IN Business

According to the Department for Business Innovation & Skills’ basic information risk management can stop up to 80 per cent of the cyber-attacks, allowing companies to manage the impact of the other 20 per cent. They recommend businesses take steps to review information risks and have highlighted “Ten steps to Cyber Security” – Espion adds its award winning expertise to the recommended steps.

One of the toughest things about running a small business is dealing with non-payment on invoices – unpaid invoices can cause a big disruption for your cash flow, and because you don’t have a finance department to do the chasing for you, you often find yourself in the awkward position of chasing the same client that you’ve built a relationship with.

Many people, at some point in their working lives, have to have a difficult conversation with someone. It might be about a performance issue or something more personal. It can be with a peer, a subordinate or indeed a boss.

MDs who organise their calendars into ‘In’ days and ‘Out’ days are more effective and productive than their peers who constantly pour over their emails.

Real Time Information was introduced over two months ago, but it seems that many small businesses are still struggling to comply with the new legislation. Regardless of how you feel about RTI, it is here to stay and you must ensure your business is compliant.

I’m all for being approachable and friendly at work and in business situations, but I’ve had cause recently, as those who follow my blog will know, to wonder where the line is drawn and where it needs to be drawn.

Carpet fitter Andy Brodie may not be a celebrity, but he could soon be the most recognised person in Britain after being chosen as a poster boy for the biggest billboard in the country. An image of him with his van bearing the name of his firm, A.B. Flooring, has just been unveiled on Britain’s largest billboard site – the 27m x 18m ‘Mega Banner’ on the M4.

School children across the UK have been set a challenge to unleash their entrepreneurial potential by entering Tycoon in Schools 2013 – the national enterprise competition spearheaded by entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones.

Our latest research on cash flow and finance paints a depressing view of SME confidence around their finances. Not only are they concerned at the rising cost of doing business, but fears seem to be mounting around cash flow and the ability of the banks to offer any meaningful help.

It is true that there are plenty of opportunities for businesses to expand by tapping into rapidly growing emerging markets. Many British firms have already found success in countries as diverse as China, Russia, Turkey, India, Mexico and Brazil, while others are examining their options given ongoing concerns about the Eurozone.

Britain’s businesses are being urged to take advantage of specialist export advice in light of the fact that 62% of companies in the UK are being held back from exporting by language barriers.

I regularly talk about the relationship between my clients and Synetec, as being one of the most critical two-way partnerships their business will ever enter into.

3 ways to avoid scam emails, spoof websites and identity theft…By Norman Begg of online security company my1login.

You could argue that everyone benefits from shared expertise, but if you are a consultancy, it can be tricky to avoid situations where you are spending too much time giving away your knowledge for free.

It is believed that George Osborne may start the process of selling off the Government’s stake in Lloyds Banking Group. The stake is worth about £17bn at current market prices, although it is not clear that all the shares would be sold at once.

There was once a very clear line between an employee’s work and social life; one belonged at work and the other stayed at home. However, the use of social media for business purposes, as well as pleasure, has meant this line has become increasingly blurred.

The proportion of claims for late payment that include compensation has risen only marginally over the last two years, despite the late payment issues small and medium sized firms are reported to be facing, according to debt recovery law firm Lovetts.

Consumers are deeply cynical of CSR initiatives from companies that have a bad reputation nationally, with that scepticism directly affecting our purchase decisions, according to new research revealed.

CEOs and business owners always talk about creating more innovative products, services and business models; but what are the outcomes of innovation and are we better off being innovators or disruptors?

In every walk of life we hear about people who claim to have given 110% to a task but what makes 100% effort and is it really possible to give MORE than 100%?

Is HR a necessary evil or a business savvy requirement? I guess it all depends on who you are and where your frame of reference is coming from.

The UK economy has avoided falling into a triple dip recession after recording unexpected growth in the first quarter of the year and is set to continue to grow as CBI predict UK GDP will increase in 2014. Despite this positive forecast, many challenges still remain as the UK struggles to rebalance the economy. Entrepreneurs and the government need to focus on regional growth if the economy is to fully recover.

The UK’s start-up and enterprise community is being seriously deprived of talent as women and the over 50s shun entrepreneurship, preferring the reliability of employment instead.

Women are perceived as being more willing to lead if they show that they are proud of their personal performance. If, however, they give a cheerful impression, they are judged to have less willingness to leadership roles than men who display similar emotions according to new research.

According to a new study, the key to holding up under pressure may be boosting your own ego.