Category: Opinion

Businesses that operate employee ownership exist in virtually every sector of the UK economy, across every size and stage of business and across all parts of the UK.

How many fantastic small companies are hitting a glass ceiling? Fear of overextending in a tough economy is actively constraining the expansion of some great business ideas into a broader market.

Recognising, understanding and managing emotions in the workplace is crucial for building a high performing team and a great working culture. Marielena Sabatier, managing director of executive coaching company, Inspiring Potential, explores how ‘emotional intelligence’ is something all business owners need to think about.

Cancelling a project early and saving money is a good thing. There should be more of it. Much more, argues David Walton, CEO of Bestoutcome, who believes that most large organisations are victims of compulsive, blinkered spending on failing projects on a grand scale.

New plans announced by government this week to give employers control over apprenticeship training have been warmly received by property maintenance and refurbishment entrepreneur Will Davies – who is a long term campaigner for apprenticeship reform.

I was glued to this year’s Apprentice final and, joined by around 6 million others; I was clearly in good company. Watching this final episode and waiting to see who would be crowned winner, got me thinking…..

Speaking ahead of her highly-anticipated Keynote at this year’s office show, Laura Schwartz – who worked for the Clinton administration throughout its eight year term – reveals her perspective on the significance of the modern PA’s role

Zombie companies are labelled as businesses that may have been insolvent on an assets vs liability basis, but are able to survive on cashflow alone, partly because of low interest rates. Added to this, many banks are allowing these ‘problem’ companies to have capital repayment holidays, in order to ease the pressure and prevent – or perhaps just delay, a forced liquidation.

Why is the public sector procurement process so bureaucratic? Of course it’s partly governed by EC law to safe guard fairness (well in theory – but that’s a much longer article).

That is the opinion of David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) when commenting on the choices facing the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at its August meeting next Thursday.

Ahead of the government’s introduction of fees charged to those who wish to bring claims in employment tribunals, a leading employment law expert is warning that this could heighten Britain’s ‘pay-off’ culture.