On 21 & 22 June at EventCity, Manchester, unleash your inner entrepreneur at Manchester’s exclusive franchise exhibition. Take advantage of over 30 free presentations, benefit from one-to-one expert guidance and find out why franchising has become one of the UK’s most successful business models at this essential event.
You can meet over 40 franchise brands from a dynamic mix of business sectors, including food and drink, property, domiciliary care, retail and fitness. Speak to the teams behind the brands, as well as existing franchisees, and find the right franchise to suit …

More men are to be encouraged in to a careers in nurseries and early years settings, in a new project to provide more diverse role models for children before they start school.
With men making up just three per cent of early years staff in England, the project aims to break down the barriers that prevent men entering careers in children’s early education, including the myth that men are less suited to caring roles.
Children’s and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi has today announced a £30,000 grant to support the scheme and help …

When you’re a working parent, the one thing you don’t have is a lot of time. Suddenly, days that might have spanned leisurely in front of you can feel as though every second is regimented and a slight delay early on could lead to a backlog with little recovery. It can feel as though you are stretched too thin between the office and needing to be at home. That’s why 2019 will see a rise in people opting to work from home and becoming self-employed.
The interconnected nature of communications has …

Over the past few years, remote work has experienced a gradual increase. All around the world, remote work is gaining momentum across a range of industries. As a result, remote work is no longer just a trend: it is now becoming an entire industry. Workplace flexibility and telecommuting have become a top priority for many people in the workforce, from mothers who require more flexibility to technically-minded individuals who prefer to work on their own.
There are many reasons why remote work is on the up and up: easier job accessibility, …

By David Solomon, Blueprints
Financial Technology (FinTech) is an exciting area to be in at the moment. Recent technology has opened up almost unlimited possibilities and disruptive businesses are using technology to undermine established global players.
Even before the 2008 financial crash, many people had begun to realise that the financial system was profiting only a small group, as private citizens were burdened with bailing out major global banks.
Deeply entrenched services, practices, and products at traditional financial firms weren’t evolving for their customers’ needs. They were also maintaining old banking practices, for …

The latest research by Cuckooz Nest, a flexible workspace with integrated creche facilities, has looked at the high cost of childcare in the UK and how this compares to the rest of Europe.
A previous survey by Cuckooz Nest found that 46% of parents cited the affordability of childcare as the largest obstacles when returning to work after having a child, hardly surprising given that the UK is home to the third most expensive level of childcare in the EU.
Cuckooz looked at the average monthly childcare costs of each nation as …

By Jonathan Amponsah CTA FCCA, The Tax Guys
If you don’t plan there is a good chance that you and your business will pay more tax than is necessary.  What action can you take to avoid overpaying?
Show income in correct period
If you normally receive money before carrying out work, the income should be shown in your accounts when you’ve performed the work, matched with the costs and expenses of doing the work. Say you’ve received £5,000 in March for a consultancy project to be delivered in April.  This should not be …

A nationwide study into the career aspirations of modern Brits has revealed the extent to which many traditional or practical roles are being rejected by today’s young people, as the number one dream job of 16-30-year olds emerged as travel blogger (14 percent).
Second in the list, according to the poll, was computer game designer (12 percent), with photographer coming third. (10 percent). Social media influencer, bar owner, stylist, creative director and professional footballer also made the list of dream jobs modern youngsters are working towards.
Last year, the number of teachers …

How do you get your employees to perform at their peak? As a business owner you may feel that their salary should be enough reward but there are more ways to encourage employees to put in 100% effort, and also to introduce an element of fun in to the workplace. According to new research, half of all bosses are losing out on increased productivity by not making use of gamified rewards.
A survey of 1,096 UK workers, by workplace incentives and rewards provider, One4all Rewards, published in the Workers on Top …

By David Solomon, co-founder of Blueprints
History has a habit of looking unfavourably towards individuals and corporations who don’t hold up to the scrutiny of modern morality. This is evidenced by the demonisation of all slave traders, colonisers and sexual exploiters of history, who often were simply doing what was ‘perfectly legal’ in their period of history.
It’s difficult to tell how history will look back at us now, but the signs are there. Our descendants will be astounded by our generation’s wasteful nature. They will be horrified that we’re so destructive …