Blog
Grants and support schemes for businesses
Posted 14th September 2021 at 9:26 am
In this blog we look at three new schemes that have been recently announced to support businesses to develop and grow across various sectors. Cyber Runway This support scheme is designed to help grow the cyber sector, and could help innovative cyber start-ups, small businesses and scaleups to launch and grow their businesses. Cyber Runway will see entrepreneurs and businesses across the UK get access to business masterclasses, mentoring, product development support, networking events and backing to trade internationally and secure investment so they can turn their ideas into commercial successes. The Cyber Runway programme is funded by the Department... Read more
Employers named and shamed for paying less than minimum wage
Posted 1st September 2021 at 2:55 pm
Following investigations by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, 191 businesses were recently named for breaking national minimum wage law during the period 2011 to 2018. The majority of these offences were caused by individual incidents of wrongful deductions or for failure to pay correct overtime, but a significant proportion of the businesses named had failed to pay the correct apprenticeship rate, meaning the apprentices were consistently underpaid from the outset. “She does not deserve the National Minimum Wage because she only makes the teas and sweeps the floors” A total of £2.1 million was found to be owed to over... Read more
Best Buys for Back-to-School season
Posted 25th August 2021 at 5:49 pm
You don’t have to be a student or a parent to get those back-to-school vibes at this time of year. The shops are full of new products labelled with ‘back to school’ offers, so there’s sure to be something to tempt you. Whether you’re looking for a new water bottle, some fancy new stationery, or a lovely big bag to keep all your bits and pieces in, we’ve put together some of our best back-to-school shopping picks to help you start September in style! Best Lunchbox: Do you like to take a variety of different foods for lunch, and... Read more
Closing the deal
Posted 17th August 2021 at 10:11 am
Your firm might have a database full of potential leads, your products and services could be the best in your market sector but if you can’t close a sales deal, then your business development and marketing efforts will be wasted. The key to making a sale is to focus on the customer and putting their needs first. Do your research No matter what industry you are in, knowing the decision maker is key to closing a sale. In many cases, the decision maker will send someone else to go out and verify all the options that are available. You... Read more
Protect your business against fraud
Posted 10th August 2021 at 9:52 am
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses have experienced an increase in the level of fraudulent activity. Many firms have moved their business activities online and with more employees now working from home, there are increased opportunities for fraudsters to target them. Example: Invoice Fraud Invoice fraud is on the rise and while not a particularly new scam, it can be catastrophic for businesses who fall victim to it. Invoice fraud occurs when a fake email address is used to contact a business, pretending to be one of the firm’s suppliers The emails tend to mimic those that the firm usually... Read more
Developing the next generation of business leaders
Posted 3rd August 2021 at 9:26 am
Regardless of the industry that you work in, the way in which you and your management team nurture the next generation of talent in the first decade of their careers can have a huge impact on their prospects for the future. Given that the world of business is constantly evolving, it can be quite difficult to pin down exactly what career progression looks like for your employees. However, one thing is certain, if we don’t develop the next generation, we will not have any future leaders. So what can today’s business leaders do in order to support the development... Read more
What is crowdfunding?
Posted 27th July 2021 at 9:08 am
Crowdfunding is a way of raising money for a business venture, personal endeavor, or charitable cause, where a large number of people invest in or donate money to the cause. It is becoming more popular with startup and early-stage businesses, particularly those which have struggled to secure funding from traditional lenders such as banks or financial institutions. As the name suggests, crowdfunding is about engaging a crowd of people to co-fund a particular project. Funding can be provided by hundreds or even thousands of individual investors. They all come together to provide money to get a project off the... Read more
Working from home in a heatwave
Posted 20th July 2021 at 5:36 pm
With ‘freedom day’ upon us, many workers have mixed feelings about moving back to office working. However, the arrival of a heatwave across the UK makes an air-conditioned office an incredibly attractive prospect right now! If you’re working from home, or if your workplace doesn’t have air-con, here are some top tips for working during a heatwave. Close the curtains This might seem a bit strange, but closing your curtains or blinds can make a massive difference to how much your house heats up over the course of the day. Dress (not to) impress Sports clothes are ideal... Read more
Self Assessments: the benefits of early filing
Posted 12th July 2021 at 10:30 am
Many of you will have received an email from HMRC recently inviting you to submit your Self Assessment tax return earlier this year. Though the online Self Assessment filing deadline is 31 January 2022 (31 October 2021 for paper submissions), there are some benefits to filing early if you are able to. Filing your Self Assessment tax return earlier can give you peace of mind, and help you better manage your tax bills so that you don’t get a nasty surprise in January. When returns are filed early, the payment on account (POA) for the next period is more likely... Read more
Hidden Gems of the West Midlands
Posted 29th June 2021 at 10:55 am
With the summer fast approaching, and our travel options still severely limited, many of us will be gearing up for a staycation. To keep you entertained over the summer, in this week’s blog we round up some of our favourite local hidden gems for you to explore. Halfpenny Green Wine Estate & Airport Yes, we make wine in the West Midlands, and it’s actually rather good! But Halfpenny Green is much more than a winery, with a well-stocked farm shop, enormous wine loft with a huge selection of spirits and wines, and a lovely balcony with far ranging views... Read more