Small Business Tips
Keeping your workforce skilled through night schools learning
Many employees have already learned the critical importance of keeping up with their education while pursuing opportunities in their current field of employment. Continued learning and development [1] offers many advantages: not only does increased employee knowledge and skills have the potential to lead to cost savings for companies, it also allows individuals to stay…
Top tips to engage your business with your local community
Successful community engagement is often one of the first ways a small business looks to grow, by building up local loyalty/customers from which then to use as a springboard to thrive in future. This is because local businesses and the community have a mutually beneficial arrangement. Whereas the community appreciates shopping somewhere that’s personalised; you…
How to excel with crowdfunding for your business: tips on the best practices
Crowdfunding is a way of raising money for a business or a charity. Individuals and organisations donate or invest in crowdfunding projects for a potential reward or profit. Even though this can be a risky investment, it’s an excellent way for start-ups to build up capital quickly to help get their business idea off the…
Starting, Operating, Expanding: Some Challenges for Small Businesses
If you are starting a business, you probably know the scary statistics on failure rates. Most surveys suggest a business failure rate of more than half in the first two years. Those sweeping statistics, though, conceal many variations [1]. For example, the Financial Times reports that failure is influenced by geography [2]. Yes, a high…
Small business tips: Starting your new business
Last month we looked at the impact of events on UK businesses and the local economy, producing a collection of blog posts focusing on events like eco-friendly festivals, trade shows and Wimbledon. We hope you found this topic as interesting as we did and are now starting to get ready for the Summer months, whether…
5 things business owners can do this summer
Summer can be a quieter time for some businesses. Whether you work by yourself or have employees, there are several things you can do to make the most of these sunny, less hectic weeks. We’ve compiled a list of 5 things that business owners should do to make the most of the summer months: 1.…
How to choose the right business energy tariff or contract
Switching energy provider is easy and many energy suppliers will let you move to a new energy contract when your existing contract ends. The quicker your business moves onto a cheaper contract, the sooner you start saving money. But it’s important to choose the right business energy contract to suit your business needs. Choosing the…
Holiday Season: Impact on Small Businesses and Local Economy
Another holiday season is here with us, and Britons continue to be divided on whether to have a staycation (staying in the UK) or whether to travel abroad to enjoy their Summer holiday. In 2017, 59 million staycations were booked, up 6% compared to 2016 [1]. This year, more Britons are expected to spend their…
4 Ways Trade Shows Can Benefit You and Your Business
If you’ve been looking for small business networking events to help you get ahead in your field, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better opportunity than a small business expo or small business trade show where you can exhibit. While these events might be a little intimidating from the outside (especially if you’re not already…
Know Your Rights and Obligations When Leasing Commercial Property
Leasing space for your business is different than renting a home. Not only are the terms of the lease different, your rights and obligations as the commercial tenant are different. It’s important to know what your rights are before you sign for a commercial lease. You’ll also want to know what your obligations will include…