Recent figures show women are less likely to start a business. Is it time the government stepped in and did something to help female start-ups succeed, or should entrepreneurs be left to their own devices? Business expert Barry McCall reports.

The latest…

We interview Steve Smith, the founder of discount retailer Poundland who sold his share of the business for a cool £50 million in 2002 after opening his first shop in Burton upon Trent just over a decade earlier.

Steve explains his early background…

With snow over some of the UK last week and more forecast, how can you protect your business and minimise the impact? Businesses with a plan are better able to weather the storm, so it pays to have one in place.

In the news, research shows small businesses…

With a new study showing that more than half of job applications have errors, businesses can find it hard to make informed decisions about candidates. We look at what you can do to spot these errors when you’re recruiting and make sure you’re choosing…

It’s World Book Day on 5 March, so we’re looking at the top business books that could help you get ahead and change the way you do business.

In the news, it’s estimated that 90% of medium and large businesses aren’t ready for the new FRS 102…

As nominations open for the Observer Ethical Awards, we look at how UK businesses behave and whether an ethical approach could increase growth.

Firstly, in other the news, businesses say they want clearer government initiatives and, in the run-up to the…

It’s traditional to start thinking about spring cleaning your house at this time of the year, but have you ever thought to do that with your business? From cleaning up your customer data to reviewing your suppliers, it’s definitely worth spending the…

As the new tax year approaches, have you taken advantage of all that’s on offer to your business? If you haven’t used your Employment Allowance or claimed Growth Vouchers, now is the time to look into it. We offer some tips on the key things to do before…

After the news about the tragedy of the Germanwings crash, there’s an increasing focus on mental health at work. But a new report shows that almost 70% of managers don’t think mental health issues, such as stress, anxiety or depression, warrant time off…

May brings two Bank Holidays but in order to enjoy the time off, it’s important that businesses prepare. We look at the steps to take to ensure you have a relaxing time off.

In the news, there’s reports that the EU VAT rules have “destroyed” businesses…

It was predicted to be one of the closest elections ever, but it seems the opinion polls were wrong. We look at what a Conservative majority might mean for small businesses and what the reaction has been.

Small businesses and the election

Business owners…

The key story dominating the news has been the election result. But there has been other important news relating to an appeal about the ruling on including commission in holiday pay.

Also this week, we look at what the election could mean for small businesses…

All-white tennis outfits, strawberries and cream, the inevitable stops for rain. While Wimbledon may seem a world away from the office, there’s a lot that we can learn from elite tennis players about preparation, strategy and on-the-day performance.…

Last week the summer finally arrived and while we appreciate the heat when we’re on holiday, many found the conditions in the workplace to be unbearable. With the TUC calling for businesses to let staff wear casual clothes and work more flexible…

Equal pay seems simple - the same money for the same job. But recent legal cases for employers like Sainsbury’s shows that it covers jobs offering the same value but in different posts. Do you need to re-evaluate the salaries you offer?

In the news…

In your working life, there’s likely to come a time when you need to give a presentation. For many, this is a daunting prospect and for some it’s downright terrifying. There’s even a word for that fear: glossophobia. We share our tips on overcoming your…

Fit for Work, the government’s new initiative to support employees who have been off work for four weeks or more, is rolling out across England, Scotland and Wales. It does have implications for your business, so we’ll be explaining what has changed and…

Recent reports show that that many companies are looking to expand their finance teams but there may be a skills shortage to fill these roles. We take a look at the job market and how employers can find the right staff.

In the news, reports suggest that…

Summer can be a challenging time in the office. Your colleagues are jetting off on holiday and the sun is shining outside (sometimes). It can be hard to keep your motivation levels high, so with that in mind we’re sharing some inspirational quotations…

We’re in Back to School mode here. If you’re feeling that too, it’s a good time to take a step back and do some planning before you dive into the detail of your day job. We round up some resources that can help.

In the news, research…

Wouldn’t it be great to have more time? With recent reports showing that admin takes small businesses up to 28 hours a week, we’re offering some advice about how to save time on one aspect - accounting.

In the news, there are positive reports…

Videos are a great way to learn something new, from getting advice from other businesses to understanding how to use your software. That’s why we have a wide range of videos available online. We share are our picks of the most useful ones for community…

Do you employ night workers? If so, you should be aware of rules which state they must be offered a free health assessment. We look at what you need to do.

In the news, a new ruling by the European Court of Justice affects data exchange between Europe…

If you run your own business, you’ll know how exciting it can be. But it can also be isolating. That’s why we wanted to share stories from other business owners and ask them what advice they would give to others.

Here, we chat to business…

13 November is Kindness Day. With this in mind, and in light of the recent reports that a third of UK workers have been bullied, we look at how businesses and other organisations could embrace kindness this month and throughout the year.

In the news,…