Over 80% of institutions polled agreed that innovation is either highly valued or a key
strategic priority in their organisation. At the inaugural European Innovation Conference in Denmark (29-31 March 2011), consultancy firm Market Gravity conducted an audience poll of business leaders from major European Corporates that revealed the following:
• The majority of respondents were confident that their organisations were structured
to encourage innovation
• 40% of respondents felt their organisation had stronger or much stronger
performance in terms of innovation than competitors
• The main barriers to innovation were identified as; resistance to change, short-term
investment criteria and a lack of resource
Gideon Hyde, Director at Market Gravity offered the following comments on the conference and survey results:
The survey clearly indicates that despite the fact that innovation is a key strategic priority
and expected to be a major contributor to revenues, businesses are still resistant to
change and have a short-term view.
Our discussions with conference attendees confirmed that there is widespread
investment in idea generation tools and platforms, but a lack of know-how in identifying
and developing commercially robust propositions and getting them to market.
Companies recognise that they lack the entrepreneurial skills to take big, break through
ideas to market. The biggest capability gaps are having the entrepreneurial leadership
and the backing of the organisation to set-up and deliver new business ventures.
Full Poll Results (53 respondents)
Question 1: What is the total number of employees at the organisation at which you
currently work?
a. 0-50 (4%), b. 51-2500 (22%), c. 2501-10,000 (16%), d. 10,000+ (58%)
Question 2: What sector do you work in?
a. Energy & Environment (15%), b. Financial Services (9%), c. Telecoms (4%), d.
Business Services (9%), e. Technology (19%), f. FMCG (13%), g. Other (31%)
Question 3: Where is your role based?
a. Great Britain (26%), b. Continental Europe (20%), c. Scandinavia (42%), d. Rest of
World (12%)
Question 4: To what extent do you feel that innovation is valued in your organisation?
a. Key strategic priority (53%), b. Highly valued (30%), c. Moderately valued (15%), d.
Not valued (2%)
Question 5: Do you feel your organisation is structured to encourage innovation?
a. Yes (60%), b. No (36%), c. Don’t know (4%)
Question 6: What do you believe to be the top three barriers to innovation in your
organisation?
a. Lack of resource (42%), b. Cost (23%), c. Lack of incentive (19%), d. Resistance to
change (45%), e. Short-term investment criteria (45%), f. Lack of structured approach
(38%), g. Not board level priority (11%), h. Other (21%)
Question 7: In the next three years, what percentage of your organisation’s revenues do
you expect to come from innovation (i.e. new or adjacent products/services, new
business ventures)?
a. 0% (2%), b. 1-25% (68%), c. 26-50% (15%), d. 51-100% (6%), e. Don’t know (9%)
Question 8: How do you feel your organisation performs against its competitors in terms
of innovation?
a. Much stronger (6%), b. We’re stronger (34%), c. We’re about the same (47%), d.
We’re weaker (13%), e. We’re much weaker (0%)
Everyone has an eye on ideas that claim to save money on their outgoing’s and the latest offer from Barclaycard certainly promises to be an eye catching offer that is impossible to refuse.
New customers transferring an outstanding credit card debt to Barclaycard Platinum will be doing more than just giving themselves breathing space, they will also be getting what is the longest 0% on balance transfers offer in the market today.
As if that is not good enough news, customers signing up between March 15th and May 3rd 2011 can also take advantage of a 25% reduction on the handling charge when transferring multiple balances from other lenders – the highest balance transfer will incur a handling fee of 3.2%, with any additional transfers seeing effective handling fees of 2.74%.
Furthermore, new customers to Barclaycard Platinum will be charged 0% on new purchases for three months.
Like anyone else I am always happy to witness banks offering great deals to their customers, but you have to ask if this latest incentive isn’t a move back towards the days of pre financial crisis when as a nation we were continually being encouraged to heap ourselves in debt.
It surprises me somewhat that institutions the size of Barclaycard feel the need to encourage bad debtors to their company, when a simple cut in interest charged to existing customers might provide a better stimulus to get customers who pay their bills to spend more.
But then again I don’t run Barclaycard and looking at the deal from a financial situation, would recommend anyone with existing credit card debt to take advantage of the Barclaycard Platinum deal.
However if this sounds like a temporary route out of financial trouble for you, be sure to check out the Barclaycard Terms & Commissions that apply to this product.
Many people who decide to start their own company do so because they have a talent for the work they do and a level of experience that leads them to believe they would be better off at the helm of an operation rather than serving as a minion working to line the pockets of someone else.
However, while this enterprising spirit is to be rewarded many people who decide to take the initiative and set up their own operation find that the paperwork and responsibility involved is more work and more hassle than they had anticipated. Often newly set up employers find that they become bogged down in the administration of their entrepreneurial efforts to the point where they are unable to focus on their main area of expertise.
With the help of an umbrella company, small business bosses can delegate the responsibility for much of this everyday administration freeing them from the responsibility and worry of dealing with complex payroll and tax issues.
If a business boss decides to avail themselves of the services of an umbrella company they instantly pass over the responsibility for the payroll management of their concern. In the event that an umbrella company is engaged, workers are essentially employed by the umbrella company, rather than by the business to which they are providing the service. This can not only reduce employers’ administrative responsibilities but can also help to limit employer liability for small business bosses.
When workers carry out tasks for the company, they do so as an employee of the umbrella concern. The umbrella concern handles all payments on your behalf, dealing with such issues as the deduction of tax and national insurance contributions at source and issues monies to those working for your business.
Are They Any Downsides to Using an Umbrella Company?
For business bosses who are not au fait with the administrative side of things, using the services of an umbrella company can seem like the perfect solution – but many who consider the option wonder what possible pitfalls exist to the arrangement.
Certainly there is a cost involved and fees will need to be paid to the umbrella company to process payments on behalf of employees – these may come from the business or from the workers, depending on the arrangements reached.
For some workers, the concept of umbrella company employment is an alien one, and some may be put off by the unconventional arrangement – however in these straightened financial times, as the recognised rules of employment engagement become more and more blurred many service providers are becoming more and more willing to consider alternative working practices in order to earn a wage.
How Can I Use an Umbrella Company?
Setting up an account with an umbrella company is a relative simple process and, once in place, allows business bosses to take a hands-off approach to employee pay. Most companies offer employer advisors who will be able to take prospective clients through the payroll process.
A couple of years back as the enormity of the financial crisis hit home in the UK, the market for cheaper food and clothing products started to prosper, and with less money in many pockets to spend on such items, shops like Primark and Aldi began to enjoy a new found status in England as the outlets that we were most likely to visit as a matter of choice.
The ‘throw away fashions’ of Primark bucked the trend in high street shopping as customers chose to spend much less in monetary terms for much more in quantity, of lower quality clothing.
Primark have indeed been one of the few success stories of the credit crunch, but figures released by the company today, come with a worrying warning of a noticeable slowing down in demand in the UK since the start of 2011.
While Primark outlets in the rest of Europe continue to enjoy a healthy output, shops in the UK have suffered where it hurts most as shoppers have been hit with a rise in VAT, soaring cotton prices and less disposable income.
The announcement by Primark saw share values in the company which is owned by Associated British Foods, fall by almost 6% despite the European market holding up.
Primark operates 214 stores mostly in the UK, although it also trades in the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Economists worried by the falling figures at Primark, are keeping a watchful eye on other high street outlets and remain cautious in the short term about the general retail sector.
How often have you considered simply packing in your job and becoming your own boss? Most of us have at least mooted the idea once or twice, only to be prevented from taking the plunge by a sudden fear of failure. Certainly, for anyone in a salaried position taking the leap of faith into self employment is a scary moment, but with online business workers can build an empire slowly in their spare time, allowing them to make a pain-free transition into the world of online work, where they can finally set their own timetable.
There are a wide range of online professions open to just about anyone with a level of enthusiasm and aptitude and while most involve a learning curve of some sort, the beauty of online business is that most workers will be able to find message boards and forums where others offer advice and support as well as the benefit of their own experience.
Earn Money Online from Blogging
One popular way of earning money online is through blogs. Blogs, or weblogs to give them their full title, are an online self publishing tool allowing the creator to share content on any subject they wish. While in the early days of blogging these vehicles served as something of an online journal for their creators, modern day blogging is much more targeted and the savvy online entrepreneur can create earning opportunities through their blog in a number of ways, from targeted advertising with revenue share schemes, to affiliate marketing to the promotion of self produced products or services.
Blogging for cash is a competitive market and those new to the game would do well to carry out some research before creating any content and learn about search engine optimisation (SEO) which is essential to anyone hoping to make money this way. The same thing is true for those hoping to gain cash through the creation of their own niche websites – since learning how to rank highly in organic searches is the key to all internet success.
Why Not Turn Pro at Online Poker?
If you want to get into a field that has more of an element of entertainment about it, why not consider trying your hand at casino gaming for cash? Many people enjoy a flutter on the bingo or are happy to play a hand of poker in their spare time but never consider their pastimes’ real money making potential.
For those that find they have a propensity for the game, there is money to be made in online gambling through sites such as Party Poker Bonus Codes available online allow new users to benefit from free games allowing them to hone their skills in this area before having to invest their own money into the enterprise.
While there is no guarantee of winning in any stakes game, some people certainly find they have a talent for taking the pot in this online environment and a number have turned that into a profitable profession.
UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry told MPs last night that governments had supported various wind power projects around the country to the tune of £2.2 million over the last eight years, but he was unable to say how long it would be before the industry could stand on its own feet without further financial support.
He said: “We expect that over time we will be able to reduce support for wind power and other renewable energy technologies as they become more economic, but it is not possible to put a specific timescale on this.”
The Energy Minister said that factors such as the cost of erecting turbines, future wholesale electricity prices and the cost of alternative energy supplies made it impossible to predict a time when wind power would break even, let alone become profitable, without financial support.
There are obviously no plans to slash funding for the alternative sustainable power generators as the government must fulfill its commitment to cutting greenhouse gasses by 60% by 2030 to help tackle the problem of global warming.
The government announced plans in December last year to erect 20,000 wind turbines and put millions of electric cars on the roads. The cost of switching to green power and transport would, they say, be funded by new environmental taxes and higher fuel bills.
Keeping up with the latest available technology can be an impossible and sometimes thankless task, but is a necessary evil in this day and age, if only to be able to compete in the business market and keep one step ahead of your rivals.
Unless you already have a basic understanding of what you need to learn it is always a good idea to either pick the brains of a colleague or friend who is familiar with the product or employ someone that is capable of leaving you fully understanding what they have taught you.
Under no circumstances should you seek help from someone who is not able to explain the process in plain English themselves and certainly never even consider employing the services of someone like Brian Badonde as you can see from this following video clip!
Thank God that Brian Badonde is a fictional comedy character, the roving art critic on TV’s Facejacker who is being used to promote this series of video clips sponsored by Bing that show one mans ignorance toward the Art of Technology.
Badonde is in fact on a mission to find out how he can embrace the latest tecnology available and how it can be used to enrich his already extravagant lifestyle.
In future episodes of this hilarious series Bandonde will cause his usual mayhem by taking control of a class of adults on the first step to learning about how to use a computer and learning to ride and race on a Segway vehicle in Los Angleles.
Outsourcing. We’ve all the heard the word, but what does it mean? Simply put, outsourcing – more correctly, business process outsourcing – is the term used when a business uses an outside contractor to run part of its corporate activity. The term can cover anything from running the company cafeteria to collecting the cash.
Outsourcingis generally thought to have three main advantages:
Because outsourcing companies tend to specialise in one area, they have real expertise in that area, and are able to keep up with all the latest technological developments in their specialist sector – something the company that needs to outsource almost certainly doesn’t have the resources to do
Very often, it’s cheaper to outsource something than it is to do it in-house. That’s because the specialist outsourcing companies enjoy economies of scale, as they’re doing the same job, or process, for several different clients.
Finally, outsourcing allows small companies to do things for which they couldn’t justify hiring full time employees
The biggest disadvantage cited for outsourcing is loss of control, as companies inevitably need to delegate to the outsourcing company. But as outsourcing grows in popularity, relationships are gradually changing from client and outsourcing company to something more like a partnership. One of the UK’s most successful outsourcing companies is Ventura BPO, who’ve been working with the telecoms giant O2 for more than 18 years – longer than the length of the average marriage!
Outsourcing has grown rapidly in the past two decades, with much of the increase coming from the outsourcing of IT projects. Financial services is another area where outsourcing has boomed. In many cases outsourcing companies are now sharing the risk and rewards of ‘joint ventures’ with their client companies.
So what can you outsource? These days, ‘almost anything’ is the answer, but all outsourcing companies will have specialist areas. A company like Ventura BPO, for example, have four specialist areas, covering customer management, revenue generation, debt collection and document & payment management.
If you’re considering outsourcing, it makes sense to talk to a company who’ve been doing it for a while. With years of experience – and a catalogue of satisfied customers – Ventura BPO will be able to answer all your questions, and show you how outsourcing can benefit your company.
The Magic of Making Money on eBay by Matt & Amanda Clarkson
Now before you start this book, be aware there is no actual ‘magic’ involved. There are some good and helpful tips and guidelines, but the bottom line is you have to be motivated and willing to put in a lot of hard work to reap any rewards from selling on eBay, and although this book is a useful first step, it really is just a promotional vehicle for the couple’s obvious cash cow, which is marketing their Bidding Buzz franchise.
On first inspection the book has an attractive, easily accessible layout which is visually enticing. The main text is broken up with plenty of positive and affirming quotation, lists of statistics and supporting diagrams.
The layout is particularly useful for finding the chapters which actually offer any helpful advice. The preface sets the positive tone which is prevalent throughout the book and there is plentiful use of key statements and motivational phrases scattered on every page designed to make the reader think that any old soul, with the help of this invaluable book, could actually become a millionaire!
That said, it didn’t take long to reach the first mention of the couple’s home study course and then their recommendation of the essential support of a mentor and of course the opportunity to become a Bidding Buzz franchisee……Chapter 5 to be precise!
However, for those of you pondering on how to make a bit of extra cash or set up a business selling stock on eBay it probably wouldn’t do you any harm to read this book first. There is some good solid business advice, like starting off with a plan stating your aim, budget, time frame etc and writing it all down to use as a reference point as your venture progresses, and plenty of suggestions for things to sell.
It also gives advice on the various types of eBay seller:
The Hobbyist – someone who sells for fun or to create an extra income stream in conjunction with their regular occupation.
Drop Shipping – sellers who deal directly with wholesalers who take care of the shipping process
Consignment Sellers – selling products or services on behalf of other people.
eBay Arbitrage – buying up stock from less competent sellers and reselling them at a profit.
The book continues with solid advice on auction formats, listings, setting prices, feedback ratings and basically translating the eBay lingo into a language the novice will understand. There are also tips on stock presentation and maintaining customer relations, most of which are common sense, but good business practise if you want to improve your chances of success.
In summary, if you are thinking of starting your own retail business or just want to de-clutter your home and make a bit of money from it, then this book will definitely give you the edge over other novice sellers. But if you want to run a successful business, then as with any market you’ll still need to be 100% committed and be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them, even with this book as a guide.
The Magic of Making Money on eBay by Matt & Amanda Clarkson published by Global Publishing.
In an age when design technology is widely available, handmade or crudely drawn labels can mark your business as unprofessional or behind-the-times.
Whether you need address labels or a safety sign, it’s important that your labels be well-designed and project the right impression of your company.
Labels can be a crucial part of making a good impression on potential customers. Oftentimes, a customer’s contact with your business will be through mailings, packaging, product labels or signs. These labels will become part of your business’s identity and will shape the ideas customers have about your company. Poorly-made labels could make customers think your business is run by people who don’t know how to use technology. Customers may believe products with boring or confusing labels are also boring or confusing.
Professional labels can also increase sales and your customer base. When address labels, product labels and signs are eye-catching and sharp, they are more likely to grab customers’ attention. When customers can’t distinguish between similar products, they are more likely to choose the one with the best-looking label. Companies that post a well-designed safety sign show customers that they are concerned about their well-being.
If you can’t afford to hire a graphic designer to create professional labels, many computer software programs make it easy to design them yourself. Don’t let poorly-made labels create the wrong idea about your company.
