Business Growth Strategies | Business expansion | Human resources

Leadership & Management

Inside Gordon Ramsay's business

The business empire of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay reported a pre-tax loss of £4.3 million for the year to August 2008.

From director to CEO

Steering a business can be a stressful experience, especially when you're doing it for the first time.

‘An MBA certainly isn’t a golden ticket to success. Maybe it’s more of a golden crowbar,’ says Mark Chadwick, co-founder of carbon offsetting company Carbon Clear and London Business School MBA graduate.

Marketing & Sales

How to grow your market share

Even when you can't grow your turnover or profits, you can still aim to take a larger slice of a shrinking market. We look at tactics to win business from powerful competitors.

Seven unusual ways to secure more business

Too many people make the mistake of trying to sell through direct marketing. Don’t, writes Brad Burton, MD of 4Networking.

Naming your price

Setting the right price is crucial, but using it to win business often demands a subtle touch. Three company directors explain how they use pricing in sales negotiations.

Business Expansion

Expanding into the UK

Companies opening their first office in the UK are likely to be warmly welcomed by government agencies, but there may be cultural differences to navigate. We hear from five companies which have made the move.

Enterprising county

The gutsy get-up-and-go spirit of Yorkshire and the Humber is helping to see the region through recessionary gloom. GB reports on the attractions of the area for the growing business.

Doing business with Argentina

Argentina has experienced unparalleled growth of late, but a lack of understanding has scared off UK businesses.

Human Resources

The right fit

Unemployment in the UK may be creeping upwards, but that doesn’t mean all businesses are wielding the axe.

HR outsourcing: the basics

Using external providers to do the job of a personnel or HR department might save money, but the process is not without its pitfalls. GrowthBusiness weighs up the benefits and the risks.

Holiday pay: in sickness and in health

Do employees accrue holiday during long-term sick leave? A recent court judgment throws light on the issue, writes Christina Morton, an employment specialist from law firm Withers.

Technology in Business

The new cybercriminals

From Twitter to cloud computing, internet innovation is presenting new opportunities to the devious, and they are exploiting them to the full. We outline the main dangers and find out what is being done about them.

The virtual keyboard

First featured on US crime series CSI: Miami, this keyboard with no keys is now available to purchase.

Copenhagen: a power failure?

Expectations were high for the Copenhagen Summit, but very little was achieved. We ask the winners of last year’s Rosenblatt New Energy Awards what went wrong.

Legal Advice

Changing consumer legislation

The EU is set to standardise and extend consumer legislation. Jennifer Edwards, an associate at law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore, looks at what that means for UK businesses.

The right business insurance

Finding the right business insurance can be a difficult and complicated process. There is a certain amount of jargon associated with the subject which can put off many small businesses.

UK contracts in US courts

When a UK seller and a US buyer agree that English law will govern their contract, it doesn’t necessarily mean an American court will respect that agreement.

Enterprise-class e-commerce for mid-sized businesses

Online shopping has become ubiquitous and has changed customers' expectations. But how can mid-sized companies tackle e-commerce?

View now the ATG webinar with Forrester Research to find out how enterprise-class e-commerce can work for you. Click here to find out more

Entrepreneurship at London Business School

Develop your entrepreneurial capabilities with London Business School’s Entrepreneurship programmes. For innovators and investors, the Growing your Business and Financing the Entrepreneurial Business programmes allow you to build upon your skills, and provide you with the knowledge and frameworks to maximise your business opportunities. Find out more.

iPhone 3GS is now on Vodafone

iPhone is full of great features to help you do more, and do it faster. With easy set-up, instant email, first-class web browsing and thousands of business applications, the iPhone 3GS is ready to go to work. Discover the ultimate tool for business today.

Research

Creative businesses face ‘analysis gap’

From video games developers to firms of architects, creative businesses of all kinds struggle to get adequate financing due to a misconception that they cannot be analysed systematically, claims a new report. The study comes from the Centre for Creative Business (CCB), a joint venture between London Business School and University of the Arts London.

Directors' Pay AIM 2009

What should an AIM company pay its CEO or FD?
What should a non-executive director or chairman expect to be paid?
What benchmarks should AIM remuneration committee members be using when
setting pay?

VCT Special Report 2009

This reports principle aim is to provide business owners seeking funding with information about the amount of funds that VCTs have to invest.

12 Key Points to Consider When Selecting a Network Scanning Solution

Discover the 12 key points your company should consider before you evaluate and select a vulnerability assessment solution.

12 SEO Campaign Killers

Learn what not to do when launching a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) campaign to attract more visitors, leads and sales.

1Z0-040 Oracle Database 10G New Features for Administrators Practice Exam

Oracle 9i administrators can certify on Oracle 10G by passing this exam. The ExamForce 1Z0-040 Oracle Database 10G New Features for Administrators practice exam provides their unique triple testing mode to instantly set a baseline of your knowledge and focus your study where you need it most.

Selecting the right IT strategy in 2010

Owner managers and CEOs of fast-growing companies want IT-applications that accelerate competitive advantage and improve operational efficiency. This free whitepaper helps you plan and choose the right IT strategy for your business in 2010. Download ‘Selecting The Right Software Vendor’.

We've started a revolution...

We are Outsourcery. We are on mission to enable small and medium sized enterprises to enjoy the same sophisticated unified communications and hosted IT solutions that used to be reserved for big companies. Find out how at outsourcery.com

Promote your business for FREE with Yellow Pages*

You could have your business details listed for FREE in the Yellow Pages directory. Find out more here. *Terms and conditions apply

Post Office® Business Insurance

At Post Office®, we can find cover for up to 95% of businesses. Tell us your renewal date today and you could win business insurance free for a year. Terms and conditions apply. Visit: www.postoffice.co.uk/businessinsurance

Forrester Research: Telecommuting and Your Bottom Line

This new Forrester white paper explores how implementing best practices to create a telecommuting programme and standardised policy significantly reduces operational costs and increases employee productivity — a winning combination in a tough economy. Click here

Get started with Barclays Business Banking

Choose from 3 great Start-up packages offering a range of business and banking solutions, from cashflow management software (QuickBooks or Sage) to VAT management solution. Plus, up to 2 years FREE banking (conditions apply). Apply online.