Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
With lockdown measures easing, many small businesses are busy preparing to welcome back customers over the coming months. With social contact restrictions still in place, however, it won’t quite be “business as normal.” Businesses will need to think creatively about how they entice customers.
Enticing old customers
Premises will still need to meet strict Covid-safe conditions when they reopen but it’s a start, and customers are just as excited to be back – and spending their money again – as businesses are to serve them.
The Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, which ran in August 2020, may have had its critics, but the huge rise in table reservations – a 53 per cent increase on the same period in 2019 – shows the eagerness of the public to get back to purchasing goods and services again.
There is a lot of lost time to make up for and businesses will need to think creatively about how to entice back old customers to their premises and services, whilst attracting in new customer groups, as well.
>See also: What are the benefits of agile working? – a small business guide
Attracting disabled customers
Disabled customers are a group most often overlooked
Tag Archive for Business Management
Hot Business News Today
8 ways to make your small business more disability aware
by Timothy Adler • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
With lockdown measures easing, many small businesses are busy preparing to welcome back customers over the coming months. With social contact restrictions still in place, however, it won’t quite be “business as normal.” Businesses will need to think creatively about how they entice customers.
Enticing old customers
Premises will still need to meet strict Covid-safe conditions when they reopen but it’s a start, and customers are just as excited to be back – and spending their money again – as businesses are to serve them.
The Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, which ran in August 2020, may have had its critics, but the huge rise in table reservations – a 53 per cent increase on the same period in 2019 – shows the eagerness of the public to get back to purchasing goods and services again.
There is a lot of lost time to make up for and businesses will need to think creatively about how to entice back old customers to their premises and services, whilst attracting in new customer groups, as well.
>See also: What are the benefits of agile working? – a small business guide
Attracting disabled customers
Disabled customers are a group most often overlooked
Hot Business News Today
UK recovery is possible with planned investment in businesses
by Ian Currie • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Ian Currie on Small Business
As the UK covid-19 situation gets ever more parlous, it somehow feels counter intuitive to turn our minds to how the country will bounce into a recovery. However, as the fantastic work of our scientists and the government’s scaled-up vaccination roll-out both bring new hope, that is exactly how we must plan. The sheer will and fighting spirit of the UK population will at some point turn the tide for our beleaguered businesses. Hope and optimism are commendable traits, but where and when do the seeds of recovery begin to reveal themselves?
For months there has been a litany of bad news, with not only unemployment figures rising but reports of many businesses hanging on by their fingertips only surviving due to the vital infusions of vast financial support provided by UK government. We all know it cannot go on at these stratospheric levels, and whilst in the short term there are few alternatives, the medium and longer-term prognosis requires different thinking if our recovery is to be sustained.
If we accept that government handouts must soon come to an end, then they must be replaced with a very serious investment programme – a platform
Hot Business News Today
UK recovery is possible with planned investment in businesses
by Ian Currie • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Ian Currie on Small Business
As the UK covid-19 situation gets ever more parlous, it somehow feels counter intuitive to turn our minds to how the country will bounce into a recovery. However, as the fantastic work of our scientists and the government’s scaled-up vaccination roll-out both bring new hope, that is exactly how we must plan. The sheer will and fighting spirit of the UK population will at some point turn the tide for our beleaguered businesses. Hope and optimism are commendable traits, but where and when do the seeds of recovery begin to reveal themselves?
For months there has been a litany of bad news, with not only unemployment figures rising but reports of many businesses hanging on by their fingertips only surviving due to the vital infusions of vast financial support provided by UK government. We all know it cannot go on at these stratospheric levels, and whilst in the short term there are few alternatives, the medium and longer-term prognosis requires different thinking if our recovery is to be sustained.
If we accept that government handouts must soon come to an end, then they must be replaced with a very serious investment programme – a platform
Hot Business News Today
What coronavirus business support is available from the government?
by Anna Jordan • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
After almost a year of lockdowns and restrictions, coronavirus business support is still very much needed by firms across the UK.
We’ve gathered a list of government help, past and present, to let you know what is available to you.
Active
These funding and support opportunities are currently open. You can find further information within the links in the headings.
Deadlines are also outlined below.
Additional Restrictions Grant
Available for businesses that are not covered by other grant schemes or where additional funding is needed.
Deadline: Ongoing
Bounce Back Loan Scheme
Loans of between £2,000 and £50,000, up to 25 per cent of turnover
The government guarantees 100 per cent of the loan with no fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months. After 12 months the interest rate will be 2.5 per cent a year
Companies can now apply for a top-up in cases where they initially did not borrow the full amount available
Deadline: March 31 2021
> See also: Microbusiness £50,000 Bounce Back Loans – how they work
Business Rates Holiday
Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors in England will not have to pay business rates for the 2020-2021 tax year.
Deadline: April 6 2021
Commercial eviction ban
Landlords have been banned from turfing
Hot Business News Today
Last chance to sign up and harness the power of peer networking
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
It is widely accepted that support from peer groups and peer networking is often the first port of call for business owners facing similar challenges.
As businesses navigate the ongoing pandemic including a third national lockdown and deal with issues arising from exiting the EU, they can find help and no-nonsense support and advice through peer networking.
In 2021 peer networking can create a feeling of community no matter what industry or sector you are in, but it also helps business owners realise that they are not alone in the obstacles they face on a day-to-day basis.
With the help of like-minded peers, they can gain valuable insights leading to day to day solutions to help grow their business.
Which is why Peer Networks is working with SME business owners across England to help place them in a stronger position for future growth.
>See also: How peer support is helping me and my business
What are the experts saying about Peer Networks?
Isla Wilson is a director at Ruby Star Associates and a Peer Networks facilitator for Greater Manchester.
She says: “There is real value in sharing experiences with others and drawing out learning which each member can apply to themselves
Hot Business News Today
What coronavirus business support is available from the government?
by Anna Jordan • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
After almost a year of lockdowns and restrictions, coronavirus business support is still very much needed by firms across the UK.
We’ve gathered a list of government help, past and present, to let you know what is available to you.
Active
These funding and support opportunities are currently open. You can find further information within the links in the headings.
Deadlines are also outlined below.
Additional Restrictions Grant
Available for businesses that are not covered by other grant schemes or where additional funding is needed.
Deadline: Ongoing
Bounce Back Loan Scheme
Loans of between £2,000 and £50,000, up to 25 per cent of turnover
The government guarantees 100 per cent of the loan with no fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months. After 12 months the interest rate will be 2.5 per cent a year
Companies can now apply for a top-up in cases where they initially did not borrow the full amount available
Deadline: March 31 2021
> See also: Microbusiness £50,000 Bounce Back Loans – how they work
Business Rates Holiday
Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors in England will not have to pay business rates for the 2020-2021 tax year.
Deadline: April 6 2021
Commercial eviction ban
Landlords have been banned from turfing
Hot Business News Today
Last chance to sign up and harness the power of peer networking
by Partner Content • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
It is widely accepted that support from peer groups and peer networking is often the first port of call for business owners facing similar challenges.
As businesses navigate the ongoing pandemic including a third national lockdown and deal with issues arising from exiting the EU, they can find help and no-nonsense support and advice through peer networking.
In 2021 peer networking can create a feeling of community no matter what industry or sector you are in, but it also helps business owners realise that they are not alone in the obstacles they face on a day-to-day basis.
With the help of like-minded peers, they can gain valuable insights leading to day to day solutions to help grow their business.
Which is why Peer Networks is working with SME business owners across England to help place them in a stronger position for future growth.
>See also: How peer support is helping me and my business
What are the experts saying about Peer Networks?
Isla Wilson is a director at Ruby Star Associates and a Peer Networks facilitator for Greater Manchester.
She says: “There is real value in sharing experiences with others and drawing out learning which each member can apply to themselves
Hot Business News Today
Pros and cons of employee ownership trusts (EOTs)
by Anna Jordan • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
Employee ownership trusts (EOTs) are relatively new in the business world.
The EOT survey 2019 shows that there are 241 verified EOT-owned companies and a further 34 EOT-owned companies that have been established for longer, otherwise known as ‘deemed EOTs’. Between the two, EOTs employ 23,000 people in the UK.
It’s a popular model in the manufacturing and professional services sectors. A large proportion are represented in London and Scotland, with virtually none in Northern Ireland.
Over half (55 per cent) of EOTs own the entire company; a further 40 per cent are hybrid models in which the EOT is a majority owner alongside employee shareholders and/or founders.
BDO predicts that a combination of Covid-19 and a rise in Capital Gains Tax (CGT) mean that shareholders are becoming increasingly likely to sell off companies before the end of the 2020/21 tax year.
We’ll explain just what an employee ownership trust is and the pros and cons of transitioning to this model.
What is an employee ownership trust?
An employee ownership trust is a specialist form of an employee benefit trust, introduced by the government in 2014.
With an employee ownership trust, shareholders are encouraged to sell their shares into a trust
Hot Business News Today
Small business national lockdown – what support is available?
by Anna Jordan • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
Grant support for 2021 lockdown
After announcements from Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon, England and Scotland have gone into lockdown. Wales has been in lockdown since December 20.
To support businesses through this period, chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced £4.6m of grant funding. This includes a one-off top-up grant for leisure, hospitality and retail businesses of up to £9,000.
They’ll be granted to closed businesses as follows:
£4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under
£6,000 for businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
£9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000
A £594m discretionary fund is also being made available to support other businesses affected by the lockdown. As with the other grant funding, you’ll need to apply through your local authority.
More money has been giving to the devolved nations as part of the announcement but there have been no further funding announcements from them at the time of writing.
This new lockdown support is in addition to existing funding, as listed below.
Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG)
Available for businesses that are not covered by other grant schemes or where additional funding is needed.
Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)
Loans of between £2,000 and £50,000, up to