Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
This section takes you through every important aspect of how to run a successful business. It offers expert guides and advice articles on the key elements of business management such as employing staff, finding customers, marketing and sales, pricing, people management, office and home working, business technology and everything else an entrepreneur must tackle in order to succeed.
Danielle Ayres discusses the eight top tips that small business employers can adopt to help them properly manage pregnant employees in the workplace and those who go on maternity leave.
Office & home working
Business Technology
Some 60 per cent of the UK's smallest businesses, which constitute almost a fifth of Britain's small business population, currently lack their own website, a study finds.
Office & home working
In recent times, companies have placed more of an emphasis on a social office dynamic. David Price discusses the benefits.
Employing & managing staff
I am tight on employee numbers at the moment while I recruit new team members and I need more of my staff to do late night shifts for the short term. Can I expect them to do this, and if so when can they start?
Business Technology
Darren Page, Co-director of leading headset supplier Headsets4business helps dismiss some of the misconceptions about noise cancelling headsets.
Employing & managing staff
I am in the process of interviewing candidates for a job, but after the first couple I feel that I have found the perfect person for the position. However, I have other interviews set up. Do I have to follow through with these?
Marketing
Whether you run a small, family business from home or a multi-million pound corporation, marketing is the best way to promote your products and services.
Employing & managing staff
A member of staff experienced a family loss and took time off to grieve. I did not pay them bereavement pay at the time as I wasn't sure if they were entitled to it. The employee is now claiming he would like to be paid for the time off.
Marketing
Whether you run a small, family business from home or a multi-million pound corporation, marketing is the best way to promote your products and services.
Employing & managing staff
A member of staff experienced a family loss and took time off to grieve. I did not pay them bereavement pay at the time as I wasn't sure if they were entitled to it. The employee is now claiming he would like to be paid for the time off.
Business Technology
Andy Hinxman discusses what small businesses should know about Windows' latest operating system.
Employing & managing staff
Here, we look at a service that tests programming candidates before interview, helping you to find the right hire.
Small Business Insurance
In this Q&A Jody Pearmain talks about how one often-overlooked form of insurance can be critical for your business.
Legal advice
Many start-ups choose to become sole traders or partnerships simply because they are afraid of the paperwork. Here, Henry Catchpole explains why creating the correct business structure offers important legal and tax advantages.
Business Technology
Landlines as we know them will be scrapped in 2027 – along with a raft of upcoming business changes. Here's how to ensure your communications set-up is fit for whatever the future brings
Business Loans
Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.
Business Technology
With the landline shutdown coming fast, there’s never been a better time to switch to VoIP. Don’t let your small business be left behind!
Export & Import
Many factors can affect products’ journeys from A to B. Here are some tips for best practice for successful shipping in the modern world