About

Ben Lobel was the editor of SmallBusiness.co.uk from 2010 to 2018. He specialises in writing for start-up and scale-up companies in the areas of finance, marketing and HR.

Accounting

SMEs claim nearly £1 billion in research and development tax credits

Small and medium-sized businesses claimed £970 million in R&D tax credits in the past year, up 24 per cent from £780 million in the previous year, but many companies are missing out on their full entitlement, reveals a prominent accountancy firm.

Employing & managing staff

Customer service: Fostering the workplace for the future

Here, fish and chip shop manager Rachel Tweedale talks about the importance of developing your existing staff and their customer service skills.

Office & home working

Five fun and clever office ideas to inspire your small business

More than ever, young companies are putting a lot of effort into coming up with dream office spaces in a bid to attract the most talented professional out there. Here, we look at five international offices and how they benefit staff.

Business Ideas & Planning

How beauty and tech are making waves together in the start-up world

Here are a few start-up businesses that are already changing the face of the beauty industry.

Business management

Forex trading news: The September roundup

What can we expect in regards to currency trades during the next few weeks? Here, we take a look.

News

Fastest business activity growth in England since January

Business activity continued to recover across England and Wales at the end of the third quarter, rising at a solid and accelerated rate, a study finds.

Employing & managing staff

Why size can be an SME’s biggest advantage when hiring

After recently revealing the results of the global ‘Work Satisfaction Survey’, LinkedIn’s Dan Dackombe looks at why SMEs have everything to play for when it comes to recruitment.

News

Small businesses in financial distress as a result of National Living Wage

Nearly 100,000 businesses forced to implement the National Living Wage six months ago in April 2016 are now in a state of financial distress, as they struggle to absorb the higher staff costs associated with the new regulation.

Business management

How to grow a business outside of London

Luke Davis discusses the challenge of navigating business growth from outside of London and how company owners can find success outside of the capital.

Finding and selling to customers

How your small business can overcome sales objections

Steven Timberlake demystifies the sales process for small business owners and gives some tips on making sales easier to approach.

Small Business Banking

When internet banking no longer meets your small business needs

At what point is internet banking no longer fit for purpose for your small business? Here, Richard Ransom discusses the topic.

Getting Online

British Small Business Awards: Website of the Year shortlist

Here, the Website of the Year finalists at the British Small Business Awards are announced, rewarding sites with strong design and functionality.

Ben Lobel

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