Employing staff: building a team that works for you
Taking on your first staff member is an exciting milestone for any company – but getting it right is no easy task. You need someone with the qualifications and experience to do the job, as well as...
How to tender for contracts
As a business owner, you’ll know it can take years before your networking and marketing efforts are rewarded with a valuable new contract. No matter how many contacts you have, and how many leads...
How to write a marketing plan
What is a marketing plan? Developing a marketing plan is essential for your business to ensure your marketing activity is right for what you’re trying to achieve. It sets out your unique selling...
Getting the most from business management software
Running your own company is as rewarding as it is challenging. On the one hand, it’s an opportunity to earn a living doing the thing you love and excel at, and basking in the success it brings....
How to write a business plan
You have the big idea – but before jumping in feet first, investing your time and hard-earned money launching a new venture, you’ll need a business plan to steer its direction and make it a...
How to start a business in five steps
Step one: Getting started Step two: Choose a name and establish the legal structure Step three: Secure funding Step four: Building a brand Step five: Prepare to launch Next steps Starting your own...
How to get the best from your marketing budget
Defining your marketing budget can be tricky, especially as a small business and even more so in these unprecedented times. Our guide aims to help you successfully allocate your marketing spend,...
Business Resilience Podcast: Episode 3
Payment performance and finance for SMEs Interim Small Business Commissioner Philip King and Richard Leonard, Head of Data Partnerships at Experian, join Ade O’Connor on the Business Resilience...
Alternative funding options for SMEs
In our latest SME Support blog we’re going to take a quick look at some of the funding options that are out there to help businesses get through this unprecedented situation. We’ll cover...
Business resilience – Prioritising today to enable tomorrow
“We’re in unprecedented times.” Whilst it’s an overused phrase, it perfectly captures the situation that the world finds itself in. It’s sometimes overwhelming to think about...
Paying it forward with Payment Performance
As part of our latest SME Business Resilience blog series, we look at one of the ways that businesses of all sizes can actively improve their access to finance on good terms – Payment...
Business Resilience Podcast: Episode 1
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme The past few weeks have served up a range of unprecedented challenges for businesses in the face of a global pandemic, Coronavirus. At the time of...