SBC Magazine May 2023 Issue 8

A word from our Chief WELCOME TO SIMPLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE!

Welcome to the latest edition of SBC magazine, we are really excited to bring you the latest offering including articles from some of our members and also from some large organisations offering their view on some hop topics.

SBC Magazine has come a long way over the time it has been publishing content for the business sector and we are really pleased that we have reached a new milestone in that you might be reading this online as usual or you might be reading our first ever printed copy. Let us know what you think, if this edition is well received, we will look at future editions being printed as well.

We are also very excited to be working with Business Vision Live for the show on the 10th May, we are honoured to have stand 319 with some of our members and will be showcasing our businesses as well as hosting some speed networking throughout the day, if the show hasn't happened yet or if you are currently at the show, come over and say hi.

Over the coming months we are increasing our reach by working with many organisations to bring you latest news and updates from the business world including in this edition an update from Lombard (one of the largest finance companies in the UK specialising in asset based lending) all about five government schemes SMEs should be taking advantage of.

We also have some articles from members of Simply Business Club, take a look and let us know what you think.

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What’s inside

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Making sure your will is fit for purpose

PUZZLE PAGE SUDOKU & CROSSWORD

lombard reveals the five government schemes SMEs should be taking advantage of Benefits of keeping it local

CSR: What it is and how you can make it part of your business

Simply Business Club - Marketing for your business - Networking & trade show special

Simply Business Club Members profiles & Contact details

using linkedin in a digital world business advantages of your own book

The importance of security at events

7 top tech tips - Passwords

Simply Business Club membership benefits

Magazine Rate Card

Simply Business club Magazine

Within this magazine we feature businesses and business professionals from start ups all the way up to global brands, each voice just as important. We really like sharing positive news, updates and advice & tips from around the world, Do you fall within the above, do you have some information or advice to share with our readers?

Would you like us to cover a certain topic or perhaps add a regular section with updates, perhaps from a certain business sector like Human Resources.

Recently we listened to some of our readers and so from the next edition we will be including business related film and book reviews and in this edition we have some brain training such as suduko. Is there anything else you would like to see us include in future editions, please feel free to get in touch with us via the methods detailed below.

Making sure your Will is fit for purpose

Written by Sara Sheppard

What do we mean by this? It means that making sure your Will does exactly what you think it does. It is all very well thinking that your Estate is simple and that you can either write your Will yourself, or have a free Will written through one of the charity schemes (you have to be over 55 to do this, and they hope that you will leave them a big legacy – after all they are paying a solicitor to write the Will). Or you may decide to do one of the cheap Wills through an online service or buy a pack from WHSmiths and write it yourself.

However, none of these will take a good look at the size and structure of your Estate, or ask you about your family (not just your spouse and children) but also consider other relatives. None of these will necessarily consider whether additional clauses are needed to protect your business, nor will they consider Inheritance Tax implications.

At SLS Wills and More Limited, our director, Sara Sheppard, has over 34 years experience, not only in writing Wills, but also dealing with Estate once someone has passed away, and as a result, she has dealt with many difficult situations where there was no Will, or the Will was no longer fit for purpose.

When considering your Will, think about:

1. Who should be your Executors and Trustees? These should be people that you can trust 100% - they must be financially aware and if at the time of dealing with your Estate, they are bankrupt, then they cannot act as your Executor. Are they likely to be in a position of a conflict of interest? Your beneficiaries can be your Executors, but they might just want to make sure that their interest as a beneficiary is protected rather than those of anyone else. It is for this reason that some people consider appointing professional Executors. Sara can help and guide you as to the options available to you.

2. Do you need guardians for young children? If your children are under 18 when you die, and you have not appointed guardians, then the Courts will decide who gets to look after them and who will have parental responsibility. There is no automatic solution for the care of your children. According to Child Bereavement UK (https://www. childbereavementuk.org/deathbereavement-statistics) 111 children lose a parent EVERY day.

3. Do you have a business? Is it a limited company, partnership or are you a sole trader? What will happen to it if you still owned the business when you die? We need to consider whether there are other shareholders and is there a shareholders agreement in place. Will your business be entitled to

Business Property Relief (BPR) for Inheritance Tax purposes? Not every business is, and only your Accountant will be able to tell you as it not certain if your business will have BPR. Should you appoint a separate Business Executor to deal with your business or are your main Executors capable and qualified to do so?

4. Do you want to protect your family home so that it can pass to your children, even if your spouse remarried? If your spouse remarries, then the Will they would have made with you is automatically revoked on their marriage, and your children could be disinherited very easily.

5. Are you currently separated from your spouse, but not yet divorced? Did you know that your spouse is still entitled to your Estate under your Will or under the laws of intestacy if you died before the Decree Absolute is issued? We would recommend that a new Will is made upon separation, and then reconsidered on divorce. Are you doing the divorce yourself online? Are you aware that unless you have a binding agreement stamped by the Courts, your ex spouse could still be entitled to some of your Estate. An informal agreement between you does not necessarily mean that they will get nothing – particularly if they decided to challenge your

Will because you are still paying maintenance to them.

6. Are any of your beneficiaries vulnerable, or do they lack the ability to manage their finances? We do not recommend leaving them out of your Will on the basis that other family members will look after them – there is nothing to legally enforce your wishes unless there is something in your Will – we recommend considering a form of trust that will ensure that your vulnerable beneficiary will be protected.

7. Are there assets which should be placed in trust now to keep them out of your Estate for Inheritance Tax purposes? You would be surprised how many times we see clients who have not thought about making sure life policies and pensions are going to pass to their beneficiaries direct, rather than under a Will – this is quite important to consider, and as we work with a number of financial advisers we can recommend you to someone who will be able to advise on these aspects.

8. Making sure your funeral wishes are recorded is becoming more important. There are more reports of family disagreements arising due to the lack of recorded wishes, which can then cause rifts, and this is before they even start talking about money…. We can help with this, and would advise you to seriously consider a pre-paid funeral plan as well. Paying for your funeral now at today’s prices means that you have control over what

happens and your family will not have to struggle to find the money – there is no guarantee that there will be enough money in the bank, that they will even release it, and that over 50’s life policy may not be enough either. Prepaid Funeral plans are set to become regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as of July 2022, so we would advise that you should only consider plans from already regulated providers. We at SLS Wills and More Limited can help guide you with some of the bigger providers who are already regulated.

9. If you have made your Will already, did you sign and date it in the presence of 2 witnesses? We have seen so many homemade Wills, where it has not been signed and witnessed properly, or amendments have been made which are not initialled properly. Do you even know where your Will is kept?

We also recommend that your Wills are reviewed every 3-5 years, or if you have a life-changing event (birth, marriage, inheritance, retiring), so for our existing clients we offer a short call just to check that nothing has changed. For others, we will review your existing Will and let you know if you should consider making a new one and will let you know how much our charges are.

Having your Will made by an Estate Planning Consultant may cost you a few hundred pounds, but you will have peace of mind that it will protect your family and your assets, and could save thousands of pounds when you die. Make sure your Consultant is either a member of Society of Will Writers, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners or Institute of Professional Will Writers, as they will be trained and regulated to high standards.

We are more than happy to help, so please visit our website www.slswillsandmore.co.uk for more information, or call us on 01304 577998 to make an appointment.

We recommend that you review your will every 3-5 years or if you have a life changing event

Having an estate planning consultant make your Will could save your estate £thousands

1, Scotty worked on it (10)

2, Paid work (10)

3, Glitter with many points of light (7)

4, Accounts help with these (8)

5, Bids for work (7)

6, 86,400 seconds (3)

7, Difficulties, Dilemmas (8)

8, An Architects Designs (10)

9, Instrument panel array (8)

10, You can punch it, watch it tell it and read it (5)

sudoku

Lombard reveals the five government schemes

SMEs should be taking advantage of

Amid high inflation, high energy costs and climbing interest rates, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face a mixed economic picture. To help support SMEs during turbulent times, Lombard has revealed the top five government schemes to take advantage of.

While almost half of SMEs remain optimistic about their growth prospects, according to the Federation of Small Businesses, one in seven (14.7%) fear they may have to downsize or even shut down.

The range of challenges on the horizon make it more vital than ever for small businesses to save money where they can. And that's where government grants and support schemes can play their part. However, as Lombard managing director Ian Isaac points out: "The biggest issue is awareness of grant availability – how to access them and what terms apply."

To help SMEs, Lombard has identified five grants and support schemes that could significantly help small businesses in the UK.

1. Full expensing

The 2023 Budget saw the launch of a major tax incentive scheme to encourage businesses to invest in plant and machinery. Known as full expensing, this capital allowance lets companies deduct 100% of qualifying investments from their taxable profits. Running until March 2026, full expensing covers 'main rate' plant and machinery investments, such as office equipment, machines, vehicles other than cars, and construction tools. It means that businesses can effectively write off the cost of their investment all at once, with their taxes falling by up to 25p for each pound invested.

2. Help to Grow: Digital or Management

With the Help to Grow: Digital scheme, SMEs can apply for software discounts worth up to 50%. A range of tools and guidance are also available to support their take-up of digital technology. The management side of the programme offers 12 weeks of learning to help small business leaders upskill. Other benefits include mentoring support and a bespoke business growth plan. The government covers 90% of the costs, leaving £750 to pay.

3. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

KTPs give businesses the opportunity to team up with academics. Together, they'll gain the know-how and specialist skills to take innovative projects forward. With the help of grant funding, you're able to cover some of the costs of bringing a graduate on board.

Annual support worth £80,000 to £100,000 is generally delivered through a KTP. Micro, small and medium-sized companies can get 67% of their project costs covered.

4. Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme

The SEIS offers a way to raise vital funds at the very beginning of a business journey. It works by giving tax reliefs to new investors when they purchase shares in your firm. Investments worth up to £150,000 can be raised through the scheme. Between 2012/13 and 2020/21, a total of 15,865 companies secured SEIS investments worth around £1.6 billion.

5. Innovate UK

As the name suggests, Innovate UK offers funding to SMEs with pioneering business ideas. This government agency supports the testing and development of fresh innovations. Advanced manufacturing, digital, electronics and advanced computing are among the sectors and technologies it can assist with.

Even with the end of the super deduction scheme on the horizon and tough economic times ahead, the government's Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) has been extended indefinitely and Isaac expects to see more government incentives come to fruition: "I do think there will continue to be incentives provided to businesses to invest and grow, especially where the expenditure supports climate transition."

BENEFITS OF KEEPING IT LOCAL

In many walks of life, you can buy products and some services from anywhere around the globe. But when it comes to service with a difference, Ian and Jamie from WBS Copiers and Printers like to keep it nice and local.

Setting up over 9 years ago, WBS copiers and Printers have grown to become a very well-respected business in the Kent area and beyond. WBS now service lots of machines across Kent and with a staggering firsttime fix rate of over 90% because they care about their customers and how they would cope if they were unable to print.

From unethical contracts to fair prices, WBS wants to be an open book when it comes to customer service and interaction.

"As someone who has used WBS for a few years now I can honestly say Ian and Jamie are wonderful people who have always made sure I am always up and running, so much so that one time I was in an online networking meeting with Ian and said my printer was not working and before the meeting had ended he had jumped in his van, popped over to my office fixed the printer and finished the networking meeting sitting next to me." J.T.

07557 029 115 or 07525 259 746

WBS Copiers and Printers

Rowes Yard, Manston Business Park, Manston, Kent CT12 5FA

So what are the benefits to you and your business of using a local printer service company?

There are several benefits to having a printer service company located locally to your business in Kent. Here are the top five benefits:

Faster Response Times: With a local printer service company, you can expect faster response times for repairs, maintenance, and support. This means less downtime for your business and more productivity.

WBS are currently averaging around 30-minute callout times from the point that they are made aware of an issue either from the monitoring agent or a phone call from the client right through to getting an engineer to their door.

Knowledge of the Local Market: A local printer service company will have a better understanding of the needs and challenges of businesses in Kent. They can provide tailored solutions that meet the specific requirements of your business.

There are times when Ian and his team have been to an install and things might not have been as advised or something might have changed. A lot of service companies would not bend to these changes they would refuse to adapt and get the sales / contract guy in to re-negotiate to allow for the change. Knowing the local area means WBS can adapt quickly and either get back to their unit to pick up more parts if needed or go to a local supplier who can give them what is needed to get the job done, first time, without fuss.

Easy Access to Supplies:

Local printer service companies are typically well-connected to suppliers and manufacturers of printer supplies. This means you can easily get access to replacement parts, toners, and other consumables.

WBS always try its best to make sure a client is not without consumables but there are times when they are faulty or there is an issue and so when this happens, WBS make sure they have stock of all the toners we supply and make sure to get it out to you within our average call out time of just 30 minutes

Cost Savings:

A local printer service company may offer cost savings compared to a national or international service provider. This is because they have lower overheads and can pass on these savings to their customers.

WBS is ethical in everything from the contract right through to the callouts they will try to keep costs to a minimum where possible, such as if a machine is coming to the end of its life, Ian would suggest changing machines and based on your needs a new machine might not be the right way forward, he might be able to suggest a refurbished machine that will do you just as well.

Personalized Service:

With a local printer service company, you can expect personalized service that is tailored to your business needs. You can develop a relationship with the technicians who service your printers, and they can provide advice and support on how to get the most out of your printing equipment.

Knowing each and every one of your customers is really important especially when it comes to being able to offer help and support.

"We keep lots of parts on the van and we try to diagnose the issue before attending site so we can turn up prepared to get the machine back up and running within no time."

On the odd occasion it cannot be fixed first time, WBS keep a range of extra parts at their new unit in Manston, to which they have easy access and so can get in and out quickly and back to your office meaning low down time for your printer.

By demonstrating a commitment to ethical behaviour and social and environmental concerns an organisation can build trust and credibility with stakeholders, including customers, employees, and investors. Their reputation will be enhanced, helping to create a competitive advantage.

CSR also benefits companies by reducing legal and reputational risks. It can promote innovation and efficiency, for example through sustainable production methods or developing new products or services that address social or environmental challenges. It fosters inclusivity and loyalty among employees and customers.

While every business is different and has a unique set of demands and constraints, every business can incorporate some actions under a CSR heading. Small businesses often do so without labelling them as CSR. Here are some common examples.

Examples of small business CSR practices

1. Giving back to the community. Small businesses are often firmly rooted in the community where they operate, and so they support local organisations and causes that align with their values. This may be through donations, sponsorships, discounts on products or services, or volunteer work.

2. Reduce environmental impact. Small businesses frequently adopt sustainable practices such as reducing waste, conserving energy, and using eco-friendly products. They are often run on tighter budgeting and control than larger organisations, and these measures not only benefit the environment but also save money on operating costs.

3. Support ethical sourcing. Small businesses tend to work very closely with their suppliers, often within close geographic proximity. They can ensure they partner with companies who adhere to fair labour practices or use sustainable production methods.

4. Work-life balance. Small businesses often provide their employees with options such as flexible schedules and family-friendly workplaces. The business owners may be the only employees, but if there are other members of staff, the owners will know them personally, and be likely to support them on an individual basis.

Where small businesses sometimes miss out on some of the benefits of these actions is by not talking about them. Large corporates often have webpages dedicated to showcasing their CSR, and small businesses could benefit from similar visibility, positioning themselves as a great company to do business with.

MP Environmental Pest Control offering commercial and domestic solutions to pests

MP Environmental is owned and managed by Michelle Pope. Michelle, has over 15 years experience in the pest control world and offers a friendly, reliable & honest local pest control service.

We believe Michelle is the owner of the first and possibly only woman owned pest control company in Kent.

Michelle is passionate about constantly improving and evolving to meet customers needs and offers tailor made contracts.

MP Environmental is proud to serve Kent with its Pest Control needs offering help and support to both the commercial and domestic sectors with contracts for businesses such as restaurants who need to have a pest management plan in place by law and any pest related ad hoc emergencies.

We also offer services to the domestic market so if you find bed bugs or have a wasps nest or issues with moles or any other pest related issue then we can help you to become pest FREE.

Have you ever attended a business networking event, either online or in person? If yes, what did you think; if no, why not?

It is my honest opinion that business networking is the best use of your marketing budget and a great use of your time, when it is done correctly.

When I say correctly, I mean, do not think that attending a group will automatically get you business, sadly it won't often work out like that.

Attend meetings, be present and engage with the other attendees within the meetings either online or in person and then after the meetings have finished book 1-2-1s with the people you have met. You might think, but I am not interested in what they do, what if they are interested in what you do, what if they want to tell people about what you do. I remember being asked in a large group what is your

Marketing for your business

golden nugget referral? Someone shouted out I would like an audience with Richard Branson, some laughter, as if that can happen. Then an amazing thing happened, someone replied and said I am good friends with his PA, let me see what I can do.

Now, I have no idea if that opportunity came off but the fact is no one knew they were one step away from Richard Branson, you never know who knows who.

Look at each 1-2-1 as an opportunity to get to know the person, you never know what might come of that relationship.

Another form of networking is a business trade show, lots of businesses exhibiting, showing off their business brand and giving away merchandise such as pens, pads and mugs. This year we have also seen other items such as bluelight blocking glasses and even clapper boards "action".

Trade shows are a great way to start a conversation with businesses both from the point of view of being the buyer and the seller. We all need things in our business, we all need an accountant, we all need printed things like flyers, we all need a website. Speak to the people offering those things, start a conversation and see

how they can help you and your needs and don't forget to get a nice new pen.

Simply Business Club is attending Business Vision Live at Detling Showground near Maidstone in Kent on the 10th October and also will be attending other events in the coming months, at BVL23 we have been asked to give a talk at the breakfast in the morning and run some speed networking throughout the day, we are very excited to working with the show and hope to be able to offer similar types of networking opportunities throughout the year at other events across the UK.

So, what next for you, as we asked you at the start of this article, have you been along to a networking event? did you attend BNI or BoB, perhaps it was an FSB or Chamber event or even, have you been lucky enough to attend an SBC event? Each of the listed meetings offers a slightly different take on how to do it, not every type will work for each and every person which is why we always say you should try as many different types of meetings as possible so that you make the right choices.

If you haven't attended a networking meeting then I urge you to do so, it will help you take steps to another level, it will also be helpful to know a plumber or a virtual assistant at a time when you have a boiler issue or your admn is getting too much for you to handle.

At Simply Business Club we offer 3 online meetings per week at different times to suit the different needs

Monday 11am - 12.30pm Brunch / Elevensies

Thursday 12.30pm - 2pm Lunchtime

Friday 7.30am - 9am Breakfast

Our members choose to attend one or more per week some choose a set day some choose to fit it around their schedule, both ways work.

Why not come along and see how Networking happens at Simply Business Club, we offer every new person 4 FREE visits within a one month period.

Book on via the QR code below

Joining Simply Business Club has given us a great opportunity to meet other business within Kent and hear about the various industries of other members. Its quite a relaxed atmosphere too so you feel like your making friends as well as business contacts and meetings are flexible to your work schedule. All in all its been great for our business not only broaden our client base but also utilise services from others too. We would highly recommend coming along and trying it out!

David Meares Virtec IT Solutions

Since Covid interrupted our lives many of us were also introduced to online networking, a stay at home alternative via Zoom or Teams, lots of people have gone back to face to face meetings and whilst this is understandable as people crave the physical interaction with other people, have you considered a hybrid approach? The benefits of online networking such as;

1, Meeting people from anywhere in the world

2, Save on time travelling to and from meetings

3, Save on cost of travelling to and from meetings

Book a meeting now by scanning this QR code don't forget to use the promocode NEWVISITOR for your first 4 visits

Using Linkedin in a Digital World

Let your business benefit from the power of Linkedin

Linkedin is one of the most powerful tools available to generate awareness of your business towards people you do not know (word of Mouth).

Simply Business Club has been a huge advocate for Mike Roberts and his Making Digital Real revolution. So I asked ChatGPT why should a business use Linkedin and this is what it said:

LinkedIn is a powerful social networking platform that businesses can leverage to build their brand, connect with customers, and grow their business. Here are some reasons why businesses need to use LinkedIn:

1, Reach a Large Audience: LinkedIn is the world's largest professional networking platform with over 756 million members in more than 200 countries. By having a presence on LinkedIn, businesses can reach a large and diverse audience and connect with potential customers, partners, and employees.

transform your business, if only you plug it in.

There’s three main reasons that compliance might feel like a tickbox exercise, a thing for the audit, a waste of time (and, in which case, probably is).

2, Build Brand Awareness: LinkedIn is an excellent platform for building brand awareness. By creating a company page, businesses can showcase their products or services, share industry insights, and engage with their followers. A well-curated LinkedIn page can help businesses establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry.

First, because it duplicates real life. If you have ISO certifications and schedule a so-called management review just in time for the auditor coming so you can triumphantly brandish the minutes in their face, then you can knock it on the head. You know the weekly/biweekly/monthly management/board/directors’ meeting you already have? That’s your management review.

3, Generate Leads: LinkedIn provides a variety of tools and features to help businesses generate leads. With LinkedIn Sales Navigator, businesses can target specific audiences and identify potential leads. Additionally, businesses can use LinkedIn's advertising platform to create targeted campaigns that reach their ideal audience.

I’d confidently bet that you are discussing these things all the time. Because if you aren’t talking about how effectively your business is running more often than a week before the annual audit, you wouldn’t have a business for very long.

4, Recruit Talent: LinkedIn is also a powerful recruitment tool. By posting job openings on the platform, businesses can reach a large pool of qualified candidates. Additionally, businesses can use LinkedIn to search for potential candidates based on their skills and experience.

You don’t need to call it a management review for it to qualify. You don’t need to use the dry technical terms of the standard on your agenda, either. But chances are, you did indeed discuss your clients, staff, shareholders. And the cost of living crisis, the effects of the latest political drama afflicting whichever Prime Minister is in power by the time this goes to print. Bingo –

that’s ‘Context of the Organisation’ and ‘Needs and Expectations of Interested Parties’ ticked off. And so on.

If, by chance, there’s a part of the standard you didn’t cover – you probably should add it somewhere. Call it something in plain English, but don’t neglect it. Not “for the audit”, but because it’s all quite important stuff. You don’t need to discuss every item in every meeting either; have some items on every agenda, and others can rotate so that meetings don’t last the whole day.

5, Stay Up-to-Date with Industry News: LinkedIn is an excellent platform for staying up-to-date with the latest industry news and trends. By following relevant industry groups and thought leaders, businesses can stay informed and stay ahead of the competition.

In summary, LinkedIn is a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes. By leveraging the platform's powerful features, businesses can reach a large and diverse audience, build brand awareness, generate leads, recruit talent, and stay up-to-date with industry news and trends.

The second reason is that the purpose might not be clear. If you’re doing something “for compliance reasons” and don’t really see the point of it, then it’s all but certainly not fulfilling its purpose. Never should something be done for the sake of it. Take the humble PAT test: nobody would dispute the sanity of having your plugs

checked periodically to ensure you don’t electrocute Belinda in the procurement department (however tempting Belinda may make that prospect, from time to time). As with Belinda, so with life. Everything you do in compliance is looking for that electric shock.

Take every compliance process you have, and interrogate it with one question: ‘So what?’. Demand an answer.

Third, and this is a biggie: it’s not fit for purpose.

Compliance should be time-saving engine, not a time-draining vampire. It shouldn’t run separately to your business, or even in parallel to your business. It should run your business.

Your processes, your procedure documentation, your policies, your quality checks, your risks, your KPIs – all of it should form one cohesive powerhouse that does the hard work for you.

But that’s what Tesseract helps with. We have a deep understanding of how everything is intended to fit together. Instead of ramming the wrong bits of the jigsaw together to produce a gargoyle, let us rearrange the pieces to make something better. Not just replacing your templates with ours, or giving Brian a biscuit while we give you a list of things to do instead. But actually crafting a system that works for you, for your business and in your context. You will have unique advantages, challenges and requirements and working with Tesseract means you get something that

Relevant to your business, meaning you can actually use it.

As discussed, Simply Business Club has worked with Mike at MDR for some time and he has kindly come up with a really brilliant offer to help you with your Linkedin approach so scan the QR code below and let Mike help you to conquer Linkedin and make Linkedin work for you and your business

You, as a business leader, should receive the management information that you need to make decisions, prevent disasters, and power your business onwards towards the objectives you –and everybody else – are striving for. It should be the mushroom to your Super Mario.

And that’s not unachievable. The constraining factors are usually lack of confidence in your freedom to change “compliance stuff” from the templates Brian got from the auditor or Google; lack of understanding of how everything should fit together; or lack of time to rewire the system because you’ve a bulging inbox and pile of work. You’re not alone. Not even close.

• Elegant in application: maximum benefit, minimum fuss.

• Worthwhile: expect a return on your time investment with real-life results for your business.

We’ll start with an informal chat and get to understand you, then work with you through our respected client portal which keeps everything together. Our vision for you will be a Wallace-and-Gromit breakfast machine that delivers what you need, how you need it, when you need it. And save you from Brian banging on while you’re drowning in forms you’d cheerfully set on fire as Belinda’s over there getting repeatedly blown up.

Scan me for a really great offer and some amazing FREE resources

Hop to our website – www.tesseract.consulting or drop us a note at ask@tesseract.consulting.

OF YOUR OWN BOOK

Many entrepreneurs and business owners think about writing a book. Not so many actually achieve it, but those who do often realise it was an even better investment of their time than they had expected. You can benefit in many ways from having a book of your own. Here are three of my favourites.

1. Having a book of your own positions you as an expert.

With the right title, cover and marketing message, it tells people immediately what you do and what your specialist niche is. It’s the AUTHOR part of authority. Imagine having a shoulder injury and looking for a local physiotherapist for treatment. One of them has written a book on treating shoulder injuries. Even though they charge more for their services, you’re likely to pick them. Just because their competitors haven’t written a book doesn’t mean they don’t know as much as this person—they’re just not putting it out in the world in such a powerful way.

2. Having a book of your own provides a great “calling card”.

Rather than send a cold email to someone you want to connect to or arrange an introduction through a mutual acquaintance, send them a signed copy of your book. This tells them immediately that you’re someone worth taking seriously. A book is harder to ignore than an email, and much less likely to be binned than a business card. A signed copy, with a personal dedication, feels more like a gift and less like a sales pitch.

As long as the cover is welldesigned, and the author name is clear it brings its own impact.

are many more that stem from the process of writing the book. So you can start winning before you’ve even reached publication stage.

If you’re feeling inspired to write your business book, but you’re not sure where to start, I’m offering a free guide to help you. Download it by scanning the QR code below.

The importance of Security Events | Door

Supervision | Building Sites | and much more

When looking to employ a security firm, it's important to consider the expertise and experience of the company. A professional security firm can provide customised security solutions to protect your assets, people, and information from potential security threats. They can conduct thorough risk assessments, develop strategies to mitigate potential risks, and provide 24/7 monitoring of your security systems. This can give you peace of mind knowing that your security is in the hands of highly trained professionals who know how to handle potential security threats.

In addition, if you're planning an event, it's important to hire a security firm that can provide event security services. A professional security team can help manage crowds, prevent incidents from occurring, respond to emergencies, and protect event assets. They can work with event organisers to develop customised security solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of the event, venue, and attendees. This can help ensure that the event is safe and secure, and protect the event organiser's reputation by demonstrating a commitment to attendee safety and security.

Overall, hiring a professional security firm can provide comprehensive security solutions that address all potential security risks, and give you peace of mind knowing that your assets, people, and information are protected by highly trained professionals.

DK Security Services based in London offer security services around the UK and they have suggested 10 things to consider from a security point of view when putting on an event:

Crowd management: Plan for crowd control and ensure that there are sufficient security personnel to manage the expected number of attendees.

Access control: Implement measures to control access to the event, such as checkpoints and ID verification.

Emergency response: Develop an emergency response plan and ensure that security personnel are trained to respond to emergencies.

Risk assessment: Conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify potential security threats and develop strategies to mitigate them.

Communication: Establish clear communication channels between security personnel, event staff, and emergency services.

Technology: Consider implementing security technologies such as CCTV cameras, metal detectors, and access control systems.

Staff training: Ensure that security personnel are properly trained in crowd management, emergency response, and use of security technologies.

Asset protection: Implement measures to protect event assets, such as equipment, merchandise, and intellectual property.

Contingency planning: Plan for potential contingencies such as severe weather, power outages, and other disruptions.

Regulatory compliance: Ensure that the event is in compliance with all applicable regulations, such as fire codes, alcohol licensing laws, and other local ordinances.

By considering these ten factors, event organizers can help ensure that their event is safe and secure, and protect their reputation by demonstrating a commitment to attendee safety and security.

7 Top Tech Tips - Passwords

Provided By David Meares - Virtec IT Solutions

This month we are looking into one of the main and most basic forms of security used within your business for your I.T. and Tech…. Passwords.

New technology and more sophisticated methods of security are being developed all the time, most will be familiar with Biometric security in the form of unlocking devices with finger prints, face recognition and even retina scanning (but that’s usually reserved for the movies!). However, even with these new security methods most will still require the ability to fall back on

1. Complexity and Length –Always try to use a password that is complex and as long as you can. This means combining uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols in various combinations to make a unique password. If needed use an online random password generator to do this.

a password, so for the moment, they are here to stay and because of this we will provide “7 Top Tech Tips” for your passwords.

2. Apply 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) –This additional security method is now available on most platforms and services. It means an additional step is required when logging into a service by ensuring once you enter your login details (e.g. Username and Password) it will then send a one time code (via email or text message for example), this ensures that if an attacker gains access to your credentials then this alone will not be enough to gain access.

3. Avoid storing passwords –Avoid storing your passwords (either digitally or on paper) –If needed look into a password manager that uses advanced security with Biometrics and 2-Factor Authentication

4. Don’t repeat passwords –Never use the same passwords in different locations. If a single account gets compromised, any account/platform using the same password should be considered compromised too. Always ensure every site/device/account uses a different password.

5. Avoid obvious passwords –Don’t use passwords that can be easily guessed. Things like “password”, “password123”, “123456” and “QWERTY” are obvious ones not to use but this also includes things like names, dates of birth, addresses, etc.

6. Don’t use real (Dictionary) words –

Much the same as using obvious passwords. Using legitimate words can be guessed or “brute forced”.

7. Don’t give out your information –Never text, email or read out your passwords. Your passwords are yours and no one else should need them. If ever requested, simply refuse.