Why productivity matters
Productive companies get more out of what they’ve got, enabling them to increase their profits, pay higher wages and invest in their future. More productive businesses mean a more prosperous country. Discover why productivity matters below.
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Leadership & Strategy
Article
Joining a family business advisory board can unlock new leadership skills
Three business leaders share their advisory board experience and reveal an unexpected perk – advisors to family businesses gain as much as they give.
Improve your own leadership capabilities
People & Team
Article
Successful employee evaluation schemes only work with staff buy-in
Before you look to introduce new employee evaluation schemes or to enhance existing ones you must get staff involvement explained Bertie Hubbart.
Performance management
People & Team
Article
It’s The Small Things: Snaffling Pig CEO Nick Coleman
They have a lofty goal – be bigger than Walkers and loved as Lego. However, Nick Coleman and Snaffling Pig are getting there one small improvement at a time.
Motivation
Leadership & Strategy
Article
Countries in focus: The sharing culture of Norwegian businesses helps them punch above their weight
When most people think of Norway the sight of deep fjords, the Northern Lights and long summer days might come to mind. But Norwegian businesses are blazing a trail on the economic front.
Leadership Behaviours
Digital Readiness
Article
An opportune time to fast-track digital change
Despite causing numerous setbacks, the coronavirus crisis has given St Michaels Resort a golden opportunity to embrace digital change future-proof the business.
People & Team
Article
Consider the effect of personal problems
If an employee is struggling at work, then consider that their personal problems could be a contributing factor for a drop in productivity says Julia Mitchell, Managing Director at Toast PR.
Performance management
Planning
Article
Good cash flow forecasting will show the way
Peter Watson explains how his four-point coronavirus crisis survival strategy is backed up by careful cash flow forecasting that will inform big decisions.
Planning
Article
We’re looking at ways to completely restructure the business
The coronavirus lockdown has been eye-opening for Catherine Connor, co-founder of Lovingly Artisan, who is now eyeing a restructure.
Change your mindset around future planning
Sales & Growth
Article
Think local for success with unusual export countries
Red tape, complex regulations and confusion over which authority to approach regarding which issue can make exporting to any country, especially those in the developing world, difficult, time consuming and expensive.
Expanding & Exporting
Digital Readiness
Article
Good customer service interactions can be PR gold
Whilst it should be approached with a degree of trepidation, perhaps – lest social media misinterpret your good intentions – it is sometimes the case that positive PR can come from a personalised response to a customer's query.
Digital Commerce
People & Team
Article
Match your company rewards with employee needs
PrivateFly, a private jet charter firm, goes beyond traditional perks and engages employees in the rewards strategy by offering customised benefits.
Motivation
Leadership & Strategy
Article
Restaurant Nathan Outlaw shakes up industry norms
As the only two Michelin-starred fish restaurant in the UK, Ian Dodgson is always having to think about creative improvements at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw.
Support your employees
Planning
Article
How do you plan in a rapidly changing environment?
No matter what new rules or guidelines may emerge over the summer, Kristina Rowe is aiming to cover all bases with her forward-thinking planning efforts.
Planning
Article
Balancing business ambition with setting unattainable growth targets
Finding the right balance between ambitious goals and unattainable growth targets is crucial to getting the best out of staff. Failure to reach a goal can damage motivation, yet targets are an incredibly powerful motivator. So, how should you approach setting them?
Ambition
Leadership & Strategy
Article
How to manage a six-fold increase in demand – the challenges and opportunities of thriving in a pandemic
Cash flow forecasting firm Float has seen a six-fold increase in demand during coronavirus. CEO Colin Hewitt explains how he's met that increase in demand.
Leadership Behaviours
Sales & Growth
Article
Exporting into unusual countries can open up unexpected doors
Doing business successfully to one unusual export country can lead to opportunities in others.
Expanding & Exporting
Sales & Growth
Article
Marketing on a shoestring – the creative ways to get your company’s name out there
From flash mobs to listing on Groupon, discover how four innovative SMEs embraced marketing on a shoestring to great success and carved out new ways of acquiring customers.
Marketing & Sales
Leadership & Strategy
Article
A day in the life of former Cisco CEO Phil Smith
While the average working day of a top-level CEO is hard to nail down, Cisco’s Phil Smith had some tried and tested strategies to ensure his hours in the office and on the road were as efficient and effective as possible.
Leadership Behaviours
Video
Why business mentoring is more than just a talking shop
With over 200 pairings through our Mentoring for Growth programme now made, Be the Business looked at how business mentoring is more than just an opportunity to shoot the breeze and share anecdotes – it provides the kind of advice and guidance key to sustainable growth.
Digital Readiness
Article
It’s The Small Things: Graze CEO Anthony Fletcher
From humble beginnings to 500 staff, Graze is an amazing British business story. CEO Anthony Fletcher talks about the small decisions being made each day.
Develop the use of business data
Leadership & Strategy
Article
How to handle a 650 per cent surge in demand
Creative Nature founder Julianne Ponan looks back at the the surge in demand the busienss has had since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sales & Growth
Video
Louise Fowler – Engaging your staff to deliver for your customers
Louise Fowler is chief customer and marketing officer at The Post Office. She explained the importance of your business focusing on delivering for customers.
Marketing & Sales
Leadership & Strategy
Article
Peter Bibby: I hate waste and I’m efficiency mad
We spoke with Peter Bibby, an expert in turning around failing businesses, with over 20 survival stories under his belt. He shares with us the importance of efficiency and what it takes to make a small and medium-size enterprise successful.
Leadership Behaviours
Leadership & Strategy
Article
33 deliverables to stand out in the hospitality sector
Strategic planning is crucial to succeed in the competitive hospitality industry. Jon Yantin, a senior hospitality strategist at Stake Concepts, shares with us his framework for launching new businesses and reinvigorating existing ones.