Category: Advice

At A Suit That Fits, we were lucky enough to have the support of some fantastic friends early on. Essentially, a few of our friends loved the idea of being part of the world’s first online tailoring company, and took a sabbatical from their careers to help out.

Professional negotiator and media lawyer, Clive Rich, has urged SME’s to improve the negotiation and deal-making skills of their top executives or risk financial ruin as big business and the recession make it harder for SME’s to get a foot in the door.

Graham Lowes, marketing director, OKI Printing Solutions, says If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. An over-used phrase perhaps, but in the case of cheap printer consumables, it could hardly be more relevant. The economy may be gradually pulling away from recession, but SMEs are still focused on running a tight ship and they can be forgiven for looking to save money at every opportunity.

As the co-founder of a small business, I’m often asked for hints and tips when starting up as an entrepreneur. To be a columnist for Business Matters is a real honour and I hope to impart some of what I’ve learnt to fellow entrepreneurs!

New research has revealed the poor state of trust between employees and managers with a quarter of those surveyed saying that they are feeling that the level of trust they have in their manager has deteriorated. A further one fifth of respondents have reported that they are less engaged.

Many staff returning to the office from their holiday today will be greeted back with hundreds of emails demanding their attention, which according to research published today, is one of the biggest causes of corporate stress. The problem, says Emailogic, undermines the entire premise of providing paid holidays for employees so they can relax.

For years now we’ve been hearing plenty about how our high streets are suffering at the hands of the supermarket giants and how their ‘evil plan’ to take over Britain’s streets is forcing local businesses to shut shop.

I am currently working with Mary Portas’ shop designer, Callum Lumsden, on a refit of one of our studios so I have been watching her brilliant latest series, Mary Queen of Shops.

She talks about how businesses need to improve in order to compete with supermarkets and I couldn’t agree more.

With summer having finally arrived – the flowers are in bloom, the BBQs are stoked up and the flip flops are out. However, while most of us look forward to balmier days, many business owners find the summer months a challenge. Not only does business tend to slow down, but employees and owners alike can find it difficult to focus and be productive when warm weather and the beach is beckoning.

Apprenticeships are vital for our business and an attractive recruitment option for other employers, writes Lesley Bowen, Head of HR Delivery at Sellafield, winners of the Employer of the Year at the National Apprenticeship awards.

Jamie Waller is the UK’s best known debt recovery and enforcement specialist. His company, JBW Group, work with businesses and local councils across the UK in debt management and enforcement. Jamie regularly appears on BBC Television and various others stations offering expert advice.

Here he provides his tops tips for businesses to ensure credit and debts are kept under control:

As the owner and director of a successful rural business employing over 30 people across two locations in the East of England, l was approached recently by Business Matters who asked me if l’d like to become a regular columnist.