Columns, blogs and opinion from some of the UKs leading business opinion makers and entrepreneurs and small business owners
As businesses tighten their belt in a recession, the need for properly documented contracts is even more important than usual– it is well known that disputes increase when money is tight, and if you are doing business without proper contracts, you are at risk.
One reoccurring topic which always seems to crop up when speaking to business owners is ‘when is the right time to bite the bullet and take the business to the next level’? When do we stop the bootstrapping and say hello to investment? I am a firm believer that all businesses can (and in most cases, should be) boot-strapped from day one. This not only saves costs, it keeps your business lean and avoids the unnecessary ‘fat’ that one could be tempted to add if investment is gained early on.
As December approaches, I’m sure you’re already sick and tired of getting the ‘call me back after Christmas’ line only to find that come January, you can’t get hold of the person ever again! As the festive season roles in, I’m going to take a look at how to overcome these objections and make the most of the festive period.
Gone are the days when we could all set our watches by the clatter of the letterbox. The reality now is that despite the rising cost of mail, the service that was once at the core of British industry is now a thing of the past. The recent postal strikes have cost UK businesses an estimated £1.25 billion, money that companies can ill afford during the country’s longest recession. Whether you are a sole trader, an SME or a company who employs hundreds of staff, each and every one of us has been affected by it.
Last night I, on behalf of Smarta, got my first close-hand look at Baron Alan Sugar of Clapton since he controversially assumed the position of ‘Enterprise Tsar’ – a title he rejects.
The recent strike action over pay and jobs at the Royal Mail is likely to cost the economy over £1 billion and many smaller businesses will bear the brunt.
The reason for the dispute centres on a pay and flexible working deal made in 2007, and which has since unraveled. The union wants reassurances over job security while the Royal Mail wants more flexible hours alongside more automated processes.
