Member Blog

The advancements in modern technology revolutionized how businesses are run nowadays. More and more businesses see to it that they establish a strong online presence because this paves the way for the growth and longevity of their brand. The reason behind this is that people now turn to the internet in search of any information, product, or service that they need. In line with this, it is then a good idea to delve into SEO and why it matters for your business.

What is SEO?

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the process of improving your site to increase its visibility being one of the top results that search engines deliver. The more visible your site is, the greater your chance of garnering the attention of potential clients and customers. According to Matthew Woodward, a seasoned digital expert, it is best to work with SEO experts to ensure that your strategy will be more effective rather than going about it on your own. This is because they are the ones who are knowledgeable with the latest updates that search engine algorithms use to crawl through different sites.

Search engines such as Google use algorithms to crawl to various web sites, collecting information from those pages. These algorithms then analyze which website needs to appear on the top of the search results based on the information that they have collected. Some of the key factors that these search engine algorithms consider include content quality and keyword research.

What Can Your Business Gain Through SEO? Build the Trust and Credibility of Your Site

One of the primary benefits that your business can gain from an effective SEO strategy is the credibility and trust that you can build for your site. Several factors can help you win this such as quality backlink profiles, positive user behavior, machine learning signals, as well as optimized on-page elements and content. When your site constantly appears on top of the search results as a result of your extra effort in ensuring that these factors are taken into careful consideration, there is a great chance that users will render your site as one of the most credible ones that they can trust when it comes to your niche. Just keep in mind that trust and credibility are not earned overnight, such that you need to have patience in waiting for your efforts to bear fruit.

Improve Your User Experience

Improved user experience is another benefit that your business can reap from an effective SEO strategy. This means that your users will be able to navigate through your site effortlessly because of an intuitive interface that you have optimized for SEO. If you have an e-commerce store, this means that your customers will be able to check the products that pique their interest, add it into their cart, and proceed to payments seamlessly. In this case, your site visitors have been converted into engaging users and paying customers that added to the revenue of your business, all because of an interface that improved their overall user experience.

Quantifiable Metrics

A great SEO technique also provides quantifiable metrics that help you identify areas in your business that you can still further improve. For instance, you may have been implementing a certain SEO technique for quite some time already, but you deem that your sales remain stagnant. In this case, you can review your SEO efforts and analyze where you can improve more based on the SEO reports that are generated based on real data. It can be that the reports indicate that you need to hasten your page loading speed to ensure that your visitors don’t bounce immediately even before they get the chance to view the information on your site.

Cost-Effective and Long-Term Marketing Strategy

In the world of digital marketing, implementing an SEO strategy is one of the most cost-effective and long-term marketing techniques. Like with any other marketing efforts, for sure you need to invest a certain sum to come up with a successful SEO effort. The great news is that the results of a minimal SEO effort are significantly considerable in terms of the benefits that you can reap.

Aside from being cost-effective, your SEO efforts will most likely have a noticeable impact not only in the first year of its implementation, but on several years ahead, which makes this a long-term marketing solution. Even if you don’t get to frequently update your SEO technique drastically, the basic best practices will still have a significant impact on your business.

Brand Awareness

In line with being a cost-effective and long-term marketing strategy, your SEO efforts can also bring forth brand awareness through organic traffic. This is because, with an effective SEO technique, your website will land on the top spot or the first page of the search results when users enter keywords in your niche. In this case, users will most likely click the link on your site because people don’t exert the extra effort to look into the sites that are listed on the succeeding pages.

When people do click the link redirecting them to your website, they will have a good idea of the products and the services that you offer, and whether this is suitable for them or this is what they are looking for. Nonetheless, they are now aware that your brand exists, such that if they don’t need it at the moment, they will have an idea of where to find your brand should they need it in the future.

To wrap things up, if you are running a business, now is the perfect time for you to ensure that you have a strong online presence because this will pave the way for your business growth and longevity. In this case, explore SEO and how you can take advantage of the benefits that it can bring forth to your business such as building the trust and credibility of your site or improving the user experience of your customers to name a few. In the end, you will find that with a successful SEO strategy will ensure that you gain a fair share of the market.

The Planning for the Future White Paper announced this week (6 August) by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick represents a massive change to the planning system.

We find the government’s recognition of the need to boost housing supply, and importance of providing housing opportunities for first-time buyers, extremely encouraging.

The First Homes scheme that will provide newly-built homes at a 30% discount for local people, key workers and first-time buyers is welcomed. The government also intends to replace the current system of developer contributions, including section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy, with a new infrastructure levy.

The new levy would be set at a fixed proportion of the value of the development above a set threshold, with the proceeds used to fund new roads, local facilities and affordable housing.

Whilst it is not known how this new levy would work in practice, we support the continued need to provide contributions towards local infrastructure through the planning process.

The government is also proposing a shift away from reliance on documents throughout the planning process to a ‘digital-first’ approach, particularly for those parts of the process that involve community engagement.

This is an area that we are currently reviewing with our clients, to ensure that where possible, any future consultation and engagement can take place using an online platform, providing a more innovative and streamlined way of engaging with the public.

The policy paper published by the government aims to deliver the high-quality, sustainable homes that communities need, but also includes some major reforms which will require careful consideration before implementing.

We want to reassure communities that as a consultancy we will continue to ensure that high-quality building standards are maintained for affordable housing developments, schools, GP surgeries and hospitals after increased targets to build 300,000 new homes nationally every year by the mid-2020s were also announced.

Whilst cutting red tape is the government’s headline aim, these proposals still require decision making through a more rule-based planning process. Our planning experts will therefore remain just as important to the process in navigating the future rules and ensuring developments address community needs and provide high quality accommodation.

Nicol Perryman, Associate and Planner, said: “We cautiously welcome the landmark proposed reforms that propose to make future changes to planning laws that aim to support a generation of first-time buyers and key workers to finally join the housing ladder, such as the First Homes scheme selling properties directly at a discount rate.

“We will also be working closely with our Housing Association and Local Authority clients over the coming months to understand how these proposals impact social and affordable housing.

“We work with a range of developers from the very start of the planning application to the end of construction work and pledge to continue ensuring high-quality building standards are maintained every step of the way despite the headline rise in housebuilding targets.

“We aim to do this whilst incorporating new green energy initiatives, such as heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points, and ensuring developments respect local surroundings and heritage.

“We believe local experts like planners and architects will become more important in navigating the new planning process – to ensure projects are carefully considered and fit for purpose.

“We look forward to examining the consultation papers in further detail over the coming months and considering their wider and future implications.”  

We do not have to mention separately about the crisis that the entire planet is going through. It was perhaps unfathomable that something so akin to the common cold but far more fatal, could bring the planet at a halt. A mutated strand of the Coronavirus changed our lives, and probably forever. And though we have all begun working and going out in a calibrated manner, it might still be several more years before we could live what we knew to be our normal lives. Nothing is the same as before. And amidst the pandemic, what we need to concern ourselves with is our physical and mental health.

We must take up all the precautions, eat and rest well to boost immunity. We must do everything that we can to ensure our safety from this virus. And speaking of the virus, one of the most important things that we need to look into is health insurance.

No one can guarantee to keep the virus at bay. We can only try, but we must be prepared to deal with it if the unfortunate happens. That said, besides a personal health insurance plan, you must also see to it that your employers offer health insurance. Employee health insurance is now more critical than ever.

And governments of nearly every country have made it mandatory for workplaces to provide employee health insurance. Therefore, we are now going to be looking into the benefits of employee health insurance plans that organizations offer. This can help you stay in the know and make informed decisions when the time calls for it. 

Should I Go for Individual Health Insurance or Rely on Group Insurance for Employees?

Most people wonder if relying solely on corporate health insurance plans is a good idea. Employee health insurance plans come with a myriad of advantages.They cover the medical expenses for you and your family until the time you are associated with the company.

And that is why, they are indispensable. However, is it advisable to put all your eggs in this one basket? This is a trick question that needs a bit more examining. 

Benefits of Group Health Policy

It is essential to look into some important features of a corporate group health insurance policy to reach a conclusion.

  In a Group Insurance, Employees Are Not Required to Pay the Premium

The first advantage that we must enlist is that employees do not have to pay the premium in this policy. And this is what makes the policy so appealing. The responsibility lies with the employer to pick up the tabs on the group health insurance. Therefore, you get the policy for free without anything being taken out on your salary. 

Group Insurance Covers the Employees and their Family

The second most important feature of group insurance is that it covers the family members of the employees as well.

This is a feature that lacks from personal health insurance plans, and is thus, quite lucrative. However, the advantages depend on the rates of the premiums too.

A higher rate might have more benefits, and vice-versa. You can find more information about these insurance plans at Lowered Rates.

  There is No Waiting Period for Group Insurance Policies to Kick In

This means that you can avail the policy right away without having to wait for 20-30 days, as is the norm for a personal health insurance policy. Check-ups, diagnoses and treatment do not have to wait; this is perhaps the most significant advantage of group health insurance. You only need to wait until the approval of the plan, and can then proceed to use the same.

Pre-Existent Ailments Are Also Covered Under this Plan

Another benefit of group health insurance is that it covers you for your pre-existing ailments as well. You can use the policy to cover you if an old affliction rears its head in the present. And this is probably the best feature of employee health insurance. These were some very crucial features of a group insurance plan or corporate health insurance.

And that is why, amidst the pandemic, it has become a mandate for employers to provide the same. However, relying only on a corporate health insurance plan might not be the best idea. There is a catch, and we shall now see what that is.

  Group Health Insurance is Necessary but Not Sufficient:

Though group insurance policies are the need of the hour, there are a few reasons why you must also have a personal health plan.

  The Coverage Amount Might Not Be Enough and Could be Reduced

Group health insurance policies might not have enough coverage amounts for you and your family. Plus, the amount could also be reduced as per the employer’s discretion. And this factor is quite worrisome. Plus, as we mentioned earlier, the benefits of the group health insurance could depend on the rates of the premium.

  Your Insurance Lapses Once You Quit or Retire

The benefits of a group insurance plan lapse instantly after the termination of services with the organization. And in that case, you need a working personal health insurance plan at your disposal. You cannot just depend on the group health insurance policy to come to your rescue. However, besides these two issues, a group insurance plan is quite useful, especially in times as such.

  The Takeaway:

Workplaces must be able to take up the responsibility of the health of their employees. It is the employees that serve as the most crucial resource of an organization.

Therefore, it is mandatory that employers protect the health of the employees at all costs. Getting a group health insurance is a great place to begin with such an endeavour.

Employees must also be smart enough to recognize that a group policy might fail to cover them at all times. And thus, it always bodes well to have a personal health insurance plan too. A personal health insurance plan shall step in when group coverage is not enough.

And that is why, you need a personal health insurance plan too. The wisest decision would be to buy personal insurance without waiting for your employers to offer group insurance.

You can be doubly protected and ensure that you do not have to suffer during an emergency. Be smart enough to gauge the need of the hour, and secure your future accordingly.

Financial management can be tricky, but in 2020, people are facing more money issues than usual. With the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc around the world, businesses are closing, and unemployment is rising. Whether you’re on a reduced income or you simply want to take control of your money, these handy tips will give you the confidence you need to improve your financial health.

1. Assess Your Current Financial Situation

When money troubles occur, it’s easy to bury your head in the sand and hope that things will improve. Conversely, when you’re doing well, it’s tempting to treat yourself to some luxuries and lose track of what your bank balance is.

Until you sit down and familiarise yourself with your finances, you won’t be able to take action to improve your financial health. Examine your payslips and/or bank statements to determine exactly what your income and expenditure is. Once you’ve done this, you’ll have all the information you need to take a proactive approach to money management.

2. Cut Your Expenditure

Most people have unnecessary outgoings, even if they don’t realise it. In fact, you could be spending hundreds of pounds a month on things you don’t really need or want. By looking over bank statements from the past twelve months, you’ll see payments that you’d forgotten about. Unused subscriptions or memberships that you no longer use can quickly be cancelled, providing you’re not still tied into a long-term contract.

In addition to this, get in touch with your utilities provider and see whether they can offer you a better deal. A simple comparison search will let you know whether you could be paying cheaper rates elsewhere and, if so, how to go about changing providers.

3. Identify Essential Bills

Your essential bills are the costs that you absolutely must pay every month. These typically include things like your rent or mortgage, utility bills, council tax and food. In reality, you might have other important bills that you consider to be essential.

If you need to pay for public transport in order to get to work, for example, this is going to be a high priority. Similarly, if you can only get your kids to school by car, then petrol, vehicle maintenance, insurance and car tax are going to be important costs for you to cover. List your outgoings in order of importance, so you can easily determine which bills should take precedence over others.

4. Create a Budget

Everyone who practices good money management has a budget. It’s the only way to keep track of your income and outgoings, so it’s well worth taking the time to devise an accurate budget you can stick to.

Start with your essential bills and work your way down the list of your outgoings. This will enable you to factor the most important costs into your budget first. If you realise that your outgoings exceed your income, there’s no need to panic. Taking control of your finances can be daunting at first, but you’ll be relieved once you’ve got a workable budget in place.

5. Check Your Borrowing Power

Even if you don’t want to take out a loan right now, it’s good to know what your options are. Check your borrowing power to determine how much you would be eligible to borrow and on what terms. Remember – don’t stick strictly to high street banks or traditional loan providers.

Many alternative options, such as direct payday loans, offer impressively low interest rates. If you need to access funding from a reputable payday loan company, for example, this provider can help. With low rates and super-fast turnaround times, Payday UK make it easy to access loans when you need to.

6. Boost Your Income

Everyone wants to earn more money, but 2020 might not be the right time to try and insist that your boss gives you a raise. All businesses are under increasing pressure due to the impact of coronavirus and many firms are reducing their workforce and making people redundant. However, this shouldn’t prevent you from boosting your income.

Taking on a second job or starting your own side hustle can be a great way to increase your monthly income. With the right side hustle, you can even choose your own hours and do something you enjoy to bring in some extra cash. Furthermore, having a second source of income gives you more protection if your primary job is in jeopardy. 

7. Have a Contingency Plan

Many people are worried about job security and a significant number of people are likely to experience a drop in income over the coming months. The anxiety this causes is understandable, but having a contingency plan in place can help to ease your mind and calm your nerves.

Take a look at what government support you would be entitled to if your main source of income was no longer available. You might be surprised at how much financial help is available. Alternatively, consider alternative ways to replace lost income. If you own your home, you may want to rent a room to a lodger, for example. Alternatively, if you’re currently renting, you may want to move in with family or friends until you can secure a new job role.

With any luck, your current job will remain secure and you won’t face a significant drop in income. However, having a contingency plan in place will ensure you’re able to cope with whatever financial circumstances you might face.

8. Find Free Hobbies

When you’re on a mission to improve your financial health, you’ll want to avoid spending money unnecessarily. By finding free hobbies and pastimes, you can dramatically reduce the amount you spend on entertainment and leisure.

Instead of going to the gym, for example, why not take up jogging or start working out at home? Many people have reached impressive fitness goals at home during lockdown, so this could be a great way to improve your physical and financial health.

Alternatively, walking, gardening, puzzling, reading, meditation and learning something new are all worthwhile pastimes that don’t require a big investment. In addition to this, volunteering in your local community can be a great way to spend your spare time. As well as increasing your social circle, you’ll be helping people and causes that are in need of support, while saving yourself some money in the process.

9. Seek Professional Advice

If you’re worried about your financial situation or your finances are getting out of hand, it’s important to seek advice from reputable resources. There are a number of charities that provide people with financial advice and assistance, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need to. Banks, building societies and businesses are well aware of the financial pressure people are under this year and many have implemented schemes to help people reduce their monthly payments or reduce interest rates. Get in touch with your creditors to see whether you qualify for any help.

Take Control of Your Finances

No matter what your financial situation is, taking control of your finances will stand you in good stead for the future. With the knowledge and confidence to practice good money management, you can ensure that your financial health continues to improve in 2020 and beyond.

Method Marketing founder Lucy Mowatt gives us the lowdown on a typical day in her life. From email management to tea breaks and TV choices, she explains it all.

6.50 AM: MEDITATE

Since starting my own business two years ago, I’ve meditated every day.

I try to make time first thing because it helps me wake up. It keeps sharp and focused throughout the morning. I normally have a glass of water and lemon on hand during this time, so I start to rehydrate.

7:00 AM: GET READY FOR WORK

Some mornings I work-out first thing, with a 5km jog or a yoga session, but most mornings, I get showered, have some breakfast and take a look at my to-do list.

I have emails switched off on my phone until 7.30, so I don’t start my day too early.

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: EMAILS & ADMIN

I try to keep my email use at a sensible level, otherwise it starts taking over my life. I plough through as many as I can first thing, weeding out the junk and flagging the most important.

I then disable my email notifications. If they’re switched on, I get distracted by the pinging sound. When they’re switched off, I regain control of my attention and my inbox.

I also check in on social media to make sure there’s nothing I’ve missed overnight. I’ll comment on posts that I think are relevant and check out the trending topics. It’s important to make sure there’s nothing relevant to Method Marketing or my clients.

9:00 AM: CONTENT & COPYWRITING

I schedule client work for the week on a Sunday evening, so I know who I’m working for when. I tend to put writing tasks at the start of my day because this is when my creative juices are flowing.

I love getting my head down and into a writing project. Even the most mundane topics can be interesting when you find a new, unexplored angle.

10:00 AM: TEA TIME

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a bit of a tea fiend. While I dabble with herbal and green teas, there’s nothing better than a good strong cup of Yorkshire Tea with a splash of milk.

While the kettle boils, I let my mind wander. I often find that this is my best thinking time – I often find solutions to problems or writer’s block while I wait.

10:15 AM – 12:00 PM: WRITING & EDITING

I use the late morning, when I have a caffeine buzz, to finish writing and check my work.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: LUNCH TIME

I’ve found that my lunches are far more healthy when I work from home (especially during lockdown!). I tend to have something balanced. As a pescatarian, I’ll try to have something with plenty of protein, accompanied by lots of veg.

If I’m working from home, I try to take a walk around the block and stretch my legs. The fresh air and time away from the screen give me a boost for the afternoon.

If I have any time left, I’ll take a flick through a magazine. I love the printed page and can’t resist a free magazine. That said, I’m currently reading the latest issue of National Geographic Traveller. It’s bittersweet though because I can’t actually go anywhere right now!

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: EMAILS

If anything pressing has come in over the course of the morning, I take the time to reply immediately after lunch.

1:30 PM – 4:00 PM: MEETINGS

I try to keep meetings and calls to the afternoon in order to protect peak writing time.

I’ll meet with clients, discuss marketing plans and send out proposals to prospects during this time.

4:00 PM: WRAPPING-UP

Towards the end of the day (depending on how the day is going!) I take time to wrap-up.

For several clients, I put together a status update showing what’s been completed and what’s outstanding.

This also allows me to plan for the following day. What still needs to be done? What are the priorities? Do I need to adjust my schedule?

4:30 PM: EMAILS (AGAIN)

I take 30 minutes at the end of the day to read and respond to any messages in my inbox.

Social media gets another look too, just to make sure there’s nothing I’ve missed.

5:00 PM: UNWIND & EAT

My fiancé and I catch up on our days while we prepare dinner. We’re both foodies, so love trying new recipes and cuisines.

At the minute we’re on a bit of Mexican kick, making lots of burritos, guacamole and refried beans.

After we’ve eaten, we tend to go for a walk around our local area. During the coronavirus, we’ve both missed our commutes. We might have only walked for 10 minutes at the end of the day, but it helped us switch off from work.

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: WATCH TV

Time to unwind and watch TV. We’ve got a reputation for being binge-watchers – we’ll stick with one show until we’ve finished the season.

We’re currently rewatching The West Wing. It’s possibly my favourite TV show of all time. I remember watching it back in the 90s with my Dad and it’s really stayed with me. Yes, it can be schmaltzy, but I love it. The scripting is brilliant, the characters are complex and the storylines and confusing. What’s not to like?

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM: READING

I’ve always been a big reader – even as a child. As a writer, editor and content marketer, it’s important for me to read as much as I can, as often as I can. It gives me ideas, improves my vocabulary and also helps me to unwind.

I’m currently reading Carlos Ruiz Rafón’s The Labyrinth of the Spirits. It’s the final book in the Cemetry of Forgotten Books series and it’s a real page-turner. I was saddened to hear of the author’s death last month. He had such a beautiful way with words – I can’t believe he won’t write any more novels.

10:00 PM: BEDTIME

I try to turn out the lights at 10 so I get a good night’s sleep. Yes, it’s early, but I really value my 40 winks!

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With companies adapting to a new way of working, making sure your workforce are working effectively has become a hot topic. Almost every industry is looking to new data science technologies as a way of optimising in the present and being prepared for the future.

An increasing reliance on data however, comes with an inevitable challenge. Despite increases in innovation, according to a report, employees working with data are still wasting 44% of their time each week due to unsuccessful tasks due to lack of collaboration between systems and employees, knowledge gaps and reluctance to change.

But what if you could remove that task-barrier and work data entry into your business processes so that it is already in one platform and nobody must go searching for it? This theory works particularly well in industries with field-based functions and multiple sites.

For example, a field-based technician entering customer data from site can quickly update service of a resolution who can then close tickets and automatically raise invoices for finance. The data collected along those points informs productivity, fix stats, SLA targets and accounting figures amongst other nuggets of information.

There are also other benefits to making sure your data, information and processes are contained in one place. Such as: security, removing human error and future proofing your business with one location for business truth. Data Management Software allows this to happen, using Data Processing within the software to retrieve, transform, classify and manipulate data.

If this is something you think your business needs a sustainable data solution, speak to us on 01284 717279 or go to https://sourcecodestudio.co.uk/contact/

We are delighted to be working with insurance broker, Get Indemnity, which is helping individuals and companies of all sizes to find the best insurance cover for them and at the most competitives rates. Tudor Lodge was approached following success with other insurance campaigns including YuLife and Equipsme for SEO and maximising the client’s search positions on Google.

Get Indemnity acts as a broker for a whole range of business and individual insurance products, with a main focus on professional indemnity. We approached their SEO campaign in the following way.

Keywords

We always start every campaign by looking at target keywords and with insurance, there are lots of keywords, with good volumes and variations. We see the term ‘professional indemnity’ as our main target – and also variations such as ‘quotes,’ ‘online’ and areas such as ‘london’ and ‘uk.’

We looked out for any quick wins, such as keywords already on page 2 and 3 and how we can bump these up to the elusive page 1 of Google.

We have compiled a list of 50 keywords and continue to monitor these and report back to the client.

Technical fix up

Using Screaming Frog and SEMrush, we have analysed the site from a technical standpoint and have fixed hundreds of pages including meta-titles, meta-descriptions, response codes, XML sitemap and more – to ensure a smooth indexing of the website.

Content review

With hundreds of pages already on the site, and quality content too, we review the key pages to ensure that they are well optimised for Google and match the user intent in the best way possible.

On landing pages, we included more information on how to get quotes, the cost of quotes, how to apply and key features – as a way of telling Google that this is a product you can purchase.

Very quickly, we saw an improvement in rankings, specifically for terms such as ‘quotes.’

Links, links and more links

Still a key part of the Google algorithm, we have been acquiring naturaly links through PR and journalists, to boost the online brand and strengthen the DA, which will help all pages and boost rankings for all keywords.

We are slowly adding domains with a higher DA and working towards eventually having hundreds of links and a DA of 50+.

Get Indemnity has seen some quick wins and although we are in month two, we expect noticeable gains by the 6th month which will take us to Christmas.

Trying to come up with an idea for a new business can be tricky, but one option worth considering is a delivery business. This type of business allows you to be your own boss, choose your own hours, make a decent amount of money and it doesn’t take much hassle to get it started.

When it comes to setting up a delivery business, the initial costs are fairly low (particularly if you already own a suitable vehicle). So, how do you get your business off the ground? Here are some of our top tips to get you started:

Find a Suitable Vehicle

There are lots of brilliant choices available when it comes to finding a vehicle that is suitable for delivering parcels. Whether you choose a van, a people carrier or just use your normal family car is up to you.

Most people choose to purchase a van for their delivery business. You may be worried about the cost of buying a van, but there are some great deals on second-hand vans. When purchasing your vehicle, it’s a good idea to pay close attention to its fuel efficiency. The more fuel it uses, the more money it will cost you to run.

Purchase Equipment

Once you’ve found the right vehicle, you will need to buy any equipment you may need for your business. You may need tools that make moving heavier, larger items simpler. You may also need equipment that secures the cargo in your vehicle. This will stop items from being damaged. Spending money on securing your items is cheaper than replacing broken items.

Choose a Name

You need to think of a creative and unique name for your business. When you’ve chosen your name, you can start organising all of the legal documentation. You may expect this part of the process to be tricky, but there are lots of online resources to help you.

Insurance

Delivery businesses need to purchase insurance for their vehicle, their cargo, and public liability insurance. Many customers will avoid working with delivery companies who have little or no insurance.

Insurance doesn’t have to cost a fortune. For example, if you search a comparison website for cheap van insurance you’ll be able to find something very low cost. One example is quotezone.co.uk which has over sixty van insurance providers listed online currently. You can use the quotezone.co.uk platform for quotes and buy either online or over the phone if you find a provider that works with your budget.

Advertise Your Company

You’ve got everything you need to carry parcels safely, so now is the time to start advertising your business. Use social media platforms to let people know what services you offer. You should also create a webpage and use search engine optimisation tools.

Track Your Expenses

As a business owner, you will need to keep track of your expenses. You may be able to claim some of this money back.

When it comes to setting up a delivery business in the UK, there are lots of opportunities to be successful. You could choose to be a self-employed owner or choose to work for another company. Whatever you choose, if you want to set up a successful delivery business, then you will need to follow the advice above.

get in touch with the Huxley Events team!

Contact [email protected] or give us a call on 01603 869740

Human capital is the skills, experience and attitudes that people bring to an organisation. This is essential for improving productivity and ensuring your company is keeping up with or even surpassing competitors. To use a basic example, imagine owning a pharmaceutical company and wanting to employ some of the brightest, most innovative young scientists, so you can get the competitive edge when developing new medical drugs – but then this talent decides to go with your rival company instead. This will come as a massive setback for your business. So, if you want to prosper in the industry, you need to attract and retain human capital. But how exactly does one go about doing this? Well, we’re going to be answering this question in our article. Read on to see if these strategies would be useful in your workplace.

1.) Compare against Competitors

You need to learn what your competitors are doing, so you know how to improve and set yourself apart from them. What many companies will do is conduct a competitor analysis, which assesses the strengths and the weaknesses of industry rivals. You should also focus on what incentives they have in place to attract human capital (such as higher salaries), plus what previous employees have said in job reviews. This will help you benchmark your company against others. It might also be worth checking what your former employees have said in job reviews because this will be what prospective talent will be looking at, too.

2.) Employee Benefits

Implementing an employee benefits scheme is essential in attracting and retaining human capital. Employee benefits are incentives that come in addition to salaries, such as pension policies, medical insurance, or paid time off work. They can be a make or break factor when it comes to someone applying for a position at your company as opposed to others. What’s more, they’re well-recognised for improving employee loyalty and morale, plus reducing unauthorised absences and staff turnover. Benefits software provider, Zest can help businesses integrate these schemes seamlessly into the organisation, ensuring they’re being used to their best potential.

3.) Career Progression

If you want to attract and retain human capital, you must demonstrate that there is career progression within your organisation. Young talent won’t want to remain stagnant in a junior role for the rest of their lives. Instead, they’ll want to grow and improve in a career that aligns with their ambition. Employees that have something to aim for are also more likely to be motivated and engaged with their work. As such, it’s important to strategize your organisation around this principle, supporting staff with their progression.

4.) Company Reputation

We touched upon the importance of job reviews before, but we’re going to expand upon this idea now. Job reviews are indicative of your company’s reputation, which is difficult to get an accurate picture of when you manage it yourself. You need a good reputation if you want to attract human capital. If prospective employees see slanderous reviews online, they’re immediately going to be put off applying, whereas glowing reviews are going to make you stand out from competitors. Young talent everywhere might even end up vying for a position at your company. To improve your company reputation, it’s important to solicit feedback wherever you can. Identify your strengths and keep working in that direction; identify your weaknesses and create strategizes within the organisation to rectify them.

These are some tried and trusted strategies to improve human capital. Don’t ever forget that your employees are the most valuable assets of your company.

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We are just over six miles from Norwich city centre; a few minutes’ drive from the NDR and Norwich Airport on the lovely village green at Horsham St. Faith. With plenty of off-road parking, we are ideally situated for you and your guests-with eleven, individually appointed en-suite bedrooms, you can even stay the night!

Whether you’re looking for a mid-week or weekend wedding, our function room offers the ideal space all year round.

For more information on The Black Swan please visit https://www.blackswaninn.co.uk/. To make a reservation or enquire about our hospitality packages, please call us on 01603 897787 or email [email protected] for further details. We look forward to welcoming you here.

Here at The Black Swan, we are focused on providing a relaxing atmosphere for our customers. Whether it’s a drink with friends, fine dining with the family, a place to celebrate with loved ones, or somewhere to stay whilst exploring Norfolk, we have a spacious, yet cosy and unique location waiting for you.

We are situated just over six miles from Norwich city centre; a few minutes’ drive from the NDR and Norwich Airport, on the lovely village green at Horsham St. Faith.  With plenty of off-road parking and both indoor and outdoor drinking and dining spaces, whether you’re out with the family or entertaining for business, The Black Swan is ideally situated.

If you seek a varied menu of interesting food coupled with a few drinks or are looking to meet friends and family for a birthday, anniversary, baby shower or a wedding reception, we can cater for you in our spacious bar, restaurant or function room.

Perhaps you run a small business or are a remote worker and looking for an agreeable spot to meet with your clients/ staff that is serviced and offers recommended food and drink? Here at The Black Swan we have a spacious business conference room available for use

For more information please visit https://www.blackswaninn.co.uk/. To make a reservation or enquire about our hospitality packages, please call us on 01603 897787 or email [email protected] for further details. We look forward to welcoming you here.