Business advice to help you grow your SME and small & medium sized company and help you grow your company
Many companies are poorly prepared in the event of IT and telecoms problems. Here, Dominic List who owns IT and Telecoms solutions company Comtact, gives his simple tips that all companies should adhere to in order to ensure that they are fully prepared in the event of a blackout…
One reoccurring topic which always seems to crop up when speaking to business owners is ‘when is the right time to bite the bullet and take the business to the next level’? When do we stop the bootstrapping and say hello to investment? I am a firm believer that all businesses can (and in most cases, should be) boot-strapped from day one. This not only saves costs, it keeps your business lean and avoids the unnecessary ‘fat’ that one could be tempted to add if investment is gained early on.
Every year, thousands of people close up their businesses and homes for the Christmas break without fully considering the disasters that could happen in their absence. According to the Fire Statistics Monitor Q3 2008-09, 10% of the 33,000 house fires that occurred in 2008 happened over Christmas – largely due to poor quality Christmas lights and flammable decorations.
The UK’s leading gadget advice company, www.gadgethelpline.co.uk has had to take the unusual step of registering incorrect spellings of its brand domain to counteract the problem the UK’s 18-21 age-group have with spelling the word ‘Gadget.’
At a time when businesses need to be as lean and efficient as possible, it makes no sense to cut off the very tools that create a healthy, motivated and engaged workforce – not to mention staving off high volumes of costly employee turnover.
Video Arts, the training company started in 1972 by John Cleese and Sir Anthony Jay, who wrote the Yes, Minister TV series and is renowned for entertaining films that use humour and well-known actors to deliver essential training messages has created a new licence that lets small and medium-sized companies cost effectively use digital versions of its best-selling titles.
As December approaches, I’m sure you’re already sick and tired of getting the ‘call me back after Christmas’ line only to find that come January, you can’t get hold of the person ever again! As the festive season roles in, I’m going to take a look at how to overcome these objections and make the most of the festive period.
Building on their nomination last year, recruitment specialist GCS has gone one step further and won the Best Small Employer’s Website award at Alljobsuk.com’s National Online Recruitment Awards 2009. The website, www.join.gcsltd.com, beat out strong competition from a distinguished field of nominees, including Innocent Drinks.
Anyone with a good idea and adequate common sense can start a business, but establishing and growing it is another matter.
In the current climate, where money lending has all but dried up, orders are falling, and firms are trimming all the fat possible by cutting costs, the hard part is often working out how to grow your business.
Utilities companies are showing few signs of embracing sustainable policies, as far as many of their small business customers are concerned.
If talk is cheap, genuinely practical advice and support is invaluable for business owners struggling to access finance and left numb by the politicians’ promises. The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has launched www.smallbusinesschannel.co.uk a free new online service advising entrepreneurs on a range of key business issues – including approaching banks for credit.
Most people associate franchising with large brands, but it can also be an effective way for some smaller businesses, struggling to raise finance in order to expand in the present economic climate, to grow at minimal cost. The Forum of Private Business (FPB) is campaigning to raise awareness of franchising as a way forward for many viable businesses.
This Christmas you can bring on the festive cheer and reward your business or treat your team and as part of the Nectar Business loyalty programme you can cut the cost of Christmas by spending the Nectar points you’ve collected on your business expenditure throughout the year on a range of treats and rewards.
“Do-it-Yourself” PR might well be a solution for small firms looking to reduce costs in the current downturn but still keep their profile in the public eye. Enterprise PR specialist Louise Third and business correspondent Maisha Frost will run their next media workshop on Monday 9th November at The British Library Business and IP Centre on Euston Road in London. Places cost £85 +vat per person which includes handouts and refreshments.
With Incidents of online banking fraud haven risen by 55pc take steps today to avoid becoming a victim. Here our simple tips will help you evade the fraudsters.
