Recent content by Kat Haylock

  1. New report finds that 72% of businesses are merely “surviving”

    New report finds that 72% of businesses are merely “surviving”

    A new report has painted a stark picture of the financial challenges currently facing the UK’s 5.5 million small and medium-sized businesses. The SME State of the Nation Roundtable report was commissioned by ex-Dragon and Small Business Sunday creator, Theo Paphitis. It aimed to highlight the...
    • Kat Haylock
    • Article
    • finance small-businesses survey
    • Category: News
  2. Do businesses have the right to refuse to serve customers?

    Do businesses have the right to refuse to serve customers?

    After a public figure recently claimed that a private bank closed his account due to his personal views, it sparked a discussion amongst UKBF members: should businesses be able to refuse to serve customers? The popular forum thread shows there’s no quick answer. There are lots of variables to...
  3. Six questions to ask before taking over the family business

    Six questions to ask before taking over the family business

    From a sandwich shop in The Bear to a global media conglomerate in Succession, the challenges of taking over a family business are in the spotlight more than ever. Taking over an existing business is a complicated process. There’s a lot that you need to unpick around its performance...
  4. Five simple steps to successfully starting a food business from home

    Five simple steps to successfully starting a food business from home

    Starting a food business from home allows you to turn a passion for baking or cooking into a profitable venture. It’s relatively low cost and easy to get going too – once you get your head around the UK’s safety and hygiene regulations. It’s not hard to see why starting a home-based food...
  5. One in three small businesses could struggle when the energy price cap ends

    One in three small businesses could struggle when the energy price cap ends

    Recent research from Experian shows that one in three small businesses could struggle financially when the energy price cap ends on the 31st March. Experian’s analysis found that a third of small businesses may not have enough cash to cover their costs when the government’s price cap ends. The...
  6. The top four email marketing platforms for small businesses

    The top four email marketing platforms for small businesses

    Email marketing should be a core part of any small business marketing strategy. A mailing list is a quick and easy way to share updates, engage customers and build up a loyal community around your business. Before you start building emails, you need to choose your email marketing software. And...
  7. What you need to know about reselling branded and unbranded items

    What you need to know about reselling branded and unbranded items

    If you’re starting a product business, there are a few decisions you’ll need to make around branding. Are you going to manufacture and brand your own products, buy unbranded and simply add your brand later, or resell an existing branded product? Each option has its benefits and drawbacks. It’s...
  8. Mini-Budget preview: Controversial tax cuts and long-awaited energy support

    Mini-Budget preview: Controversial tax cuts and long-awaited energy support

    This Friday, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng will deliver a mini-Budget to outline the new government’s spending plans. All eyes will be on promises of financial help, as the UK continues to struggle with a cost of living crisis and concerns over a looming recession. The Chancellor is expected to...
  9. Stepping back: When should small business owners stop trying to do everything themselves?

    Stepping back: When should small business owners stop trying to do everything themselves?

    When you start a new business, you’re a one-person sales, marketing, finance and ops team. It’s a whirlwind. But as your business starts to grow, you need to be able to take a step back and look critically at how you’re spending your time. It’s normal for founders to try and do everything...
  10. The elevator pitch: How to confidently explain what you do in 60 seconds

    The elevator pitch: How to confidently explain what you do in 60 seconds

    Even if you know your business inside out, it can be tricky to articulate exactly what it does. You might think you have an explanation nailed, but then you open your mouth and realise the words don’t flow as quite easily as you expected. Best case scenario, this fumbled word salad will happen...
  11. Got a question about raising finance? Join our webinar

    Got a question about raising finance? Join our webinar

    It’s hard to know how to secure finance when you’re running a small business. If you have more questions than answers about business funding, don’t miss our upcoming webinar. There's a big market for funding out there. However, when you’re busy setting up and running a business, you may need a...
  12. How to onboard your employees – and make sure they stay

    How to onboard your employees – and make sure they stay

    Onboarding new staff onto your team is a crucial part of the hiring process. Fail to offer the right support in those first few months and you risk having to go through the recruitment process again. Your approach to onboarding has a huge impact on whether new employees will stick around or...
  13. How to manage cash flow when you’re starting up

    How to manage cash flow when you’re starting up

    Managing cash flow effectively is key to running a successful growing business. You need cash for assets and to pay bills, salaries and much more. Staying on top of your cash flow allows you to see if and when you’re going to have a surplus or a deficit of money, so you can be prepared. If you...
  14. What to do if you can’t pay back your bounce back loan

    What to do if you can’t pay back your bounce back loan

    The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) was established by the government to provide financial support to UK businesses that were losing revenue or experiencing disruption to their cash flow as a result of the pandemic. It allowed lenders to provide a six-year term loan of between £2000 and £50,000...
  15. Kat Haylock

    Long time no see - who's got opinions about HS2?

    They all come crawling back eventually! Hey everyone. Lovely to be back and see some old faces (usernames?)! I'm working with Chris and the team on UKBF's articles at the moment, and want to hear some opinions about HS2 and the govt scrapping the Leeds leg/announcing the integrated rail plan...
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