Business Butler

How to avoid procrastination? Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a task that needs to be accomplished by a certain deadline. It is normal for everyone to suffer from procrastination. By focussing completing task more effectively and efficiently you can reduce your levels of procrastination, and there are several methods to help you achieve this.     Firstly, break your work into little steps. Simply separating the task into smaller more manageable and approachable stages will make you more motivated to complete that task; because the task becomes more achievable and less daunting. Secondly, change your environment. This can be as simple as moving around the office which will help you eliminate boredom and keep your mind focussed on the task in hand. Make sure the new environments are exciting because if they are gloomy and dark it can enhance the levels of tiredness, which leads to decreased levels of productivity.     After...

Week 2- What to do once a business idea is created? At some point, everyone will come up with a business idea, but the key is to think of how to turn that idea into reality. The first step for creating a new business is to thoroughly research your idea. To begin with, identify the market you’re targeting. This might sound simple, but this can shape many areas of the business. As say your aiming to sell your business offerings at a high price, all aspects of the product will need to support this business framework. If your business idea is an improvement of an existing product or service, ensure you research how that particular business functions. You can then help develop new adaptations to your business functions which can help to direct your efforts for success. Another aspect of research that is vital at this early stage of development is gaining understanding of your business offering. Research into the development is gaining understanding of your business offeri...

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...

No matter the size of an organisation, it’s important for all business to ensure human resources are considered and any necessary steps are taken and policies put in place. Human resources (HR) is used within organisations to maximise employee performance to help achieve company goals and is primarily concerned with managing the people working within an organisation in line with the organisation’s policies and to ultimately reduce organisational risk. Some small businesses and startups choose to ignore some of the basic principles of human resources so we have put together this short guide outlining key HR considerations for new businesses. Recruiting employees The mistake that many new businesses make is thinking that they don’t have to follow various employment laws that are in place to protect both employees and employers. When recruiting you must ensure that formal employee contracts are in place defining the role and the terms and conditions of the persons employm...

An independent review into the Swansea Bay City Deal has now been launched, 18 months after the First Minister Carwyn Jones, Prime Minister Theresa May and Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns signed the deal . The scheme is estimated to create over 9,000 jobs , encourage investment across the whole of the region and funding of nearly £1.3 billion for interventions to support economic growth with 11 high spec projects included in the deal. The review has been announced by the UK and Welsh Governments and will look at due diligence and governance regarding all elements of the deal worth £1.3 billion and the implementation of the scheme. A joint statement released by the UK Government said that the review will include a stock-take on the progress of the deal to date and will underpin the next stage of delivery. Partners of the Swansea Bay City Deal include four councils, health boards and universities, all of which will be assessed as part of the review. However the partners ar...