affairs post cold war, sums it up well. VUCA – which stands for, Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous – is as true today as it was then.
