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If you’re one of the millions of people who might be returning to your workplace soon after months of working from home, you might not be sure how to feel about it. There’s thinking about what to wear for work again, and having to travel, getting back to ‘normal’ is something we’ve all been waiting for, but now it’s actually here, you might have mixed feelings about it, as we all have to adjust to a different way of doing things.

 

One thing that is clear though, is that going back to the office or wherever you’re based, could have a positive impact on you, and it really is still something worth getting excited about.

 

A change (of scene) is as good as a rest

After months of sitting in a kitchen, spare bedroom or dining room, going somewhere different can make a refreshing change. You won’t have to look at the same four walls and keep seeing the same people with the same backgrounds on Zoom calls.

 

Better facilities for working

Of course, kitchens, bedrooms and bedrooms aren’t designed to be workplaces – not for the long-term anyway.  Offices have everything you need to be productive and work safely. They also create a clear distinction between home and work, where you know your working day’s over once you leave the building.

 

Return to a regular routine

Having more structured days can only be a good thing. It can be all too easy to let things slide when you’re at home all day, even if you’re working. When you’re at a place of work, you normally have regular start and finish times, take your lunch at a similar time every day, and organise days much more rigidly than you do when working remotely.

 

Improved mental health

For some people, working from home isn’t a positive experience. It can be very lonely if you live on their own, or there can be lots of distractions with a big family, which makes it difficult to concentrate on work. Spending time outside can help anxiety too, so anyone without a garden or outdoor area will probably feel better if they’re back in a work environment where there’s more space and a better working environment.

 

You can mix with other people (safely, of course)

Life in lockdown means you’ve only really seen other members of your household for a considerable chunk of time. Returning to work means you’ll be able to catch up on the office banter and share stories with colleagues, while maintaining social distancing guidelines.

 

Two heads are better than one

Having other people to bounce ideas off and work with is quite difficult when you can’t talk directly to them. That will change once everyone’s back together, so any jobs where teamwork’s required will thrive. You’ll see creativity and collaboration boom too.

 

A feeling of familiarity

Just as you’ve got used to working from home, doing it from your office again will start to feel familiar in no time. It might not be exactly the same it was, as our working lives continue to adjust, but you’ll soon get back into the swing of things.

 

If you are looking for office space or co-working space in Warrington, with social distancing measures in place, contact us today. 

 

You might be thinking Artificial Intelligence (AI) is something big companies do, not smaller businesses like yours. You might not even be sure of what AI is, so here’s a quick explanation you might find useful. AI is basically where a machine is introduced to collect or analyse data in a faster and more reliable way.

 

This can be a piece of hardware (computer etc) or software (computer programme or app) specifically designed for a particular purpose. They also learn how to do the thing they’re designed to do better or more efficiently while they do it.

 

AI is used to help businesses reach their target audience, increase brand awareness and generate sales. So, here are some of ways you can use AI to boost the performance of your small business right now:

 

Marketing automation

The data you can get from AI will allow you to make better and more informed decisions, which can lead to increased engagement and revenue. Precise targeting, more personalised communications and efficient spending are three of the instant benefits you’ll get. Marketing automation also enables you to understand your customers’ needs and motivations, so you can service them in a better way.

 

Drive sales

Your potential customers generate data from almost everywhere they interact with you, from your website or eCommerce store to your social platforms. AI is already available that can use this data to give you insights about your leads and help you drive sales.

 

Keep up with competitors

AI can also help you track what your rivals are doing by checking their social media accounts, changes on their websites and any news activity, among other things. Some applications can even point out gaps in markets and the strength and weaknesses of your competitors.

 

Stronger cybersecurity

You’ll know what a worry cyber threats and hacking can be to business owners. The good thing is, AI can help make things more secure. By looking out for unusual patterns and any potential weak spots where you might be vulnerable to attack, AI can be a highly effective tool in the fight against cybercrime.

 

Strengthen customer relationships

As we mentioned earlier with marketing automation, AI can take your relationship with customers up a level through the use of data, so you can engage with them in a way they like about things they’re interested in, such as offers and rewards. Many customer relationship management (CRM) platforms now come with AI as standard, to help you achieve all of this easily.

 

Reduce risk

Some companies are using AI to automate risk processes to reduce human error. Finance companies, in particular, have done this for years when making lending decisions to customers. Machines don’t get tired either, so they can keep doing potentially risky processes for longer.

 

Streamline HR

This is becoming more and more commonplace with businesses now. From weeding out applicants that don’t match the job spec and onboarding new starters to gauging employee satisfaction, AI makes all these processes quicker and simpler.

 

The benefits of AI for your business are almost unlimited. It can help you become more flexible, improve your marketing and customer relationship, look after your data, and make things faster and more straightforward, so you’ve got more time to grow your business.

 

Maybe it’s time to start embracing AI for your small business.

 

 

 

 

Could less mean more for your business?

Information is everywhere nowadays. Especially in the digital world. You can get pages and pages about almost anything in just a few taps of your phone. But when there’s so much information, how do you separate the worthwhile from the waffle and find content that’s useful or valuable?

This is how today’s consumers are starting to think. Many are starting to actively reduce the amount of time they spend looking at screens and are seeking out high-quality content that educates and informs them. One of the knock-on effects of this is that the keyword-stuffed low-quality webpages and blogs are becoming a thing of the past.

It also means businesses are having to adapt and think carefully about what content to publish. It needs to be relevant, useful, and engaging, so people will actually want to read it.  Sounds simple, doesn’t it? In practice, however, it might not be, so let’s take a look at some of the ways you can do this with your business.

 

Content comes first

Start by thinking about what you should talk about. Focus on subjects pertinent to your industry, and don’t be tempted to jump on a bandwagon just because everyone else is. People will soon see through you. Instead, concentrate on informative content that shows your expertise in your area. Don’t actively try to sell either. If people see you as an authority on something, they’ll naturally buy from you or use your services.

 

Do your research

This goes hand-in-hand with the previous point. Look at what people are talking about or looking for online and provide content that helps them. If consumers are asking a question, try and answer it, or give your opinion on something that might affect them.

 

Think strategically

Once you’ve done all that, you can come up with a strategy about what to post when. In some industries this is relatively easy (accountants at tax year end or the start of the next one, for example). Set up a spreadsheet or a big whiteboard in the office with your content plan.

 

Remember, you’re in this for the long term

You might find that you lose subscribers by taking this approach. Don’t worry if this happens, as the ones you do have, will be much-higher quality and stick with you. They’ll engage with you and what you have to say, and (hopefully) buy your products too.

 

There are other benefits too – Google now favours this style of content over that produced for search engines. Its algorithms actively rank it higher because it recognises it as content consumers want to read. And if you’re someone whose content is regularly right up there, you’ll quickly become established as a go-to expert in your field.

 

The key is to remember that’s it’s not about how often you post; it’s making sure you post top-quality when you do. Get it right, and less really could be more for your business.

 

If you are looking for office space or co-working space in Warrington, with social distancing measures in place, contact us today. 

As coronavirus (COVID 19) has torn through countries’ economies around the globe, you’d be forgiven for thinking that no sector was safe. And while there have been major casualties, it’s also true to say that certain sectors are doing well during the pandemic. Some are even thriving.

So, let’s look at these sectors in detail and how they’ve managed to do so well in such turbulent times.

What type of businesses have done well?

Perhaps the most important sector that’s thriving is that of pharmaceutical and healthcare provision, particularly anyone involved in developing a vaccine or reliable coronavirus test. Apps and other tech is also being created to improve track and trace, help with physical mental health and wellbeing, and also enable NHS staff to access online training ready for a possible second wave this winter.

Some other types of tech companies have seen a boom too, with the huge increase in the numbers of people working from home. 

Obviously, the supermarkets have also done well. In fact, sales hit an all-time high in March as consumers bulk-bought necessities to get through lockdown. Many of the supermarkets saw large upturns in online shopping as well, with shoppers preferring the safety of their sofas to setting foot in actual stores.

We’ve mentioned online shopping. This is another sector that’s done well during the pandemic. Ecommerce sellers have played a vital part in providing things like clothing, exercise equipment and electronics, as well as essentials since the start of the outbreak.

Finally, we need to mention online streaming service providers. With cinemas closed and people staying at home, boxset-binging has become more popular than ever.

What do these sectors have in common?

The most important thing they do well is to give customers what they need in as simple way as possible. Supermarkets were able to keep the shelves (almost) fully stocked, ecommerce companies managed to deliver to households safely and quickly, while entertainment platforms made sure their offerings were what people wanted to watch.

For the thousands of new homeworkers, having reliable and affordable video and phone conferencing software is a must. Apps like Zoom have seen users plump for their tech because it’s easy to use and free, in its basic form.

Adaptability and speed are important too

Equally important to these sectors’ success is how quickly they’ve improved things to cope with coronavirus. Supermarket supply chains were improved by being simplified, and they were able to recruit thousands of new workers quickly. They also reduced their opening hours to keep stock levels high.

Ecommerce businesses also took on lots more delivery drivers, and changed how they delivered packages to keep drivers and customers safe.

For those involved with pharmaceuticals, the race is on to find a vaccine to combat the virus, as this is the only way we can truly start to get back to normal. Companies are working faster than ever in the hope a breakthrough can be found quickly.

It’s also important to think about what your users might benefit from in uncertain times. Netflix did this by developing Netflix Party, so people could watch a film or programme anywhere in the world at the same time as their friends. They also temporarily reduced the quality of their video streaming as more and more users signed up to help keep it as good as can be for everyone.

Zoom also had to address possible security issues when it started to become popular, which it did quickly, to stop consumers’ fears about its safety.

Digital technology equals sustainability

It’s impossible to predict how the future will look, but it seems likely that these sectors will continue to thrive. The change in behaviour of both consumers and businesses looks like it’s here to stay, so as people adjust to a new way of doing things, it’s vital businesses know how to implement digital technology to help them adapt quickly and effectively whatever sector they’re in.

If you’d like help and advice with digital tech for your company, please get in touch. Here at The Base, we have many tenants and partners who are involved in this sector. We also run regular online networking and learning events you might find useful.

 

If you are looking for office space or co-working space in Warrington, with social distancing measures in place, contact us today. 

Well-being is one of those words that’s everywhere right now, particularly in the world of work. You can see it splashed across job adverts and company websites, and it takes up lots of newspaper column inches and airspace on radio talk-shows.

But is it simply the latest buzzword or something all businesses should consider doing?

So, what is well-being?

Let’s start with looking at what well-being actually is. Put simply, it’s an all-encompassing term for the quality of a workplace and how workers feel about being employed somewhere. It covers everything from the physical environment to how well people are looked after and their engagement levels within the business. And it’s fair to say lots of businesses now see well-being as their most important key performance indicator.

It’s about the people, people

Ask most business owners what their most valuable asset is, and they’d probably say it’s their workforce. And if you’ve got a precious resource, it makes sense to look after it. When you apply this to people, it means keeping them healthy – physically and mentally – so they’ll be always be able to do their best when they’re at work.

And encouraging the right behaviours

A workforce that does things like eating the right foods and exercising regularly is less likely to take time off through illness and stress, as they’ll be more resilient and able to deal with challenges more effectively.

Retention will go up

Happy, engaged employees are much more likely to stay loyal to a business than those that aren’t. People who feel valued will work harder and want to progress. Showing that you care about employees’ well-being will help make them a life-long cheerleader for your business. Recruitment will be easier, too, for the same reasons.

Productivity will too

With improved well-being comes improved productivity. As we said above, people who feel valued at work will naturally try harder. You’ll also see a reduction in presenteeism (being physically at work but not actually working) and absenteeism with a healthy, satisfied workforce.

What about the negatives?

While there isn’t really a downside to well-being, it can be a challenge to get every employee to take advantage of well-being initiatives in an organisation. It could mean a culture change is needed. Well-being doesn’t work if it’s pushed onto people either – they need to feel it’s something their employer genuinely cares about rather than just ticking a box.

Well-being is about making sure people are happy and healthy, so they can always work to the best of their ability. Both mental health and physical sickness cost employers dearly and having a strong well-being programme in place can help keep a workforce strong in mind and body. Providing a flexible benefits package that suits their individual lifestyle and circumstances is one way of doing this.

So, well-being – is it a must or not worth bothering with? That’s up to you – let us know what you decide.

If you’re designing and/or building a website or app, the most important thing to consider are the people who’ll be using it. Yet, this is often the thing that gets forgotten about or is seen an afterthought by many companies. But user experience, or UX, as it’s commonly referred to, needs to be right at the front of your thoughts when dealing with anything digital.

So, how do you do this? Start with your own experiences. Have you used an app you really liked because it does what you expect it to? Or have you visited a company website that was easy to navigate and clearly laid out? These are examples of good UX.  Conversely, sites and apps where you have to click lots of times to do things or the journey around them feels unnatural are examples of bad UX.

You’ll probably use the apps and sites with the good UX rather than the bad ones. This is because good UX fulfils its customers’ needs and lets people do what they want to. They’ll stay loyal to these brands and keep using their products rather than look elsewhere.

So, what do customers look for in good UX? This will obviously depend on the product, but simplicity and ease of use are on everybody’s wish list, as is clear navigation. Accessibility for as many people as possible is important too (it’s actually a legal requirement in most instances), so take this into account.

Banking is one area where UX has become really important. Challenger brands, like Monzo and Starling, have developed apps that give users everything they need to manage accounts from their mobile phones. Their apps are packed with useful, convenient features people want and the more traditional players have been forced to catch up or risk losing customers.

That’s not to say design and content aren’t valuable though. Good UX actually depends on them. The key is how it’s organised and positioned, and how meaningful and important it is. Sites that are too complex or cluttered don’t work from a UX perspective.

Keeping things human helps create a connection with users, particularly when they’re doing something not very interesting. Personalisation plays a part as well, where the technology can recommend things for users or help them do something based on what they’ve done before.

Now, onto another crucial point. Today’s consumers want to do things quickly when it suits them, so having a site that loads rapidly is essential. There can be other factors, like an internet connection, that influence this, but making sure your site has a fast load-speed is another vital part of UX.

So, why is UX important for your digital tools? Well, it can help you stand out from your competitors, and help show you understand your customers and appreciate their needs. They want journeys to be frictionless and to be able to do what they need to do and then get on with their lives. Think about this before you start, and you won’t go far wrong.

If you’re looking at recruiting tech talents, the chances are you’ll engage the services of a recruitment agency, advertise on well-known job sites, take a slot with specialist publications and maybe post something on LinkedIn. There’s nothing wrong with doing any of these. They can often get you brilliant results, but they’re not the only way of finding fresh talent. In fact, they might not even be the most effective, or give you the best value-for-money.

So, let’s look at some of the other options out there you might want to consider.

Code Nation

If you’ve never thought about using Code Nation to look for new recruits, we’d suggest checking it out as soon as possible. What’s great about it is that it teaches students coding and IT skills they’ll use in the world of work, like software development, cyber security, and data and analytical skills, as well as business and personal skills.

There are no entry requirements for courses on offer, so you’ll find people of all ages and experience looking to start out in work or retrain in something new. Everyone who’s been on one of the courses leaves armed with digital skills they’ll be able to use somewhere in your business.

The Base is also a Code Nation Pledger, which means we can help shape the course curriculum and get early access to candidates. And, unlike with recruitment agency, there are no fees to pay for finding successful candidates – please get in touch if you’d like to know more about this.

Try before you buy

Universities can be a good place to look for new blood too. They’re actively pushing students towards internships while they’re doing their degree, as it makes them more attractive to people thinking about studying at certain institutions and provides them with valuable work experience.

Internships are also seen as an important stepping-stone to work by students, so anyone on one will be keen to impress, especially if they think there could be a full-time position available afterwards. Think about creating graduate positions too. People in this role will also want to make their mark and will usually be happy to undergo a trial period to prove they’re worth employing.

If they do a great job and fit in, you can offer them something more permanent. And if they’re not so great, you can say goodbye after the trial. This ‘try before you buy’ approach could be cheaper than using a recruitment agency.

Play the long game

The approaches above are all about finding someone quickly, but sometimes you might want to develop and build your workforce for the future. A way to do this is through an apprenticeship. Lasting anywhere from 18 months to four years, you can offer apprentices valuable experience and help them learn key skills while they study.

One benefit is that you can get involved in tailoring the content of the course any apprentices will do, which can help you plug any skills gaps you need. Apprenticeships can also be cost effective if you are an SME, as you’ll only have to pay 5% of the training and assessment costs (the government picks up the rest).

There are lots of avenues to go down when you’re looking to find tech talent. Make sure you explore them all.

Want to know more about The Base?

The Base is a Grade-A office and co-working space in the centre of Warrington that’s home to many market leading digital technology and advanced engineering companies. Whilst calling The Base your home, you will have access to free business support, including marketing, tax, legal advice, as well as help with innovation, research and development.

Contact us for more information.

Or follow us on LinkedIn, facebook & Twitter to stay up to date with all our latest news.

Whether you’re just starting out in business or are well into your growth phase, going digital could be the key to your future sustainability. Of course, digitalisation has been around for years, but it’s something you might not have done yet because you might not be sure where to start or think it could be too difficult or expensive.

What’s the difference between digitalisation and automation?

These are very similar, but the one difference between them is that digitalisation is where you convert material or information into digital form.  One example is paper documents, like accounts and receipts. Instead of keeping these in cardboard boxes, they’re stored safely on a hard drive or in the cloud.

The benefits are almost endless

As well as taking up less physical room (as described above), digitalisation makes just about everything quicker, more efficient and can actually be safer than a lot of more traditional processes. Something like Microsoft 365 or Azure, for example, are great tools for collaborating online. Others to consider include Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud and Oracle Cloud.

Super secure

Having sensitive information stored on a computer system means you can control who has access to it. Anyone who views the documents you have stored will leave a digital trail too (this is like a paper trail, but online).  Installing a proper anti-virus and malware protector will keep your information safe from prying eyes. This isn’t always the case with paperwork lying around in boxes that could potentially be seen by anyone.

See you later, innovator

Just changing to a digital mindset can spark a more innovative mindset for everyone in the business. Everyone will naturally look out for the latest way of doing things and how it can be incorporated into your business.

Improved teamwork

Digitalisation makes it much easier for you to get everyone to pull together. Think about the collaborative element we spoke about earlier – documents can be password protected, and you can keep track of versions and who was the last person to make any changes.

Digitalisation also often affects different departments at once, so they’ll have to work as a team to make it work. To help this process, something as simple in place that means you can talk to everyone at once, by email or intranet for example, will work wonders.

Get flexible

Without digitalisation, flexible working is much more difficult. With it, employees can work from home or hours that fit their lifestyle and circumstances. These are things people expect in their workplace nowadays, so being able to provide them means they’ll be much more likely to stay loyal to you.

It’s the future and your future

Digital is here to stay, so whatever your reasons are for not introducing it into to your business, you’re risking getting left behind if you don’t start it soon. Technology moves lightning-fast in the digital world, and it can be hard to catch up.

Can you really afford not to introduce digitalisation into your business?

 

 

 

Business planning is often one of those things that gets put to the bottom of the ever growing ‘To do’ list. Something that will get done eventually, when ‘I get round to it’. It’s just another of those time-consuming things a busy business owner has to think about.

However, making time to put together a business plan can be a really good move for your business. It can help you stay focussed on where you’re going and keep you on track in more ways than you’d think, especially if you’re a small business owner.

Here are some of the benefits of having a proper business plan in place:

Clarity

A business plan spells out your goals, vision and values. Map out what you want to achieve by when and clearly write down your hopes and aims, so they’re easier to stick to.

Communication

This leads on neatly from clarity. If you’re looking to hire people or find new investors or funding, for example, getting your business message across in the simplest way possible will make it clearer for them to understand exactly what you stand for and how you do things.

Control

Think of your business plan as being like the foundation to whatever you’re building. If you lay the foundations properly, you can control the construction process from start to finish.

Organised

Writing a business plan helps you work out how much time, money and other things, like people, you’ll need, so you can get everything in place in plenty of time.

Prepare

No-one knows what the future holds, so being as prepared as you can helps you deal with whatever surprises come your way. The more prepared you are, the better decisions you’ll make in times of trouble.

Strategy

Who are your competitors? What do you need to do to get ahead of them? Putting your business strategy down on paper helps you get to grips with what it really takes to achieve it.

Strengths

This is where you need to be honest with yourself. What do you – and your business – do best? Knowing this can come in handy when you’re looking for investors or partners in the future, or to differentiate yourself from other similar businesses.

Testing

This is particularly useful if your business is brand-new or in the very early stages. Writing down your business idea comprehensively means you can test it out before investing too much time, effort and money on it.

Weaknesses

Understanding these are just as important as knowing what you’re good at. Again, be truthful. Once you properly realise where your areas of weakness lie, you can start working to improve them.

Once you’ve written your business plan (you’re going to start one now you’ve read this, aren’t you?), it’s important to realise your plan won’t be static. You’ll have to change it as your business evolves. What was appropriate for a start-up might not fit your business a few years later, so be prepared to review your plan periodically.

Although social media has been around for a decade or more, many businesses – particularly smaller ones – have yet to start using it seriously. Often, it’s because they’re not sure how to do it, don’t know if it’s cost-effective or feel they simply don’t have the time. If this sounds like you, or you’re just undecided if it’s for you, this blog might help make your mind up.

Social media is how people communicate nowadays

The chances are your customers will be on at least one of the big social media platforms, so it makes sense to join them. You can feed them regular information about your business, talk to them about things they’re interested in and even use it for customer service. And it can be quicker (and cheaper) than emailing or calling.

There’s lots of platforms to choose from

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram are probably the platforms that spring to mind when you think about social media. They’re the most popular for sure, but other platforms like YouTube, Pinterest and Snapchat are worth considering too. You can tailor your content for each one and the different audiences they bring. Facebook and YouTube, for example, are good for online ads and visual content, while LinkedIn is perfect for something more in-depth and long form.

Just about any type of business can do it

Whatever line of work you’re in, social media can work as a way of marketing. As we mentioned earlier, it’s where lots of your customers will be and they’ll expect you to be there too in some shape or form. They’ll more than likely follow you if they like what you do, so don’t disappoint them even if you think your particular niche doesn’t seem to be an obvious fit for social media.

Its reach is amazingly wide

The online world is a lot smaller than the actual one, so it’s much easier to get your message across to a wider audience than ever before. Create engaging content people want to see and they’ll share it, no matter where they are in the world. Time zones and physical distances mean nothing on social media.

It’s inexpensive too

Most social media platforms are free to set up and use. Some charge for business use and add-ons might cost a little extra, but they’re usually cheaper than other forms of marketing. And with little or no set-up costs, the return on investment will clearly be high too.

It does take time and effort to do properly though

As with most things in business, social media marketing needs hard work and organisation to be effective. The biggest challenge for a busy small business owner is finding the time to post regularly. It’s important to do this though, even if it’s just setting aside some time in the evening to do it. Another option could be to hand this responsibility over to someone else in your business to look after, or even contract an agency or freelancer to do it.

So, now you’ve seen the benefits social media can bring to your business, maybe it’s time to dip your toe in the water and take advantage of them for yourself.