Mark and his business partner had built a solid manufacturing business in the West Midlands over fifteen years. Sixty staff. Healthy margins. No plans to exit. Then his co-shareholder’s marriage fell apart. It had nothing to do with Mark. Until it did. When his co-shareholder filed for divorce, their stake in the business immediately became a matrimonial […]
“We were never planning to sell. That was the problem.” Read More »
One thing I see far too often in small businesses is this: the moment pressure rises, the owner speeds up. They work longer. They take on more. They chase more leads, more ideas, more tasks, more noise. They tell themselves they just need to push a bit harder and keep going. I understand it, because when you
Sometimes the fastest way forward is two steps back Read More »
Many business owners would rather clean out the office fridge than make another cold call. It sits on the to-do list… then quietly slips to tomorrow. Yet the reality is hard to ignore. When proactive lead generation stops, growth often slows soon after. Pipelines thin out. Sales start to feel harder than they should. Telemarketing
You probably track your leads. You know where your enquiries come from. You might even measure conversions. But there’s a number you don’t see. And it’s quietly costing you more than anything else. The referrals that never happen. Not the ones you lose. The ones that were about to be made… and weren’t. Picture this. Someone is in a conversation. Your name comes up. You’re not in the
The Referrals You Never See Read More »
Most recruitment still begins the same way. A job advert goes out, applications arrive, and someone sits down to sift through a pile of CVs. It feels like a sensible place to start. Unfortunately, it is also one of the least reliable parts of the entire hiring process. If the goal of recruitment is to
Stop Starting Recruitment with the CV (a guide to better recruitment) Read More »
In a world increasingly dominated by digital funnels and automated outreach, it’s tempting to believe that business growth is a numbers game powered by tech. Yet the most transformative opportunities rarely come from algorithms—they come from people. Real conversations, genuine engagement, and strategic partnerships continue to be the engines that drive long-term business success. Networking is not
The Power of Networking: Why Conversations Still Build the Strongest Businesses Read More »
The Peril of ‘Winging It’ in Business For many small business owners and entrepreneurs, the journey is often driven by passion, intuition, and a healthy dose of improvisation. While entrepreneurial spirit is vital, relying solely on instinct, or ‘winging it,’ can leave your business vulnerable to missed opportunities and avoidable pitfalls. In today’s competitive landscape,
Beyond Instinct: Why Data is Your Roadmap to Sustainable Business Growth Read More »
The vibrant energy of a networking event, perhaps like the recent Circle Networks Scotland Live, is fantastic for making initial connections. But for your small business to truly thrive, these handshakes need to evolve into something more profound: strategic alliances. Why Strategic Alliances Matter for SMEs In the competitive landscape, going it alone can be
Beyond the Business Card: Forging Strategic Alliances That Fuel SME Growth Read More »
Making Every Connection Count: The Art of Strategic Follow-Up The Post-Event Power Play Attending a bustling event like Circle Networks Scotland Live is undeniably exciting. You meet new faces, exchange ideas, and feel the vibrant pulse of the business community. But here’s the crucial question: how do you transform those initial handshakes into lasting, valuable
From Handshakes to Headway: Strategically Nurturing Your Networking Connections Read More »
By Angus Hay, Founder & CEO, Vereus AI Back in December, a Managing Director said something to me that perfectly summed up the current state of AI in business: “We’ve rolled out three AI tools this year and I still can’t point to a single pound they’ve made us.” He was more confused than he
Is AI actually making businesses money yet? Or is it all noise? Read More »
