Issue #64 - Summertime savings 😎
How to save energy in summer | The best UK cities for the perfect pint | Energy saving tips for shop owners | 5 businesses, 1 question | Words | Tunes | More
Energy saving ideas for summer ⛅
Welcome to Issue #64 of The Backbone - the fortnightly newsletter from Bionic.
We’ve all had to cope with higher energy bills over the last 12 months or so, but business owners have been hit particularly hard as there’s no price cap on commercial energy.
Summer is usually seen as a time when we can take a slight breather when it comes to worrying about energy bills - the warmer, longer days mean we use less to heat and light our homes and businesses.
But, for some businesses, summer bills could actually be higher when it's warmer. It will largely depend on the industry you’re in, but energy usage can spike due to air conditioning, cooling, and ventilation systems being used.
These systems might even be used more often than heating in winter, to create comfortable working conditions.
If this sounds like you, here are some tips to cut usage and save some money…
Use water efficiently 🚿
Use fans where possible 🌬
Keep the hot air out 🛑
Switch to LED light bulbs 💡
Unplug anything that’s not being used 🔌
Use energy-efficient equipment ♻
For more detailed info, check out our guide to saving energy during the summer.
And if you’ve got any good energy-saving tips, money-making tips, or any useful tips at all, let us know by leaving a comment 👇
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The best UK cities for the perfect pint 🍺
Today is International Beer Day, so what better time to share the UK’s top locations for craft beer and independent boozers?
Using data collected from reviews of pubs across the UK, we’ve judged each location on the number of independent pubs in the area, their average star rating, their unique beers, the number of breweries and their ratings on untapped.com.
These six unique metrics were then used to score each city out of 100 to discover which tops our Brewdex!
How to save energy in your shop 🏪
From lighting to heating, shops need a lot of power just to keep running every day. It’s no surprise then that they can quickly rack up big energy bills to help keep their business running smoothly.
But, these bills can quickly burn a hole through your profits if you’re not keeping on top of what exactly you’re being charged for and at what cost.
From working out how much energy your shop uses to finding out what other factors can affect your prices, our handy guide can help you to understand your business’s energy needs and how to find the best business energy supplier.
🗣 SHOUTOUT
#BionicBusinessStory - 5 businesses, 1 question 🤔
Oxford Economics estimates that there were 4.8 million family businesses in the UK in 2020, making up 85.9% of all private sector businesses. So we thought we’d find out what makes family-run businesses tick.
Bionic - Are you a family-run business and how does this affect the way you do things?
🧷 “The business has been running since 1991. My dad sold jewellery and my granddad was a pharmacist in those days. Lots of customers would ask if my granddad was able to pierce them with my dad’s jewellery. So, they both saw a gap in the market there. I got involved when I finished university in 2010, I'd been studying for a business degree and was working a 9-5. I saw an opportunity to bring some fresh blood into the piercing shop and take it in a new direction.” Ben Harris, Metal Morphosis
💐 “I’m the third generation working in the shop, it was originally set up in 1949 by my grandad and back then it was more of a general store, he bought a field around the back of the house and grew plants, fruit and veg there to sell. When my mum and dad took over, they also had market stalls and a van that they would take round locally and sell out the back of.” Sue Colledge, Colledge’s Florists
🥓 “I work in someone else’s family business! I would say the only downside is that sometimes disagreements can be brought into work which can cause a bit of tension, especially as you’re not directly involved. But our boss gets involved with the work we do and really feels part of the team. He’ll often tell us at the end of the week we’ve done a good job which is nice. It’s good to feel appreciated.” Drew Stagg, Potter’s Butchers
🐶 “Supporting friends and family and their work/life balance is important to me. For example, my mum would love to run a few cockapoo events when she reaches retirement, so it's all about helping our family and friends adapt to a better balance while supporting them and helping them do what they love.” Marcus Ackford, The Pup Up Café
🍫 “My dad and I started this business in 2003, just after I left university. We’re both very creative and hands-on, so we designed some moulds one day and then started to make the chocolates ourselves. We didn’t have a plan, but we just took our moulds to a few different shows and the feedback was great,” she tells us. "Within six months we had listings in Harrods and John Lewis! What we were producing was so different from other chocolatiers” Flo Broughton, Choc on Choc
Want to read more small business stories? Head over to Bionic 🦾
🦾 BIONIC
Get your business costs sorted 💷
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 🦾
Bionic’s tech-enabled service was bob-on for Bob 🦾
Check out more ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Trustpilot reviews
🎧 LISTEN
Playlist 🎶
Chosen by Les Roberts, Senior Content Manager at Bionic, Wiggo is a playlist dedicated to the memory of a man who shared a passion for grassroots football and great music. This is seven-and-a-half hours of songs that take you from The Beach Boys and The Beatles to Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band, via Billy Fury, Aztec Camera, The Jam, Bee Gees, Half Man Half Biscuit, and loads more.
Podcast 🎙
We all get distracted from time to time. Sometimes it can a good thing, but at other times it can be the death of productivity. This can lead to a lack of motivation and, before you know it, you’re wondering why you bother at all. The Mindset Mentor podcast is designed for anyone desiring motivation, direction, and focus in life.
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Thanks for making it to the end of another Bionic small business bulletin 🤝🏻
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