Category: Virtual support

One of the easiest ways to cut down costs when you’re setting up a new business is to work from home. Money can be tight for a brand new business, and the last thing you want is to splash out on office space when all you really need is a computer and an internet connection.

However, if you’re used to working in an office, it can be difficult to adjust to this new way of working. Some of the biggest concerns associated with working from home include feeling lonely or isolated, becoming less productive and lacking the self-discipline to consistently do a full day’s work. But with predictions claiming that 60% of employees will regularly work from home by 2022, it looks like this style of working is here to stay.

Fortunately there are plenty of things work-from-home newbies can do to adjust. If you’ve just started a new business, or you’re an employee who has been offered remote working, here are 6 ways you can adjust to working from home.

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Getting a business off the ground is a huge achievement, but after that exciting period of initial growth you might find that you start to lose momentum. This is normal for a business moving from start-up to stability, so how can you get through it and make sure that your business continues to grow?

The answer could be freelancers. Whether you’re working with individuals or an agency, freelancers, contractors and virtual assistants could be just what you need to build on your achievements and develop your business. Freelancers offer all sorts of advantages to business owners: they can be hired as and when they’re needed, they come with all the required skills, and there are plenty of excellent workers to choose from so you’re bound to find someone who’s a good fit.

Are you interested in finding out more? Here are 5 ways freelancers can help to grow your business.

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Valentine’s Day is big business – in fact, in previous years the UK has spent close to £1 billion on gifts and cards to celebrate this day of romance. So what is your small business doing to take advantage of the mid-February boom?

It might seem like the market is already flooded with big Valentine’s promotions, but there’s still plenty of room for small businesses to get involved. A strong Valentine’s marketing campaign can not only bring you new customers, but also give your regular customers a reason to return. And it’s not just about the loved-up couples – there are lots of exciting ways to market to Valentine’s cynics too!

Whatever your small business, there’s still time to pull together an effective Valentine’s marketing campaign. Ready to get started? Here are 7 of our top ideas.

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Here at Get Ahead VA we are privileged to work with a wide variety of clients, ranging from will writers to window cleaners, financial consultants to fashion designers. All of our clients are motivated and driven business owners with clear plans for business growth. They recognise the value of outsourcing, passing onto others the tasks that either they lack the skills in or that drain their valuable time.

Here’s 60 seconds with one of our clients, Tracey Barney from Guildford HR, who was looking for administrative support to enable her business to take on new clients:

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You’ve probably come across the term ‘Blue Monday’, also known as ‘the most depressing day of the year’. Since 2005, this day, which always falls in January, has been calculated using factors such as stress levels, frequency of travel and time spent sleeping. According to the formula, this year’s Blue Monday will fall on 15th January.

Of course, Blue Monday is just pseudoscience, but it is useful for raising awareness about mental health in the workplace. In recent years this has been talked about more and more, and it’s obvious why: the Mental Health Foundation has found that providing support for employees with mental health issues could save UK businesses up to £8 billion per year.

If you want to foster a supportive environment for mental health in your business, here are some of the best ways to do it.

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For small business owners, working from home can be fantastic, and if all you need is a desk and an internet connection then setting up an office in the spare room is a great way to save both money and time.

However, outside a regular office it can be easy to forget about safety, and this could mean you’re putting your health at risk, as well as the health of any employees or clients who come to your home.

That’s where Home Office Safety and Security Week comes in. From the 8th to the 14th of January, business owners are being encouraged to think about and improve their home office safety. You can use the hashtag #HOSSweek to discuss the topic online, or read on to discover 5 tips to make your home office safer.

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Between the indulgence of Christmas and the celebration of New Year, there’s a strange week that has been given a number of names – Twixtmas, the Fallow, Romjul (meaning ‘half holy’ in Norwegian) – and it can often feel like limbo.

When it comes to working during this week, different businesses take different approaches. Some close down for the entirety of the festive season, while others expect their employees to be back at work as soon as the Christmas bank holidays are over.

If you’re not sure whether to keep your business open for Twixtmas, here are some of the main pros and cons to help you decide.

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The Christmas party: love it or hate it, the end-of-year do is big business in the UK. In fact, a 2015 investigation by Eventbrite estimated that UK businesses spend an average of £1 billion per year on festive parties.

So what makes a great Christmas party, and how can you bring the whole company together for a truly memorable celebration? If you’re struggling for ideas, look no further: here are six ways to celebrate a company Christmas.

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By April 2017, LinkedIn had reached half a billion members in 200 countries. That’s a huge universe of people based on just one website, providing a great opportunity to raise awareness of your business.

LinkedIn continues to innovate in order to remain relevant for their audience and rolled out live video from July this year. You can now post live video directly onto LinkedIn, in a similar way to how you would post video to Facebook using Facebook Live.

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This week is Global Entrepreneurship Week #GEW2017, celebrating entrepreneurship all over the world. During November around 35,000 events and competitions are expected to take place – connecting millions of participants to potential collaborators, mentors, and even investors across the globe.

The lifeblood of our economy
Entrepreneurs are a vital part of our economy, stimulating future growth. But, being an entrepreneur isn’t always easy. Entrepreneurs often have big dreams – which can hit a harsh reality. These are some of the lessons that many business owners learn the hard way:

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