B4High quality educational & inspirational articles written by B4 members, including advice pieces, interviews, and thoughts on current topics. Articles are reviewed by the B4 editorial team before being published.
“A number of years ago, as the recently-appointed Commercial Director for the National Trust for Scotland, I attended a landmark tourism conference featuring speakers from some of the world’s most revered attractions and institutions. One speaker, Jo Pike, made a great impression on me.
As one of the most effective methods of growing audience engagement, developing your brand presence, and driving sales, content marketing is a mission-critical growth method for most businesses.
James White, the ‘Small Business Sales Expert’, interviews David Harris who, in 2016, sold his business for an eight figure sum. So how did he do it and what’s his advice to any business with aspirations to sell?
It’s National Storytelling Week and PR and marketing expert Kate Stinchcombe-Gillies hosted a discussion about the importance and essence of storytelling with independent communication consultant, Lucy Eckley, together with independent social media and digital marketing consultant, Paul Sutton…so absolutely no pressure summarising a discussion about storytelling given by three storytelling experts!
Over the past year the world we once knew has become very different for all of us. We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges on a different scale and there’s no real light at the end of the tunnel. But most of us reading this will be of a certain age, we’ve lived our lives to some extent, we’ve experienced things we can, for the time being anyway, no longer experience. Not everyone can handle that, no matter how insignificant those experiences are in the grand scheme of things, they’re important to someone.
It’s been almost a year of turbulence, a year like no other, certainly a year none of us will ever forget. But, as days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, the realities of a new business world came into view. When would we see our colleagues again? Would we ever be together under the same roof? Can our business survive this? When B4 members from the Professional Services Hub got together recently, the stand out concern for them was the wellbeing of their colleagues.
The Alternative Investment Market’s (AIM) success over the past year has made it increasingly difficult for equity investors to ignore. AIM is the London Stock Exchange’s (LSE) market for smaller, growing companies which are at different stages of development.
There’s no doubt that for every business success story in 2020 there have been adequate tales of woe grabbing the national headlines and felt through all levels of business. But why have the winners done so well and why have the losers been hit so hard?
What are you frightened of? Time spent dithering about what to write or share on LinkedIn or your other marketing channels is time you could be spending on your business. Call it writer’s block, call it imposter syndrome. Or recognise it’ll add some value to your audience and just post it!
Companies are starting to make the transition online to support an ease of day to day operations running and streamlining management. New technology allows companies of all sizes to become more stategic and efficient in their businesses. It is now the time to start capitilising on the benefits of digitisation.
Almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of businesses see a digital skills shortfall as one of the most significant challenges facing their company in 2021. This is according to new research from the FTSE 250 professional services firm, FDM Group.
B4, Oxfordshire’s leading business to business network, launched in 2006 and celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2021, has now launched nationally, providing businesses across the UK with fantastic opportunities to connect and secure excellent profile across B4’s growing digital audience.
As the world limps on and businesses in the UK contend with the challenges of another period of lockdown, B4 members representing the Business Services, IT & Communications Hub marked Data Protection Day on Thursday 28th January 2021 by discussing what the major threats were to their businesses. With thanks to Darren Aston (Aston & James), Neill Lawson-Smith (CIS Ltd), Paul Ballinger (STL Communications), Salim Benadel (Storm Internet) and Kellie Peters (Databasix).
Jackie Jarvis, The Walking Business Coach and Co-Founder of Natural Netwalking asks a selection of Oxfordshire’s business owners to share the ways in which they have grown stronger during these unprecedented times.
Is 2021 the year to invest in a new website or redevelop your existing site? Here is our guide to what you need to consider and what you can expect it to cost.