Month: <span>November 2018</span>

How to make sure freelancers aren’t left out in the cold this Christmas
Published November 30, 2018

How to make sure freelancers aren’t left out in the cold this Christmas

It’s almost December, which means everyone will be planning Christmas drinks, parties and the seasonal wind down. And while those in and around the office will be getting right into the Christmas spirit over the next few weeks – whether through the annual Christmas party, a day dedicated to silly jumpers, or festive tunes on loop in reception – spare a thought for those freelancers who work tirelessly all year but never get to see any of the fun stuff.

OK, they don’t have to contend with the commute or the office politics, and they can work in their pyjamas should the fancy take them, but that doesn’t mean those that work from home should be left out of the festive revelry.

So, this year, why not get your freelancers involved in the festive fun?

Read MoreHow to make sure freelancers aren’t left out in the cold this Christmas

Guides & How-Tos Small business Work from home

business how to work from home

How to set up a conference call to Finland
Published November 26, 2018

How to set up a conference call to Finland

Broadly speaking, the Nordic countries aren’t the biggest of the UK’s trade partners – and Finland is no exception. That is why the British Embassy is working to improve bilateral trade between the two countries, promote British business interests out there, and attract inward investment into the UK.

So if you’re operating out there, or you’re thinking about it, now could be a good time as the British Embassy looks to grow British exports of goods and services to the Finnish market, develop links to companies with high growth potential and identify investment projects for UK businesses.

Helsinki sits almost 1,500 miles and flights from London to Helsinki take around two-hours-and-forty-five-minutes – so you won’t want to be commuting to and from the Finnish capital on a regular basis.

And that’s where an international conference call comes in handy…

Read MoreHow to set up a conference call to Finland

Guides & How-Tos

conference call guide how to

Why employee well-being should be the focus of all companies
Published November 21, 2018

Why employee well-being should be the focus of all companies

Inspiration Small business

business work/life balance

Should reading emails on the commute count as work?
Published November 16, 2018

Should reading emails on the commute count as work?

It seems the working day is starting earlier and earlier – if you check your emails as soon as you wake up, the working day kicks off before you’ve even stepped out of bed. But, if you regularly check your work emails before you clock on, whether at home or on the way to work, should this count towards your working day?

Read MoreShould reading emails on the commute count as work?

Flexible working Technology

smartphone technology work/life balance

Is freelancing damaging your mental health?
Published November 14, 2018

Is freelancing damaging your mental health?

There are loads of positives to freelancing and working remotely, not least that you can fit your work schedule around other priorities in life – doing away with the nine-to-five means freelancing can be particularly good for parents, who have to factor school runs and childcare into the working day.

A study from Kalido, a professional networking app, has found that as many as half (50%) of all workers are expected to turn freelance in the next two years. It also found that almost two-thirds  (64%) of UK-based businesses currently rely on freelance workers in some capacity; and over a third (39%) of business owners predict that their use of freelancers will grow faster than their number of permanent hires in the next five years.

On the face of it, this is great for everyone’s life/work balance, but there’s evidence to suggest that a growth in remote working could lead to an increase in mental health issues, particularly for those who work alone at home.

Read MoreIs freelancing damaging your mental health?

Flexible working Work from home

flexible working work from home work/life balance