Business Butler

Working from home can be a great option for some people, it allows for flexibility, can save costs and commuting time. However it’s important to consider the disadvantages of working from home for both your business and your employees. Common problems of working from home that lead to people opting to work in an office such as a coworking space include: 1. Impact on your mental wellbeing Working from home full time can lead to social isolation and you may not have any face to face contact for extended periods of time. Social isolation can have a detrimental effect on your health, leading to stress and depression. 2. Lack of separation between work and home life Working from home can cause the line between home life and work life to become blurred, especially if you don’t have a dedicated office and are working in a bedroom or living room. 3. Setup costs Setting up a home office can be expensive, especially when you’re used to working with high-speed internet, multiple...

Working in a coworking space can have great benefits for you and your business, however to make it work for everyone sharing the space it’s important that all parties are conscientious of others. In an environment that can change day to day with people hotdesking, hosting meetings or working part-time, the rules of workplace behaviour may not necessarily be clear. Every coworking space will have different versions of etiquette rules which you need to follow, but we have put together a general list of do’s and don’ts to ensure a courteous workplace etiquette is established wherever you’re working… Do’s: Clean up after yourself Wipe any surfaces you use especially in kitchen areas and ensure your area it tidy when you leave, many coworking spaces will have lockers, make use of these! Be prepared Bring all the office supplies you may need with you so you don’t have to interrupt others. If you do have to borrow something, make sure you return it when you’re done. Be friendl...

The demand for hot desking is constantly increasing, with more shared work spaces in the UK than the global average, hot desking is becoming a great option to save space and allow for flexible working. Whilst the needs of each business vary, advances in technology meaning workers are more mobile alongside more coworking spaces being available, hot desking is gaining demand from a wide range of businesses. Hot desking allows the rules of traditional office spaces to be redefined and for people to choose where they work based on their needs each day. We have put together a list of the pros and cons of hot desking , to help you decide if it’s right for you and your business... Pros 1) Flexible Hot desking allow for people who are not in the office full time to be flexible and have a desk as and when is necessary. It’s also useful when a larger group of people need to work together and seating arrangements can be easily adapted as necessary. 2) Daily Rates Many coworking s...

Coworking is becoming an increasingly popular option for small businesses and freelancers, but why should you consider coworking rather than working from home? Check out these advantages to find out if coworking is the right option for you and your business... 1) Join a community Working from home can be very isolating and you may go for days at a time without any face to face contact, working in a shared office space allows you to join a community of likeminded people in a similar situation to you, have people to chat to and socialise. 2) Create a work-life balance Whilst working from home can be great, the lines between your work life and your home life often become blurred. Hotdesking in a coworking space can allow you to create some separation between work and home. 3) Use professional meeting spaces One of the key benefits of coworking is that many spaces have dedicated meeting rooms that can be used. Inviting clients or prospects to a meeting room shows pr...

Now growing in popularity worldwide, coworking is a self-directed and flexible work style. Google define coworking as  “the use of an office or other working environment by people who are self-employed or working for different employers, typically so as to share equipment, ideas, and knowledge”. Coworking can benefit businesses of all sizes, whether you're an SME, a start-up, a freelancer or a corporate. Coworking is becoming an increasingly popular option for individuals and businesses, allowing people to work within a community, have a professional space to meet clients in and to create a distance between home life and work life. Coworking spaces are opening in most major cities with an annual growth rate of  over 24%!  It is predicted that there will be more than 30,432 coworking spaces and over 5.1 million coworking members by the year 2022. Whether you're looking for an allocated desk or a hot desk on a daily rate or meeting rooms, coworking ...

It’s been announced that the University of South Wales, the Welsh Government and Thales, a global technology firm, are collaborating to create a £20m cyber centre. The National Digital Exploitation Centre (NDEC) which will be in Ebbw Vale, will be part of the Tech Valleys programme . The Welsh Government has committed £100m of funding to the programme which aims to create 1,500 jobs in the long-run. The centre, the first facility of its kind in Wales, aims to provide SMEs and micro businesses with facilities to both test and develop their digital innovations. The university will be running an advanced cyber institute at the centre, providing a base for academic research alongside a digital education centre designed to enable SMEs, schools and individuals to develop their skills and be able to protect themselves online. Construction is due to commence in spring 2019 with Thales having already moved into a project office at the site in Ebbw Vale. The cyber centre will help W...

With political and economic uncertainty and ever changing technology, all UK businesses are facing a tough time and running a small business can be particularly challenging. Many businesses are struggling to survive and further challenges lie ahead. Amid a changing business landscape it’s key that small businesses are successful in overcoming challenges and avoiding mistakes others have made in the past. Key challenges that need to be considered by those running small businesses are… Recruiting and retaining employees Recruiting and retaining employees can often be costly and time consuming for small businesses. Writing contracts, conducting interviews, training employees and ensuring all necessary HR processes and policies are in place are amongst the requirements for businesses and can be challenging, especially when resources are limited. Regulation and compliance One challenge when running a small business is ensuring compliance with government regulations. Am...