2019 has gone by in the blink of an eye, and it’s been a whirlwind year. At the start of the year, we predicted what the year would hold. While we were right about some things, 2019 certainly had some surprises in store… Data, data, data. And data protection. Data continues to be a double-edged sword for business. On the one hand, it’s essential for much day-to-day activity; on the other, it represents a risk. The implementation of GDPR in May 2018 caused a degree of uncertainty for businesses coming to terms with their new data protection obligations, and 2019 has proven that dat ..read more

Christmas is just around the corner, and as the cheer begins to creep in, so too may a light touch of guilt. Not everyone can afford to throw a Christmas party for their staff. And for many SME businesses, the staff is a tiny handful of people – which practically rules out a party altogether. However, if you do have staff and you want to help to bring about a little bit of festive cheer, there are plenty of ways that you can say thank you for a year of hard work done well, and none of them need to break the bank. Read on for our suggestions. 1. Christmas cards The easiest way to sa ..read more

It’s that time of year already. The leaves are falling, the temperature’s dropping and the festive season is getting into full swing. It’s the beginning of a Christmas crescendo build-up. With each passing week, we’re getting closer to the end of the year, and consumers are beginning to spend more as they prepare for the festive season. For small businesses across the retail sector, the Christmas spending spree represents a significant opportunity to increase the bottom line. Research from the Bank of England has shown that the typical household spends an extra £500 in December, and spe ..read more

The rise in popularity – and sales – of electric vehicles has grown exponentially in the last number of years. As the number of electric vehicles on the road increases, it could be a pragmatic move for your business to move with the times by looking into offering EV services: Charging as a service for customers Charging for your own employees, or visitors Powering your own fleet of EVs Of course there’s cost to consider when investing in your business, but there are providers available who can help with the planning, installation, and charging processes – as well as helping you to keep y ..read more

As any small business grows, having a digital presence is important to help make yourself more visible to potential customers. A website can serve multiple functions: generating online sales, taking reservations, being a signpost for customers or hosting content for lead generation and nurture. Luckily, there are plenty of platforms available for small businesses and individuals to design and build their own websites without needing to understand how to read and write code. Out-of-the-box solutions mean that, with a bit of planning and a small amount of investment, you can find a provide ..read more

Starting a new job is exciting, intense and sometimes nerve-wracking. From application through to interview through to the first day on the job, there’s a lot information for new starters to take on. Similarly, the induction or onboarding process can be hard work. With so much information to absorb, it can be a bit overwhelming. One way to make the whole process more enjoyable and memorable for staff is to provide them with a welcome pack. Welcome packs help introduce your business to your new colleagues, combining brand identity, key information and contact lists, house rules, and brand ..read more

According to figures from the FSB, almost 60% of small businesses see energy as a significant cost to their business. That’s a substantial number of businesses, but fortunately we’ve got some great advice on how to save energy and money through a few, easy steps. Make sure you’re in a contract Business energy can be a bit of a minefield. A sure-fire way to keep your energy costs down is to double-check that you’re not paying over the odds. There are various energy tariffs, such as variable, out of contract or deemed rates. It’s best to be on a fixed-term tariff, if possible. Busin ..read more

It’s been a tumultuous couple of years in the UK. Since 2015, the country has seen three different prime ministers in David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson. These successive leaders have overseen the UK’s impending exit from the European Union, which after much political back-and-forth, is slated for October 31st2019. Ahead of this date, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has laid out three priorities for new Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “We need to see a real sense of urgency from this new Prime Minister when it comes to creating a pro-enterprise environment,” said Mike ..read more

According to a recent study by Travelodge, 7 out of 10  (69%) Brits plan on holidaying at home this summer, compared to 57% in 2018. This year alone, it’s thought these ‘staycationers’ will boost the UK economy by £40 billion. So, if you’re a local business, how do you get in on the action? 1. Decorate your online shop window Gone are the days where people sit with a travel agent to choose their holiday; most people do their research online. Therefore it’s important your website looks the part. Make sure it’s easy to use, includes up-to-date information and good quality images and videos ..read more

Sometimes it feels like the work will never end. We’ve all had those days where the emails don’t stop arriving, the phone doesn’t stop ringing, and the customers don’t stop flooding in. How do you manage your priorities when it’s relentless? Being able to figure out the urgency and importance of the tasks in front of you is a valuable skill to have when it comes to proactively managing the flow of work. This is where the Eisenhower Matrix can help. The matrix is a way to help you understand how to best manage your time when it comes to dealing with the to-do list that’s staring at yo ..read more