Start-Ups

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). (more…)

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. (more…)

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. (more…)

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? (more…)

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. (more…)

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. (more…)

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 so hard to build up, and we are concerned for our employees and their long-term futures. (more…)

If you are an athlete how can you create a startup and grow a business as you transition from your sports career?

Former pro basketball player, Ferran Martinez knows exactly what’s needed, so we asked him to share his top tips on how to turn a sporting career into a successful business. (more…)

In the permanent disruption of the 2020s, the ability to invent new products, processes and value propositions is critical for any business.

Not surprisingly, there’s a growing premium placed on individual creative-thinking as it invariably sparks the journey towards innovation, so we asked author and speaker, Greg Orme, to explain how you can harness your full creative potential. (more…)

Running a small business can be a bit of a roller-coaster. Just when you think everything is going smoothly, an unexpected shock can hit your business and all of a sudden, your business is experiencing a very tough time.

So how do you turn your business around when times are bad, and all seems lost? Business owner, Anthony Main shares what he learned when his business was on the brink. (more…)

If you have ever had to make an important presentation or a big pitch, you will have had  words of wisdom showered upon you.

Although well-intentioned, much of that advice however is misguided, so we asked Anthony Garvey of Toastmasters International to reveal the most common myths when it comes to public speaking and presenting. (more…)

Whether you are a start-up or an established small business, you are likely to come across a challenge that requires outside input at some point in your business’s journey.

But consultants are expensive – for most SMEs, too expensive, so here are some alternatives that can help you out of a hole, without breaking the bank. (more…)

Starting your own business from scratch can be a terrifying prospect filled with self-doubt and worries about failure and going broke.

To help you safely negotiate the path of entrepreneurship, we asked business mentor and author Brian Marcel to share his blueprint for business success. (more…)

Becoming a business owner and an entrepreneur is deciding to become a leader. As a leader, your actions, behaviours and attitudes decide the ultimate fate of your business.

With leadership being vital, Florian Bay, explores some of the pitfalls leaders can fall into, and the steps you can take to lead your business to success. (more…)

In many cases, acting as a broker and introducer for a business can be more profitable than being the company that actually lends the money.

Typically, there can be 5 or 10 times more brokers than there are lenders in an industry and they will usually receive a fee for every application, or a commission on the funded sale. (more…)

Leadership is one of the most written about topics in business. You can be an ‘Authentic Leader’, a ‘Facilitative Leader’ or an ‘Agile Leader’.

Some of these labels may have currency, others do not. What is true is that there is no one, indisputable, formula for effective leadership. (more…)

Despite uncertainties over Brexit and a volatile political climate, the number of small businesses in the UK continues to grow year on year.

According to the Federation of Small Businesses, there were 5.8 million new startups in 2019, representing a 3.5% increase on the previous year. (more…)

The inspiration to start a business can come at any time: in the pub, in the shower, in the supermarket, walking the dog.

How many times has someone you know announced they’ve had a great business idea? And how many of those eureka moments ended up as no more than a few notes on a napkin? (more…)

Tis the season for office parties and dinners and, for many business owners, speeches, pep-talks and toasts.

Your Christmas party is an opportunity to bring everyone together as a group, and with the right words, inspire your team as you head into another year. (more…)

Within the food and beverage industry, the Great Taste Awards are highly-respected and often considered the gold standard of speciality food and drink accreditation.

Securing such a prize can catapult your product into the limelight, so we asked Kim Havelaar, Founder of Roqberry to share her know-how and advice on how to win a Great Taste Award. (more…)

Over the last decade, organisations and business both big and small have been steadily investing more and more in their digital user experience (digital UX).

Interestingly, the digital UX rules businesses are employing online can be applied to help you write great speeches, talks and presentations. (more…)

The ISO 9001 certification is highly sought-after and becoming increasingly popular amongst businesses.

To help you understand whether ISO 9001 is something your business would benefit from, we asked Sean Huggett of Evalian to explain what it’s about, and what’s needed to achieve it. (more…)

If your new business is going to be operating in a competitive marketplace, it’s crucial that you find a way to differentiate your business from all the competitors out there.

In short, why should customers choose your products or services over what’s already available? (more…)

Successful business owners know how to make the most of every minute of every day.

Wasted time costs money and clients, but when you’re slowed down by administrative tasks, an over-flowing inbox and endless meetings it can be hard to keep up, so here are ten ways to maximise your productivity every day: (more…)

A number of the world’s largest companies were founded by ambitious and determined university students who weren’t afraid to dream.

Most people know that Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook in his Harvard dorm room, but were you aware that FedEx, the global courier service, was first imagined by Frederick W. Smith in an undergraduate paper while he was studying at Yale? (more…)

Managing cash flow, hiring new employees, delivering top quality customer service, these and many others, occupy the minds of small business owners.

Innovate? That is number 50 on the To Do list, when headspace allows. Yet innovation, creating value out of ideas that are new to you – is the only way to ensure you are relevant for every stage of your company’s growth. (more…)

For entrepreneurs with new food or beverage products, getting listed by a supermarket can feel like a watershed moment for your brand.

Your brand awareness is likely to skyrocket with sales following. You also get positive brand association by being seen in a major supermarket, which can help secure more stockists. (more…)

A failed business can have a devastating impact on a business owner. But, the lessons learned can also make an entrepreneur stronger, wiser and more determined to succeed next time.

Author and international speaker, Jonathan MacDonald, was floored by a business failure, but after the initial despair, he picked himself up and used the experience to shape his future success. (more…)

Most business cards are about as much use as a scrap of paper with a name and number scribbled on it. That’s fine if you are looking for a date, but not so good for showcasing your business.

With a little thought, however, it’s easy to create a business card that packs a real promotional punch and helps you, and your small business, stand out from the crowd. (more…)

Delegation should be easy to do, or so you might think, however it can be very challenging in certain situations particularly for owners of small businesses.

As a business owner with a very small team, I have found it can be even harder to let go. It’s my baby. (more…)

“Put that coffee down. Coffee’s for closers only”. Alec Baldwin delivered this iconic line in the movie Glengarry Glen Ross. It may sound harsh but that is the reality.

Pitching an idea and closing a deal can be a nerve-wracking process. Even successful business greats like Richard Branson found the skill of pitching hard to come by. (more…)

If you run a business and you’ve never switched to a new energy contract, you could be paying as much as 40% more than you need to for gas and electricity.

A recent study carried out by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that a staggering £7 billion is being wasted by small and medium-sized businesses overpaying on their gas and electricity bills. (more…)

We can all learn from studying successful business people. How do some individuals seem to have the knack of succeeding? Are they lucky, or do they have certain skills or traits that help them to achieve?

Paul Bassi CBE, a successful business owner himself, looks at what successful entrepreneurs have in common. (more…)

Small businesses have a tougher time than their larger and better-established competitors. Unlike the big brands, who enjoy plentiful resources and instant recognition in their industry, SMEs have plenty of hurdles to overcome, so we asked Craig Sams and William Fugard, co-founders of Gusto Organic drinks to share what they have learned from launching Gusto, Green & Black’s and Whole Earth Foods. (more…)

Entrepreneurship is on the rise in the UK, and one of the first decisions you will need to make when starting a business is where to locate your venture.

Even today, the era of the digital nomad, the place you choose to set up shop – figuratively or literally – can have an effect on the prospects of your business, both in terms of profitability and long term success. (more…)

We are living in an exciting time… a time where technological changes are booming. And with change comes the opportunity for new products and services, and for new businesses to fulfil new needs. (more…)