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Changes to IR35 tax rules for contractors may only be two months away, but most contractors remain confused about what the changes will mean – and whether they need to do anything before the 6 April implementation date.

An international study conducted by Unilever has revealed that a third of consumers now favour brands which they feel are doing social or environmental good. Investing in companies who demonstrate an unwavering effort to ‘go green’ has become a key priority for possible clients, making this a crucial consideration for every business.

If your company is ready to grow, or you just want to improve your marketing strategy, there are several innovative ways to utilise advertising that you probably already have in place, as well as additional options you might also want to consider.

A study has shown that many talented professionals are using search engines such as Google to look for work. This means that you can use SEO to attract the best talent available. As a result, you may be able to reduce the time, effort and costs involved in acquiring the top talent.

There are 5.9 million small businesses in the UK and around 60% of people working in the private sector are working for small businesses. However, mental health and wellbeing advice and support is only really given to larger businesses. The FSB (Federation of Small Business) has started a campaign to focus on wellbeing for those in small business sector.
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When the economy is doing well, it’s easy to become too relaxed and spend too much money. Overhead costs like rent, salaries, and travel costs can become bloated as managers ride the wave of prosperity.

Hiring your first employee is a big deal. Not only will you be handing over responsibility for part of your business to someone new, but you will also have to be aware of your duties and obligations as an employer.
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Evidence published by Future Workplace, after carrying out their Workplace Wellness Study, suggests that the number one luxury on employees’ wish lists is in fact something very simple – and far from expensive. Rather than elaborate perks and benefits, employees are searching for natural light. The research showed that a substantial proportion of employees wish they had more access to natural light. Intrigued as to why this is?

Online use and shopping are getting increasingly popular, with consumers flocking to the internet rather than the high street. As the popularity of online shopping grows, businesses need to get online. You can either create an e-commerce website to be an addition to your existing business, helping to increase revenue, or you can start an online business from scratch. We have created this guide for those looking to start an online business in the UK. 

Good communication skills are essential in pretty much every aspect of life, none more so than in the workplace. Today’s workplace can be a tricky area for employees to navigate, as so many generations are now mixed together and each age group has specific ways they prefer to communicate. 

Over the past decade office desks have changed massively, no longer do we see the dominance of calculators, notepads, writing equipment and instruments we used to update company accounts – our desks are now clutter-free and the computer has taken over. All of our trusted aids and devices can now be accessed through our PC, tablet or even our mobile phones. Most businesses have welcomed these changes, as with them they have brought dramatic increases in efficiencies and improvements in the way we work. Yet, one out-of-date accounting tool that many companies still hang on to is the “trusted” spreadsheet.

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In a recent study carried out by the Close Brother Asset Finance, it was found that small and medium-size businesses find diversity is good for business. However, they still struggled to achieve a diverse workforce. There are a number of benefits of having diversity in the workplace and SMEs may be missing out on these benefits.

Are you hoping to launch your start-up business overseas? If so, you may want to contemplate locating your business in one of these super start-up friendly nations. To learn more about the best start-up destinations in the world, check out the below infographic guide which comes courtesy of the team at Hansen and Company. 

According to the Office for National Statistics, a “high street” is “a cluster of 15 or more retail addresses within 150 metres”. In other words, the presence of retail outlets is literally what makes a high street and the media often uses the phrase “high street” as a synonym for the retail sector.

Are we surprised that there are still more male entrepreneurs than female entrepreneurs? Maybe not. However, some parts of the world see this inequality much greater than other parts. The majority of females in business say that the further up the ladder they get, there is a lack of female role models that they can aspire to be. In a male-dominated industry, women are not always treated the same as male entrepreneurs.

We all know to recycle paper, turn off a light when we leave a room and choose to walk or take public transport over using the car wherever possible. But there’s a significant threat to the environment that nobody is talking about. E-waste, when electronic products end their ‘useful life’ and are thrown away. This is the single fastest-growing waste stream with 80% off the world’s electronic devices end up in the landfill.

As the weather gets a little colder it’s good to keep warm indoors and celebrate the season of goodwill. It’s also a time to enjoy staff parties, give Christmas bonuses and some well-deserved annual awards.

Your business needs happy, healthy employees who enjoy their work.  They are your greatest business asset while for the individual their greatest asset is their health and mental wellbeing. A person who feels appreciated will ALWAYS do more than expected.

The majority of schools will close on 20^th December so from that Friday the pressure is on! With Christmas Day and New Year’s Day both being on a Wednesday, this holiday season may be proving a bit more complicated to plan than usual.  What time off will you be giving your employees?