Originally written by Nick Ismail on Small Business
Some parts of the London startup ecosystem have thrived during the pandemic, while other sectors have not.
The road to recovery for these industries has started with the easing of lockdown, but an inclusive support and economic growth system is needed to support this.
In this Q&A, we speak with Maurizina da Silva, Head of the Business Growth Programme at London & Partners, to find out about; how they are assisting London startups and scaleups, the importance of diversity and inclusion, the state of the London startup ecosystem and its future outlook.
Can you introduce the Small Business audience to London & Partners?
London & Partners is the business growth and destination agency for London and we operate as a social enterprise. Our goal is to create economic growth in London that is resilient, sustainable and inclusive. We do that by working with high growth sector companies, supporting international and domestic businesses, to scale through investment, trade, growth and innovation programs.
On top of this overarching mission, we look at the visitor economy to the capital and aim to attract visitors and create events that highlight London as a world class destination.
We want to promote London as a
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London & Partners Q&A — driving economic growth and inclusion in the London startup ecosystem
by Nick Ismail • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Nick Ismail on Small Business
Some parts of the London startup ecosystem have thrived during the pandemic, while other sectors have not.
The road to recovery for these industries has started with the easing of lockdown, but an inclusive support and economic growth system is needed to support this.
In this Q&A, we speak with Maurizina da Silva, Head of the Business Growth Programme at London & Partners, to find out about; how they are assisting London startups and scaleups, the importance of diversity and inclusion, the state of the London startup ecosystem and its future outlook.
Can you introduce the Information Age audience to London & Partners?
London & Partners is the business growth and destination agency for London and we operate as a social enterprise. Our goal is to create economic growth in London that is resilient, sustainable and inclusive. We do that by working with high growth sector companies, supporting international and domestic businesses, to scale through investment, trade, growth and innovation programs.
On top of this overarching mission, we look at the visitor economy to the capital and aim to attract visitors and create events that highlight London as a world class destination.
We want to promote London as a
Hot Business News Today
5 ways for CFOs to understand their data better
by Sadie Williamson • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Sadie Williamson on Small Business
It’s no secret that the best businesses rely on data to drive decisions. It’s also no secret that even for the most data-literate CFOs, there are still some significant challenges involved with achieving data-driven financial planning excellence.
The sheer volume of information coming in can be challenging to parse in a meaningful way. And Excel, the CFO’s go-to app for ad hoc reporting, can be tricky to work with, especially given how many hours of busy work are generally involved with getting all the latest figures imported and standardised.
Rather than coping with the challenges of dynamic financial reporting, many organisations end up going on ‘gut feel’ instead of making an educated choice based on the metrics they’re collecting. But this can have even more serious ramifications – for example, failing to properly keep track of auto-renewing contracts and subscriptions cost small businesses between £3bn and £5.75bn in 2020.
Instead of trying to deal with all the data, or avoiding the mention of data altogether, it’s important for CFOs to demonstrate what can be possible when data is properly harnessed and understood. Here are five ways for CFOs to make better use of their data.
1. Remove
Hot Business News Today
5 ways for CFOs to understand their data better
by Sadie Williamson • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Sadie Williamson on Small Business
It’s no secret that the best businesses rely on data to drive decisions. It’s also no secret that even for the most data-literate CFOs, there are still some significant challenges involved with achieving data-driven financial planning excellence.
The sheer volume of information coming in can be challenging to parse in a meaningful way. And Excel, the CFO’s go-to app for ad hoc reporting, can be tricky to work with, especially given how many hours of busy work are generally involved with getting all the latest figures imported and standardised.
Rather than coping with the challenges of dynamic financial reporting, many organisations end up going on ‘gut feel’ instead of making an educated choice based on the metrics they’re collecting. But this can have even more serious ramifications – for example, failing to properly keep track of auto-renewing contracts and subscriptions cost small businesses between £3bn and £5.75bn in 2020.
Instead of trying to deal with all the data, or avoiding the mention of data altogether, it’s important for CFOs to demonstrate what can be possible when data is properly harnessed and understood. Here are five ways for CFOs to make better use of their data.
1. Remove
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4 tips for promoting your business online when you’re on a budget
by Anna Jordan • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
Thousands of new businesses have launched over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. Out of 1,000 micro businesses, one in five respondents have gone online for the first time, according to the latest research from GoDaddy. Among the most common issues for businesses is promoting themselves on a tight budget.
GoDaddy has partnered with Olympic gymnast turned entrepreneur, Beth Tweddle, along with Stuart Coupland, founder of Coupland Leather, for their second Back to Business Masterclass. The virtual masterclass, Promoting your business online for ‘next to nothing’, aims to help entrepreneurs to maximise the reach of their website and social media output.
Here are four tips to help you promote yourself online, as explained by Louis Brightman, customer care guide at GoDaddy.
Get your website fundamentals right
First of all, design a site that turns browsers into buyers. Go through the customer journey yourself to see if it makes sense.
According to Brightman, 95 per cent of people leave your website without buying or leaving their details – for most, it’s nearer to 99 per cent.
Is it clear that you’re better than the competition? Could you be putting more information on your blog or homepage? Do you have an
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How does the Recovery Loan Scheme compare with other alt-fi options?
by fundingoptions • • 0 Comments
Originally written by fundingoptions on Small Business
The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) launched on April 6 2021. The scheme, which replaces the CBILS, CLBILS and BBLS, is currently set to run until December 31, subject to review.
You can apply for finance through the RLS if your business has been impacted by the pandemic: it’s specifically designed to enable business owners to support their plans with additional funding as the nation enters a period of recovery following the lockdown.
You can use your RLS loan for any legitimate business purpose. For instance, you might use it to purchase a piece of necessary equipment or hire a member of staff to meet an increase in demand, or to manage cash flow as you reopen your premises.
Although the RLS has its benefits, it’s certainly not the only finance option on the table.
In fact, the British Business Bank – the organisation in charge of accrediting lenders for the scheme – states that ‘a key aim of the Recovery Loan Scheme is to improve the terms on offer to you, but if a lender can offer you the choice of a commercial loan on better terms, without requiring the guarantee provided by the RLS, they should do
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Regular testing is available to make your business a safer workplace
by NHS Test and Trace • • 0 Comments
Originally written by NHS Test and Trace on Small Business
As we move towards March 29 and the first easing of restrictions, we look forward to taking these next steps safely. However, as we get to that point, business leaders must plan ahead in order to create safe working environments that will help stop the spread of the virus.
At the time of writing, over 25 million people in the UK have received their first vaccination, which shows huge progress already. While the vaccine does offer us long-term protection, it can’t do everything that is needed on its own. Workplace testing offers us a way forward now, so it is important that business owners act soon.
For free testing until the end of June, register your business before March 31. Simply follow this link. This is open to businesses that aren’t open yet and now includes those with fewer than 50 employees.
The critical role of regular rapid workplace testing
If we are to stop the spread of the virus, we must break the chains of transmission. Millions of people are already using regular rapid testing to help protect those around them. If you are someone that needs to leave the house to go to
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A guide to getting a small business loan
by fundingoptions • • 0 Comments
Originally written by fundingoptions on Small Business
Most companies, large or small, are likely to require funding at some point in their lifecycle. At times, you may need a quick cash injection to ease temporary cash flow issues, at others, a longer-term finance solution to set your ambitious growth plans into action.
You can use a small business loan to fund:
Hiring more staff
Purchasing equipment
Investing in stock
Paying for crucial expenses
Easing cash flow issues
With so many lenders on the market today from high-street banks to alternative lenders, offering innovative business loan solutions, there’s a business loan option out there for almost every SME.
You might even be eligible for a small business loan if you’ve been trading for less than two years, have a relatively low turnover or a less-than-perfect credit history.
Whatever your circumstances are, this simple guide to getting a small business loan is designed to cover the basics of what you need to know. Let’s start with a definition.
What is a small business loan?
A small business loan provides startups and SMEs with the finance they need to succeed. With a term loan, the business owner borrows money from the lender and agrees to pay it back, alongside any interest, over a set period
Hot Business News Today
A guide to getting a small business loan
by fundingoptions • • 0 Comments
Originally written by fundingoptions on Small Business
Most companies, large or small, are likely to require funding at some point in their lifecycle. At times, you may need a quick cash injection to ease temporary cash flow issues, at others, a longer-term finance solution to set your ambitious growth plans into action.
You can use a small business loan to fund:
Hiring more staff
Purchasing equipment
Investing in stock
Paying for crucial expenses
Easing cash flow issues
With so many lenders on the market today from high-street banks to alternative lenders, offering innovative business loan solutions, there’s a business loan option out there for almost every SME.
You might even be eligible for a small business loan if you’ve been trading for less than two years, have a relatively low turnover or a less-than-perfect credit history.
Whatever your circumstances are, this simple guide to getting a small business loan is designed to cover the basics of what you need to know. Let’s start with a definition.
What is a small business loan?
A small business loan provides startups and SMEs with the finance they need to succeed. With a term loan, the business owner borrows money from the lender and agrees to pay it back, alongside any interest, over a set period
Hot Business News Today
The benefits of applying for a second CBILS loan
by fundingoptions • • 0 Comments
Originally written by fundingoptions on Small Business
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is proving to be a lifeline for businesses across the UK. Initially designed for those who’ve lost revenue or experienced cash flow disruption due to Covid-19, the scheme can also be used by businesses to grow and develop too. CBILS is part of a broad package of government support for UK businesses and employees.
CBILS loans of up to £5m are available on repayment terms ranging from three to six years. Businesses with a turnover of up to £45m can apply, and £4.97 billion of finance has been approved since the scheme began in March 2020.
If you’re one of the 82,000 plus companies who’ve already received a CBILS loan, did you know that you could be eligible for a second facility?
Who can apply for a second CBILS loan?
To be eligible for a second CBILS loan, you’ll have to meet the same criteria as you did for the first. For instance, you’ll need to show that your business would be viable were it not for Covid-19 and that it’s been negatively impacted by the pandemic.
Applying for a second CBILS loan can provide your business with the cash flow boost