Category: Scaling Up Your Solo Business

As businesses look to stimulate growth in an economic environment still dominated by the downturn, innovation matters like never before. Today there is no simple or single recipe for success so collaboration takes on an increasingly important focus.

Research in the first month of the New Year points to record levels of new businesses being created and high optimism amongst small business owners. Will this confidence convert into international trade and expansion?

You’ve heard the expression “time is money”, but did you know that your energy is worth money, too? One of the biggest concerns for owners of small or medium enterprises is the waste of energy that can occur throughout a day’s work, and for good reason.

The green movement isn’t just for hippies and tree huggers anymore. The environmental initiatives that have become more popular in recent years are notably less anti-establishment and more large-scale, which means that now is the perfect time for your SME to get on board. But don’t just do it for the Earth; do it for your bottom line.

If you’re on the cusp of a new business venture, you’re probably excited about being the boss, fulfilling your dreams, and watching your visions come to life. This is all part of being a business owner, but first, there are a couple of basics to take care of.

A study by Travel Supermarket said that 2011 was another good year for those engaged in servicing the 40 per cent of the UK population who took their main holiday in the UK, as well as the increasing number of us Brits who have been taking more short domestic breaks. Although these breaks may have been for fewer nights, this still proved to have a great impact on the UK holiday market.

A record 480,000 new businesses were created over the past year but let’s see if the UK can beat this record in 2012.

With just less than 200 days to go until the Olympics, workplace experts employers are being advised to avoid any last-minute hurdles by preparing for staff being away from work.

We spoke to Sara Murray, entrepreneur and founder of Confused.com and personal emergency response service buddi.co.uk to find out what she thinks are the best ways for small businesses to embrace and grow by using commerce effectively.

As we are now into the swing of 2012, we asked Margery McBain of Gravitate HR to highlight some key dates in the year for us to focus on about what may lie in store in the Olympic and Diamond Jubilee year.

If we are to avoid the chaos witnessed this time last year, when the country virtually ground to a halt following freezing temperatures and large snow falls, more businesses must recognise the importance of offering staff the ability to work from home.

The summer of 2012 is going to be a busy one and you could be forgiven for thinking that the UK will be closed for everyone not involved in the Olympic and Paralympic Games from the Queen’s Jubilee in early June, to ‘back to school’ time in September.

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the largest events the UK has ever seen. From the end of July to the beginning of September, forecasts predict an extra 322,000 visitors to the UK, with a dramatic ‘spike’ in service demand.

For many family owned businesses, planning how to leave your business to the next generation can be a daunting task. With most SMEs focussing on immediate successes, plans for the future can often be overlooked or left until the last minute.

As we approach the Christmas season, with demands on us from staff parties, client entertaining as well as family and friends many of us will struggle during the day.