A sad time for SMEs in (not-so) Digital City Hull

As the (currently) only local training provider of Web 2.0 training, including social media marketing and online networking, it was disappointing to find that the Hull Skills Fund declined ALL applications for training in this area.  All applicants were asked to resubmit their applications answering questions to a template (that had been distributed after the initial applications were sent in) and all were declined again on the basis that this technology had no direct business benefit.

The Hull Skills Fund was  set up by Hull City Council to be reactive to the economic downturn by amending its criteria to be more flexible in supporting small businesses of Hull. The fund was designed to deal with issues relating to training, employment and the growth of sustainable small businesses and skills in the City of Kingston upon Hull.

The criteria was amended in August 2009 to further support SMEs with less than 10 employees, with a training grant of up to 70% up to a total cost of £3000, to ensure that employees have the right skills to meet the demands of employers and try to boost the local economy in the economic downturn.  Grants also considered for training that have a direct business benefit to the organisation and accompanied by a supporting business case.

The training that businesses were signing up to were “Explore your business with digital” which, by the end of the course, the SME has a fully functioning website with video and audio content, a website that is search engine optimised and seach engine submitted, including an e-commerce and email marketing facility- to name but a few of the benefits.  We also introduce open source software such as OpenOffice.org which provides a significant savings than Microsoft products.  More importantly, our students have said that they feel more “confident” about using technology, that they didn’t realise how “easy” it was to implement into their business and were now “aware” of the new technologies available to them that could help them save money.

We were told that one resubmitted application was declined because the panel could not understand why a business needed to be on page one/top of the Google search … hmmm – do the panel ever go beyond the 3rd page of a Google search, let alone the first.

Question : How much is that worth to a business?  Can you quantify it?  Can you measure it?

Certainly – at least the business will still be around during any down turn as they continue to keep in contact with their clients using their social networks like LinkedIn and keep up to date and share with like-minded people via Twitter.  Not only do SMEs save on their bottom line costs but they can also MEASURE their return on investment using all the analytical tools available.  Can you measure how many people actually read a poster on the wall?  Or listen to your radio advertisement during the day?

In the initial stages SMEs can quantify the benefits in adopting Web 2.0 technologies in terms of savings. The “AFTERS” are the business streams because they are keeping in contact with their customers and communicating on a regular basis via an online network.

Our “Podcasting for Business” and “Promote your business with video on the web“, enable the SME to create video and audio content on their sites.  Included as part of the course is presentation skills that can be used in the real world as well the virtual.  These presentation skills help you win business.

Why would you need a video on your website?  Because people BUY people.  Imagine that you are doing your introduction – once – and this can be viewed whenever someone visits your website.  Your client gets to meet and know you before they pick up the phone or email or, better still, CONNECTS with you via a network.  Testimonials – especially video testimonials (can you “fake” those) add credibility to your work and your ability.  Videos also can show your workmanship.

For SMEs in the professional sectors, these courses can provide additional income streams as they learn to create their own materials that they can sell.

We were told that “social media marketing/online networking” training was not essential in today’s world of business – but a Quality Assurance course is.  Do they connect with Business Link who are providing presentations on this – BUT no hands-on training which Imagine dpm provide.  We were told that the panel were asking “Why do businesses need an online presence?”

Question : How will doing this training add to employability?

As the Hull 14-19 Partnership Creative and Media Diploma Champion (2009), I have seen an incredible wealth of talent in our young people.  We have 50 young people at Level 2 and 9 at Level 3.  All of these students are required to do 10 days work experience.  However, neither local businesses nor education, nor public sector for that matter, know how to use the online tools for enterprise.  How are they going to positively engage these young people and maximise their skills if they don’t know how to do it themselves?

All the businesses that do our training sign up to providing work-experience opportunities for our young people – whether it be IT, Creative and Media, Business, Administration and Finance.  SMEs are very busy running their business and, as business grows, it becomes harder to maintain the one marketing tool that is accessed by the world – their website – and now these websites can be accessed on mobile phones.  So what does it mean for employment and work experience – our SMEs need these young people and their skills and want to grow.  But Hull Skills Fund says “no”.

Our courses have been created to be jargon free, fun, productive and hands-on with real results on completion and after the course.  They are designed for SMEs, social enterprises, education and the public sector, with the aim for greater connectivity, communication, inclusion and benefit.

I would like to know who is on this panel – I have been told that I am not allowed to know who they are – the panel also refuse to attend our “Is Web 2.0 for You?” presentation that explains what is happening with Web 2.0 and why it is important to (at least) know about it.  I wonder if they have a mobile phone… when did they first get one?  What type of mobile phone do they have – is it a smart phone like an iPhone?  When did they first learn how to use email?  When did they first get broadband?

Finally, taken directly from Hull City Council’s website :

“Knowledge based city

We are working to ensure that the city is maximising the opportunities that technology can bring. We exploring how technology can help to regenerate the city and create jobs.

As well as working on a strategic level the council is actively involved in a number of partnerships and projects:

• Hull CityDigital, a contact point for digital activities in the City. Includes partners from private and public sector.
• Hull ICT Alliance a public/private sector consortium that brings together innovative organisations with the aim of encouraging and assisting the development and use of ICT among firms in the Hull area. Click on the ‘hullictalliance’ link for more information.
• Digital Home Showcase, a purpose built flat demonstrating how broadband enabled services can be delivered directly to the home, also testing interoperability of different applications. A key element in our wish to be a Digital Laboratory.
  Click on the ‘digital-home-showcase’ link on the left for more information.
• Connected Hull looks at the infrastructure and service needs of the future – ensuring Hull can remain the Capital of broadband Britain.
• Eurocities’ Knowledge Society Forum – Telecities, Hull represents the UK on the Advisory Board of a trans-European network, working actively to lobby EU policy on issues relating to the Knowledge Society and the Knowledge Economy. Use the ‘eurocities’ link on the left for more information.
• Interactive TV programme delivered by a Special Purpose Delivery Vehicle called Broadband Capital. Revolutionising Teaching and Learning provides video-rich learning through digital interactive television and broadband-enabled PCs for school-age pupils, young people and adult learners. Humber Business TV enables local small and medium sized enterprises to access video-rich training materials and news programming on-demand. Use the ‘broadbandcapital’ link on the top left for more information.”

I fail to understand how the Hull Skills Fund can reject any training that will contribute to Hull becoming a “Knowledge-based City” when it is written on their own website.

As always, it is always the SMEs and micro businesses, who employ 93% of the nation’s workforce, who are discriminated against in terms of acquiring essential IT skills for this modern age and keep ahead in business.

I welcome any comments that you may have.

… And another thing! Peace Mala!!

If you haven’t already visited the imagine dpm site please do!

Last year, Imagine dpm delivered a project for a wonderful charity, Peace Mala, to produce a short video that would describe Peace Mala and be able to be used as an educational guide. The project involved 40 people of all ages, from several countries and many local organisations to produce the following film. Many thanks to so many people for making such a beautiful film.

I hope that you will enjoy it! Please comment if you do!

Small Business survival during a recession

It’s interesting times with a lot of hype in the press about a recession, or perhaps we are already in one?

One of my clients says that she is already feeling the “pinch” and another more established business is saying “the worst is yet to come.”

On the other hand, I have another client who is very positive and keen to get going. Imagine dpm shares the same positive approach to business, during any crisis or recession, with the most important being:

“Business Planning”

Now – business planning doesn’t have to be a hard exercise although, when I first started Imagine dpm I tried to go head long into the “full financial” business plan. This makes it incredibly hard work and quite demotivating.

John Leach, BNI Area Director for Yorkshire and Humber, reminds us that:

“Business planning is key to determining the future quality of business. Businesses need to be adaptable and working as a team.” (17 June 2008)

So, when thinking about your business plan:

• Create your objectives for 12 months, then 2 years, then 5 years.
• For the first year, ensure that you have your cashflow with all your possible expenditures
• From here, you will be able to determine how much you will need to break-even and, more importantly, how much business you will need to bring in for profit.
• Set your financial goals here and make sure that your whole company works together as a team to achieve these goals. Monitor and review on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Now, look outside your business and see your connections. Who are your suppliers? Who are your clients? Who are your family and friends? What are their networks? Can you work together? Can you supply them with services that they need? Working collaboratively like this will ensure that you will have a good pipeline for business.

With the last point, it is important to know your networks and to keep an up to date CRM with all your contacts and their details.

I can recommend freecrm.com – so check it out!

I’m not going to say “Good Luck” … I;’m saying “Good Business” to you all as it has nothing to do with luck!!

CRMs for small businesses

Could I please recommend – if I haven’t already – www.freecrm.com

This system is:

• free to use
• multiple users
• fantastic reporting
• manages all your company and contact details
• manages your cases and deals so that you can track how long you’re spending on each task and how long it takes to close the deal
• tracks sales
• sets targets
• email campaigns
• SMS text messaging

For a free system this is fantastic and we’re not even using the email campaigns or SMS text messaging yet.

We have only been using for a month and already the office is moving much more smoothly and our sales have increased significantly – and still increasing.

Other CRMs we have looked at just didn’t seem to be doing the job.  it would be fantastic if freecrm did the expenses, invoicing and estimates as well.

ZOHO CRM goes one better and also does expenses, invoicing and estimates. For a small company (or start-up) their CRM is free up to 3 users then US$12 per month after that.  Zoho Has several free applications which are also very good.  However, the access time for us seems to be incredibly slow.  This does need to be improved.

Which leads me onto subscription based online services.  I don’t have a problem with the subscription system, however, the exit clauses are not ideal for the subscriber.  Also – if a business is happy to pay upfront the total cost for an annual subscription, it would be good to see the upfront payment rewarded via a discount.  Why?  Because once the payment has been received, you know (as a business) that you won’t have to suffer any potential delayed payments (bounced or otherwise) thus incurring fewer bank charges.  What do you think?

Business Matters

I have just had a wonderful meeting with one of my clients from last year regarding his business. His business started out as an idea 7 months ago and he went through an excellent programme, The Amaze Yourself Programme run by Liz Ringrose, University of Hull. This innovative programme took people who were long term unemployed and guided them through a learning process to develop them and their business ideas.

My client was one of these students who came on the “Explore your business with digital” course. He came in to discuss his website and ended up talking about his journey so far in setting up his business, Precious Memories (Hull). I am so proud of my client for, although starting a business with no capital at all is very hard, he is still moving forward and progressing and I have no doubt he will do very well in the future as he continues to learn that, whoever starts a business, MUST end up a sales person. If you can’t sell your own product, who else can?

One of the best websites I have come across so far is:
The Accidental Salesman = http://www.theaccidentalsalesman.com/

Brilliant! Someone I can completely identify with!!

Secondly, I had the priviledge to see Andy Bounds: www.Andybounds.com in Wakefield at a conference. Once again – brilliant techniques that I have already implemented and are working well – although there is much room for improvement on my side!!

Now – what do these two people and I have in common —- oh! BNI!!! Business Networking International – BNI is a 22 year old business and professional organisation that allows only one person from each trade or profession to join a chapter. With over 5,010 active chapters, and 103,607 members, it is the most successful business referral organisation in the world.
http://www.bni-europe.com/

For me (to date) it has been the most valuable and successful investment I have made since starting Imagine dpm and I recommend any business who is serious about creating a successful business attend one meeting to see what it is all about.

Getting back to my client, one of the things he says he misses most is talking to other people to discover solutions to problems that he has in business.  In business, we are always talking … normally about the other person or our business.  So it is really important in the beginning stages to ensure that you go to as many networking clubs as possible.  All business owners, start-ups to the those that have been around for several years, know what it’s like: the HR issues, the cash-flow etc etc etc etc.  Don’t be afraid.  The greatest thing you will find out about being a business owner  and founder is that you are a “life long learner” and you are committed to your own future.

The British Economy and such…

I have never been one for politics… I always find that it seems to hinder the progress of progress… Really – is it really necessary to say so many words to defend one’s view .. or should politics really be about what could be achieved if everyone just put on the table how they could solve a problem like… the UK…

Yes, the UK is in dire straights… VERY dire straights…. I’m actually not quite sure what Mr Brown is thinking .. or is he really? I do feel sorry for him as he must be very tired and when one is tired, one can make some awful decisions. Luckily for most, they don’t affect the whole country.

So – why am I writing today. I am one of many, I believe, who are very proud to be living and working in the UK and being a British national. However, the current government’s policies on taxation are completely ridiculous… what are they thinking??

Firstly – why is it that SME’s don’t have their tax break anymore and, regardless of where they are, have to pay 22% tax on profits???

Secondly – by abolishing the 10p tax rate how many people are going to end up on benefits who just got off??? And who is going to be paying for it?

SME’s employ approximately 92% of UK workers. The more they are taxed, the more they are unable to afford to pay salaries. As SME’s are unable to expand their workforce, more people end up on benefits. More people on benefits, increased taxes for those who are working and less money to spend all around.

Once upon a time in time far far away (the 90s) there used to be a tax break up to £10,000. What this meant was that new businesses could get a head start if they made £10,000 in profit and could afford to factor in new staff.

If there was a tax break for employed people, for example £10,000, then more people would spend (or save), less people would need to be on benefits as they would be able to afford to live.

I’ll have to draw up a diagram, I think, to show this idea…. but the crux of it is this – the more the government taxes the people – you have a regime that depresses the people and the economy, education, health, innovation, etc.

It would be fantastic if we could have a Prime Minister that just listened to the people and understood what is needed in an exponentially changing UK-world of multi-multiculturalism, business and technology.

Imagine dpm – New offices

Drat! I didn’t post this up last June! Things have changed and moved on!! will be updating with new photos!

Below written, June 2007:

Ok… I know… I’ve been a little bit late on updating the blog… HOWEVER! – Imagine dpm now has new offices at Unit D1, Chamberlain Business Centre. We have been refurbishing it. We want it to look like a house but with all the gadgets .. achievable. If last Tuesday’s first free seminar was anything to go by, we are going to need security guards to escort people off the premises after 9pm!

For a preview of our offices (before refurbishment) please go to : http://www.youtube.com/imaginedpm

or watch it here!

Let’s hope this works!

Rubbish!!

Right! Write! I have been rubbish at keeping up with the blogging.

So whats up. (I would like to put an apostrophe there but my laptop wont allow it). My husband and very good friend (I dont know which one is more PC to put first) said a very profound thing the other day:

“There is no such thing as “human rights” only “human responsibility”. If everyone wereresponsible for themselves and for their fellow human beings, there would be no need for human rights.”

Further on during the week, this came up in conversation with an HR Lawyer – dealing with Employment Rights. Once again, this same rule could be applied to Employment as well.

If employees were responsible for themselves and for the business (ie. understanding that every moment they are paid to do a job, should generate revenue to pay not only for themselves but also for their maintenance in that role) then companies should see a better workforce.

I was in the Navy for 8 years and this sense of responsibility for ourselves, our colleagues, the Navy and the country was instilled from the moment we joined. It meant that we all strived for excellence yet were loyal and committed to one another.

I strive for this at Imagine dpm and hope that other companies also see the value in this approach.

Small Business Accounting Software

For a lot of small businesses the cost of software is normally a big one… as well as very confusing as to which product to use.

Imagine dpm likes to point the arrow to new products to try that are available online for accounting.

At the moment, Imagine dpm is trialling various accounting packages and they range from very simple to quite extensive depending on your accounting experience.

One that I like that is incredibly simple and easy to use is:

• http://www.instantadmin.co.uk/

It isnt online but it is useful for the up and coming sole trader or start-up. Cant say much for their support staff or customer service though but hopefully this will improve as time goes on… perhaps I caught them on a bad day???

Happy Birthday, Imagine dpm !

Today is Imagine dpm’s 2nd birthday and 2008 is looking good for all (Happy New Year to everyone).

Last year was a very good year in terms of digital and online developments with Facebook taking the forefront of social networking sites and Slide.com also moving up the ranks in terms of sharing pictures and video.

This year, we’re going to see a lot more of video editing sites .. so you will be able to upload your video footage, audio and images and create your masterpieces online. I will be reviewing this through the year and letting you know how it all goes.

Open source software is another one to watch in 2008. Imagine dpm fully supports open source software as an alternative to better known software produced by Microsoft, Adobe, etc. Our resident open source software expert, Saalo Sparkes, will be testing the systems and reporting on systems that will help small businesses – word processing, financial software, photo editing and, hopefully later on in the year, video editing.

This year, Imagine dpm is also getting involved with more charities and social enterprises and we will be “spot lighting” them as we go. Last year, Imagine dpm had the pleasure of working with Peace Mala to create an educational dvd with animation, video and music all created by the community of Hull. To view the video, go to www.youtube.com/imaginedpm.

Anyway – must go for now! Happy New Year!