Having a well thought through business strategy is key to keeping ahead of your competition. Adopting cloud computing technology as part your strategy, can be an important factor in striving for excellence. Cloud computing can enable SME businesses to compete with...
Strategy
Ensuring UK economic growth can survive the next global downturn….
Employment in the UK at a record high. The UK economy seen as a shining star. Confidence in Germany, one of our main competitors under question. So, what could go wrong? Quite a lot really. International commentators are warning of another credit squeeze and business...
Acquiring a Business – Issues to consider – Part 4
Before you make the offer to acquire a business – Consider what happens next Post-Acquisition Strategies Prior to making an offer, the acquirer should consider the purpose of the acquisition and re-visit the reasons for making the acquisition and how well the target...
Acquiring a Business – Issues to consider – Part 3
WHY DO ACQUISITIONS FAIL AND HOW DO YOU AVOID A BAD OUTCOME? It is an unfortunate fact that Acquisitions have a very high failure rate. This may seem a powerful statement but it is borne out by the statistics. "If one were to define 'failure' as failure to increase...
Acquiring a Business – Issues to consider – Part 2
WHAT SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTES MAKE AN ACQUISITION AN ATTRACTIVE STRATEGY? Acquirers are interested in growing their own businesses and an acquisition is one of the options available to them, and usually provides a faster track to growth than organic growth. In addition,...
Acquiring a Business – Issues to consider – Part 1
WHAT IS THE MAIN STRATEGIC REASONING FOR ACQUIRERS OF A BUSINESS? Acquirers do not buy the past performance of business. They buy the future performance of the business, but use the past performance as a guide (along with other things) to establish the likelihood of...
Understanding Intellectual Property is important for SMEs
Intellectual Property is becoming increasingly important for SMEs. Years ago IP was the preserve of the very large companies and focussed almost exclusively on Patents and Trade Marks. It tended to involve large sums of money and lawyers and other professionals.This...
Do we need to reassess our Export Markets?
Exports have always been a large part of SME activity. There has been much said about our special relationship with EU countries. However, uncertainty with the Euro means that many are becoming nervous about this business. Together with the potential for an 'IN / OUT'...
5 things to do to ensure successful transition in the family business
In many recent surveys[1] nearly half of family businesses intend to pass on their business to their children, less than 44% have put a formal succession plan in place. In this blog we summarise the 5 things to do- following up in more depth in successive future...