Category

Starting a Business

Advice on how to start your own business, with guides to help you plan, develop and finance a start-up company, plus recommendations on registering the business, its legal structure and finding financial backing for growth. Whether you are just beginning or have already taken the first steps and want to keep everything on track, our expert articles will give you the knowledge to help lead you to success, whilst maintaining a good work-life balance.

Starting a business can initially seem daunting, but with good support and a strong idea you can quickly pass through the key stages of the setting-up process and be able to launch your company with a solid foundation.

Topics covered include: regulations and requirements for company owners, finding and selecting the professional services you may need (such as banking, insurance, accountancy etc.), legal structure options (self-employed person, sole trader, a partnership or a limited company), business planning, UK start up funding sources and finding your first customers.

Should small businesses get into hedging?

Here, we look at what hedging is and discuss whether or not it is an advantageous venture for SMEs.

Advice

Advice

Is e-cigs the fastest-growing industry in the UK?

What is behind the rapid growth of the vaping industry?

Advice

Tips on how to grow your small business

Here are five pointers to set you on the way to successfully developing your small company.

Business Ideas & Planning

Advice from business founders for new start-ups 

Here, we talk to two entrepreneurs and reveal why you shouldn't dismiss starting your own business.

Advice

What is CFD training?

Many people will have heard of this sort of trading, but not everyone is aware of what it is or what the letters 'CFD' stand for in the first place. Here, we shine a light on the subject.

Business Ideas & Planning

Should you become an entrepreneur?

Draven McConville brings home the realities of turning that idea into a real-life business. Are you up to the task?

Advice

How four small companies experienced trade shows

Obtaining effective but good value marketing is always a challenge for a small company, but trade shows can be a cost-effective way to get the word out. Here, business owners share their opinions of the method.

Startup Funding and Grants

Are personal investors too emotionally attached to make a business impact?

Michael Hammond discusses the difference he experienced between raising money from family and friends and raising funds through private equity.

Advice

How four small companies experienced trade shows

Obtaining effective but good value marketing is always a challenge for a small company, but trade shows can be a cost-effective way to get the word out. Here, business owners share their opinions of the method.

Startup Funding and Grants

Are personal investors too emotionally attached to make a business impact?

Michael Hammond discusses the difference he experienced between raising money from family and friends and raising funds through private equity.

Advice

The ageing workforce: Adjustments, performance and pension considerations

Age is an incredibly sensitive subject to discuss, particularly within the workplace. The key to managing older workers is to treat them the same way as you would other members of the workforce.

Business Ideas & Planning

Key considerations for a start-up office 

What do you need from your first office? Here, we look at the considerations you need to make when looking.

Advice

Respirators for all needs with 3M

Here, we introduce the benefits of each of the products in the 3M respirator range.

Advice

Corporate FX: What you need to know when sending money overseas and hedging

Small businesses often lose out when it comes to transferring money overseas. Here's how to level the playing field.

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

Partner content

How should I select my business broadband provider?

As with any supplier, it’s important to do your research and ask important questions before you select a broadband provider for your business. But what are the must-have things you should take into consideration?

Business Technology

Future-proof your business communications set-up

Landlines as we know them will be scrapped in 2027 – along with a raft of upcoming business changes. Here's how to ensure your communications set-up is fit for whatever the future brings