More and more in today’s world we all have to be aware of and know how to deal with all sorts of different media, and it is important that we are as comfortable as possible in doing so as we will be sending out messages that others will pick up.
So you are going to be interviewed on the radio about your business, or at least about an aspect of it, so what should you do?
So, you run a revenue generating business with strong growth potential based on a product or service that meets a specific need, in a sector that is growing. You and your team are keen to build the business but you need funding to take it to the next level. But that’s where you’re stuck. You’ve talked to the banks and they’re not playing ball. It seems it’s all in the balance sheet; they want to see robust sales with consistent growth. You can show the sales but, for various reasons, your running costs, margins and volume aren’t what they could be, so the balance sheet doesn’t look pretty and your growth strategy isn’t cutting it.
At the recent TEDxGranta conference held at The Junction in Cambridge, one talk highlighted a worrying trend in the UK today: schoolchildren don’t really know what engineering is about, and hence are unlikely to consider it as a career.
There is a lot of talk out there about Social Enterprises and the part they can play in helping the country go forward. The first myth I would like to explode is based around the name some politicians, and sadly some people working in the sector, give to these organisations and that is “Not for Profit.” That is something they most definitely should not be, they need to make a profit, or surplus if you prefer to call it that, otherwise there is nothing to pay for the future. The important thing is what they do with the profits and for a true Social Enterprise what I would expect to see is that they are largely re-invested into the community.
“The human brain starts working the moment you are born, and never stops until you have to stand up to speak in public” Anon. Following a workshop I recently gave on Presenting your Business, I’ve selected key factors that will really make a difference to your presenting skills – whether this is in a corporate situation, business meeting or networking.
With the new Patent Box regime announced in the recent Budget coming into effect less than a year from now, the exploitation of Intellectual Property has been put firmly on the agenda for businesses with the capacity to innovate. The Patent Box will mean that eligible profits from worldwide sales of products protected by a granted UK or European patent will be taxed at only 10% from April 2013, compared to the standard 24% rate (or 20% if you qualify for the Small Profits Rate).
Organising and preparing for a conference or event is not a simple process at the best of times. However, it can be made easier with careful planning and preparation and a sense of humour along the way.
Charles Handy once said: “Organisations are as different and as varied as the nations and societies of the world. They have differing cultures – sets of values and norms and beliefs – reflected in different structures and systems. And the cultures are affected by events of the past and climates of the present.”
If you haven’t stopped to think about it before, here are a handful of simple ideas that you can easily apply and that will make a difference to your chances of lasting business success.
Does “negotiation” bring to mind a hard fought battle of the minds akin to a poker game where the winner takes all? Best avoided? If so help is at hand. After the negotiation there are consequences! If the other party thought you were intransigent, fought for too hard a deal, trampled over them from a position of strength they will get their own back. Expect attempts to renege on the deal, warranty issues, bad reviews. Don’t expect them to do business with you again in a hurry.
When innovation is mentioned by the government and media, they usually refer to manufacturing or high tech SMEs. But 70% of small companies are service businesses, and with only a little help, they can innovate more too. And because they can move faster, the payback from their innovation can be seen in months, rather than years. As a nation we need this growth, so why are we largely ignoring the 70% of those who could achieve it for us?
According to Investec Bank, almost 80% of those in the East of England donated to charity last year, with the average total per person £176.85, compared with £186.15 per person for the UK as a whole. It also reveals that the value of people’s donations to charities in 2011 was 12% less than in 2010, so why should businesses develop charitable relationships?
With the private rental sector projected to grow to 21% by 2019 and the average age of the first time buyer at 37, there are still a lot of opportunities for new and experienced landlords to expand their portfolio. Being a professional landlord in today’s market means that you need to make sure that the assets you have make a profit now as well as in the future. The easiest way is to reduce void periods buy buying the right property. Here are my ten top tips to choosing the correct property.
I recently attended the Meerkats & Avatars 2011 Media Technology exhibition where many new technology products from the East of England were showcased to the national technology press and regional journalists too. I was impressed by the quality of the stands presented and also by the professionalism of the staff from the companies involved. Most of the companies were start-up or small businesses and many of their team hadn’t even attended a business exhibition before, let alone exhibited!
Success in business in today’s increasingly digital world calls for engaging, effective PR, marketing and communications activity which in turns needs budget and resource.
But how do you do this in the most cost-effective, sustainable way if you have little or no in-house resource looking after your communications needs? Marcie Bell of The Foundry House works through the options and offers advice on avoiding common pitfalls.
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