Over half of employees are working from home more often since the financial crisis began, according to new research from BT Business and Remote Employment, released as people prepared for the National Work From Home Day.
Category: In Business
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
Bannatyne Fitness makes £8.2m profit
Dragon Duncan Bannatyne’s health club business has prospered despite the recession after it shifted focus from expansion to maximising profits.
Ten tips to negotiate a payrise
In these times of rising living costs, we could all do with a bit of extra income. But before you storm into your boss’s office and demand a bigger salary, read our top ten tips on becoming a smooth negotiator.
The Budget: The Business World’s verdict
We find out what the Budget really means for small firms from the most important and influential business lobbyists and support groups including the FSB, The Forum of Private Business and The British Chamber of Commerce.
Alistair Darling looks to boost confidence ahead of budget
The Chancellor has posted a YouTube video detailing his last-minute preparations ahead of what has been dubbed ‘the budget from hell’ on Wednesday.
Business doesn’t have to be any harder
A sales guru has dismissed the notion that business needs to be harder during a recession in a talk to a group of London entrepreneurs.
Marcus Cauchi, of Sandler Training, revealed the golden Sandler Rules of selling that he says will help any business weather the storm of recession.
Support required now for more businesses to win government contracts
Proposals designed to help more small businesses win government contracts should be prioritised in the forthcoming Budget, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) is arguing. As part of its submission to the 2009 Budget the FPB is pressing the Government to fast-track measures outlined in the Glover Review, at present scheduled to be implemented in 2010, in order to stimulate the flagging economy by increasing competition for tenders and providing better value for money.
Blitz spirit reigns for Britain’s small businesses
As recessionary pressures continue to bite and are clearly impacting on the survival of the nation’s small and medium sized firms, a number of business owners and managers are embracing a blitz-type attitude and are resolute in spite of the ongoing challenge.
Government ‘Big Brother’ proposals will halt use of social media for business
Government proposals to monitor social networking sites centrally fail to consider the impact of such action on businesses that now use these tools as an integral part of their marketing strategy and could result in some businesses abandoning social media altogether, according to a leading social media consultant.
Trademark applications fall 30pc
Trademark applications have fallen 30pc from their peak, indicating the decline in business activity and new product launches.
Train to Gain: It pays to develop the skills of your workforce
One of the most effective funding initiatives by the Government is to help you increase the skill levels of your employees. You are encouraged to review your company’s strategy and ensure that all staff development and training will effectively support your business objectives. Then you need to specify the actions required to develop the strategy through an organisation and development plan agreed with your staff.
Is your business Britain’s best?
Business Matters is pleased to announce that we have partnered with one of the UK’s most exciting small business competitions of 2009. The Pitch will see entrepreneurs and small business owners from all over the nation competing to win a massive £50,000 of business related goods and services.
Pitching their idea to a panel of top industry experts, entrants will be asked to demonstrate the innovation, market knowledge, customer engagement and financial viability of their business. The contest kicks off in June with heats in Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and London, followed by a grand final later in the year. The Pitch promises to offer a real taste of how resourceful UK entrepreneurs are reacting to current economic conditions, bucking the downturn with innovation and creativity.
Embracing the Olympic dream
Whilst watching the recent episode of The Apprentice we were struck by the use of The Olympics and London 2012 branding so we spoke to John Mackenzie, partner of leading IP solicitors Pinsent Masons for his advice of how to embrace the Olympic spirit without falling foul of the law.
The do’s and dont’s of workplace humour
We spend a lot of time at work. For many people they spend more time with their colleagues than they do with their family and friends. In these circumstances, it is only natural that as the working relationship evolves, the environment develops in such a way that people can find opportunities to let off steam by laughing and joking with each other.
Many employers actively encourage employees to find ways to make their work fun because, lets face it, a happy employee is more productive and none of us want to spend the day with a lot of miserable people.
SpinVox CEO & co-founder Christina Domecq named as ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’
The Award was presented at a gala reception in London by CNBC, in partnership with the Financial Times, to honour those CEOs who are making a difference through leadership and innovation in their industry sectors.
Initial nominations where made by CEOs from European companies in the FT Global 500, whilst the final winners were decided by a panel that consisted of EBLA 2008 winners from companies such as Arcelor Mittal, Autonomy, Fiat and GE, plus representatives from CNBC, the Financial Times and IMD business school.
