Month: December 2017

As 2017 draws to a close, have you got your plan for the New Year? Here are my top tips to get 2018 off to a flying start.

Set your goals

If you haven’t yet set goals, set aside some time at the beginning of January to plan and prepare them. Without goals you’ve nothing to work towards or compare results against. Look out for my blog next month with tips to goal setting and achieving.

Relax and recoup

If you are able to take time off over the festive period, do it! Take the time to relax and recoup and don’t feel you have to work. Taking a break will give you renewed energy for the year ahead.

However if you simply can’t bear to take time off over Christmas but expect to be quiet, use the time wisely to plan for the coming year.

Retailers

Of course, if you work in the retail industry then Christmas and the following sales may leave you snowed under. If that’s the case, take some time off later in January when the pace quietens.

Merry Christmas

So if you can, rest, enjoy your Christmas and get back to work in January feeling refreshed and ready for the year ahead.

From myself and all of us at Executive Training & Consultancy, have a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

 

Theresa May says we’re on course to deliver Brexit and negotiations between the UK and EU leaders continue. Having been at the ‘cold front’ over the last 18 months with business owners, I’m giving my perspective on Brexit and the small business.

In short, I believe that Brexit won’t negatively impact the majority of small businesses.

It’s business as usual for small companies

Heads of large corporates may feel Brexit will be detrimental to them, but small businesses with a local client base won’t be affected. For example, plumbers, builders, photographers, and website designers serving their local community shouldn’t see any dip in demand for services.

In fact the bulk of UK industry will carry on as normal. Between 92 and 93% of businesses have less than 5 employees and therefore fit into that small/micro category.

Business owners will continue to provide for their families, ensuring Brexit works for them.

Opportunities for Brexit and the small business?

In the long term, there may be bigger opportunities for export businesses. Once trade talks are complete we can start to trade overseas. Experts say that even if the pound regains some of its value, it’s still expected to be at least 10% below where it was before the referendum. This means UK goods will be cheaper to overseas customers.

The internet of course provides a much bigger marketplace too. If you don’t currently export your goods or services, this could be a new opportunity. See more on selling your products to new markets in my recent blog about diversifying.

Funding

ERDF funding previously provided by the EU will no longer be available, forcing the UK government to invest in UK business. Although it may take time to come through, funding will start to become available. It’s likely to be very targeted, so business owners will need to look out for it.

Go with it

So Brexit is happening, but I don’t believe there’s any reason to worry. Simply go with it and use it to your advantage where you can.

If you are worried about how Brexit will affect you, contact me for a Free Business Review. I’ll spend two hours with you completely free of charge to help you identify opportunities to ensure your business moves forward profitably.