Time Management Tips for Small Business Owners
For many of us, especially those running our own ventures, it might feel as though we've been speeding along since January. As we head into the new financial year, we may be planning to juggle various projects and perhaps factor in even more travel. It's already been a whirlwind few months so after [...]
How Small Businesses Can Work With Government
I was recently asked to contribute to an article in Startups magazine all about how small businesses can work with the government. The focus was on how small businesses can work with government and what options are available to them. The new Procurement Bill, winding its way through government, should make it easier [...]
The Top Five Issues Small Business Owners Face
In my work, I’m lucky to work with some really diverse scaling companies as well as many small business owners. I have to say, small business owners really do inspire me as their strength, resilience and determination, often against many barriers, is hugely inspiring. However, there are many issues they face which influence [...]
When Should I Get A Mentor?
I’m so pleased to be part of the team delivering the Small & Mighty Enterprise programme for Small Business Britain again. This time we’re welcoming and supporting nearly 1,000 small businesses on their journey – which is a fantastic number! A big part of this programme is mentoring – each participant gets access [...]
How To Scale Up A Business
Scaling up a business is a significant step that can transform your company's trajectory. However it's crucial to approach it with careful consideration and a well-defined strategy. It entails expanding your operations to accommodate increased demand, whether it's by hiring more employees, investing in marketing, moving to larger premises, or enhancing your product [...]
Are Unlimited Holidays A Good Idea or Risky Business?
Summer is in full swing, and the concept of unlimited holidays is making waves in the corporate world. This blog delves into the idea of offering unlimited holidays to employees, exploring the benefits and potential pitfalls. Should employers seriously consider this approach to cater to the growing demand for flexibility? Let's find out [...]
The Art Of Giving Constructive Feedback
As part of your role, do you provide feedback? Delivering feedback is truly an art form that requires conscientious thought regarding desired outcomes and the care it deserves. Equally important is the attention we give to receiving feedback in the most effective manner. We’ll explore the art of giving constructive feedback in this [...]
What Makes A Psychologically Safe Work Environment?
In the wake of the recent BBC and Lineker hoo-hah, psychological safety is a hot topic currently. You don’t need to look far from politics either to see current issues arising. People are raising this in the workplace and questioning how they are protected. It’s now common to consider how employers value psychological [...]
Is Personality Profiling a Good Idea For a Team?
Have you ever been personality profiled in your career? This tool, and its many profiling options, is getting more and more commonplace. If used wisely in the workplace, it can be an impactful insight to understand teams. It should identify areas that need support and encouragement as well as instil new ways of [...]
Do You Need A Degree To Be Successful?
I don’t often share my story of how I got to do what I do, but I was recently interviewed about my career journey and the wiggly road along the way. From looking at forensic science ending up at art college, there was even a tentative look at the RAF then to motherhood. [...]
Does My Business Need A Plan B?
At this time of year, I always encourage business owners to review the last year and reflect on their successes and areas to improve. Where possible, you should put systems and processes in place for resilience in the year ahead and have a ‘plan B’. I’m often asked “does my business need a [...]
How Can I Tell What My Leadership Style Is?
There are several types of leadership styles and trust me, I have come across most. What I find fascinating is that often leaders ‘think’ they're certain type, but when we drill down, they're often not. This is where we start to unravel traits, ingrained and learned, and perceived perception to build a more [...]
How To Create a Simple Business Plan
Do you have an up-to-date and relevant business plan for your business? Or even a plan at all? Many of us actually don’t! Or we have one we set a while ago that hasn’t been updated in line with any current circumstances. I get it – we all get busy and it can [...]
How To Get Funding and Investment for Your Small Business
A very common reoccurring issue I hear is how to get funding and investment for a small business. I was recently asked to talk about this for Small Business Britain and Lloyds Bank Academy so I wanted to share here too. And of course, please do get in touch if you would like [...]