Start-up
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11 tips for perfect pitch presentations
An expert from Octopus Ventures gives advice on creating the perfect pitch
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5 things start-ups get wrong
Richard Murray of business growth advisors Elephant’s Child looks at classic errors made by small businesses… and how to avoid them
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How to go social prospecting
Using social networks to find, engage and win customers is key to success in the pandemic and beyond
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5 start-up lessons from 2020
What new businesses can learn from those that have survived and thrived through the past few extraordinary months
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Starting a business in the pandemic
Counterintuitively, progressing with a new enterprise now could be a smart move
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Funding for female founders
Networking and powerful presentations are needed to overcome unconscious gender bias and unlock venture funding, say entrepreneurs
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Investment in the ‘new normal’
Investors’ doors are still open, but the landscape has changed
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5 steps to scaling up fast
The Covid-19 pandemic has battered the UK economy, but some businesses continue to grow fast
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Funding in the age of Covid-19
With so much coronavirus uncertainty, investors may be even more careful about where they put their money. So where should start-ups be looking for capital?
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Winning business at a social distance
Being confined to our homes has created an unprecedented business landscape that is tricky to navigate. But there’s no reason to believe you can’t build relationships from behind a screen
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Start-up loans - the ‘bots’ have arrived
Loan providers are automating more processes. Entrepreneurs have an opportunity to get ahead of the game
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Make your business more attractive
Academics at Nottingham University Business School believe start-ups and growth firms can boost their chances of success by becoming more attractive
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Investment bonanza
Greater political certainty is likely to mean more investment capital will be released – but can you get your share?
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Seven rules for hiring employees
Top tips for when you’ve found the right person to help you move your business forward
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Lacking interest?
Failing to shop around for better deposit rates to cost UK SMEs dearly over the next year
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Do corporates want your start-up?
Large companies sometimes acquire smaller firms for their talented people
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The bespoke approach to borrowing
How private banking can help throughout the business cycle
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Securing a start-up loan
The Start Up Loans programme provides both the money and mentoring to get your business off the launch pad
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Five ways to find early adopters
How can you identify and engage with the first group of customers for your start-up?
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Are you a credible founder?
The personal qualities that persuade funders and clients to buy into you and your company
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Challenging the corporate bullies
Can SMEs do anything about big companies imposing unfair payment terms on them?
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Playing the long game
Growing a business to sell a business
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Borrowing from friends and family
When entrepreneurs look to friends and family for investment, what are the benefits and challenges of mixing the personal and the professional?
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Crowdfunding – the new normal?
Alternative finance is continuing to fuel the UK’s smaller businesses. For start-ups, equity crowdfunding is coming of age
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Going concern
How to buy a business from a retiring Baby Boomer
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Five sectors attracting angel investment
Life sciences, fintech and manufacturing remain popular, while momentum is building in artificial intelligence and impact investing
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Fashioning a new business
We speak to a client about starting a new company and how St. James’s Place has helped her
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Finding VC seed funding
The trend may be towards bigger venture capital deals but some VCs are looking for seed investments
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Numbers to wow investors
The most important numbers don’t all come from financial models
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Olderpreneur power
Today’s over-50s are shunning the quiet life and using pension freedoms to fund their entrepreneurial ventures
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Guide to IT Budgeting
Eight key considerations to help your IT budgeting
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Start-up resolutions for the year
Here are five New Year’s resolutions every smart start-up should consider making to succeed in 2019, according to Richard Murray, Chief Commercial Officer of business growth advisor, Elephant’s Child.
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Through a tech investor’s eyes
You may think you have a game-changing technology, but we ask former Sega boss Mike Hayes what really attracts investors
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How to network online
SME owners can use social media to develop new business contacts and help power their company’s growth. We find out the do’s and don’ts of digital networking
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How to network effectively
Face-to-face networking: what does it mean and how can you make it work for you?
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How to give an elevator pitch
If you had two minutes in a lift with a potential investor or client could you get your message across?
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Five tips to secure new funding
Two experts explain what you need to remember when approaching funders
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12 facts about UK tech
The tech sector is a national success story and our infographic shows just why that is. We've taken key figures from this year's Tech Nation report to reveal its impressive performance
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The tech giants funding start-ups
PayPal has advanced hundreds of millions of pounds to businesses in the past four years and other tech firms are also eyeing the business funding market
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Friends for life?
Even Facebook made mistakes in the early years – the way the relationship between its founders soured is a lesson for all entrepreneurs
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Brick by brick
Lego proved that making the right decision between focus and diversification can be a game-changer – and entrepreneurs need to take note
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Are you entitled to R&D tax relief?
Each year around £2bn is claimed in research and development (R&D) tax relief but many SMEs don't know what they are entitled to
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Winners and losers from EIS changes
EIS rules have changed. Ambitious entrepreneurs and investors prepared to take a risk are the big winners. But tax loopholes are closing
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Through the eyes of an angel
Serial entrepreneur turned business angel Peter Cowley explains how angels can help a start-up hit the heights through long-term investment and guidance
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Do you need venture capital?
An injection of venture capital can be a great way to help enterprises grow
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Hot sectors for start-up capital
Fintech and artificial intelligence dominate, while biotech and pharma remain strong
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Maximising profitability in small consultancies
Bivek Sharma of KPMG Small Business shares some smart thinking on optimising your potential
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6 ways to approach your finances….
Bivek Sharma, Head of KPMG Small Business, considers the different approaches to financial management.
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Incubating growth
Being part of a business incubator can help you access expert knowledge, meet fellow entrepreneurs and find potential investors.
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Are your prices too low?
Bivek Sharma of KPMG Small Business Accounting asks whether you’re underselling your business
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Beyond the start-up
When it comes to generating start-ups, the UK has an enviable record; but they often struggle to take the next step
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Cash interest
At a time of high inflation and low bank rates, good cash management is more important than ever.
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Fail to plan, plan to fail…
Although business plans don't guarantee success, Bivek Sharma of KPMG believes that you're more likely to succeed if you have one.
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That’s entertainment
Bivek Sharma of KPMG looks at how taking a potential or existing customer out for a meal can be a great way to establish good relationships and keep them strong…
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The gig economy
Thinking of expanding your business with gig workers? Find the facts and figures you need to know here
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Become your own boss for £500?
Bivek Sharma, KPMG Small Business, discusses how it pays to be frugal in the early days
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Start building your brand
When your business starts to grow it’s time to reinforce your brand and create true customer loyalty
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Focus on the basics first
Developing a strong brand can wait until a start-up has got the business fundamentals right
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Are all small businesses lifestyle businesses?
People start businesses for all sorts of reasons. Bivek Sharma of KPMG looks at whether the dream matches the reality.
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Protecting your bright ideas
Getting professional legal advice to make sure your intellectual property is properly protected is an absolute must
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Crowd Pleasers
The success of Hybrid Air Vehicles’ Airlander 10 airship relied on crowdfunding. We look at the highs and lows of investing in this relatively new platform
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On the front foot?
Is your business ready to manage the introduction of tighter data protection rules? Stackhouse Poland look ahead to next year’s regulatory change
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Risk and resilience
Most organisations conduct their operations on digital platforms so cyber threats and data loss scandals are not new phenomena
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The Victorians still reign over us
Linder Myers Solicitors consider how a 127-year-old legal ‘default’ can impact the future of a business
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Three tips to avoid smashing your start-up egg
In the world of business, Bivek Sharma, Head of KPMG Small Business, says the virtue of patience is often overlooked in favour of speed
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Building strong foundations
How start-up baby food brand For Aisha put the foundations of a successful business in place to attract essential investment
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Making Tax Digital – an update
The Government's Making Tax Digital project is intended to simplify tax for businesses and HMRC. But will it succeed?
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The LLP alternative
Structuring a business as a Limited Liability Partnership can carry significant tax advantages, and is worthy of consideration by entrepreneurs
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Planning a new business
With the government keen to encourage people to start their own business, Kingston Smith takes a look at what entrepreneurs need to know
DNA of an entrepreneur
Business leaders can be defined by the issues they are juggling. Click on one of these hexagons to read more about a topic that is key to our entrepreneurial clients