Category

Running a Business

This section takes you through every important aspect of how to run a successful business. It offers expert guides and advice articles on the key elements of business management such as employing staff, finding customers, marketing and sales, pricing, people management, office and home working, business technology and everything else an entrepreneur must tackle in order to succeed.

How to build your business

Andrew Walsh, founder of AW Repair Group, explains why you need to invest in your branding – even if you're a small business

Masterclass Series

Masterclass Series

Embrace your unconventional superpowers

Brij Thankey, CEO of Precision FM, explains how taking focus away from the numbers and putting it on his team has benefited his business

Masterclass Series

Adopting a small business mindset is key

Precision FM's CEO, Brij Thankey, talks about how values of a small business – like flexibility and patience – are helpful to every business

Smart Energy GB

How to take the uncertainty out of your business energy bills

Most small business owners take a forensic approach to cost-counting, so why leave business energy expenditure to chance?

Business management

Claiming back childcare costs

I am self employed. Can I claim my childcare cost of part of it and offset it as part of my expenses?

Legal advice

GDPR three years on: make sure your small business is compliant

Many small businesses think if they just ignore the EU’s GDPR regulations, they will just go away. Lawyer Chris Cook warns SMEs they face crippling fines if they do nothing

Business management

Transition to a net zero future with green finance

Funding Options explain how your small business can become more environmentally friendly and how to fund those sustainability goals

Legal advice

How to avoid unfair dismissal claims

Simon Robinson, managing partner of RobinsonRalph, gives an overview of the basics to help you avoid paying any unnecessary compensation and explains the basis for claims of unfair dismissal.

Business management

Transition to a net zero future with green finance

Funding Options explain how your small business can become more environmentally friendly and how to fund those sustainability goals

Legal advice

How to avoid unfair dismissal claims

Simon Robinson, managing partner of RobinsonRalph, gives an overview of the basics to help you avoid paying any unnecessary compensation and explains the basis for claims of unfair dismissal.

Legal advice

Sick leave – Making changes to company sickness policy

Is it possible to make changes to our company sickness policy? Peter Done of HR consultancy Peninsula answers the question

Legal advice

Can I dismiss an employee for sending threatening text?

Two members of staff had an argument. One left the premises and I asked her not to return. She sent me a text threatening me with 'people to sort me out'. Can I dismiss her?

Running a Business

Do staff have to self-isolate if they’ve been pinged by the NHS Covid app?

Small businesses are having to close because of staff shortages caused by staff being pinged by the NHS Covid-19 app. Can you ask employees to come to work even if they’ve been pinged?

Marketing

Why email marketing is still crucial in the 2020s

Jay Ripton explains why, even though social media has exploded over the past decade, email marketing is still worth your time and money

Business Loans

A guide to getting a small business loan

Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.

Partner content

What are the funding options for hospitality businesses?

Hospitality businesses have faced a number of challenges in the last couple of years. Find out what funding and support is available.

Employing & managing staff

The importance of vocational rehabilitation services for SMEs

In Aviva’s latest SME research*, 57 per cent of employers surveyed agreed that nowadays employees expect benefits to protect against loss of income or earnings. What do you offer your people?

Partner content

What are the benefits of business broadband?

Business broadband offers a host of advantages over standard domestic connections, here’s why you should be considering an upgrade