Talking points

Short, practical reads on running a business, looking after your people and planning ahead — written by Dianne and Dave.

Latest · December 16, 2022

Why is it so important to shop local this Christmas?

The perks of supporting local businesses.. Boosting the local economy & community Preserving the environment - no nasty plastic packaging or fuel for deliveries! Making dreams come true (ensure someone has a "happy jig" every time you purchase from them!) Receive that personal touch that larger companies won't have the time to fulfil How to …

December 16, 2022 · Dianne

Inevitable Christmas Party Blog

When you speak to employers about Christmas, try and keep discussions from a point of view that takes in both angles, as an employer, but also as someone who does like to party as well We talk a lot about how important it is for companies to have a sense of camaraderie among co-workers, and …

September 14, 2022 · Dianne

What does productivity mean? A guide for small businesses

Productivity broadly refers to how much gets done, but you also often hear that UK productivity overall is lagging behind other countries. So what does productivity mean in this sense and how is it measured? Find out how to apply the definition to your small business. What is productivity? In economics, productivity measures growth and …

September 14, 2022 · Dianne

Setting goals for your business? Here’s what you need to know

Every business idea starts with a business plan. But how often should you evolve it, and what happens if you don’t achieve your goals? Setting goals and ambitions for your business helps you know where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. But setting unrealistic goals can be disheartening and lead to burn …

September 14, 2022 · Dianne

How to make money with Airbnb experiences: a simple guide

You don’t need to list a property on Airbnb to make money hosting an experience on the online platform. You just need to have a unique tour, activity, or class that people might want to do while they’re visiting your local area. Whether you’re interested in having a side hustle or want to explore a …

September 12, 2022 · Dianne

Show your employees the love

We all love feeling loved, here we are going to tell you how you can spread this good feeling throughout the workplace. It's a fact - employees who feel valued and appreciated perform better - they want to do more for you, want to stay in your employment and will shout about the good stuff. …

July 10, 2022 · Dianne

Create a Cash-Flow plan

There’s no doubt about it, effective cash flow planning can be something of an art form to master. But it is crucial to get good at it to ensure the financial decisions you are making are the right ones. There’s no doubt about it, effective cash flow planning can be something of an art form …

July 10, 2022 · Dianne

Beginners guide to creating a marketing Plan

A marketing plan is fundamental to ensuring your business's success. In this blog, we take you through the steps to help you put together a sound marketing plan for your new business. When you embark on a new business venture, there are so many things to think about. You are likely wearing many different hats …

July 8, 2022 · Dianne

Tips for Creating Winning Team Building Events

When it comes to a winning team building event, there is a little more involved than just making sure your team are having fun. Whilst the main goal from your team building event may well be to make sure the team relax that doesn't mean that can't also be productive for your company. Through a series …

July 1, 2022 · Dave

Bank Holidays and Part-Time entitlement

It's that time of year when Bank Holidays are aplenty and, weather permitting, it's time to fire up the barbecues or join the traffic jams heading for the coast, and this year (2022) we are getting an additional day for the Platinum Jubilee. Behind the fun, and hopefully laughter, there is a serious point: have …

June 18, 2022 · Dianne

Hire your first employee

When you have a small team or limited resources, every hire counts. Here's some of the best advice for when you're looking to hire your first employee as your small business grows. When you have a small team or limited resources, every hire counts. When this is the case, you need to be confident about …

June 8, 2022 · Dianne

Business Benefits of Employee Volunteering

Fulfilment, meaning and giving back. Not things many employees would’ve always agreed they got from their roles, unless they worked in the private or public sector. However, that’s now changing. Increasingly more today than ever before, the younger workforce – Generation Z and millennials – not only want, but expect, their employers to provide workplace …

May 13, 2022 · Dianne

Tips For Choosing The Best Conference Venue

When it comes to planning your next conference, the venue you choose is key. Searching for that perfect conference venue can be tricky, and it is important you weigh up the pros and cons of each venue carefully before deciding where to spend your venue budget. We have put together our top 5 considerations when …

May 1, 2022 · Dianne

Mental Health Awareness

We've all been guilty at some point of doubting someone offering 'feeling down' or 'stressed' as a reason for failing to live up to what we expected of them. If you're an employer with tight deadlines, you might find it easier to understand a broken limb than a broken heart. But the truth is that …

April 10, 2022 · Dianne

Do I need to think about HR?

The role of HR in a business and the value it adds is sometimes misunderstood! We see that there are two sides to HR, results-oriented, strategy focused leadership and management of people, (People Operations) and the Legal, ethical and structural organisation of employees and teams (HR). The basics Unless you're a sole trader, you employ …

March 10, 2022 · Dianne

Taking holidays as a business owner

We are all so very busy running our businesses, we look after our employees, but how many of us forget to look after ourselves! Maybe time to take a little break, and here’s a few tips to help you get away! We always recommend to our clients to make sure that their people are taking …

February 10, 2022 · Dianne

Starting a business

You have a business idea, you love what you do, can you create a business? You are enjoying what you are doing, and you do it for fun, so how do you turn it into a successful business? Whether you are a creative who wants to make a living from your art, it’s easy to …

February 10, 2022 · Dianne

Ideas for business owners to unwind

As a new business owner, it can be really tricky to switch off and take a proper break. Here are 8 ways to unwind over the Christmas period, whether you're still at work or have bagged some days off... It can be difficult to unwind as a business owner. It can feel like you’re ‘on …

January 15, 2022 · Dianne

Hiring Remotely

As a job seeker, we understand you’re stepping out of your comfort zone during these unprecedented times. To put your best foot forward, here’s what you need to know about the remote hiring process. Multiple interviews are common As face-to-face interaction is temporarily missing, recruiters may invest more time into multiple interviews. Don’t be afraid …

January 10, 2022 · Dianne

Social Media Content Ideas

Regular posting on social media helps your business to stay at the forefront of the minds of your audience. But thinking of new post ideas can be difficult when you have so much else to be doing in your business. Here are some great ways to keep those post ideas flowing, and save you time, …

January 10, 2022 · Dianne

Does your business have relevance and value?

There’s no doubt that most of us in business have found the last few years a challenge. So why do some businesses thrive, and others struggle to survive? Here are the steps you need to take to ensure your business is still relevant in 2022. There’s no doubt that most of us in business have …

January 10, 2022 · Dianne

What Business growth is important

Growth can enable a company to overtake its competition and become the dominant player in the market. However, it is important that growth is controlled to ensure the business remains profitable and trading. Growth is important for businesses to enable them to flourish and be successful. Business growth, if successfully managed, has many advantages. These could …