A historic Devon pub is here to stay thanks to an enterprising loan from Reparo Finance. The owner and landlord has big ambitions for the award-winning 17th century pub.  Now a £350k structured loan is funding a huge renovation project at the family run pub and restaurant, modernising rooms upstairs to provide state of the art bed and breakfast facilities. The loan was facilitated as part of the sale and purchase of the pub from a partnership to a limited company. A complex deal of this nature is often impossible using traditional lenders. However, Reparo Finance are experts at ..read more

Best selling author and business networking expert Stefan Thomas has marked the 10th anniversary of his acclaimed book “Business Networking for Dummies” by sharing ten ways in which the world of networking has changed since 2014. In that ten years, Stefan has attended over 1,500 face to face networking events in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and has seen the world of networking evolve literally in front of his eyes. With over 10,000 book sales under his belt, Stefan’s book continues to serve as guidance for professionals navigating the intricate world of bus ..read more

Countless tech brands risk disappearing into the ‘Sea of Same’ because they haven’t invested in developing a distinct brand narrative which sets them apart from their competitors. While investing heavily in R&D, tech businesses without a compelling narrative risk becoming indistinguishable in the race for market share and when tender lists are drawn up, they are forgotten, if, indeed, they were ever recalled at all.  Many businesses fall into the trap of using generic platitudes and common hygiene factors, mistakenly believing in some way they are unique or distinct. A closer look rev ..read more

When your startup is ready to grow, you need the right financial tools to help you achieve your business goals.  After initial investments are made in your company (including by family and friends), there are broadly two ways to raise capital – equity financing where you sell shares in your company or debt financing where you borrow money.  If you want to maintain control and avoid diluting ownership in your own company, debt financing is the better option.  This simply means borrowing money from lenders – which can be traditional banks, online lending platforms or specialist ea ..read more

Robert Hughes is founder and managing director of Reech Marketing matters more now than ever for small businesses and is a crucial tool for driving profitability. In fact, according to HubSpot, companies that prioritise marketing efforts are 13 times more likely to see positive Return On Investment [ROI]. With research by Promixa indicating that up to 60 per cent of marketing budgets are wasted, ambitious small businesses wanting to scale can’t afford to take a half-hearted approach to their campaigns, and even the most well-intended marketing strategies can be derailed by simple mistakes that ..read more

Business groups, employers, civil society organisations and community groups are all combining forces to encourage people to boost voter turnout, by backing a new Voter Registration Champions scheme from Citizens UK. Employees will be alerted of the deadline to register to vote, changes to rules on voter ID, and encouraged to vote on polling day. Businesses will also be encouraged to share information with those outside their organisation and within their network. Business groups the British Chambers of Commerce, Federation for Small Business, and the Better Business Act will be encouraging th ..read more

Award-winning businesswoman, landlord and property developer Mandy St John Davey has received her MBE from The Princess Royal at Windsor Castle after being recognised in The Kings New Year’s Honours list for services to working women.  Born and raised in South Wales, Mandy is a well-known property developer, ethical landlord and champion of women in business, particularly in property and construction. Her years of commitment were recognised when she was nominated for a New Year honour. “It was the most incredible day which was the pinnacle of my career so far. It was poignant and fit ..read more

The 3 Counties Expo returns to the vibrant city of Watford, set to take place on April 25th, 2024, at the prestigious Hilton Hotel’s New Hertford Suite, located at Elton Way, Watford WD25 8HA. The 3 Counties Expo Watford is a premier business event that welcomes visitors from the region and is free to enter for all attendees. Whether you are an established business owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or seeking to expand your business horizons, this event is designed to meet your needs. With over 50 exhibitors showcasing a diverse range of products and services, attendees will have ample opportun ..read more

Lack of focus when behind the wheel can prove catastrophic, yet drivers continue to be distracted, make mistakes and put themselves and other road users at risk. A new survey from Venson Automotive Solutions found that drivers admit to making a wide range of careless habits daily, including hogging the middle lane, running red lights and speeding. Key findings: 71% go against the Highway Code[i] to use their headlights to signal to other drivers 54% confessed to regular sudden braking 48% admit to speeding 46% hog the middle lane on motorways 44% drive too slowly 37% admit to being distracted ..read more

For growing organisations, finding the right level of IT support can be something of a headache. Having to outsource help every time a laptop gets a virus or the server running your customer database makes strange noises can be time-consuming and unreliable, while committing to an in-house team may be an overstretch. Rich Nelson, senior technical consultant at technology provider Probrand. Managed IT support can be a happy medium – one that allows you to ramp up and down, safe in the knowledge that you can call on help whenever it’s needed. But how can you find the right fit? After all, findin ..read more