You might think that business coaching is the preserve of big companies – but did you know that it can be really useful for small businesses too? No matter the size of your business, you could benefit from the advice a professional coach can give, so this year why not invest in some business coaching and take your business to the next level?
To help you get started, here’s our guide to business coaching – what it is, why you need it and how you can find the right coach for you.
(more…)The end of the year is approaching, and we’ve already brought you our small business countdown to Christmas , but what should you do once the festive season is over and January begins to loom? The new year is a crucial time for any business, and especially so this year as we’re entering a new decade, so to help you get off to a flying start in 2020, here is our small business countdown to New Year!
(more…)Christmas is just around the corner (less than a month to go!) and your business’s festive marketing should already be underway – but that doesn’t mean you can rest on your laurels. These final weeks before Christmas can make or break a small business’s seasonal profits so, with that in mind, here’s a handy countdown of what you should be doing in the last three weeks before the big day!
(more…)‘Tis the season of pre-Christmas promotions, and there are two particularly important retail events coming up on the calendar: Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. But what exactly are they, and which one should you concentrate your efforts on? Here’s the lowdown on these two significant events, to help you decide which one is right for your business.
(more…)Has your business got stuck in a rut? Do you find yourself bored by things that used to excite you? Don’t worry – after the first exciting flush of starting a new business, it’s normal for things to start to feel stale, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to give up. This is the perfect time of year to put the fireworks back into your business so you can feel the passion again in 2020, and we have some tips to help you do just that!
(more…)Social media is a vital tool for modern businesses, but with so many platforms to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? We’re here to help – each month we’ll focus on one social media platform and examine how it can help your business grow and connect with an online audience. This month, we’re looking at YouTube.
(more…)Small business owners have all sorts of costs to think about, but quite often more immediate outlays like rent, stock and insurance can push your pension to the bottom of the list. In fact, according to the Money Advice Service, only 31% of self-employed people have a pension scheme in place.*
However, having a pension is vitally important, so today we’re bringing you some pointers about the types of pensions available for self-employed people and how to deal with pensions for your employees.†
(more…)When you run a small business, it can be tempting to do as much as possible yourself, but sometimes this DIY approach will end up costing you more than if you had simply outsourced the work to a professional.
This is especially true when it comes to photography for your business – if you’re not a photographer, taking your own photographs can be a risky move. In honour of World Photography Day (19th August), which celebrates photography in all its forms, we’re taking a look at how hiring a professional photographer could be the best decision you can make for your SME.
(more…)Plastic is a hot topic – the buzz around it began in earnest thanks to the BBC series Blue Planet II, which raised awareness about the damage plastic is doing to our oceans and sea life. Earlier this month, people and organisations around the world celebrated World Oceans Day (8th June), an annual event which encourages people to protect our oceans against threats like plastic.
So how can you, as a business owner, get involved with this movement? We’ve gathered together a few ideas – big and small – to help you reduce plastic in your workplace.
(more…)This week is Learning at Work Week (13–19 May), and to celebrate, we’re talking about CPD – continuing professional development.
CPD is the process of tracking your knowledge and skills, and investing time in your own training and development at work. It is reflective – it requires you to think about the things you have learned, to reflect on what you would do differently next time, and to set goals and targets for yourself for the future. Most importantly, it involves writing these things down, so that you have a permanent record of your own development.
We’ve talked before about how to do CPD as a business owner, but today we’re focusing on why it’s important, and why you should make time for it.
(more…)