Business owners deliver warning to “rotten” Parliament as Brexit deadlock continues
Who is really to blame for the current deadlock in the corridors of power? Business owners reveal the real villains they hold responsible.
7 Questions
Likes to write about
The legal side of running a micro business: Tax, intellectual property, fraud, employment law. And a bit of business banking.
Business idol
Alan McGee. Founded music label Creation Records in 1983 with a £1,000 bank loan, later signed a then-unknown Oasis in a Glasgow basement before he eventually sold the label to Sony. He went from sleeping on the floor of his Hackney office (which was a different area in 1990...) to receiving a personal invite to 10 Downing Street and influencing government policy on arts funding. McGee proved you can start from nothing, do what you love and still make a living.
Industry to watch
The micro businesses that can’t be undercut by ecommerce or replicated digitally will save Britain’s high streets. Barbers, beauticians, baristas. Diverse high streets full of independent businesses that employ locally and use local supply chains are good for everyone.
Guilty pleasure
Late-night sessions watching Justin Bieber piano tutorials on YouTube. And spending too much money on eBay – early-90s football shirts and broken musical equipment are the two main vices.
Lessons from your first job
Customer service assistant at Sainsbury’s. It taught me how important it is to respect customer service and retail workers. Serious violent attacks against retail workers doubled in 2017 (BRC), and without them the economy would ground to a halt.
Productivity tip
Turn off all push notifications on your smartphone. Permanently. Make your apps wait until you are ready.
How do you like to be contacted?
By email or telephone.
How high street retailers can win shoppers back from the clutches of ecommerce
Real Business consults a panel of retail experts to find out how high street shopkeepers can compete with the growing power of ecommerce rivals.
Brexit chaos disturbs business community as no deal looms
After Theresa May’s Brexit withdrawal agreement registered the greatest parliamentary defeat of any government in over a century, the business community has demanded answers at a time of grave uncertainty.
When perks aren’t enough: Wellbeing needs a culture shift
In collaboration with AXA PPP healthcare, Real Business consults three SME leaders passionate about workplace wellbeing to find out why a culture shift is so important and how personal experiences have informed their attitudes to work and wellbeing.
7 reasons postal marketing can help small businesses thrive in the GDPR age
Since the GDPR began to be enforced in May 2018, consumers have been given more control than ever before over the communications they receive and which brands can market to them. For many small businesses, the online marketing space is now wrapped in uncertainty. Is it time to rethink mail?
The best companies with a turnover of £10m-£25m in the UK
The competition was so great for this year’s Amazon Growing Business Awards, that we’re happy to have two divisions for small companies. We take a look at those making a turnover of between £10m-£25m.
The best young entrepreneurs in the UK
We delve into the shortlist for the Amazon Growing Business Awards’ Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2018.
The best family-owned businesses in the UK
Taking place on Wednesday 29 November at The Brewery in London, the 2017 Amazon Growing Business Awards will celebrate the finest entrepreneurial talent in Britain. We take a look at those in the running for Family-Owned Business of the Year.
The best rural businesses in the UK
The 2018 Amazon Growing Business Awards are almost upon us, but first we take a look at the companies in the running for Rural Business of the Year.
The best micro businesses in the UK
Ahead of the 20th edition of the Amazon Growing Business Awards, we unveil the seven companies in the running for Micro Business of the Year.
How to get invoice financing
Find out everything you need to know about invoice financing, from the typical eligibility criteria to reputable providers in the UK.
How to get merchant financing
For retail SMEs seeking a cash advance, merchant financing is a flexible alternative to the traditional bank loan. Find out everything you need to know about merchant financing, from typical eligibility criteria to the most popular UK providers.