Issue #76 - Get ready for the year ahead 📆
Top tips to spring clean your business | How to write a winning business plan | What to do if an employee has an accident at work | Talking busienss with Hybrid Fitness | Words | Tunes | More
🦾 GO
Time to think about spring cleaning your business? 🧼
Welcome to Issue #76 of The Backbone - the fortnightly newsletter from Bionic.
The end of January is upon us, the days are getting a little longer, the non-stop rain has finally stopped, and the first signs of spring are in the air. So it’s time to start looking at spring cleaning your business and getting your finances in order.
Here are a few things to consider…
💡 Energy - If your energy contract is coming up for renewal, now could be a good time to compare and lock in rates as prices are still coming down. According to Ofgem data, they’re getting back to the levels they were pre-price crisis.
📝 Insurance - A study from Allianz found that more than four in 10 UK SMEs were operating without insurance in 2023, putting themselves at risk of financial loss or government fines. As the UK is being hit with high winds (and flood warnings are never far away), now could be a good time to check you have all the relevant cover in place.
🗺 Business plan - When was the last time you looked at your business plan? A lot has changed over the last few years so it might be worth revisiting your plan and taking another look at your targets.
Now could also be a good time to give your business premises a spring clean too, by getting rid of the clutter and giving things a bit of a makeover. Check out our top tips to spring clean your small business for some ideas.
📨 S U B S C R I B E
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🗞 READ
How to easily write a winning business plan 🥇
You’ve chosen a great product or service to sell and now it’s time to write that winning business plan. Without one, your business might not even get off the ground.
But, with so much to wrap your head around, what exactly do you need to include when you’re trying to write your business plan? Our guide will help you through the process.
How to handle a workplace accident as an employer ⚠
Hearing that one of your employees has been injured while at work can be distressing. As an employer, it’s essential that you take all the necessary steps to ensure you’re providing a safe working environment and safe conditions for all your staff.
If you’re not entirely sure how to handle a workplace accident — or just need some further advice — then our guide can help.
🗣 SHOUTOUT
#SmallBusinessStory - Hybrid Fitness 💪
Bionic chatted with Chris Harrison to celebrate independent gyms this January. When we caught up, he was just about to open Hybrid Fitness to the public. We found out about his highs, lows and future goals.
Bionic: What do you enjoy most about being a business owner?
Chris Harrison: I don't have to follow the rules of large national gym chains. So, it just gives me full control over how I think running a gym should be.
B: What is your advice for someone thinking about setting up a business?
CH: Be very critical of yourself and really think about if you’re ready to set up a business. I’ve seen social media propagating this idea that having your own business is this brilliant thing where you can work from anywhere in the world. You can be earning 5 figures a month and it's really simple. You don't have to get down and dirty. I honestly think that's a complete lie, business is messy, it’s agonizing, it’s fraught with failure. It's a really, really challenging process to keep going. I would initially ask someone who's looking to set up their own business. Are you willing to put yourself through that?
B: Why do you think it’s so important to support small businesses?
CH: It's not about the products you buy, it's about the experiences you can have with people that make you happy and that's what small businesses do. They put an individual and assistance in front of you and solve problems that way.
B: How has Hybrid adapted to the energy crisis?
CH: Hybrid is a very energy-efficient gym, so there's no cardio kit plugged in. Most pieces of equipment are battery-operated and can be recharged, there are only about ten things which need to be plugged in on a daily basis and all the lighting I've got has been changed to super-efficient LEDs.
B: Have you noticed a shift in the way you run your business during the cost-of-living crisis?
CH: Setting up a business during the cost-of-living and the energy crisis has been hard. But with services offered to people on a daily basis, there are always cheaper alternatives. You know, you can go to an expensive restaurant in London, or you can go to Pizza Hut for example. There's so much breadth of what people can choose, and I think when it comes to fitness, that breadth is there again. People are starting to be very aware of their health and any investment they put into health is an investment they think is worth making.
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📊 BUSINESS
Get your business costs sorted 💷
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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 🦾
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Playlist 🎵
Tap in ‘Daylist’ to your Spotify search bar and see what pops up. We dare you. Steph, Digital Marketing Manager at Bionic, did just that and got Lo-fi Beats Chill Wednesday, a mix of beats, lo-fi, jazzy, smooth, instrumental to keep you relaxed whatever the day of the week.
Podcast 🎙
This week’s podcast has been chosen by Olivia, Project Manager at Bionic, who loves everything that Louis Theroux does. And the man rarely misses - his affable interview style puts even the most uptight celeb at ease. The Louis Theroux Podcast (what else where they going to call it?) sees him embark on a series of in-depth and freewheeling conversations with a curated collection of fascinating figures from across the globe.
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🏡 HOUSEKEEPING
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🚫 STOP
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