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…)
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…)
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…)
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. (more…)
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 ill, so we asked Brendan Street of Nuffield Health to show how employers can cut the cost of stress. (more…)
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. (more…)
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: (more…)
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 your online marketing. (more…)
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 for COVID-19 related phishing emails. (more…)
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. (more…)
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 of requirements – your branding, design & print and your presentations for example. (more…)
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 to top up the surplus but do not have to. (more…)
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. (more…)
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 the future. (more…)
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a seismic shift in how we do business. With face-to-face meetings being replaced by online meetings, calls and conferences, many of us have had to rapidly adapt to new technologies. So how can you communicate more effectively online? (more…)
The coronavirus pandemic has meant businesses across the UK have had to rapidly embrace remote working. The scale and speed that businesses have had to adapt to employees working from home has meant a steep learning curve for many small business owners. (more…)
During the COVID-19 lockdown many businesses have discovered they are perfectly capable of working remotely and delivering most of what they do online.
Sadly, this isn’t the case for millions of businesses working in fields like hairdressing, massage, physiotherapy, children’s parties, cleaning or catering. But this doesn’t mean that business needs to completely stop. (more…)
Recruiting is evolving with technology at a frenetic pace. The future will be more machine-driven than perhaps ever before in the ever-expanding quest for recruiters who have to ensure they are hiring the best quality candidates. (more…)
When done correctly, affiliate marketing can help generate sales and help you make more profits.
If you’re thinking of trying affiliate marketing for the first time, here’s some advice to help you get it right. (more…)
The current COVID-19 pandemic is presenting business leaders with some very difficult decisions.
At times like these, there is an even greater spotlight on the actions and behaviours of those leading businesses. Here, we look at the key issues leaders need to keep in mind to avoid damaging their reputation and losing trust. (more…)
The Government has advised businesses to encourage staff to work from home wherever possible. While some businesses may be well versed in how to manage staff who work from home, for others this is likely to be new territory.
You’ll want to ensure that despite having less regular contact with your staff, business is still able to carry on as normally as possible, so we asked Francesca Mundy, Senior Legal Editor at Sparqa Legal to highlight key issues for employers to consider. (more…)
If you have a website (which you probably should), you will no doubt have considered how to get more visitors to the site. Without attracting high quality traffic, a website offers very little real value to any organisation. (more…)
Are you worried about managing your business’ remote teams during the current coronavirus pandemic?
John Williams, Head of Marketing at Instant Offices, shares his advice on how to overcome the challenges of managing a remote team, and highlights the main pros and cons of remote working in the long-term… (more…)
Across the globe, millions of employees are being advised to work from home, but managing and coordinating a remote workforce is unfamiliar territory for many business owners.
We asked Paul Jeffrey, of cloud and continuity experts Iomart, to share his must-do tips on maintaining resilience and integrity when employees have to work remotely. (more…)
The digital age has not only revolutionised the entire business world but in the process, created platforms and opportunities that offer small businesses a level playing field.
It’s for this reason IT support and services are vital for the ongoing success and longevity of modern enterprises. (more…)
In all industries, businesses are starting to realise the potential AI (artificial intelligence) can bring; strengthening decision-making whilst automating complex and time-consuming tasks.
Through the power of AI, businesses can help to streamline their operations, increasing efficiency and overall productivity. (more…)
Small businesses and start-ups often provide a more flexible approach to work. That might be working from home a couple of days a week, working remotely, flexitime on core hours, flexibility for parenting duties and perhaps a more relaxed working environment. (more…)
You know things, we all know things – some useful (i before e, except after c), some less so (only one King in a pack of cards doesn’t have a moustache). But sometimes we only think we know things. For example, if you need to go to court, you must employ a solicitor … right?
Wrong! (more…)
Architectural visualisation uses computers with powerful rendering capabilities and intricate modelling methods to create digital models of spaces, structures and buildings.
Often abbreviated to arch viz, this creative process is a powerful lead generation and communication tool. (more…)
The office environment is now the frontline of employee engagement, with businesses everywhere investing in their working spaces for the benefit of staff.
The right working space will improve productivity and the bottom line through a series of benefits that we’ll detail below. (more…)
More and more of our computing, whether it’s storing data or running applications, is being carried out in the cloud.
But what about the desktop? The collection of things that make up your day-to day computing. (more…)
Most UK businesses have just a few short weeks before finding out what the new legislation will be regarding IR35.
The Spring Budget is due on 11 March, and the thought of sweeping reforms for their payroll system. on top of Brexit uncertainty, is only going to cause more frustration for businesses. (more…)
With the UK finally set to leave the UK, businesses are now waiting to see what the post-Brexit trading relationship with the EU will be like.
With a lack of clarity on what the future holds, Ritam Gandhi, founder of Studio Graphene, shares steps that UK tech companies can take to future-proof their business. (more…)
The majority of small business owners recognise the power of digital marketing and that a website is a must have.
With limited funds and marketing budget, most small businesses tend to buy their website from an agency or designer that does everything. However, as Tim Butler, founder of Innovation Visual explains, this might not be the best course to take. (more…)