Experts blog

Chris Owen discusses the issues facing Leicestershire’s Advanced Manufacturing sector – some of these have been created by Brexit and Covid but others are more long-standing and linked to the way these companies are founded and grown over the years.  Chris shares some practical advice on how these issues can be addressed to help the businesses ensure their survival and growth.

Ellie Dunmore is Director of Operations at Penny Price Aromatherapy, a company with sustainability at its heart.

Cast Iron Welding Services (CIWS), based in Coalville, has been operating for 75 years and, in the words of Sales Director, Andy Statham, “using what one might describe as a foundry process, we look less of a hi-tech manufacturer and more like a “dark satanic mill” from the Coleridge poem!”, but what they do is officially verified, in accordance with ISO14040, as achieving a reduction in carbon emissions by as much as 89%.

Tunde Sobola is a life-long green entrepreneur.  He started a sustainable cleaning business while still a student and now also runs a zero waste shop in Loughborough.

Here Jo looks back at how Covid has impacted her clients and changed the type of support provided by the Growth Hub

There has been a lot of engagement from companies across Leicester and Leicestershire, keen to understand the implications of the UK’s exit from the European Union and, believe me, there is a lot to understand and some of it has still not been finalised.

We might think that getting wound up by someone’s tone is just about the way they say something, but it’s often the choice of words they’re delivering as well.  The same thing applies in the written word, which is why you’ll find copywriters and brand people banging on about tone of voice. Content writer, Helen Tarver provides her top tips on creating the right tone for your brand.

What are you doing to help your employees during this Covid-19 crisis in what seems like a never-ending rollercoaster of lockdowns, restrictions and new ways of working? HR Training Consultant Annie Litchfield from Loates HR provides her 5 top tips.

Sarah Loates, Founding Director of Loates HR Consultancy encourages businesses to ‘get creative’ and consider ways to avoid redundancies. She explores the different measures employers could consider, some of which you may not be aware of.

Dr Nik Kotecha, MD, of Morningside Pharmaceuticals, looks at the known knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns of the current Brexit impasse and gives advice to businesses about how to prepare for the end of the Transition Period.

Bryony Whiley, Facilities and Marketing Manager for the Food and Drink Forum provides her handy checklist before you take the plunge and sell your produce online.

Michelle Jones of Ketchup Marketing provides her top tips when it comes to marketing your business after the effects of coronavirus.

Consultant Steve Hobbs explores the concept of the lean start up model versus a more traditional approach with a business plan. Includes tips and techniques which can support all types to start, scale and succeed. Turns out that there isn’t a ‘one answer fits all’.

Having a meaningful domain not only represents your brand online but allows potential customers to find you. Digital Growth Programme consultants Ian Lockwood and Rob Gregory explain it all here, using simple terminology they answer some useful questions, and explain – what a domain name is, what it is used for and why you should use one.

Adam Payne, Business Growth Coach from the Business Growth Academy, provides his advice to business owners who are struggling to get things done in their business and provides his tips on how to boost productivity and remove all those time-stealing distractions.

Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, chief executive of Morningside Pharmaceuticals, looks at how putting Continuous Improvement at the heart of a business’ Innovation Strategy can deliver positive business benefits.

Digital Growth Programme consultant Ian Lockwood is an SEO expert. Ian has given some actionable steps on improving your website pages to help it appear higher in search rankings, with some tips on creating content that your audiences may be looking for.

Should the East Midlands be claiming more R&D Tax Relief?

Only 2.15% of SMEs in our area claimed R&D Tax Credits in Financial Years 2016/17 and 2017/18. There should be 1000s more making a claim.

TBAT Innovation’s Danielle Allen provides advice and some common misconceptions when it comes to R&D tax relief in this blog.

Where in the world do you want your business to be?

Laura Howard, Head of International Trade at East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), discusses the effect Brexit will have on international trade, and how businesses can prepare.

Marc Ford, business author and editor of ‘The Small Business Growth Magazine’ provides his straight-talking advice for business owners that want to move their businesses forward. Warning: this blog is not for the faint-hearted.