David vs Goliath
David and Goliath. The FA Cup third round. There are plenty of examples of small triumphing over big, but in business, it is generally accepted that larger is better. Bigger budgets, more resources, greater power and higher profile brands are all the things that most small business owners have traditionally coveted.
But this situation may be changing as it seems the big guns are turning to the little guys for inspiration. (more…)
The new T-Pylons
With the loss of one of the world’s greatest inventors (Apple’s Founder, Steve Jobs) innovation has been a topic of much debate recently. Lots of people have been pontificating about the increased pace of change and need for continual development so that things work better, faster, harder.
Sometimes, though, innovation takes time. (more…)
We’re in a vicious circle with our economy at the moment.
We need businesses (like yours) to grow and create jobs so that people have more money to spend with businesses (like yours!).
Unfortunately, banks have been reluctant to lend money to businesses and that’s caused a problem because without that funding SMEs can’t invest and grow.
However, we might be turning a corner today because one of the banks is breaking the cycle with a new campaign to boost confidence among small and medium-sized businesses. (more…)
Following our blog about the f8 conference yesterday, Facebook has now confirmed plans to encourage users to share more of the media they consume – including music and movies – with friends. (more…)
From December landline and broadband customers won't be automatically tied into new contracts
Ofcom has confirmed that rollover contracts, which tie landline and broadband customers into repeated minimum contract periods unless they opt out, will be banned from December this year.
The contracts, also known as Automatically Renewable Contracts (ARCs), roll forward to a new minimum contract period – with penalties for leaving – unless the customer actively opts out of the renewal. The ban will apply to ARCs for landline and broadband services sold to residential and small business customers.
It estimated that about 15 per cent of UK customers who sign up to a broadband and landline provider are tied to Automatically Renewable Contracts (ARCs).
Ofcom said it would require comms providers to eventually shift all residential and small business customers off rollover contracts and over to alternative deals.
“Ofcom’s evidence shows that ARCs raise barriers to effective competition by locking customers into long-term deals with little additional benefit. Our concern about the effect of ARCs and other ‘lock in’ mechanisms led to our decision to ban them in the communications sector,” said the regulator’s chief Ed Richards.
Naturally, providers that currently use ARCs disagree that these contracts are detrimental to either the customer or competition, but Ofcom’s mind is made up and BT has already said that it would no longer be selling ARCs to residential customers now that the ban has been confirmed by Ofcom.
Here a 08Direct, we think this is a good thing. That’s why we’ve never tied customers into lengthy contracts – 30 days notice is all we ever ask, even from day 1 of the service being provided.
What do you think? Are ARCs good for anybody but the provider? Or are you glad to see the back of them?
Do you struggle to find staff for your business? If so, you’re not alone – according to a new report, small businesses want to grow but are struggling to find staff with the right skills.
With the economy in turmoil and unemployment at the highest level for years, you might have though that businesses would find it easy to recruit good staff at bargain prices. But a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce found that more than half want to increase their workforces but a similar number cannot find suitable candidates.
Micro businesses, those with fewer than 10 employees, generate around 20% of private sector turnover in the UK.
Adam Marshall, director of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Despite high levels of unemployment, many micro firms are frustrated by the quality of applicants for vacant roles. There is a real mismatch between business needs and local skills supply, with many businesses unable to find school leavers or even graduates with the right mix of skills. At a time when we need to fight hard for every new private sector job, Britain needs a skills system that delivers what businesses require. A courageous government must recognise this and put more control in the hands of employers when it comes to training the nation.”
“Micro firms make up an important part of our economy, and the fact that over half want to increase staff numbers is good news. However, for those wanting to take on more staff, finding the right person for the job can prove difficult. And for too many firms, burdensome employment legislation deters them from taking on staff in the first place.
Less than a quarter of the businesses that took part in the survey expressed confidence in the skill level of school leavers with A-levels and only one third thought graduates would be up to the job.
How are you feeling about your business prospects as we emerge from the economic downturn? Please take 5 seconds (yes, that’s all it takes!) to gives us your views in our latest poll.
Today is the the day that the US Senate is voting on a bill to save America’s economy by increasing its debt limit by $2.4trillion. Now as someone who works for a telecoms business, I like long numbers but in this case I had to write trillion as I didn’t want to type out all the noughts for a million million! (more…)
Robbie gets people talking with controversial tactics
So, Robbie Williams is at it again. Where would we be without his media-friendly, attention seeking outbursts? Whether you love him or loathe him, Robbie knows how to get people talking about him, and here I am writing a blog about him for 08 Direct…so, “what’s all this got to do with non-geographic numbers?”, I hear you ask….I’ll explain…. (more…)
facebook twitter linkedin logos
Unless you sell your products to teenagers and twenty-somethings then there’s no point in using Facebook to promote your business, right? (more…)
(But we weren’t running scared, we were raising money for charity by climbing a massive mountain!)
Provide your funniest caption and you could win a bottle of champagne!
You might be aware (through our Facebook page, Twitter stream @08direct, and pleading emails!) that eight intrepid members of the 08 Direct team recently undertook an eight hour climb up Tryfan Mountain in Snowdonia in aid of charity.
