Advice on growing your small and medium sized business, SME, in the UK. Hiring and managing staff and finance plus marketing all on one website
The relationship between banks and small business has never been in worse shape, according to the Forum of Private Business, which says the damage caused by the latest mis-selling ‘swaps’ scandal will last for years in terms of lost trust and confidence.
The British Franchise Association (bfa) has announced that the 2013 bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year Awards are open for entries
Considering a career change to follow your dream and do great things? Five things to do before you take the plunge.
That Valentine you receive from your coworker may be more than just a nice gesture this Valentine’s Day, however according to an office romance survey of workers across the UK, forty-one per cent of workers said they have dated a co-worker at least once over the course of their career and twenty-seven per cent ended up tying the knot with their office beau.
As the backbone of the British economy, Britain’s army of small and medium-sized businesses have been hit harder than most by the downturn. Even though the number of firms going to the wall fell at the end of last year, the triple-dip continues to pile pressure on businesses. Company owners can only do so much to boost demand, but by taking positive steps they can do much to protect themselves from being another victim. Here Michael Davis, Managing Partner, HW Fisher & Company tells us his top ten things to keep your eye on.
With businesses looking to be as cost-effective as possible, many are considering bringing in the expertise of a non-executive director rather than appointing a full-time director to their board.
In a bold attempt to try and safeguard businesses from being mis-sold energy deals by unscrupulous salespeople, the energy regulator Ofgem have urged the government to give them more power to do just that.
The fact that Valentine’s Day is historically the busiest day of the year for UK florists coupled with the surge in online shopping could result in an unprecedented number of customers purchasing a plethora of roses, champagne, chocolates and luxury items over the next week.
Treasury management is crucial for the success of any business. Yet many SMEs get things wrong by focusing solely on cashflows and accounts receivable, rather than taking a broader view of the whole financial dealings and requirements of the business – particularly important for companies involved in overseas trade.
It is important for all businesses to look at every aspect of the company, in order to maintain fiscal stability and promote growth. Allocating funds to workplace improvements may not be the obvious first choice for cash sensitive smaller businesses. However, the effect a pleasant environment can have on a workforce and on visitors can be good news for both the finances and business development.
Businesses across all sectors and of all sizes can now apply for a share of up to £240 million to create tailored training programmes that address their specific skills needs.
The biggest challenge for most new brands is lack of awareness – which is why more than 80% of businesses recognise ‘finding new customers’ as one of their biggest challenges to growth. This need, combined with limited budgets, is what drives a number of savvy brands to explore Marketing Collaborations to fuel their business – but it remains by and large – the best kept secret of the entrepreneurial world.
Sometimes, people need to hurry up and wait.
Employee engagement has been a hot topic in the HR world or many years now. Paul Avis explores what this means in real terms and provides some insights and observations to suggest how employers can get the most from their people.
We all want happy employees, but how do we get them, how do we keep them happy and who’s responsible for their engagement – themselves, line managers, CEOs?
Need data that holds up in the boardroom — and the press? Trends Research is the UK's specialist SME research company, with a 750,000-strong panel and a 2,000-response minimum on every survey. AI-augmented analysis, headline-ready insights, and 38 years of trust built through Business Matters magazine. Trusted by Vodafone, BT, O2 and top UK PR agencies. From brief to deliverable in 10 working days — or 3 for press-led work. Request a quote today at https://trendsresearch.co.uk/
