Blog

7 Things

Friday 8th April 2016

Seven Things You Should Know Before Becoming An Entrepreneur Becoming an entrepreneur is an amazing feeling, running your own business and taking control of your life – oh and you don’t have to answer to “the man” anymore! However, there are some things that nobody tells you about being an entrepreneur… 1. How Lonely…

Blog Standard

Tuesday 5th April 2016

Blog Standard The best bloggers in a market sector are not only appearing at the top of search engine rankings, as poor content continues to burden the chasing pack. Much of this has been covered before, but as long as I continue to see more bad blogs than good, and the majority still not blogging at…

Value of Apprenticeships

Friday 1st April 2016

The Value of Apprenticeships The skills shortage is a huge topic in business right now. I hear lots of people saying that they’re struggling to find ways to keep key skilled posts filled, in all sorts of businesses. Meanwhile, we’ve got lots of new people entering the workforce, many with a great education, but an…

Property Rental

Saturday 26th March 2016

Tax Rules For Property Rental Renting out a room or a property you don’t need for yourself can be a good way of making some extra money. It can even be a career if you put your back into it. You’ve got to be sure you’re on the right side of the tax laws, though….

EU Debate

Wednesday 23rd March 2016

EU DEBATE WITH DANIEL HANNAN MEP FOR THE SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND, HUGO DIXON AUTHOR & JOURNALIST Plus a panel of local business owners This event is for registered participants only, please reserve your space through E-mail: [email protected] The Sevenoaks Chamber of Commerce and Sevenoaks School would like to invite you to an evening of…

4 Ways to Sharpen Social Media

Saturday 19th March 2016

The world is going digital and small businesses need to up their game on Social Media. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn can be awesome tools to get your business out there, but so many aren’t using them to their advantage. Start Replying To Your Followers This is a major point that many small businesses…

Is the Broker Broken

Friday 11th March 2016

Is the Broker Broken? Very rarely now does the customer deal with a third party: The internet started the revolution of connecting people with products and that was bought alive by the trading platforms such as eBay and Amazon which facilitate the direct relationship between consumer and seller. We now even have websites…

Are You a Sponge ?

Wednesday 9th March 2016

“Are you a Sponge?” Asked Lisa Settle on the Business bunker Radio show recently. “Yes I am.” Was my immediate reply. We’d been discussing the Sponge, the characteristic of the BIG 10 that relates to openness to, and active seeking of, learning by SME owner managers. The BIG 10 are characteristics that are present in…

Systemiser Part 2

Thursday 18th February 2016

Don’t leave your brains outside the building… …use your brains to improve the process! Was a key message delivered by Jaydeep Balakrishnan at our most recent discussion on the Systemiser, one of the ten characteristics found by researchers to be present and active in better performing SMEs. Jaydeep, a Professor in Supply Chain Management at…

Trade Shows & The Media

Friday 12th February 2016

Trade Shows: Working with the Media This is the fourth part of a series of blogs about trade shows. This installment is targeted at exhibitors looking to harness the power of the media. Event organisers could probably pick up a tip or two as well. All businesses, large and small, can benefit from coverage by…

Give & Gain

Monday 8th February 2016

What is Give & Gain Day? Run by the charity, Business in the Community, Give & Gain Day takes place on 20th May 2016 and is the world’s only annual day of employee volunteering. Now in its ninth year, it will see thousands of people from hundreds of companies volunteering on 20th May 2016….

Making of a Good Sales Person

Thursday 4th February 2016

What are the key attributes of a good salesperson? Good salespeople are a major asset to any business, but what makes a good salesperson? The commonly held view is often that sales people are good and persuasive talkers, people with the gift of the gab! The reality, however, is very different; yes of course a…

The Safety Net

Wednesday 3rd February 2016

The Safety Net – It’s easier for everyone else Dear Nettie at The Safety Net, I have a business idea that I really want to work with, but I have lots of obstacles to overcome to get there – it seems it’s easier for other people to start a business than me as they have…

Atlantic Challenge

Tuesday 2nd February 2016

Kent rowers set new pairs record in the World’s Toughest Rowing Race Kent duo, Dan Parsons (30) and Olly Clark (31), set the new Pairs Class record this weekend in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, by completing the 3,000 mile crossing from the Canary Islands to Antigua in 42 days, 17 hours and 59 minutes…

Worried about new Digital Tax Accounts?

Wednesday 27th January 2016

Knickers in a twist about quarterly tax reporting? … Jane Ollis gets things straightened out In November of last year HMRC announced plans to create personal and business digital tax accounts and set out a very clear road map for consultation in 2016 and staging between now and 2020 for the roll out and at…