Issue #81 - BIG SUPPORT for small business 🙌
Will AI push up energy prices? | How to protect your small business from shoplifters | How to advertise a job at your business | Getting cut and cleaned with Dip 'n' Clip | Words | Tunes | More
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Could AI push up energy prices? 🔥
Welcome to Issue #81 of The Backbone - the fortnightly newsletter from Bionic.
We’ve all heard about the opportunities and problems AI could cause for businesses and employees - basically, automation will mean improved efficiency but fewer jobs - but what about the possible environmental consequences? And the impact this could have on our energy bills?
You might not realise it, but AI has some hefty energy needs. Everything we do online relies on piles of information housed in remote servers. These servers are stored in data centres, all of which account for up to 1.5% of global electricity use, according to the International Energy Agency.
And AI is no different. Generating just one AI image uses about as much power as charging a smartphone. That might not sound like much on its own, but when you consider that the number of AI images created online is 15 billion and counting, you can see how quickly things add up.
The move away from fossil fuels means we’re relying more heavily on electricity production to power the things we use and interact with every day. The National Grid maintains that it can cope with the higher demand widespread electric vehicle charging will place on it but it’s not just that particular infrastructure we need to consider.
It’s been predicted that by 2027 AI demand could lead to water withdrawal of between 4.2 billion and 6.6 billion cubic metres of water – nearly half of the UK’s annual consumption.
As we all witnessed as the world crawled out of lockdown, a greater energy demand inevitably pushes up prices. AI won’t be alone in contributing to this greater demand, but it feels more important than ever that there is serious investment in renewable energy across the UK. This will help secure our energy supply and keep prices as low as possible to avoid a price spike like we saw at the back end of 2022.
Before we get into the rest of this week’s newsletter, here’s a preview of our new ad, which could be coming to a TV screen near you very soon 👀
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🗞 READ
How to protect your small business from shoplifters 💸
Shoplifters can seriously impact your business, from loss of revenue to lack of trust, it’s not easy to try and pick yourself — and your shop — back up after it happens.
In 2023 alone, over 402,400 shoplifting offences were recorded by police in England and Wales, up by 32% compared to 2022 — that’s a lot of stock being taken off the shelves. But how can you prevent becoming just another number? We’ll tell you everything you need to know in this Bionic guide.
How to advertise a job at your business 📰
Whether you’ve just started your business or you’re rapidly expanding, having skilled employees is essential if you want it to succeed. But to get the right candidates into your business, you need to know how to best advertise a job and include all the key information about the roles on offer.
To help you avoid some common mistakes and fully understand what a job listing should include, our handy guide can walk you through everything you need to know.
🗣 SHOUTOUT
#SmallBusinessStory - Dip ‘n’ Clip 🐩
We’re celebrating independently run pet businesses in April so we spoke to Ella Holder, who proudly runs Dip 'n' Clip groomers in Carshalton. We found out about her biggest achievements and favourite furry clients.
Bionic: How did you start Dip ‘n’ Clip?
Ella Holder: I’ve always wanted to work with animals, I had a feeling that's what I’d end up doing. So, I went to college, did an animal course and then trained in a salon for a while.
B: What has been your proudest achievement?
EH: I think definitely going off on my own, I started off grooming in salons, being hired and working with other people, but over time I didn't feel I was getting the satisfaction of getting to know the client or bonding with the dogs properly. Grooming can be quite an overwhelming experience for the dog in a busy salon. So, I wanted to create a space I could really bond with them. Taking that leap has been my biggest achievement.
B: What has been your biggest struggle?
EH: Establishing boundaries can be tough. When you’re a small business, you have that one-to-one relationship with customers and it’s almost like a friendship. It can be hard to be stern with prices or cancellations and no-shows. Sometimes you forget that it's your business and you've got to make a living. So, I think setting boundaries has been a struggle.”
B: How do you save money during the cost-of-living crisis?
EH: I definitely limit the use of the heaters and hair dryers all at once to save energy. I did try lower-quality products for a while, but in this industry, you really do get what you pay for, and I didn't want my quality of work to suffer. I did put my prices up about a year ago too, it was only a small amount, but it helped cover the amount I was spending on the higher-quality products.
B: Do you think there was enough practical information out there for you when starting up your business?
EH: No, I did struggle to find information out there. I think the main source of help I had was my salon bosses. I confided in them and other dog groomers, they were really helpful. A lot of my family are self-employed too. But when it comes to social media, for example, there's definitely not enough realistic content. It’s all rose-tinted glasses about how to start up a business.”
Head over to Bionic to read more of this small business story, watch the full interview at the Bionic YouTube channel or below 👇
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🔊 LISTEN
Playlist 🎵
Another Daylist from Les, Senior Content Manager at Bionic, and one that comes with no surprises for anyone who was a teenager in the 90s. Post-Britpop 00s indie Thursday morning features Johnny Marr, Richard Ashcroft, Doves, Mansun, Ian Brown, Editors, and pretty much everyone else you’d expect on a 90s-inspired indie playlist.
Podcast 🎙
Another podcast recommendation from Glyn, Chief Customer Officer at Bionic, is Beef and Dairy Network. The number one podcast for those involved or just interested in the production of beef animals and dairy herds. It’s also a surrealist comedy played straight, and features a number of ongoing storylines, such as the search for (and government cover-up of) a 'fifth meat'.
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