Archive for General Business
Are UK businesses investing? Complete this poll
Are UK businesses investing? According to some politicians, they’re not. According to some business surveys, they’re not. But in my various guises I’ve spoken to a lot of businesses who are investing.
Now investment does not only include equipment or physical things. In our current economy, investment in knowledge and skills is often just as important, but these can be investments of time. This form of investment does not not necessarily show up in surveys only recognising investments of money.
I believe businesses in the UK are investing millions of hours of time in development. When you consider that there are 4.5 million small businesses in the UK, that would be 4.5 million hours alone if each invests just one hour. Of course, some will invest nothing, while others will invest hundreds or thousands of hours.
What is the value of this investment if time is charged at £10, £25, £50, £100 or more per hour? What is the real picture?
As a start I thought it would be interesting to do a quick poll and see how UK businesses are investing. Please take part and pass on to your connections.
From my own perspective, my business is investing in equipment, in software and in personal and skills development. I am sure many more are doing the same.
Category: General Business /
Tags: business, development, equipment, investing, investment, money, poll, skills, survey, time
Contents of head for sale
Today I had to write some marketing copy, about 500 words, for a client about which I had some previous knowledge. It took me about 90 minutes, including a short telephone interview, although I have visited them before.
I emailed them the 500 words and had to make one small amendment to a trade name. The client was impressed.
It always feels good when that happens because I feel I’ve got to know the business, understood its aims and delivered the copy to achieve them.
Must have been really easy to do it so fast?
Yes and no.
I’ve been copywriting for business – in large corporate organisations and in my own business – for decades, so have built up skills not only in writing but in teasing out information from subjects.
What does a client pay for?
Is it that 90 minutes or the decades of practice leading up to those 90 minutes?
I’m interested to hear what you think.
Can I afford an apprentice?
As the local press goes full swing into the 101 Days campaign I can’t help but wonder how could I afford an apprentice?
It isn’t the money that bothers me, as I know the cost is quite minimal, but for me it is finding the time, time is just not something that I have spare!
As many people will know, I have 4 businesses, my llama business – I have 11 acres, 19 llamas, 9 pygmy goats, countless chickens, cats & dogs – my consulting business, which is as busy as it has ever been, my infrared heating business, we’re coming to the end of year 4 and each year is getting better, finally I have a holiday cottage that we market & sell ourselves.
I also moved down here to North Devon to enjoy the area, the people, the pubs, the food, and feel that I contribute to the local community, so where can I find the time to look after an apprentice.
Catch 22 I hear everyone shout, find the time and the apprentice will give you some time, by taking some of your workload, easier said than done though as I am sure many other business folk out there will sympathise with the problem and the issues.
I wish I could afford an apprentice, but sadly I have to be realistic and say, not at the moment!
Don’t let me put you off though, I know many businesses that have taken that time out and have got apprentices on board and have never looked back!
Have you taken on an apprentice – share your experiences?
Are you like me, just too busy to think about it?
Office Systems – Got to Have the Right Equipment
We thought it may be useful to share a common issue that we come across in the offices of businesses we work with and share a common solution we use to improve their business!
We get lots of requests for our “Office Set Up / Makeover” service, it involves us going into a business and help identify areas within their office systems and procedures that could be improved and implement these solutions to aid better efficiency.
First of all we spend time in their office, talking to the business owner and staff to gain a better understanding of what systems, procedures and equipment is already in place. We are always mindful to leave the perfectly working systems well alone and only concentrate on developing systems and procedures that can be worked on and improved.
A common situation we come across is that someone maybe trying to run more than one business and the paperwork is a bit of a head ache and it all becomes a bit blurry. Having separate offices for each business is a bit on the pricy side and unnecessary – our solution would be – Colours!
An Example:
Business One in this case maybe Derek’s Driving School we would colour Blue
Business Two might be Derek’s Property Management Company we would colour Red
Business Three might be Derek’s Nail Parlour we would colour in Green
We would then get on to our friends at South West Office Supplies and order the following items in the relevant colours and then get on and implement:
• Arch Lever Files
• Ring Binders
• In-trays
• Poly-pockets
• Highlighter Pens (in chosen colours)
• Clip Boards
• Sticky Labels
This system is very simple but effective and will not only save money through less wasted hours searching it would also save so much frustration on what piece of paper goes where.
Hope this tip helps – let me know if you plan to try it and if it has helped?
