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Have you ever considered the benefits of employing your own apprentices?

More and more businesses are looking at how to run successful apprenticeship schemes because of the wide range of benefits, including creating a dedicated workforce as opposed to hiring one.

All sectors are suffering from significant skills gaps in their workforce, while the amount of talent available is low, resulting in high recruitment costs and salaries.

However, a very viable solution, which offers a medium-to-long return on the investment is running an apprenticeship scheme.

There has been a significant rise in the number of apprenticeships across the UK, aided by a concerted push by the UK government, which has set an ambitious target of three million places by 2020. While the current figure is short of that total, the number of apprenticeships available has doubled from 10 years ago.

The rise is apprenticeships over the past decade is not just in the traditional industries like construction and manufacturing, but in digital and technology industries as the UK strives to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Sectors like banking, law, event travel and tourism are all taking the plunge as they can see the long-term benefits.

The Centre for Economic and Business Research produced a comprehensive report for the Skills Funding Agency, outlining the key advantages to business and the wider economy. These are not just the direct economic advantages but also non-direct benefits.

These benefits include a higher quality workforce and increased flexibility to respond to changing business environments through the ability to fill skills gaps and develop specialist knowledge.

The report found:

“80% of companies who invest in apprentices report an increase in staff retention, while an impressive 92% of employers said that apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce. Apprenticeships can improve a company’s reputation and increase consumer demand for the goods and services offered by the organisation – a clear economic benefit.

“Another survey of employers offering apprenticeships conducted on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills, showed that three in five employers (60%) rated the Apprenticeship programme highly (with a score of 8-10 out of 10). A majority of businesses further identified that apprenticeships helped improve product or service quality, productivity, staff morale, and ability to attract and retain good staff.”

Other advantages include lower hiring costs, increased staff loyalty and an ability to develop the workforce of the future to meet the needs of the business.

For businesses that don’t have an apprenticeship scheme, then now is a good time to start as an increasing number of post 16-year-olds want to take the apprenticeship route, as they see it as an incredibly viable alternative to higher education.

Businesses will have to undergo a process to ensure that it meets the right educational and professional standards, but the hard work could be worth it in the long run.

Information on the requirements of launching an apprenticeship scheme can be found on the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education website.

If you want to know more about what future apprentices are looking for, which companies are rated the best in the UK and what you need to do to appeal to future apprentices then it also worth looking at https://www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/.

A business is only as strong as its employees, so how do you recruit the best staff should be a key objective?

Hiring is a laborious task and a costly one, so taking the right steps and putting the effort in will reap rewards. It needs to be an efficient and effective process, which will save you time and money.

Securing talented workers has many advantages for your business, including increased efficiency, staff loyalty, better employee retention, an enhanced reputation and strong signals about the growth and direction of the organisation.

Therefore, ensuring you have the right recruitment strategy in place is vital, especially in a very competitive job market where the best talent can choose where they want to work.

Given that the best talent can have their pick, it is important that you have done all you can be a ‘go to’ employer. An example of this is Google, which gets three million applications per year for just 7,000 jobs. Despite the low odds of getting a job, it doesn’t discourage applications amongst those in Generation Z, which are succeeding the Millennials into the work place, as they see it as a ‘cool’ place to work.

Your business may not be able to be as ‘cool’ as a Google, but if you want to reach out to this section of the population and become an employer they want to work for, then be aware that this is what matters to them:

• Salary – low pay won’t make you attractive
• Mission statement – nothing bland and make sure it stands on your communication channels
• Cultural values – people want to work for businesses that match their values and beliefs
• Career goals – do you recognise hard work, success and loyalty? Is there a career pathway?
• Reputation – if your employees, competitors and the industry value you, then that’s a huge draw
• Hiring process – candidates talk so your processes need to be slick and feedback swift

You are now set to find your future employees but knowing where and how to find them is equally crucial, especially in the digital age. There are different avenues and tactics to approach this, which will be examining in more detail next month in our latest Base business event, focusing on recruitment strategies.

The path you take will depend on where you are looking in the marketplace and whether it is an employee fresh out of the education system or already in the workforce. Here is an insight covering those areas.

If you’re looking in the graduate market, then you need to be proactive early on. Engaging with universities and offering placements is an ideal and cost-effective way to source future employees. Many degree courses involve work placements, which means there is a ready-made source for your business. Taking on a placement student enables you to assess their suitability and competencies while working with you. In addition, your business will be at the head of the queue when you have the vacancy that is perfect for their talents. Nurturing talent this way is good as you know who you are employing, and it saves time and avoids expensive hiring costs.

Along similar lines to placements are internships as they offer the opportunity to assess them in the workplace, but without huge costs or risks. Internships are ideal first steps for graduates entering the workplace as it gives them valuable work experience, while you can gauge their potential ‘on-the-job’.

Both placements and internships are good ways to establish loyalty with the employee and to generate positive feedback. This is what you need to boost your reputation and meet one of the key criteria in being a ‘go to’ employer.

One lesser known source of securing talented graduates, is the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).  KTP is UK-wide programme that helps businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK Knowledge Base.

As part of this drive, KTP, which is backed by Innovate UK, has a dedicated jobs portal to post high-calibre opportunities for graduates. With just 350 opportunities posted per year this is an avenue you may want to consider if you have a job that demands a highly-sought after individual.

For businesses who want to bring in employees right at the start of their working life, then apprenticeships are best way to achieve that. More and more businesses are turning to apprenticeships as a cost-effective way to nurture employees of the future.

However, if your business is looking for talent already in the workplace, then there are several ways to find and secure people, many who will be passively looking for a new role rather than being openly looking.

Using existing your employee base and contacts is a powerful way of finding new employees. Highlighting there are opportunities and using word of mouth to spread the message can mean that the talent will come to you, rather than you having to search for it. Networking events are equally powerful tools to promote your business and potential jobs.

Recruitment agencies can also play a significant role in bringing talent to your door. However, take on board the costs of using an agency and be aware of what they can deliver. If you are looking to fill a senior role, do you hire on an exclusive ‘head hunting’ basis, or do you have a stable of agencies on a ‘placement fee’ basis. It depends on who you want to bring in and what they can deliver that will ensure you see the benefit from the outlay.

Finally, there is online recruitment, with LinkedIn recognised as a leading tool in finding new recruits. If your business is on there, or employees are, then you can post roles and wait for the responses. For the more savvy, you can undertake a search and potentially identify candidates that you feel would be suitable. It is not an exact science, but the social media network has experts who can assist, with its own Talent Solutions sector.

Recruiting the right talent isn’t as straightforward as it seems, but with the proper strategy, channels and tactics and can make a huge difference to your business.

Announced to huge fanfare in November 2017, the Made Smarter Review provided a definitive view of the UK’s industrial and technological landscape – and delivered proposals to put the nation at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

It is a cornerstone of the government’s Industrial Strategy, which is why 12 months after the review was published, the first Made Smarter Pilot scheme was launched here in the North West; its remit being to boost manufacturing productivity and growth through the adoption and use of industrial digital technologies such as automation, robotics, 3D printing, big data, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality and Internet of Things.

These digital technologies are the future of manufacturing and it is estimated that by testing these technologies, the North West’s manufacturing sector could generate a 25 percent boost in productivity and add £115 million to the regional economy.

The use of digital technologies will not only change how products are made but will also deliver benefits in several ways to both businesses and consumers, including:

• Reduced time to market
• Real time data from production
• Improved decision-making
• Mass customisation
• Design for manufacture
• Product cost reduction

The Made Smarter Pilot has been backed with a £20 million pot, which has been made available to businesses of all sizes to explore how to integrate digital technology into the manufacturing processes. At the core, is supporting small and medium sized businesses (SMEs), who want to embrace new technologies but have neither the knowledge nor the funding to achieve this.

This is where the Made Smarter Pilot Scheme will play a huge role, by assisting those businesses. It is working with the five North West Growth Hubs, including Cheshire & Warrington.

Given The Base’s focus on advanced manufacturing, engineering and Industry 4.0 and cross-sector innovation by bringing digital technology to manufacturing into a collaborative environment, we expect the Made Smarter Pilot to have an impact on businesses here and across Warrington, with upwards of 36,000 people in the area in roles that can drive this forward.

How do manufacturers benefit?

The Made Smarter Pilot aims to engage with 3,000 manufacturers across the five growth hubs and provide intensive support to 600 of these.

In the Made Smarter Review, one of the key findings was the lack of knowledge amongst SMEs on how to start the digital journey, the range of technologies and how to implement them.

As part of the Pilot, it will look to overcome these challenges facing SME manufacturers with these distinct areas of support.

• Advice – It will provide face-to-face support identify how Industrial Digitalisation Technology (IDT) could increase productivity and assist with strategy, how to upskill your workforce and invest in new technology.
• Funding – The pilot can assist with 50% match funding for new software or hardware.
• Placements – It can assist with finding suitable students to come on placement and help your business’s development.
• Existing technology – The support team can assess how realigning existing technology can raise productivity and safeguard your future.

The Made Smarter website has more information as well as inviting businesses to register their interest in being involved in the pilot scheme.

How do digital technology providers benefit?

The pilot will only work by bringing together businesses at the forefront of IDT and manufacturers, with interested technology developers urged to register on the Supplier Directory. In joining up, tech providers will not only play a role in boosting manufacturing growth, but also be in place for when the scheme is rolled out nationally.

As with the manufacturers, the Made Smarter team has distinct criteria of how tech providers will benefit by being part of the scheme:

• Project ID and strategy – Tech providers will assist with technology adoption strategies, help with training employees and the implementation of IDT.
• Match providers – The Made Smarter team will look to match the tech provider to the needs of the individual manufacturers for the most successful outcome.

Professor Juergen Maier, chair of the Made Smarter Commission and CEO of Siemens UK, said on the launch of the pilot:  “Making business owners and decision-makers more aware of those opportunities relies on two things: sustained support from government and creating an improved innovation ecosystem where people are exposed to and can play with these technologies.

“It is vital that the UK leads a new industrial revolution and makes the most of the rapid digitalisation of our manufacturing base. For Britain to thrive our SMEs must be equipped with the skills and technologies needed to make and export more.”

Made Smarter is being delivered by the regional Growth Hubs across the North West and co-ordinated by The Growth Company in Manchester. For more information visit the Made Smarter website here.

Successful football teams and brilliant bands are just two of the things the North West’s two major cities have got in common. Something else they share is the plethora of small businesses found within them. Walk through the streets of Liverpool and Manchester, and you’ll see they’re packed with independent shops and restaurants, while a host of creative, scientific and service industry providers are also doing well in both locations.

In comparison, the cities much-smaller near-neighbour Warrington (just 20 miles or 30 minutes from both), where The Base calls home, might not be as well-known, but there’s no doubt it’s definitely punching above its weight when it comes to business. For example, Swedish DIY giant IKEA opened its first UK store there back in 1987 rather than somewhere more illustrious. And others have followed suite, including Amazon, in recent years.

It also recently charted at number 10 in online business support website Informi’s Best Places to Start a Business in the UK 2018 list. Neither Manchester nor Liverpool made the top 10.

So, if you’re thinking of starting a business or looking for a new place to move your organisation to, is the big city of Liverpool or Manchester, or the smaller town of Warrington right for you?

Let’s start by looking at what else each place has got going for it. We’ve mentioned the cultural heritage of Liverpool and Manchester, which definitely help bring in tourists and young professionals, as does the cosmopolitan culture and great lifestyle city living offers.

Manchester has also seen both the BBC and ITV move their studios up North, while Liverpool is forging a reputation as one of the best places for start-ups in the country thanks to its connectivity and technology.

Both have great infrastructure too, with trams, buses and trains all on-hand to help you and your customers get around easily. London is only around two hours away by train too, which is pretty handy if you need to shoot off to the Big Smoke for a meeting.

However, all this good stuff doesn’t come cheap. Good quality business space is highly sought after and rates could be higher than somewhere smaller, especially in the city centre or somewhere desirable like the waterfront or Media City. House prices have also risen steeply in the last few years, particularly in the more desirable suburbs.

You should also take in to account the competition you’ll face. The chances are there’ll be more people doing what you do in the big city, so standing out’s more difficult.

Now. On to Warrington. It might not boast the sporting or musical history that helps pull people in, and the town’s name isn’t as glamorous as the region’s two big-hitters. However, factors like access to highly skilled workers, current business stock levels, the number of business start-ups, digital connectivity, and housing affordability all help it score highly as a major centre of employment in the North West.

In fact, Warrington is the most-productive town in the region according to City Metric. Wages are just about on a par with both Manchester and Liverpool and there’s a very low level of people relying on government support in the town. Put these together with the town’s proximity to the M62,M6 and M56 motorways, and great rail links to London, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, and it all adds up to create a thriving economy.

Where you choose to do business is up to you. But making The Base in Warrington your base could make the difference between being a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond.

“Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, that they didn’t stop to think if they should.” Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park, 1991.

 Nearly 30-years later, it’s not resurrected dinosaurs you could apply this to, but its 21^st Century equivalent, Artificial Intelligence (AI). The benefits of this phenomenon are obvious. Robots have made our everyday lives more efficient and convenient, as well as generally making mundane tasks easier and quicker to do.

The future of AI continues to look bright. The workplace has changed rapidly thanks to automation and self-driving vehicles are close to becoming a reality. A motorway journey might soon be possible with a simple push of a button or click of a mouse. No more middle lane hoggers and missed turnings.

That all sounds amazing, of course. But has anyone stopped to think about the consequences of it all? Replacing humans with technological counterparts will have huge effects on our society, both ethically and environmentally.

Let’s look at some of the concerns around AI and answer the ethical question around its use.

Unemployment will rise, won’t it?

This is true in some industries. Machines are already capable of doing the same jobs we do. Better in many instances. Manual and skilled labour are both affected and will continue to be. Robots don’t make mistakes or get tired, so they make better employees. This will lead to people being out of work.

However, it’s also meant workers have stopped doing some dangerous jobs and others have moved into more complex-roles robots can’t yet do, which can further their careers. There’s also a good chance kids at school today will end up doing a job that’s not been invented yet. And we always need people to invent more advanced machines (until another machine can do it).

The machines replacing us have rights, right?

Not yet, no. Even the most powerful machines can’t replicate human thought and emotion. The Holy Grail for scientists is to create consciousness. But if they’re successful, will this mean robots will have contracts of employment, a salary, and expect to be treated like us? What would happen if a machine was treated badly or unfairly? Would they be entitled to legal representation like human workers? This could be a hugely complex issue to sort out.

What about Terminator? Could that happen?

A war between humans and machines is very unlikely to break out. However, it’s not impossible that a machine might inadvertently suggest that wiping us out is a good thing. How? Well, ask a computer to work out a cure for a fatal disease, and getting rid of anything that can get that fatal disease  is a logical way of doing it. Bye-bye human race.

Is AI bad for the planet?

Our thirst for technology is certainly bad news for the environment. The materials used in smartphone production, like nickel, cobalt and graphite, has led to huge mining operations in China, India and Canada. Add that to the plastic used in most phones, tablets and PCs and you can see the harm the production is doing.

One computer manufacturer even keeps its giant servers on the ocean floor to stop them overheating. This warms the water making conditions more difficult for the fish and marine wildlife found in it, as well as causing other ecological issues.

However, AI is also helping reverse some of the damage it causes. Energy companies are using it to help businesses and consumers optimise energy efficiency and even discover energy-saving qualities in minerals and metals, which can replace carbon producing fossil fuels.

So, as to the question of whether AI is ethical, there’s no simple yes or no. The AI revolution has led to machines putting humans out of work and is responsible for huge environmental issues too.  However, it’s been responsible for huge technological and societal advances that have made our lives easier and safer.

AI has massive potential for mankind, so perhaps it’s up to us to make sure we implement it responsibly and ethically.

The attitude towards plastic – and single-use plastic in particular – has changed massively over the last few years. Bottled water, drinking straws and plastic supermarket bags have all become less popular with consumers as environmental sustainability has slowly replaced convenience on the high street.

It’s not just consumer habits that are changing though, as government legislation is also shifting towards a greener future. This has mainly been in the form of pledges to hit certain targets on plastic reduction so far, but it can’t be too long before a full-blown crackdown gets underway.

And while this is good news for the planet (which can only be good news for us too), it does mean businesses are going to have to find innovative news ways to cut out plastic and do things in a more ecologically friendly way.

So, let’s look at some of the opportunities out there for businesses.

Develop a plastic strategy

This probably sounds a bit strange, but the key is to treat it as you would any other strategy in your business. Start with changing your mindset about plastic and how much you use in your business. Things to consider are looking at alternative packaging options (more of which later) and sourcing these, using and designing products that are more recyclable, and your own recycling policy.

Once you’ve done this, get your people on board followed by your supply chain. Tell them your plans and take them along for the ride. Don’t be afraid to drop people on the way if they’re not with you.

Think about alternative packaging

If you supply or manufacture something, can you use a more environmentally friendly material to package it? Food containers made from forestry by-products, cardboard and bamboo are becoming more popular, and there’s lots of degradable plastic-type packaging being developed all the time.

These include food wrappers made from milk protein you can eat (or throw away if you prefer as it’ll break down on its own) once you’ve finished the contents, packing boxes constructed of mushrooms and crab shells, and a new ‘plastic’ suitable for making disposable cutlery and bottles has been made from cactus leaves in Mexico.

These products are all non-toxic and degrade naturally. They can be used for just about anything, not just food. Their use isn’t widespread just yet, but there’s likely to be a huge increase in the not too distant future.

Create a ground-breaking product

Rather than simply using someone else’s invention, why not try and come up with something amazing of your own. Former classmates Dennon Oosterman, Alex Kay and David Joyce did just that in 2013 when they built a 3D printer that uses old plastic as filament (the base material needed to build 3D models). It shreds the plastic and melts it down before winding it onto a spool to be used to print.

Incentivise your people

This could be a great way to do something truly innovative. Rewarding the person or group of people who come up with the most creative way to tackle the plastic problem in your business could see something amazing. Think how great it would be if someone in your business invented a 100% degradable coffee cup or a way of carrying soft drinks without a plastic bottle, for example.

There’s no doubt the plastic revolution is in full swing, and the focus on replacing it will keep getting sharper. Make sure you keep your business at the forefront of it.

Before we can answer this question, we need to try and define exactly what big data is. It’s a term that’s been around for a while, and you’ve probably heard people talking about it. But, is it an actual thing or just another buzz word (or phrase)?

Put simply, big data is all the information that’s captured every time someone interacts digitally. Every click of a mouse, like or share, or email sent leaves an online footprint that’s stored up in the virtual cloud. It also includes non-digital interactions too, like payments made with a debit or credit card, and phone calls and written communications, although these are less common than they used to be.

And once this data’s been gathered, businesses can use it to get insights about their customers based on their behaviours. It helps them predict what customers are going to do and make marketing more targeted. The theory behind it is the more you know about your customer, the more personal you can make communications with them.

Too big to handle?

One of the problems with holding so much data is understanding and using it effectively. Doing this requires high-tech analytics often driven by artificial intelligence (AI). This can be expensive, which could put it out of reach of some smaller companies.

However, there are ways smaller companies can utilise big data that don’t have the big price tag. In fact, one comes free. Google Analytics is a great tool for tracking what your customers have done, and you can get hold of it with a simple download.

Some CRM systems also come free (or relatively cheaply anyway)and can be customised to do whatever you need them to. They also often have software included that sorts data for you automatically. It can also highlight particularly useful information and help you understand what it means.

Keep it social

Another simple way a smaller business can get to grips with big data is through social media. Again, software is available relatively cheaply that alerts you when someone mentions your business  or any keywords you program it to recognise.

Most of your customers will use it, so it’s a good way to connect with them. This is particularly useful as you can respond in real-time and get a conversation going with a genuine customer.

It’s good to actually talk

We mentioned phone calls earlier, and they can still play a huge part in big data use. VoIP systems can record calls, so you can play them and analyse customer concerns and address any trends.

Get things in place now

It’s fair to say whatever the size of your business, you need to get systems to improve your big data capabilities now. The free systems mentioned above will do the job for you, but if you want something more sophisticated, modern cloud-based technologies have made things simpler and cheaper for everyone as there’s no need for extra hardware. The systems will grow and adapt with your business.

Other uses of big data

Big data doesn’t just cover what your customers do though. In the manufacturing and engineering worlds, it’s used to improve efficiency and increase production. Analytics can help to compare and understand what factors are important in processes and how to get the most out of them.

Other areas big data can play a part include improving product quality, risk management and logistics. It can predict maintenance schedules and future growth.  

So, is big data for small businesses? 100% yes

Getting to the heart of your information quickly and accurately can give you a huge advantage. It should be looked as a strategic asset you can’t do without – it really is that valuable.

Let’s make something clear before we start. We’re not asking if you’d prefer to be a beautiful antelope roaming the plains of Asia or Africa or a fairy-tale, single-horned horse-like creature, although you can think about that if you like!

What we’re looking at is whether you’d like your business to grow steadily year after year or for it be a huge company valued at £1bn on the Stock Market.

In business terms, gazelle companies are those that increase in size by 20% every year for at least 4 years. They’re usually at the smaller end of the business scale, having started from a low base. Unicorns, on the other hand, are privately held start-up companies with a valuation as stated above. They’ll often reach this magical figure in a relatively short space of time. You can see where the name came from.

So, is there even a question to be asked here? Doesn’t everyone want their business to be a unicorn? To answer this, let’s look at what this means in more detail.

One attribute of unicorns is they can sometimes see the huge valuation as the most important thing about their business. Their focus isn’t necessarily on doing what’s right for their customers or staff. They look for any opportunity to grow and constantly want to be bigger than their competitors.

And this attitude is often reflected in their shareholders too, who like the fact they’ll get a good return quickly on any investment. Of course, this is no bad thing if you’re an investor, so unicorns are an attractive option for many people looking for somewhere to stash their cash. Financial journalists talk about them in the same way too, which makes more people want to invest.

Gazelles’ attitude to growth tends to be more measured. They look it at as something that will happen naturally over time as their customer base increases. They’re more concerned with creating great products and offering great service rather than becoming big quickly for the sake of it.

As they grow, these companies will nurture their workforce and really invest in their people. Staff turnover will probably be lower than unicorns and people will feel more valued at work.

They can be a good bet for investors too, as long as they’re prepared to be in it for the long haul rather than the much-quicker gratification associated with unicorns. This, and the fact gazelles increase regularly in value, make them takeover targets for unicorns, and many are swallowed up by their larger counterparts – a tactic employed successfully by Airbnb on its way to becoming a unicorn.

Being a gazelle puts you in good company, as household names like Apple, Dell, Cisco, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google were all gazelle companies when they started out. Twitter was another gazelle back in the day, and apparently offered its early employees shares with the hope they’d be worth something in the future.  By the end of its first day’s trading as a public company around a decade later, share value soared by 73% and the company was valued at $24.4b.

Being the owner of either a unicorn or a gazelle business means you’re doing something right. Both types of business show you’re successful – they just do it in different ways. Which one you’d rather be depends on what’s most important to you.

According to digital security specialists Gemalto there were 945 major data breaches that exposed 4.5 billion records in the first half of 2018. That’s a staggering 291 individual bits of sensitive information stolen every second. Most of these breaches were identity theft and malicious outsiders successfully using phishing techniques to get hold of data.

Cybercriminals are getting cleverer and are developing ever more sophisticated ways of stealing data. They’ve managed to do just that to Facebook, Adidas and Morrisons, so if big companies like that can’t keep themselves safe, how can smaller ones hope to do so?

The truth is they can’t. No-one can. But there are ways you can make it much more difficult for cybercriminals to break in. And if you make it harder, criminals will move on to an easier target.

How can I make it harder?

You could try penetration testing. This is where you get an ‘ethical hacker’ to try and get into your systems. They basically copy what the bad guys do, so they can identify any potential weak spots. They do things like sending spam and phishing emails, using social engineering, and targeting websites and domain servers.

Security firewalls are also sometimes ‘attacked’, and pretend viruses are sent to mimic what a real virus would do in the real online world. They’ll also sometimes pose as employees or contractors and try and break in from the inside. Techniques include tailgating workers into buildings and distracting people, so they leave systems open when leaving their workstation.

A report is sent once everything’s been done with recommendations for improvement.

How often should I do penetration testing?

The minimum is once a year. If you move premises or install or upgrade any new soft or hardware, you should also do some testing. Some companies, particularly those involved with heavy regulation and compliance, might be required to do it more regularly by law.

Larger companies usually have more data that’s desirable to criminals, so they probably need to test more frequently than a smaller one. There’s no hard and fast rule though – test as often as you think you need to. If any areas have been identified where you need to do more, fix those and then test again.

This is bound to be expensive, isn’t it?

Penetration testing can be expensive, but it’s not as costly as a data breach. That could cost your reputation with customers as well as actual money, so it’s worth investing what you can afford to in it.

You can keep the costs down and help your data to stay safe by making sure there are no vulnerabilities in your business. Regularly educating staff on the importance of strong passwords, not downloading malware and keeping them up-to-date on security awareness all make you less likely to have a data breach.

It’s also important they know how to recognise a phishing email and how to report it. You can set up an email address to forward suspicious emails to and reward employees who regularly correctly identify email nasties.

Free software online

There’s lots of free or open source penetration testing software available online. The most popular ones are Nmap, Metasploit Project, Wireshark, and John the Ripper.

They all do different things, from cracking your password to looking for open ports on your system. Running one or two regularly can show you any flaws so you can address them before the hackers strike.

Most businesses, whatever their size, can benefit from automation. It makes the workplace safer by keeping people out of dangerous situations or harmful environments, and is usually more efficient, faster and more reliable than humans.

So, if your business is at the stage where you’re thinking about automation, but aren’t sure how to get started, here’s our handy guide to introducing automation to your business.

Think big but start small

As with most things in business, it’s best to start with something simple. Think about the easiest process in your business that takes up a lot of time and how you can automate it. Once you’ve done that, you can move on to other more time-consuming complicated processes. Plan ahead and don’t try to do too much in a small amount of time though, as it could get a bit overwhelming.

Make sure you fully understand your processes

Before you start automating anything, it’s vital you know exactly what you’re automating. Document all the steps involved, including any troubleshooting instructions. Understanding how processes work can help with any teething problems you might come across when first automating something.

Keep tight hold of quality control

This goes hand-in-hand with the previous point. Automation involves computers, so bugs will often be involved too, especially if your process is one the software hasn’t encountered before. A strict approach to quality control will help iron out any bugs and get things running smoothly. Keep checking everything’s working as it should be once you’re at this stage too.

Keep people involved

Automation is great, but you still need people too. Not only do they have a full knowledge of how processes work, they can get involved with testing of any automation and getting it implemented. Having your team involved from the outset will also help them embrace the changes you’re bringing in, which will make things easier in the long run.

Look for ready-made options

There’s lots of off-the-shelf automation programmes available for most business processes. These could save you money and the time and effort of getting something bespoke made just for you. Do your research to find the right programme for you – sometimes you might need more than one – and go through the testing procedures etc. mentioned above.

Use automation for a specific problem

You might be thinking about automation because you’ve got one particular process you’d like speeding up or making more efficient. This is a great starting-point for automating your business and can show you how you could apply it to other areas.

Think about the risks as well as the benefits

Of course, you should never do anything without considering the risks first. New computer programmes might make things easier for you, but they also give hackers a new way to try and access your system. Always keep your online security up-to-date and make things as secure as you can.

Pick your perfect partner

There’s lots of help out there, so you should have no trouble finding someone to partner with. Having an automation expert on-board can help you automate your business successfully now and in the future.