Recently we’ve been seeing in the media how robots/chatbots/AI (artificial intelligence) are transforming how we do things and how robots might one day take over the world and we humans will become superfluous to most tasks. Worries over AI and how robots will become sentient beings has been dramatized in Channel 4’s ‘Humans’. That’s all well and good, but for now, the area that excites me the most is how chatbots will take over the delivery of repeatable knowledge that Tier 1 (lowest level) support technicians/engineers deal with via call centres. Most of us will have been on such a call to a support centre, to fix a software bug or a hardware issue, and been asked questions that are obviously being read from a script. Unfortunately, they need to assume one has zero computer knowledge and the pace is exhaustingly slow and incredibly boring for the likes of me. Indeed, I would be most surprised if that script isn’t in a decision-tree flowchart format whereby if the … [Read more...]
The Value of Time to Your Business
We are all allocated the same amount of time but some people make more of their time than others. Knowing the value of your time is essential to getting the most out of your business. When you are in business you must treat TIME as an ASSET like CASH. You need to look at how you are SPENDING your time and then ensure you are getting the best return you can on the time you are spending ON or IN the business. You need to list the tasks and things you have to do and put value them. You can then prioritise the things you have to do based on their value to the business. This may mean that monitoring your Aged Debtor report on a regular basis could be one of the director’s most important tasks to ensure that cashflow, the life blood of the business, is running in the right direction. When allocating your time you should also take into consideration the URGENCY of the tasks that need to be achieved. … [Read more...]
Fundraising success stories for early stage companies
We looked at London based companies that have recently successfully raised seed funding! The good news is that there is a constant flow of funding into very young companies - albeit with a technology bias. Companies with innovative ideas, strong management teams and good business plans position themselves for better funding success. We wanted to get a flavour of what's happening in the world of funding for seed level companies that are based in London. We found five recent funding success stories - we have summarised what they got, what they do and how long they have been going. Labrador (internet of things) We’d all like to sure we are getting the cheapest energy bill on the market, but even with the help of price comparison sites it can be a chore working out which supplier to go with and then sorting all the paperwork to change supplier. Labrador aims to solve this problem by paring with your smart meter and analysing your energy consumption … [Read more...]
Brexit – Let’s face it!
With Brexit dominating headlines, the importance of having the best leadership team, who will be able to derive and implement strategy to steer a company or organisation through change and uncertainty is of paramount importance. Deal or no deal will have a significant impact on our entire economy which executives and managers will have to address. No deal will certainly not mean no action required, in fact it most certainly will mean the opposite. The outcome may be viewed as providing significant opportunity and or challenge which will impact on all sectors of the economy and all commercial functionality whether it be sales, marketing, engineering, research. manufacturing, logistics, IT, human resources, finance or legal. Uncertainty must be addressed and not be allowed as an excuse for inaction; contingency planning is necessary. We are fortunate in having a fabulous pool of talent, skills and experience in the UK; a significant proportion of which is currently … [Read more...]
Women in Technology – Overcoming the gender imbalance
Why are there so few women in technology and will numbers of female founders in UK tech startup and scaleup businesses grow in 2018? I take a look at some of the data on women in technology and tech startups – it’s not all that encouraging but are things changing? Women still make up a woefully small percentage of business founders across tech industries and tech startups. According to a recent report published by Beauhurst the number of women founders or executives in scaleups across all industries is also tiny. They found that only 4% of UK ‘Visible scalesups’ had at least one female founder. (Source: The Scaleup Index 2017) There is some evidence that part of the problem is that it’s harder for women to attract seed and venture funding. This was highlighted by a PwC report published last year that revealed that women across the world are more successful at raising crowd funding. Why? - Because the playing field is more even. Here is just one statistic from … [Read more...]
What is a Terms of Service agreement and why could your business need one?
Terms of Service are exactly that – the terms you agree with a 3rd party who is commissioned to carry out certain services for your business. That 3rd party could be a freelancer, a contractor, a company or an off-shore service supplier. It can also serve as the terms you agree with a client who has instructed you to render services. Unless Terms of Service are agreed and the document is signed, you don’t have a legally enforceable document. Both parties need to agree to the terms set out. The terms can be set out by you or the person doing the work, or both. The document becomes legally binding if the agreement has been signed and dated by both parties. Hopefully, without confusing the issue too much, certain terms of service may not require a signature by both parties – a simple ‘yes’ on an email may suffice. You need the advice of a commercial lawyer that will help you decide if the agreement will require signatures. Planning Terms of Service Firstly you need to … [Read more...]
Five crucial ways to improve your business productivity
You will probably be familiar with the adage: Productivity = Potential – Interference. Many of us are battling daily with interference of one sort or another, both external and internal. Potential is not always something that is easy to quantify, or to realise. Growing a business, finding a market, and bringing in orders takes time and effort, and often a bit of luck. It’s also likely to take some time, so those frustrating interferences are the key focus if you want fast results. Wages & Productivity Superficial measures do not always show the bigger picture – if two businesses are paying different wages, you cannot assume that the lower payer makes cheaper goods, without knowing their productivity. Obviously, if the higher-paying business is more productive than the lower payer, their output might still be cheaper. Higher productivity gives you the means to take better control of your prices and margins, allowing you to undercut competitors without undue pain, or to … [Read more...]
Better budgeting in 10 steps
Many entrepreneurs and their management teams don't devote enough time or attention to the process of preparing annual budgets, especially when they operate in rapidly growing or uncertain markets. A financial plan in a private company is at risk of becoming gradually ignored over time, devaluing the operational benefits of measuring performance against budget and the process next time round. With a careful and efficient planning process a business will set a much clearer picture of where it is heading, knowing what to do at each stage to hit and exceed targets, but also how to react when these are missed. With the benefit of our collective experience of managing hundreds of budgets and plans, we have put together some top tips on making your budgets more robust, realistic and valuable. Get everyone involved - It is a common place misconception that your finance team puts a budget together. A business plan and its budget should be produced by the collective … [Read more...]
Do you have a 1st April to 31st March holiday year for your staff?
If you don’t (i.e. it is the calendar year or some other arrangement) then this is not relevant. If you do have a 1st April to 31st March holiday year in your business read on…… In the current 2017/18 holiday year you may have noticed that Easter is split over two holiday years. Good Friday is on 30th March and Easter Monday is on 2nd April. The net effect is that for the 2017/18 holiday year staff may receive an extra day’s holiday. How you handle this will depend on what is in your contracts of employment regarding holiday. Legally, staff are entitled to 5.6 weeks’ holiday annually. In 2018/19 the number of bank and public holidays amount to 7 days ie one day short of the legal minimum and therefore you would be in breach of your employee’s rights. To avoid this, and depending what your contracts say, you may need to top up leave next year by one day. If you want a complimentary review of the position for … [Read more...]
What are the latest HR legal requirements business owners need to implement in April 2018?
For the SME community, the relevant scheduled changes from April 2018 are the rates paid for statutory purposes, a change to the tax treatment of payments made in lieu of notice, and the impact of new regulations from May regarding data protection of staff records. Changes in statutory payments From 1st April: Rates for statutory maternity pay, statutory paternity pay or shared parental pay rise to £145.18/week The national minimum wage for those aged 25+ rises to £7.83/hour From 6th April: Statutory sick pay rises to £92.05/week Employer contributions into a pension auto-enrolment scheme increases to a minimum of 2% Change to tax treatment of payments made in lieu of notice introduced From 6th April, the rules are being clarified, after years of ‘depending on what my accountant says’ when it comes to the tax treatment of pay in lieu of notice on the termination of an employee’s contract. All payments in lieu of notice … [Read more...]
LGBA Marketing Advisor, Susanne Currid, Appears As Expert Judge On The Apprentice Final 2017
Congratulations to our colleague and marketing advisor Susanne Currid who recently participated as an expert judge on the final of The Apprentice on BBC1. Susanne told us, “Back in June, I had a very unexpected email. A TV producer had got in touch and asked me if I would be available to act as an expert judge on a show they were recording. Little did I realise at the time that she was talking about BBC1’s The Apprentice. A week later, I found myself sitting at a table in City Hall with leading business directors, expert advisors, Lady Karren Brady, Claude Littner and Lord Alan Sugar. To say the situation felt surreal is a bit of an understatement. However, I was also very excited and honoured to take part in such an iconic TV moment. I was delighted to take part and to have a chance to quiz the candidates on their pitch during the recording session. Well done to James White and Sarah Lynn on their surprise double win. They were both credible … [Read more...]
How To Set – and Keep – Your New Year’s Business Resolutions
Make twelve New Year resolutions for business, one for each month! By breaking them down into workable pieces, you’ll actually get them done. Our local Bollywood-style keep-fit class in my local area is led by Nikita, an instructor who has inspired me on more than one occasion. At our recent pre-Christmas dinner celebration, she surprised me with her response when I asked if she had made a New Year Resolution by answering ‘Actually I’ve made twelve!’ It turns out that in 2017, she implemented a different resolution every month. I found myself hanging on to her every word, relishing her answers, and inspired to the core at this extraordinary young woman. As I listened, I got excited thinking about the projects I had let slip and was yearning to get back to. She told me that by having a new resolution each month, it ensured that they actually happened. They didn’t feel onerous. Better yet, she nipped procrastination in the metaphorical bud. She … [Read more...]
New Low Cost Innovation Loans Announced up to £1m for UK Research and Development Projects
Innovation loans for research and development projects we first mooted some time ago. It’s good to see that they are now official having been announced at Innovate2017 annual conference, hosted by Innovate UK in Birmingham last month. The initial innovation fund is set at £50m to be allocated as loans under a pilot project over a two year period up to the end of 2019. It is for “small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in late-stage innovation projects”. “A late-stage R&D project is one which builds on a new idea but has not yet reached the point of commercialisation.” “It may include activities such as prototyping, demonstrating, piloting, testing and validation in environments that are representative of real-life operating conditions.” Loans will be made by Innovate UK Loans Ltd and will be given to successful applicants at a very low interest rate as compared to most commercial loans. The UK … [Read more...]
GDPR Check List – Your 8 Step Plan For The New Legislation
You need to start your preparations for GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) as the implementation date of 25th May 2018 is fast approaching. For most businesses and IT managers, preparation has not yet started despite the deadline being less than 6 months away. Ignorance of the Legislation will be no excuse and with the severe penalties planned, some businesses could be made bankrupt if they fail to comply. How would you deal with a fine of 4% of turnover? Please use this checklist to start you on the road to compliance. These are the key areas you should address. As you get into the detail of your own GDPR review, you will also uncover data considerations, which are particular to your own industry and business type. 1 Raise Awareness In Your Business GDPR will probably require you to make changes to the way you collect, store, use and process data. In particular data held on individuals. The new regulations extend the provisions in the Data … [Read more...]
How do Research & Development Allowances (RDAs) help to buy buildings and equipment?
Research and Development Allowances can be claimed at 100% in year one, which means they provide a very generous cash releasing opportunity when you are purchasing fixed assets. Plus unlike the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) they apply to buildings as well as other fixed assets you purchase. RDAs are claimed against ‘capital expenditure’ that supports R&D activities within your business. They should not to be confused with Research and Development (R&D) tax credits which are claimed against ‘revenue expenditure’ relating to qualifying R&D activities. Unlike R&D tax credits, which are restricted to limited companies, RDAs are not restricted to limited companies, they can be claimed by individuals and partnerships as well, so long as the claimants are ‘traders’ and not carrying on a ‘profession or vocation’. They are a first year allowance, providing a generous 100% tax offset in the year when the money was spent. This means that, … [Read more...]
Is your business ready for new GDPR legislation on Data Protection?
This article outlines the key themes of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to help businesses understand their corporate responsibilities and the challenges of this new legal framework. Key facts about GDPR A data protection regulation to protect the data businesses hold on individuals. It is legislation with large fines for non-compliance It makes organisations much more accountable for the data they hold. Applies equally in all EU member states and to those offering goods or services to individuals within the EU Stricter stipulations apply to firms with over 250 employees Also applies to SMEs with under 250 employees when data processing carried out is likely to result in risk to the rights and freedoms of data subjects, the processing is not occasional or the processing includes special categories of data as defined in GPDR Article 9 It will be enforced across Europe from 25th May 2018 Overview of … [Read more...]
Essential ‘Must-Haves’ in a Business Relationship Contract
When embarking on an entrepreneurial venture with anyone, including people you trust (i.e. family and friends), be assured that there are always risks involved. To protect your interests for the future, it’s advisable to make your business relationship official by way of a commercial contract. Commercial contracts provide a practical framework which enables you to focus on your business needs and consider the associated risks. Once in place, they will provide your business with a greater level of protection from future potential issues. You need to be savvy in business and if you’re inexperienced about contracts, it makes good sense to take advice from those with skills and knowledge in this area, particularly in the legal field. Consider this – if you agree to go into business with your father, will you both view it as a continuation of your father/son comfort zone relationship, or will you view it as a new scenario? Many do not separate the friendship or family … [Read more...]
Don’t Wait For Brexit Clarity – Get Exporting
Almost every business will be impacted by Brexit – positively or negatively. We can only make educated assumptions about what Brexit will look like and indeed when any transition arrangements may end. With a potential 2-year transition agreement, Brexit would happen in March 2021. Fortune favours the bold and businesses that can benefit from exporting should review their business strategy to achieve their maximum potential. If you don’t your competitors probably will. The good news is that there is a huge range of support available for businesses who want to start exporting or want to expand their exporting. When helping businesses review their strategy, I often ask if they export. The first answer is often no, followed by a, well we have sold this to here and that to there. They have become accidental exporters. If your business has recognised expertise or a niche specialisation then you will often be found globally via your web site even if … [Read more...]
5 Essential Sales Processes To Boost Your Business
Many small businesses fail to prosper because they don’t invest in developing repeatable processes and planning to help grow their sales. To follow are some essential sales activities to develop and repeat if you want to drive your business growth. 1- Develop a sales plan First and foremost, you need to answer the key sales questions regarding your business in a sales plan. What do you want to sell in the next 12 months How will that be split by month or quarter and over what distribution? What are the products or services that you anticipate selling? Who is going to be responsible for what in the sales plan? Then the softer more difficult issues Why will customers want to buy from you? How will you sell your product or service? Where and when will customers become aware of you? Where and when will they buy? And finally how much is it anticipated this will all cost? Once you’ve answered all of the … [Read more...]
3 Powerful Marketing Measurements That Drive Business Success
According to Gordon Bethune, the CEO who took Continental Airlines ‘from worst to first’, it’s impossible to achieve success in business if you don’t measure your performance. His mantra, “What gets measured, gets managed” is now regularly pronounced by consultants and the C-Suite alike when growth ambitions are on the agenda. However, measuring performance is not likely to give us the results we are seeking if we don’t first consider the more important question : ‘What do we measure?’ Up until relatively recently, I would have put ‘Customer Engagement’ at the top of my own list of essential Marketing Measurements. However, my thinking completely changed after reading about Professor Byron Sharp’s book ‘How Brands Grow’. This book is an absolute game changer as it uses hard data to smash many of the myths modern marketers hold dear to. He takes a rapier to the idea that we need to implement Loyalty Programs and go all out to win engagement … [Read more...]
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