An SME’s guide to professional indemnity and business insurance

No business owner wants to contemplate the unpleasant possibility of damage or loss, but being unprepared is even worse. Proper business insurance is one of the surest ways of protecting your resources and has become a necessity for doing business.

The choice can be bewildering though, so to help determine which insurance products are right for your business, we’ll examine five different types so you can assess what’s right for your organisation.

Employers’ liability insurance

Unless you are self-employed and have no staff, employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement for your business. It not only protects your employees but also your company in the event that a staff member should suffer an injury at work or falls ill as a result of their job. This regulation also… Read more here

Looking abroad for unexpected investment opportunities

We all know that investments have to be managed for both risk and returns. The deal that promises to double your money in three years comes with a very real risk of losing your investment. Conversely, Gilts give your investment complete security, but once you factor in inflation, you're only getting a nominal return. The solution to maximising returns while keeping risk at acceptable levels lies in carrying a diversified portfolio.

You're thinking that means spreading your investments across, say, Gilts, stocks, property and corporate bonds. Yes, you should spread your investments across different instruments to get higher returns, but chances are, they are all in the same country and you're content with a 6-7% annualised return.

Now, what if part of your investment is in a country where the economy is growing at 6-8% and for a similar risk threshold, your investment there yields an 8-10% return, thus allowing your overall portfolio to go beyond the earlier 6-7%?

Diversifying your investments across different instruments and destinations allows you to maximise your returns while maintaining an acceptable risk threshold. So what are some investment destinations that merit further study? Read More

Understanding the world of corporate buyouts

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are financial transactions in which two companies merge into a new entity, or a larger company acquires a smaller one, which is then absorbed into the parent or run as a subsidiary. M&A activity surged in 2014 with over 7,500 deals for a combined value of £2.1 trillion.

In 2004, Sanofi-Synthélabo and Aventis, two large pharmaceutical companies, merged to form Sanofi-Aventis, while in 2008, the 150-year-old, $100 billion Tata conglomerate from India acquired Jaguar Land Rover from Ford Motors. Why do companies merge with or acquire each other and who really inhabits the world of corporate buyouts today?

Companies merge when the managements feel that each can offer the other some benefit, thereby benefiting the combined entity. Mergers are a way for a company to both increase its market share and achieve better economies of scale. For the company being acquired it can provide long-term stability and growth. Companies look at mergers and acquisitions when they want to grow quickly and inorganically.

In the case of the Tata-JLR acquisition, the synergies were obvious. The Tata group is a conglomerate that makes commercial vehicles, railway locomotives and the world’s cheapest car, the £1,500 Nano. The company is also among the top ten speciality steel producers in the world. At one stroke, the Tata group acquired a respected but financially weak luxury brand, while affording JLR cheaper access to speciality steel, its key raw material.

In six years since the acquisition, JLR has gone from a loss-making £4 billion company to a highly profitable company with revenues in excess of £21 billion. The company has added three manufacturing plants and over 5,000 jobs in the past four years… Read more

Navigating the world of social media

For our intrepid Frugaleur challengers with associated websites and online presence: There are many different ways to use social media to promote a business. Social media is a fantastic way for a company to connect with their customers and attract others. Here are some things to keep in mind when creating a social media strategy for your company.

One of the least expensive forms of advertising

You will be able to afford to do more advertising or at least save a lot on your marketing expenses if you use social media platforms. While people of all age groups are now using the internet daily, younger consumers get almost all of their news and advertising messages via online sources. Since there are not as many resources used, you save money and reduce your company's environmental footprint by not using lots of paper, ink and postage.

Saves time

Messages posted to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are posted almost instantaneously, so your customers and potential customers can view your message quickly. This allows for more steady advertising and educational opportunities. If those that view your posts like what they see, they can share your message, which means it is reaching even more people. You don't have to wait for advertisements to come out or plan a long time ahead to get your message out there.

Drives traffic to your website or other social media sites

The whole dynamic of social media is about connections. If someone finds your business on Facebook or LinkedIn, they may well also visit your website. In turn, those that visit your website will be inclined to like your Facebook page. If … Read more

Published as part of Scottish Multimedia web project and the Frugaleur challenge

Fire Fogging and Fire Fighting

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