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.

Employing & managing staff

Auto-enrolment and the pension impact on the smallest businesses

In this piece, in association with Boost Capital, we speak to companies about their thoughts on auto-enrolment and their advice to others about avoiding problems.

Business management

Small businesses and the National Minimum Wage problem

Last week, the largest list of employers to be named and shamed for failing to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage was published. But do we forget about its impact on small businesses?

News

Employers willing to pay more for good apprentices

A study has shown that 92 per cent of employers are willing to pay more than the typical apprenticeship wage, provided they’re matched with the right apprentices.

Advice

Why you shouldn’t close your EU investments

There have been financial crises all across Europe in the last few years and many with European investments may be tempted to call time on them and take the easy way out: Brexit them

Government Grants

Small business grants: How multiple grants helped launch a company

We talk to a business owner about how he used money from grants for branding and website design, chemical analysis and packaging orders.

Small Business Insurance

New Insurance Act is upon businesses

The biggest reform to insurance for more than a century has almost come into force but businesses are being warned to ensure that they do not fall foul of the changes.

Alternative finance

Brexit one month on: A view from a fintech start-up

Russell Gould looks at the initial Brexit fears and explains why, one month on, some Fintech companies are set to flourish.

Business management

How winning a Queen’s Award benefitted small businesses

In this piece, we look at how a range of businesses found the experience of winning a Queen's Award.

Employing & managing staff

The legal challenges facing UK small business

Running any company has its difficulties, but these don’t compare to the challenges that start-up businesses or SMEs face every day.

Business Technology

Can you run a small business from a tablet?

Is it really possible to run a business from a tablet? Here, we investigate.

Business management

Conquering the global market: Small businesses thinking big

Here's how small companies are adapting to global market situations and thinking on a grander scale.

Marketing

How networking can contribute to marketing success

In this piece, in association with Vistaprint, we look at the effectiveness of trade fairs and the power of networking for marketing your small company.