It’s an old problem facing owners of small businesses – is it worth keeping the office open between Christmas and the New Year? Can you afford to give your staff a well-earned break, or do you stay open for the benefit of your customers and your bottom line? Basepoint, as one of the leading serviced office providers in the UK, takes a keen interest in all issues affecting small businesses. Here we look at six of the key factors to consider when deciding on your opening hours over the holiday period. What About Your Customers? If your customers aren’t likely to be buying your products, or your ..read more

One of the UK’s leading accountancy firms, PwC, announced recently that it was getting rid of landline telephones on all office desks, with all staff being expected to use mobiles by the end of the summer. Is this an option for SMEs, however?  Basepoint Business Centres, one of the leading providers of virtual offices in the UK, take a keen interest in all matters which affect the small business community. Here we look at the extent to which the use of landline phones has declined – and why dispensing with your company landlines may not be a good idea. The Decline in Traditional Telephone ..read more

Budgeting can be a dirty word for small businesses, with many owners claiming they don’t have the time or the resources to do it properly. But SME budgets should be relatively quick and easy to set, and the benefits far outweigh any time and money spent. Basepoint Business Centres is a leading supplier of fully serviced offices throughout southern England and Wales, including in Southampton, Crawley, Dartford and Winchester. Here we identify five key benefits budgeting can bring to small businesses. Helping You Get Started Even before you get started, you should create your first budget in the ..read more

Maternity leave is a subject that has hit the headlines when New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern became the first elected world leader to take maternity leave during her term of office. She announced that she would only be taking six weeks of leave and would effectively remain in charge of the country in the meantime. The issue of how much time off mothers and fathers should take to bring up their new arrival is just as important for small businesses. Larger companies generally find it easier to cope with staff starting a family because of their greater resources. However, dealing with t ..read more

Owners of SMEs may believe it is difficult to spare the time to put together an entry for a local or national business awards. Others may believe there is no chance of winning if you are up against much bigger competitors. Basepoint Business Centres, who offer managed offices to let in more than 30 locations across southern England and Wales. Here identify five key potential benefits of entering business awards. They’re a Great Place to Network  Awards ceremonies can be a good place for networking. You meet other members of your business community, whether it is a local contest, or a nat ..read more

Staff illness can be a major issue for small businesses; in smaller offices it can be easier for germs to spread, and the effects of unforeseen absences can hit SMEs much harder than giant multinationals as there are less employees to provide cover. New figures from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that in a survey of 1,000 businesses, 86% of them had seen examples of staff turning up for work while they are unwell, or ‘presenteeism’. Basepoint Business Centres are one of the leading suppliers of fully serviced office space in the UK. We have more than 30 centres in s ..read more

Small businesses may sometimes find it difficult to spare the time to take part in networking events; however, it can be time well spent, bringing many short and long-term benefits. Basepoint Business Centres are a leading supplier of affordable office centres, with more than 30 bases across southern England and Wales, including Suffolk, Dorset and Kent. Here we look at a few types of event which SMEs can use to connect with the wider business world, and the benefits that networking can bring. Attending Professional Association Events These events are organised by associations, including chamb ..read more

With small businesses facing constant pressure on profits, carrying out charity work might seem to be a low priority for some companies. However, fundraising for worthy causes can bring with it a series of benefits for company owners and employees, not to mention the charity itself. Basepoint Business Centres, a specialist in supplying managed office space to let at more than 30 locations across the UK, have raised thousands of pounds for charities in recent years. Here we look at some of the key advantages of SME fundraising, whether it is by having an official charity partner or by supportin ..read more

The British climate is one of the most changeable in the world, so it can be difficult to predict what the temperatures will be from day to day or from week to week. To aid company productivity, small businesses need to ensure that their staff can work in comfortable conditions. As a specialist provider of fully serviced office space in more than 30 locations across the UK, Basepoint takes a keen interest in all issues affecting SMEs. Here we look at the current legislation surrounding temperature in the workplace and the steps business owners can take to make sure their staff are neither too ..read more

Nearly every manager of a small business knows that it can feel overwhelming at times, simply because nearly all responsibility falls on their shoulders. Whether you use a virtual office, a rented serviced office, or have your own premises, Managers of small businesses are expected to wear many hats every day due to the constant stream of tasks and actions. A recent study by the Bank of America stated that many small business owners claim their business causes them twice as much stress as maintaining a healthy relationship with a partner, managing their personal finances and raising their chi ..read more