Business administration can make the difference between success and failure for a small enterprise. The management process is all-encompassing, covering a vast range of core activities from overseeing an organization’s budgetary, commercial and financial activities to establishing and meeting business-wide goals, policies and procedures. Administrative tasks continue to overwhelm SMEs A UK report from global telecommunication enterprise Immervox recently found that more than a third of SMEs are struggling with admin on a daily basis. The time and resources spent on managing business operations is considered by leaders to be a drain of both time and resources, with more than half of the 144 senior managers surveyed revealing that productivity is being hamstrung by a failure to invest in IT systems and digital infrastructure. Reducing silos is crucial to the agility of a modern business. SMEs must seek to bring core activities together and connect them to boost productivity, efficiency…

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In the year 2016, a report from Gartner predicted that the worldwide IT spending would reach $3.5 Trillion by the next year. In 2016, the estimated expense was $3.4 trillion. With the rise in the exponential growth of IT industry, it is essential to improve, streamline and manage IT operations. Automation and orchestration are the two facilitating and managerial practices that an enterprise must include in its software development life cycle (SDLC). Before doing so, it needs to compare them and understand each of their mechanism, scope and applications. It is also necessary to comprehend the differences between IT automation and IT orchestration to consolidate them effectively. The integration helps in making the SDLC a fast, smooth and accurate process. What is IT Process Automation? IT process automation (ITPA) is the process of using a single workflow to automate and set up IT tasks. It includes the integration of automation…

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Workplace injuries can cost your business a lot of money – from a loss of working days to personal workplace injury claims made from your employees. In 2016/17, there were 137 workers killed due to a work-related accident. In 2015/16, there were also over 0.6 million workers who suffered from a non-fatal work injury which led to over 4.5 million working days lost, according to self-reports from the Labour Force Survey. It is also worth noting that in 2016/17, there were 92 members of the public killed due to work-related activities. In 2014/15, the cost of workplace related injuries was £4.8 billion – £2.8 billion was billed to the employers, which doesn’t include potential personal injury workplace claims. The importance of health and safety in the workplace is clear, not only for reducing the annual bill. As an employer, your staff’s safety should be at the forefront of your mind.…

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With over 23,000 apprenticeship opportunities listed on average every month, it comes as no surprise that apprenticeship participation has hit a record high in the last academic year, 2016/17. There was a total of 491,300 apprenticeships that academic year, a sign-up increase of 14.5% on the previous year with 384,500 starts. Many analysts of the figures might attribute the success of apprenticeship programmes to that fact that 89% of apprentices are satisfied with their apprenticeship and 97% of employers said the same. It seems that the programmes have a good reputation across both employers and participants — so is the success expected to continue? Retailer of name badges, Badgemaster, explores. Apprentice demographics Apprenticeship programmes are attractive educational programmes to all ages, despite many believing that they are predominantly for school leavers; of the 491,300 apprentice starts in 2016/17, 24.6% of them were under 19 years old. However, in the same…

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High-level recruiters specialize in matching accounting professionals with employers via specially developed methodologies designed to optimize compatibility. This means working with accounting recruiters can lead you to the perfect job. It also means these recruiters are typically quite selective about the candidates they choose to work with. Understanding recruiters’ criteria can help you establish a productive working relationship. A Great Resume   Obviously, having a resume listing great accomplishments means a lot. However, a great resume is also one that effectively and clearly presents information employers want to know. Recruiters look for accounting resumes that offer a clear and impactful synopsis of what makes you a top candidate. The Right Credentials Top accounting positions generally require a Certified Public Accountant license. Employers looking for accountants in a wide range of sectors require or strongly prefer a CPA. Additionally, depending on the industry, some recruiters may look for additional certifications. In…

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A new year always brings opportunities for new implementations and growth in business. As a startup entrepreneur, it is not uncommon to see ideas “stolen” by established companies with bigger finances and more resources. This usually occurs during an investment pitch. If you have fallen victim to idea theft, avoid repeat mistakes. Once bitten twice shy. As you chart a new plan for your small business, guard your ideas closely. Besides insuring the business against liability, you’ll need to keep your plans safe. The following tips will help you protect and maximise your valuable ideas. Avoid revealing too much It is easy to get too excited during a business pitch or client presentation and reveal the bulk of your business idea. Unfortunately, clients have been known to refuse an offer, only to take the pitcher’s idea and develop it in-house. Learn to keep the details of your plan a secret.…

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Thanks to the amount of travel I’ve done, I’ve experienced customer service all around the world. One thing I’ve recently noticed is how much more likely I am to repurchase a product or service from a company if I’ve had a good experience with them in the past. If you’re planning to launch your own business in the future, you may want to keep this in mind. Great customer service can be the difference between success and failure for businesses of all sizes. Recently, I ordered a dress from Asos. Since I was in Europe, I was unable to find a nice summer dress for my friend’s wedding in New Zealand. I would be flying to New Zealand in time for Christmas, but I wouldn’t have time to go shopping for a dress once I was home. I found a nice dress that I liked, and ordered it along with…

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Being a mum is hard work. Especially for those juggling full or part-time work with family responsibilities. And there’s continual pressure on mums to make it all look manageable. Not to mention all the one-upping on social media. Here are some ways mums can find work/life balance: Get some help It’s becoming more and more common for busy parents to use outside help. You may want to think about whether you should use a domestic staff agency to help you with things like childcare, cooking, and housecleaning. This allows you to have more free time to do the things you love, like spending time with your kids. Have support systems Trying to do it all alone is a recipe for disaster. Instead, make sure you have good support systems in place so you can have someone to lean on when the going gets tough. This could be a group of…

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College is a challenging but fun time of your life; often it’s the first tme living away from home and making your own way in the world. There’s a lot of distractions going on while you’re away at college, including many fun social activities. If you’re like me, then you may struggle a little bit to say focused on your grades when there’s so many people to meet and fun things to do. However, the main point of going to college is to walk out with a degree in your hand and a number of job opportunities at your feet. As such, you’re going to have to focus on how you can get grade grades. Here are my top 5 tips for getting great grades in college, even with a bustling social life: 1. Make Up for Lost Time If you’re sick (or hung over) you’re going to need to…

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