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 […]
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been around for ages, which means it’s a little ‘yesterday’ surely?
Not according to Shon Alam, founder of Bidwedge, who argues that CSR is now more important than ever and outlines how small businesses can capitalise on the opportunities it offers. (more…)
As entrepreneurs, when we have an idea for a start-up, we want our business to succeed and grow. Defining your products and services is part of the journey and having responsive and agile processes is a key part in this. Just remember not to lose sight of your initial idea or concept. (more…)
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has posed great challenges to the world at large: with social distancing measures transforming our day-to-day lives, upending the economy, and driving businesses into the ground, no corner of society has been left untouched by the disease. (more…)
Across the globe, we trust scientists, doctors and teachers. Over half of us consider these professions to be trustworthy (Ipsos Global Advisor). Business leaders don’t fare so well. Just one in five are described as trustworthy and, perhaps not unexpectedly, politicians are at the bottom of the heap with a mere one in ten of us placing our trust in them. (more…)
“I don’t like promoting myself online.” I have heard this from so many people and I even used to say it myself. I’ve changed my tune, however, because there is so much that can be gained from strategic self-promotion, if done correctly.
During these strange times, when we can’t network inperson, it is more important than ever to be able to effectively promote ourselfves and our services online. (more…)
Financial crises are not like your average recession or corporate fraud. They involve firms and people overborrowing, usually to speculate on shares or real estate. They turn legitimate economic booms into gluttonies of lazy assumptions, hucksterism, and recklessness. Because they’re based on debt, the loss of confidence in one specific area of trouble quickly reverberates. Presto, credit dries up for everybody. (more…)
As this period of Covid-19 continues with no obvious end in sight small businesses and startups have a lot to contend with. Many businesses are operating in a hybrid mode with some staff back in the workplace while others remain working from home. We are all having to deal with ongoing uncertainly and it’s important to consider how this is affecting your employees. (more…)
The Government has made significant financial contributions to British business since the outbreak of COVID-19, however, now the country is reopening, it will want to recoup as much of its £330bn investment as possible through taxation. It is therefore critical that businesses are on top of their tax liabilities to ensure they don’t land themselves with a HMRC tax investigation and subsequent fines. (more…)
Striking the right balance between work and play is an issue that most business owners have always had to wrestle with.
And now the coronavirus pandemic means business owners and leaders are re-evaluating their work-life balance further, so we asked Sid Madge, author of ‘Meee in a Work Minute’ to share his experience on how to strike a fulfilling balance. (more…)
As a restaurant entering the post-Covid world , delivery and click & collect services are no longer a ‘nice to have’, they are a fundamental part of the revenue streams of the future. Get it right now, and you will effectively future proof yourself for years to come. (more…)
As lockdown restrictions continue to lift and employees return to the workplace, it marks an opportunity for businesses to rethink the way they support and nurture their people. Employers able to embrace the ‘new normal’ have the chance to transform the way they work, for the better.
When it comes to buying or selling a business, the most important question you need to ask is – how much is it worth? There is no single formula that can be used to precisely value every private business. The seller will want to drive the price up, and potential buyers will want the opposite.
Stress is an inevitable part of everyday life and our bodies are hard-wired to respond to it. However, it’s clear stress is taking a negative toll on businesses across the country. Poor mental health costs employers between £1,205 and £1,560 per employee every year. This cost is for all employees, not just those who are […]
The coronavirus pandemic led to many UK businesses in the entertainment industry closing their doors. Only in the last few weeks have some started to re-open under strict social distancing guidelines (meaning significantly reduced capacity and revenue).
Financial mis-selling is surprisingly common. From mis-sold taxpayer-backed loans to problems with interest rate swaps, new cases appear in the public eye on an unsettlingly regular basis.
It won’t be news to any startup that the investment industry has taken a hit during the pandemic. Every new deal is being viewed with caution and the brakes are being put on by VCs, and angels alike, while so much uncertainty pervades the markets.
So far, 2020 has been a year to forget for those operating in a whole range of industries. But few have been harder hit than the travel sector. There is cautious optimism that the worst is behind us, but the industry faces changes that will linger for the long term, perhaps permanently.
Have you ever ended a presentation and wondered if your audience got the point or was convinced to invest in your venture? If you have, chances are you did not properly prepare your closing. Here, Vinette Hoffman-Jackson of Toastmasters International explains how to close your speech, pitch or presentation successfully.
As small business owners, the switch to virtual communications means we’re spending big chunks of every week in online meetings, joining webinars as well as dealing with social media. We asked Lyn Roseaman to share her advice and tips on how you can get the most from communicating online.
Your business is your lifeblood – you have poured your passion and determination into it to make it a success. You’ve spent countless late nights and weekends to create a business you are proud of, but how can you ensure your small business remains profitable as you grow?
Starting a business of your own can prove to be a very rewarding experience from a long-term point of view. Still, even the most successful ventures suffered from “growing pains” during their initial stages. These stressful situations can take a toll upon the mindset of any business owner or freelancer.
In two years, what decisions will you have wish you had made today? It’s a question that leaders should continually ask. But the pressure of day-to-day business means that thinking about the future can feel like a luxury in many companies.
Employees need to know that leaders and managers at all levels believe the wellbeing of staff really does matter; that they are committed to providing the resources and doing whatever is necessary to make their workplace a good place to work. Here are five ways to help ensure that happens:
Getting noticed online is harder than ever. Not only are there more websites out there than ever before but the established players in most niches are firmly entrenched at the top of SERPs. If you want your website to get anywhere near those coveted top three spots you need to look at ways to improve […]
As the UK remains subject to strict measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has identified a surge in ‘coronavirus-themed’ malicious apps, websites, phishing emails and messages that seek to steal confidential or sensitive information. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute has even suggested that the UK has been the most severely targeted country […]
Life is full of surprises, any one of which can knock us off our feet. In business this can range from the printer going on strike in the middle of a huge collation job, to a key customer taking their business elsewhere.
We now know that although the lockdown is being slowly lifted there are still plenty of businesses that will remain closed or at best will operate at a reduced capacity. Unless you are one of the lucky ones doing really well during lockdown, you may be wondering how you will survive.
From dodgy design, to a lack of information, instinctively when you land on a website you will know whether it feels like a website you can trust. Subtle cues as to whether you can trust a website become even more important if you are considering parting with your cash.
One of the main benefits of all the technology that surrounds us these days is that it allows us to do things that would have been outsourced in the past. And when you’re running a start-up or a small business on a shoestring it makes sense to go down the DIY route for all sort […]
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme opened on 20 April, and the uptake has been huge; at the start of May, claims had been made for a quarter of private sector workers. Under the scheme, employers can claim 80% of staff wages from the Government, up to a cap of £2,500 per month; they can choose […]
Where do you stand legally if you have outstanding contracts that you cannot fulfil through no fault of your own, or have contracts with others for the supply of goods or services which they cannot fulfil? We asked Amanda Hamilton, Chief Executive of the NALP to outline the legal implications.
Many of us are feeling much more anxious than usual as lockdown continues to disrupt our lives and our businesses. Anxiety can make it hard for us to concentrate, be creative, and adversely affect our ability to adapt to the changing business conditions, to make the most of any opportunities, and to plan creatively for […]
With unprecedented numbers of people working from home, businesses have to ensure staff are safeguarded when working remotely. We asked Scott Lester, Cyber Lab Manager at 6point6 to explain how businesses can ensure cyber security for remote workers.
Coronavirus is changing how businesses attract and hire great employees. Charles Hipps, Founder and CEO of Oleeo, looks at how the recruitment process is having to adapt to COVID-19 and discusses the opportunities and challenges posed by the pandemic.
With most businesses in the UK now having a good portion of employees working from home, and with the likelihood of an increase in remote working going forward, we asked author Andy Salkeld to share his tips on how teams can stay connected when based at different locations.
Covid-19 came at us out of “left field“. It was sudden and brutal. A wave of disbelief followed that disrupted our normal working pattern significantly, and maybe, irretrievably. For all of us who run a business, there is a deep uncertainty right now. We are worried about what will happen to the business we’ve worked […]
