About

Ben Lobel was the editor of SmallBusiness.co.uk from 2010 to 2018. He specialises in writing for start-up and scale-up companies in the areas of finance, marketing and HR.

Legal advice

Is there value in protecting IP you don’t intend to use?

In this piece Peter Finnie, patent attorney and managing partner at Gill Jennings & Every, discusses how defensive patents can be of value to your business.

Business management

What happens if your business partner is no longer pulling their weight?

In this piece Karen Holden, founder of A City Law Firm, explores the legal considerations to bear in mind when a business partnership isn't working.

Small Business Insurance

Essential tips on getting the right insurance cover for your small business

Here, the Association of British Insurers gives a comprehensive insight into the insurance you need to take on for your small business.

Small Business Insurance

The key insurance measures I put in place for my company

Here, Marcus Cannon discusses the insurance measures he put in place for his company InterFocus.

Business management

Breaking the family circle – taking a fresh look at succession planning

In this piece, Simon Walton, partner and head of consumer practice at Berwick Partners, discusses why early action and contingency planning is essential in preparation for new business leadership.

Employing & managing staff

How strict should your workplace be?

In this piece, Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library, explores how strict workplaces should be in an era of widespread distractions for employees.

Marketing

Lessons learned from Card Factory’s reputational crisis

Card Factory came under fire last month for perceived insensitivity towards diversity of sexuality. Here, Jennifer Janson, chairman of Six Degrees, discusses what businesses can learn from the episode.

Accounting

Hiring an accountant: When and why you need one

In this piece, Karen Barrett, founder and CEO of Unbiased, discusses the finer points of taking on an accountant.

Government Grants

Getting a grant from the China-Britain Business Council

Robert Boyce, director and co-founder of IceRobotics, discusses how he got hold of a grant from the China-Britain Business Council.

News

AA targets small businesses with move to card payment market

The AA has entered the card payments market in an attempt to deliver a better deal to small businesses.