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Check out our blogs section where Chamber representatives, members and high-profile business figures write about a range of topics. If you are a member and want to submit a blog, please click here.

Jun 15, 2021

Should you borrow to grow your business?

By Finpoint | Finpoint

How to get the right business finance to grow your business. Running your own business for many is the route to financial independence and allows the ability to make positive decisions about your future. But knowing when to invest to take advantage of new business opportunities is not an easy decision to make. Reaching the point where your venture is sustainable and profitable is a milestone that every entrepreneur and business owner dreams about. It can take months or even years to achieve that, and then, as your business grows you start to face a new set of challenges. You may need to invest at a higher level in raw materials and stock, larger premises, more staff, and marketing and sales. ...

Jun 15, 2021

This is one thing every small business needs

By Kai Prime | Popcorn

As we all know, us small business have had a tough time recently, but the good times are ahead! Birmingham’s the place to be, as we’re forecast to experience some of the fastest bounce back and business growth this year. So after a year and a half of stress, reduced business and uncertainty, we’re finally on our way to opening the door again. Now is the time for preparation, to give your business the best chance to thrive and hit the ground running, you need to know where to land. The risk is that small businesses fall into the old adage of feast and famine. Presented with an opportunity to entice an increasing influx of customers, the selling will be pushed first and the delivery will slow down...

Jun 15, 2021

Why the pandemic has intensified the need for learning and development

By SF Recruitment | SF Recruitment

For many employers, one of the highest priorities before the Covid-19 outbreak was staff retention. The global pandemic has arguably intensified this need, with reliance on talented team members greater than ever. Research by employee benefits firm Edenred found that, while 81% say their employer has done a good job of supporting them during the pandemic, many felt their hard work was not rewarded or recognised. Businesses have understandably paused certain initiatives during the pandemic. However, now is arguably the time to start to re-commence some of these, and show appreciation of the work completed across all levels of the business. So, how can this been achieved? One activity that is often...

Jun 11, 2021

How intelligent automation revolutionises HR processes

By Suzanne Rouart | Spherica

In today’s experience culture, delivering an exceptional employee experience is as important as delivering exceptional service to your customer. Yet many employee lifecycle management processes are still highly manual and at risk of error, which may affect the productivity of new starters and open the business up to risk. Employee onboarding is a vital HR process, but it has many manual touchpoints. Information passes between multiple departments – from HR to IT to facilities – to ensure a new hire has everything they need to get to work on their first day. The admin burden is significant, and tasks are usually repetitive and mundane. IT Service Desk teams bear the brunt of these tasks, such...

Jun 09, 2021

Mismatched marketing

By Chadd Blunt | Millennium Cargo

Think you’re easily sold? I bet I’m worse. I’ll buy anything.A slick pitch, a good offer and that’s all it takes. My hand is in my wallet and I’m handing over the cash faster than my wife can say “Are you serious?”Sometimes it works out well - like the hot tub that kept us going through the last 12 months of lockdown - and sometimes not so well, like the many thousands of pounds I’ve wasted on gimmicks, quick fixes and mismatched marketing.Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m a firm believer in marketing your business. You’ve got to spend money to make money.But something I’ve learned over the last 25 years in business is that it’s got to be the RIGHT marketing.As technology has developed, more and...

Jun 09, 2021

Why I’ve made a leap from the traditional legal career path

By Helen Miles | gunnercooke

Helen Miles is a leading pensions lawyer based in Birmingham and joined fee share firm gunnercooke as Partner last year. Helen is just one of the partners to bolster the firm’s growing Midlands team, which has led to the opening of a Birmingham office on Colmore Row. Helen shares her thoughts on the differences between a traditional and modern law firm, the opportunities for lawyers in Birmingham and an update on the Pensions market. What is your background? I’ve always been a committed Midlander – I was born here, educated here, trained here and have built a successful pensions legal advisory business from the Midlands. My clients are based across the country, and internationally. gunnercooke...

Jun 08, 2021

The importance of reacting to the market

By Clare Whalley | Meta4 Business Coaching

2020 and 2021 thus far has taught small business owners many valuable lessons. Who knew how little control we all had over our lives and our businesses? BUT, working with many different small businesses across varying industries has shown just how resilient we can be and how much potentiality we have to thrive, if only we exercise the secret ingredients at our fingertips… ‘Lockdown Learning’ from a Business Coach perspective; Lesson #1 – surprisingly, there is very little we are actually in control of, accept that. Contrary to popular belief, too much time is spent focusing on the customer needs and whilst of course that is important, we are better placed creating and developing more influence...

Jun 08, 2021

Is your school using the summer holidays to get to grips with asbestos?

By Ian Stone | Acorn Analytical Services

When you think of where asbestos might be lurking in the UK you might picture prefab houses or garages or possibly post-wartime office blocks and factories. The last place any of us would ever want to picture asbestos are the places where we send millions of our children every day – our schools. The terrifying truth is more than 75% of our schools contain asbestos – all of that asbestos is old and much of it is deteriorating. Between 1945 and 1975 alone – when the use of asbestos was at its height – more than 14,000 schools were built and many of these contain asbestos insulating board products. As a result, between 2009 and 2019 more than 200 UK teachers died from the effects of being exposed...

Jun 07, 2021

Making a will is essential; maintaining it is crucial

By Ellie Holland | Wilkes Partnership

Making a will may seem like a daunting task, but it is essential. Your will directs how your estate will be distributed after your death which gives you an element of control over who benefits, who doesn’t and, to some degree, how your life is remembered. The absence of a valid Will resulted in a dispute which was heard recently by the High Court which clearly demonstrated: making a will is essential, maintaining it is crucial. Like many married couples, Alan and Margaret made mirror wills appointing each other as sole executor and beneficiary of their respective estates. Sadly, the couple died within months of each other in 2019, leaving no children. Their wills made no provision for what...

Jun 07, 2021

Relocating: It’s a family matter

By Sian Kenkre | The Wilkes Partnership

More than twelve months spent in and out of lockdown has prompted many people to re-evaluate their lives. Work/life balance, jobs, relationships, location – nothing has escaped scrutiny. Working from home, home schooling, and concerns about job security have thrown many family routines into unfamiliar territory. But one thing is very clear about relocating: it’s a family matter. Lockdown has been a unique experience for all of us but it has bought some issues into very clear focus for some families. Societal changes are clearly reflected in the issues seen by a family lawyer. In the last six months there has been a significant rise in enquiries from separated parents who want to relocate with...

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