Trust is undeniably one of the most important aspects of any business. Without client trust, your sales and bottom line will suffer. One of the best ways to develop trust and customer loyalty is by being dependable and available for your clients at all times – even when the unexpected occurs. Your clients depend on […]

Why Public Perception Makes CSR Essential for All Businesses
Most definitions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) centre around the concept of a self-regulatory business framework, outlining how businesses are socially accountable — to themselves, their stakeholders, and the public — for the impact they have on all aspects of society. To put it simply, CSR is all about businesses acting as good neighbours and […]

Overcoming the Challenges of Managing a Mobile Workforce
Mark Menhennet, Managing Director of telephone answering solutions provider Answer4u, explains how effective external management of call-outs can put you ahead of the competition while addressing the issue of an increasingly mobile workforce… With the latest official statistics indicating that the UK now has record numbers of home workers, more employers than ever – and […]

10 Commercial Property and Office Space Ideas for Startup Business
So how do you go about finding the right space for your growing business? Here are a few pointers on the aspects you need to take into account. Taking your first step into renting or buying commercial premises or office space can be a daunting prospect, but there are many good reasons for taking the […]

Business Growth May Sound Simple – But It Means a Step Change
Growth in business can either revolve around increasing the amount of whatever you’re already doing, or it can be focused on adding new elements to your portfolio. However, whichever way you choose to expand, growing your business isn’t as simple as just increasing your customer base and orders – there’s a lot going on behind […]

Buying a Business Property – Is It Right for You?
You’ve taken the plunge and launched your own business. You’ve got the IT and infrastructure all set up, you’re taking people on and building up your reputation and the contracts are flying in. Or perhaps you’ve been established for many years and now you’re ready to grow and develop your business further. However long you’ve […]

Crisis Management – Plan for a Crisis to Avert a Disaster
The word ‘crisis’ may automatically bring with it a certain sense of dread, but with the right amount of planning for the unexpected, companies can face down crisis situations (even if only through a role play) and come out the other side unscathed. After all, a crisis by its definition is a situation where you […]

It’s ‘Full Steam Ahead’ as You Look to Renew and Expand Your Business
Once you’ve successfully made it through phases four and five of entrepreneurship (operating and monitoring, then resolving problems and challenges), it’s time to take a deep breath and enter phase six – renewal and expansion. It will have taken a lot of hard work ‘at the coal face’ to set your business up and get […]

Planning to Succeed with Your New Business Venture
After completing phase one of the entrepreneurial process (investigation and research) and deciding you want to move ahead with your idea, you now need to move into the crucial second phase – planning. When a project goes wrong, plenty of critics often come out of the woodwork, proclaiming their own version of “If you fail […]

5 Crucial Habits of a Successful Business Owner
Everybody has everyday habits, some good and some bad. As a business owner you need to streamline and optimise those habits to become a success. Here are five you need to embrace to keep you on top of your game: 1. Accessible Language Making sure your key message is accessible to everyone is imperative. […]