Contact UsApplied Business Solutions (UK) have rebranded
Applied Business Solutions (UK) are please to announce we have a new brand image and website! During lockdown we have been busy looking at ways to improve our business and how we can support our customers moving forward. We hope you like our new image and website as much as we do.
Applied Business Solutions (UK) Ltd moves to new location to support further growth and expansion
Applied Business Solutions (UK) are pleased to announce the relocation from the office in Newton Abbot to their new offices in Exeter. The relocation of the business to Exeter is a fantastic opportunity for Applied Business Solutions (UK) to move into a more modern and flexible office with excellent links to the M5, A30 and A38, to develop a base to from which to grow and better serve their customers. The new office space will provide Applied Business Solutions (UK) with a more central location to expand the business and to service their growing customer base in the South West of England. Read More
Businesses held back by tax and regulatory changes
Almost two thirds of businesses claim that the lack of skilled workers available and constant alterations to tax and regulatory requirements are adding significant pressures to their business. As 74 per cent of businesses are planning for growth over the next 12 months it is vital that business owners keep abreast of prospective tax and regulation, says Rebecca Combes, head of business tax at the Southampton office of Smith & Williamson, which commissioned the Enterprise Index, a survey of business owners. 'A complex and uncertain tax system adds a challenge to ‘scale-up’ businesses. I don’t think tax is at the forefront of people’s mind when growing their business, however, it can present frustrating obstacles and hurdles and may cause some loss of momentum on the growth curve of a business,' she adds. The closure of the UK government’s Business Growth Service (BGS) which supported small businesses seeking to grow has made for difficulties, Smith & Williamson says. The planned regional growth hubs to replace the BGS have not been widely welcomed by respondents, with 68 per cent believing the growth hubs would not sufficiently replace the support given by BGS. Additionally, business owners are becoming increasingly worried about the lack...
Why having a green office boosts business performance
In this piece we explore why reducing your carbon footprint in the office is well worthwhile for your business. Widespread flooding across the UK and extreme weather in other parts of the world have been directly linked to climate change by scientists. Experts have long warned that we need to reduce our carbon footprint to prevent environmental damage and recent events have pushed the issue into the spotlight once more. Businesses are being put under increasing pressure to do more to help the environment. Many companies are enforcing green initiatives to offset the carbon footprint of their enterprise. For instance, Clearance Solutions follow a reuse and recycling protocol and save far more CO2 than they produce, while the SAP recruitment agency Eursap have pledged to plant a tree in The National Forest for every consultant placed. Green office design has gone from niche enterprise to major industry. The relationship between people and the building in which they are working is vital. A recent study found that having a sustainable workplace can boost employee health and productivity which in turn enhances financial performance. From energy efficiency to lower levels of absenteeism, here are three reasons why having a green office boosts...
2016 all change for small companies
Next year must see local businesses and communities embrace change, says the Federation of Small Businesses. In his New Year’s message, FSB policy convener Andy Willox says that businesses must exploit rather than fear new digital technologies. He also calls on the political parties to make building a more resilient Scottish economy their top priority for Holyrood’s May elections. Willox says, 'Change is hard, but often necessary. Well, that’s what we’ll be telling ourselves next week as we try to stick to the New Year’s resolutions. And, just as we swap the steak pies for salads at home, our minds also turn to how we can get our businesses into better shape. 'This year, FSB published a report looking at digital disruption. We’ve urged our members not to end up like the video shop or film developer. Instead, we make the case that small firms should harness the opportunities unlocked by technology and put digital at the centre of their 2016 plans for growth.' Looking forward to the Scottish Parliament elections in May, Willox says the manifesto for May’s Holyrood elections is full of practical ideas to make Scotland a better place to do business. 'At its heart is a...
Top small business security tips
In the early stage of business you simply can't afford to compromise your security. Here, we look at the measures to take to protect yourself. Each year, crime costs businesses billions of pounds. Vandalism, shoplifting, burglary, and employee theft are all just a portion of the damages that businesses suffer. Since it cannot be guaranteed that the business will never suffer from some sort of criminal loss, having some additional security features in place will help to protect and minimise the risk of loss or damage. For example, investing in a high security locks system will help secure access to the business and have better monitoring of the whereabouts of your stuff. Security tips for buildings and property Install good lighting around the building and in the parking lot. Eliminating hiding spots is a great way to prevent anyone from sneaking around the area. Interior lights on a timer can keep criminals guessing as to whether or not there is anyone in the building, which will likely work as a deterrent. Keep window shades down, eliminating the amount of valuable items visible from the outside, and keep these valuable items such as purses and backpacks away. Also, don't leave them...
IT skills shortage continues to impede businesses
Despite rising rates of educational attainment, employers continue to struggle to hire thanks to troubling skills shortages, a study finds. In the private sector this issue is most prevalent in the tech space, according to a study by jobsite Indeed. Shortages in Java skills – the most widely used programming language – are particularly notable, with businesses attempting to overcome the deficit by drastically raising wages. The average role for skilled Java workers offers a salary of approximately £60,000, 130 per cent higher than the average salary of open positions across all industries, which stands at £26,600. Despite the huge salary boost, UK enterprises are still struggling to entice candidates who hold the technological skills required for their roles. Worldwide, the share of job postings calling for Java skills is five times greater than the share of searches for this skill.The report identifies that aside from salaries, candidates within these industries prioritise flexible and remote working. In the UK, job searchers within the healthcare and computing industry are most likely to look for jobs using specific criteria including 'remote', 'work from home', and 'telecommute'. Indeed's chief economist Tara Sinclair says, 'Rather than focusing on salaries alone as the cure-all for...
SME growth mindset still strong but could be on the wane
Britain’s SMEs are confident of ending the year in a growth phase, although certainty is beginning to wane from the peak recorded in Q2 this year, research suggests. The number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to grow their business has increased from last year (40 per cent compared with 36 per cent in Q4 2014). However, this is a 3 per cent decrease on the 43 per cent of businesses that said they would aspire to grow in Q2 this year, according to a study by Hitachi Capital. By sector, some industries have been hit harder than others, with the research indicating sectors such as construction, manufacturing and agriculture lacking in confidence this quarter and are cautious. The research from Hitachi Capital’s quarterly British Business Barometer asked 1,021 small businesses in the UK what their business outlook was for the next three months and how these compared with 12 months ago in Q4 2014. The number of businesses looking to significantly expand in the next three months remains low again this quarter, although there is a slight increase on 12 months ago (4 per cent Q4 2014 vs 6 per cent Q4 2015). The number of SMEs saying...
Half of small business leaders have worked on Christmas Day
Company owners are used to missing out on festive moments, research finds. Despite being a national holiday, nearly one in five (18 per cent) SME decisionmakers have had to go into work on Christmas Day, and nearly a third (32 per cent) have sacrificed the festivities to check and send work emails, according to a study by Zurich. The insurer's latest data has shown that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are missing out on a number of festive moments. Nearly one in ten (9 per cent) have missed their child's nativity play and 9 per cent have also missed putting the Christmas tree up. Another milestone in the festive period for many professionals across the country is the work Christmas party, but one in ten (13 per cent) have missed this event. Not only have SME decision makers had to work over the Christmas period, they’re also losing out on annual leave. Data from Zurich’s SME Risk Index reveals one in ten (14 per cent) decision makers have not taken any annual leave this year and in addition, almost one in five (18 per cent) have not had more than ten days off this year. Jason Eatock, Head of SME...
Important information : End of life support for Windows Server 2003
The risks of running Windows Server 2003 after support ends on 14th July are well documented. But, what happens next, and what are you to do. We are here to help and go through: How the IT landscape is changing in response to this issue Why you need to keep pace with the latest IT strategy The solutions out there and what you can do next Contact us today for more information and advice