Issue #39 - It's not working đ
Have we reached peak WFH? | How to advertise your small business | Avoid the biggest phone scams | Protect your business from floods | #BionicBusinessStory - Resin by Debbie | Tunes | Podcasts | More
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Broken Britain? đ
Welcome to Issue #39 of The Backbone - the fortnightly newsletter from Bionic.
Does anything in Britain work anymore? Workers in all industries are taking strike action, trains are being cancelled across the country, energy prices have spiked again, water is in short supply, and the government isnât working (literally, Parliament is on summer recess, despite the country being in crisis).
Then thereâs the energy price cap. Brought in by Theresa Mayâs government to combat what the then PM called ârip offâ energy prices, itâs due to undergo its eighth review later this month. If, as expected, average household bills break the ÂŁ3,000 a year mark, then itâs safe to say thatâs no longer working either.
And some seem to think anyone who works remotely isnât working either, as the old work-from-home debate reared its head again thanks to this Diary of a CEO podcast đ
For the record, it appears that home workers are actually working just fine. ONS figures show output per hour worked fell during the first lockdown as workers took a while to adapt, but is now 1.9 per cent above pre-pandemic levels.
As a business owner, youâll no doubt also be working extra hard to keep things going in the most testing of circumstances. And here at Bionic, weâre working hard to secure the best business energy rates in an unpredictable market.
But overall, things are looking pretty bleak (even the seven-day weather forecast is predicting rain and flood alerts), so we need to look out for each other and keep working hard to get through these turbulent times. What else can we do?
As ever, here are some good news stories from the last week to help offset some of the gloom - including more trees for London and parts of the Great Barrier Reef are growing again.
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How to advertise your small business
âBuild it and they will comeâ is always a risky strategy when starting a business. If people donât know that your company exists, how will you attract customers?
Thatâs where advertising comes in handy. It can be hugely effective for startups and small businesses to raise awareness about their brand, products and services.
But, advertising covers a wide range of activities and knowing where to start can be confusing. This guide will help you plan an advertising strategy thatâs right for the needs and budget of your business.
What are the UKâs biggest phone scams? (and how can you prevent them?)
Phone scams are a way for criminals to exploit people financially by impersonating others over the phone. Google data shows that there has been a 34% increase in digital phone call scams since June 2022, particularly for âVishingâ and âVoIPâ scams. Find out more about what these scams are, and how to avoid them, in this Bionic blog.
How to prepare your business for storms, floods and bad weather
Itâs been a summer of heatwaves and record-breaking temperatures, but we now need to brace ourselves for rainfall and possible flooding. Visit the Met Office website to find out if youâre at risk from flooding, and read our guide for some useful tips on how to protect your business from floods and bad weather.
𣠠S H O U T O U T
#BionicBusinessStory - Resin by Debbie đ·
We caught up with Debbie Richardson, who has recently set up her own resin-making business. We found out what inspires her, where she hopes to be in the future and what advice she would give other SME owners.
Bionic: What is the best advice you could give to others wanting to set up their own business?
Debbie Richardson: My advice is to make sure itâs something you will always enjoy doing, start off small and slowly build the business up, donât expect it to take off straight away, and most importantly, never give up.
B: What inspires you as a business owner?
DR: Any small start-up businesses inspire me. I feel it proves that no matter what is going on in your life, you can do something meaningful.
B: What are you most excited about in the future?
DR: I am most excited about the endless possibilities of running my own business. I really hope it will become my main job as Iâd love to do it full time.
B: What is your favourite part of running your own business?
DR: My favourite part about running a business is definitely fulfilling and making each order because theyâre all so different.
Check out the Resin by Debbie website for the latest event info. And click the button below to read more from this #BionicBusinessStory
đ©Â J O I N
Get involved with our business community đ
Share your thoughts and tips to give other busy business owners a helping hand. Or ask a question to see if anyone can help you out.
đ B U S I N E S S
Get your business costs sorted đ·
Bionic - the business price comparison experts - compare a range of business essentials to help you save time, money, and hassle.
Our tech-enabled team will answer all your questions in simple terms, and help you find the best deal on business energy, insurance, phone, broadband, or finance. No jargon. No-fuss. #BeABionicBusiness đŠŸ
Check out more âââââ Trustpilot reviews
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Playlist
This yearâs Notting Hill Carnival takes place from August 27 to 29. As part of her party prep, Rhian - customer marketing manager at Bionic - has put together this banging NH Carnival Weekend playlist. Itâs chock full of Soca music and includes songs from Machal Montano, Serani, Destra, Sean Paul, Mavado, Fadda Fox and loads more. Five hours of tunes to get you in the mood for August Bank Holiday fun.
Podcast
At the top of this issue, we linked to a YouTube interview with Malcolm Gladwell, who was talking to Steven Barlett for his Diary of a CEO podcast. This podcast shares insight from guests of all different backgrounds, experiences and learnings, including names as diverse as Tony Bellew, Karren Brady, Jimmy Carr, Terry Crews, Diplo, and loads more.
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