Effective ways to manage the cashflow of your business

Cash is a fundamental element of the management of a business, it is the financial pillar that keeps it in balance at the risk of seeing it languish under the weight of bankruptcy.

It deserves to be managed with attention and a lot of professionalism. How to get there? Here are some tips for managing the cash flow of your business.

What is cash and why manage it?

It is the capital available to a company to use for its needs. Cash allows the company to use its financial resources, but it often happens that some companies go through difficulties that do not allow them to have sufficient financial resources. In this case, the company is unable to finance some of its investments which can have serious incidents on it. This lack of availability can force it to close its doors, hence the need to manage cash well.

Good cash management enables the company to avoid cases of default and save money, like services such as pay calculator take home can serve you well for manages your cash flow. It also allows the company to grow the surplus through long-term investment.

How to manage the cash flow of your company?

Since the company’s survival depends on its cash flow, here are some tips that will help you manage it well.

Negotiate bank loans

Certainly, these rates and interest rates can weigh on the company, but it is always good to start an activity by using a bank for a loan to finance equipment, premises, stocks. To qualify for this credit, you must be a competent entrepreneur, stand up to the competition and have a viable business.

Using an indicator, build your cash flow

Enter your opening balance and any financial movements you make monthly. You will have the opportunity to appreciate, to comb through your cash, and even to anticipate some problems. Similarly, it is important to keep track of incoming and outgoing payments made during the month.

Maintain good relationships (trust) with your customers and suppliers

This in order to bring more money into your coffers . Offer discounts to customers who pay their bills instantly and request an extension within the timeframe for paying your bills to your suppliers . Once this period has been granted, pay cash and meet immediately. Likewise, do not be afraid to be hard on bad payers when it comes to recovering your debts.

Make your operations simple by avoiding enough waste

It’s a good idea to increase production and make your business profitable, but watch out for overproduction, bottlenecks and other waste that can lead you to bankruptcy. Have your employees participate in the growth of your business. 

Finally, finding the right balance to manage your business cash flow is a top priority for longevity and success.

Baroness Karren Brady & Lady Mone to headline Women in Business EXPO 2019

Two of the UK’s most well regarded businesswomen, Baroness Karren Brady of Knightsbridge CBE and Lady Michelle Mone, Baroness of Mayfair OBE, will be bringing their business experience to the first annual Women in Business EXPO in 2019.

Launched by Hub Exhibitions, Women in Business EXPO is a new free-to-attend event designed to provide an environment where women can learn, network and share experiences. The event, which will take place 16-17 October 2019 at Farnborough International Conference and Exhibition Centre, Hampshire, will provide attendees with a range of fascinating talks and access to leading companies, which will be providing business, franchise and career opportunities along with support for future career moves.

Baroness Karren Brady will kick off the event on day one with an empowering session on business and career development, drawing on her work as Vice Chairman of West Ham F.C, a Peer in the House of Lords and Small Business Ambassador for the Government. Star of The Apprentice, Karren is recognised as the first woman in football, having transformed Birmingham City Football Club, taking it from administration to the stock market during her time, the latter of which made her the youngest Managing Director of a PLC in the UK.

Lady Michelle Mone is set to open day two of the conference with a fascinating and inspiring look at how she built her multi-million-pound lingerie business, Ultimo Brands International, from the ground up. As a peer in the House of Lords, OBE recipient and Start-Up Business Tsar for the Government, Michelle is one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs and is set to provide attendees with practical and honest business advice.

Michelle commented: “I’m delighted to be speaking at Women in Business EXPO. This event is so important to highlight and show how women of today can overcome the unique challenges faced in work and business, and provide the inspiration for a new beginning.”

Christie Day, Group Event Director for Women in Business EXPO also commented: “According to the Women’s Business Council there has been a ‘significant shift’ in the experiences of women in the workplace in the last five years. But there’s still challenges to be overcome. We want to empower women to confidently take the next step in their working lives, and to feel comfortable juggling the work/life balance. Whether you’re returning to work, planning the next chapter in your career, looking to start a business or considering franchising, we launched Women in Business EXPO with you in mind.”

Other inspiring speakers at the event include:

• Caprice Bourret, the supermodel turned highly successful entrepreneur will share her incredible experience building a global company and share tips for setting up a business in changing economic times.
• Cynthia V Davis, founder and CEO of BAME Recruitment, will dig into the role female entrepreneurs play in being visible leaders and challenging the status quo with diversity
• Suzanne Burke, Head of Operations for the Office of the Small Business Commissioner, will be sharing her wealth of knowledge on the small business market in the UK and top tips to overcome some of the biggest challenges small businesses face around payments.

This year’s event, sponsored by NatWest, Sky, Vodafone, Avast,Pure Storageand Red Hat,will include dedicated areas on Women in Tech, Women in Franchise and Women in Finance. Attendees will also have access to a specialist CV and interview clinic, to help hone skills in applying for that next job, along with a franchise matchmaking service, which will provide advice on starting a franchise and suitable investments, and a focused wellbeing track, featuring top tips and interactive workshops to help improve wellbeing in the workplace.

5 tips for managing international IT teams

Nigel Blythe-Tinker is the Executive Chairman for VGW, the company that revolutionized the social gaming industry with their Chumba Casino and Global Poker brands.

He has extensive United Kingdom and international corporate experience spanning over thirty years and covering all forms of mergers and acquisitions, divestments, corporate finance, restructuring, AIM and FTSE 100 flotations, corporate governance and incentive schemes. He has 17 years of experience within the international gaming sector.

With commercial trade and supply chains across more than 20 countries, globalization remains a backbone of the tech industry as of 2019, based on a recent IT trends analysis from CompTIA. In fact, the research continues, in this past year alone, the United States exported an estimated $322 billion worth of tech products and services around the world.

With this connection to so many global markets, it would stand to reason that more IT leaders have grown their teams to include people from Western Europe, Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, and South Africa, to name a few technology hubs. So if you manage a team of international IT workers, here is what you need to know.

Keep the Emphasis on Innovation

Brainstorm sessions can be difficult enough when everyone is in the same office, but with a team that’s spread across multiple time zones, it can feel near impossible to make sure each person’s ideas are recognized and evaluated. But while it’s a challenge sometimes to push for innovation on a global team, the effort pays off. For example, consider that in 2013, General Electric partnered with the online engineer community GrabCAD to create a new jet engine bracket for its 3-D printer, and the person chosen to spearhead the design was an engineer in Indonesia. So if one of the foremost American tech companies prioritizes global innovation, then it should be part of your team’s culture too.

Use Virtual Communication Tools

Effective communication is important for any team, but when you are located in different countries or even continents, it becomes all the more necessary to keep in touch with each other on digital platforms. In 2018, nearly 50 percent of remote workers used some kind of virtual collaboration software to interact with other employees, a Deloitte survey found, and another 71 percent confirmed these tools made them feel more productive, efficient and connected to their team. Cloud-based project management software, in particular, has gained traction on remote teams because it enables you to monitor workflow and communicate directly on the interface. Here are some options worth using:

• Slack: $6.67/user per month (standard), $12.50/user per month (plus)
• Asana: $9.99/user per month (premium), $19.99/user per month (business)
• Wrike: $9.80/user per month (professional), $24.90/user per month (business)
• com: $25/month (basic), $39/month (standard), $59/month (professional)
• Basecamp: $99/month (all-inclusive features and unlimited users) 

Be Intentional Not to Micromanage

If you make a point of hiring a talented and diverse team of people from around the world, it makes sense that you would, of course, want to retain them as long as possible. So in order to keep your workforce engaged, satisfied and committed, it’s important to avoid the tendency to micromanage them. This approach to leadership is harmful because it “hampers their drive to succeed, destroys organizational innovation, and decreases growth potential for both the employees and the company” since “ideation only occurs in safe, empowering environments,” adds Forbes. Instead, equip your team with resources, accountability and trust to perform their jobs without your constant interference.

Learn to Be More Culturally Aware

You probably know–at least on a basic level–that an employee in the United States will have a different framework of communication, operation, and collaboration than an employee in Asia, Europe or the Middle East would. In order build a team that maintains cohesion in the midst of diversity, then you need to prioritize inclusion, respect and cultural awareness. IT is a field that draws creativity from all corners of the globe, so it stands to reason that you will “need a local person’s perspective to understand how the culture […] could affect the market for some consumer goods and services outside the U.S.,” notes Business News Daily. These are some cultural nuances to account for on your team.

• Languages and colloquialisms;
• National holidays and local customs;
• Non-verbal mannerisms and gestures;
• Etiquette for communication;
• Business ethics and practices;
• International privacy compliance;
• Tax codes and financial standards;
• Labor laws and work expectations.

Make a Point to Travel Periodically

Even with all the digital modes of communication to interact remotely, it’s still important to have actual face time with people too. This is easier said than done when the employees are dispersed in a number of locations, but if you choose one place to visit each quarter and connect with team members on their home turf, this reinforces that you value the assets and contributions they bring to the business.

Travel is not always convenient, but if you can afford occasional trips to meet with international employees, this instills a sense of authentic relationship. “You no longer just see someone as an avatar—you’ve built up some background context and empathy […] and that means you’ll be much better at working together,” Remote.co enumerates.

Managing international teams can be one of the toughest yet rewarding parts of your job. The ability to meet new people and work together toward your goals is simply an outstanding career accomplishment and will leave you with a euphoric feeling of a “job well done”.

6 tips on the effective use of prototypes

One of the most underused ‘tools’ in almost every industry today is the use of prototypes.

While every product designer wants a working model to show potential partners, manufacturers and/or buyers, there is much more to a prototype than that.

Did you know that most prototypes go through several incarnations before they actually become a scaled, working model? Well, that’s the truth and there are more uses for a prototype than those mentioned above, but we’ll get into a bit more depth on those uses as well. Let’s look at the following tips on how to effectively develop and use prototypes to their best advantage.

1. To Get a Look at Initial Designs

Most often design begins with a sketchpad or a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) program, however, that leaves a lot to be desired when you are building a complex tool or piece of machinery. There’s always something lacking in a two-dimensional representation of the product you are designing and often it takes one or more prototypes to get that stage right. What you will need is a company capable and willing to take on low volume production so that you don’t need large minimum orders at this stage of development.

2. Help with Scaling to Size

Sometimes it takes a few attempts to make the adjustments necessary when scaling to size. Imagine a pocket-sized driverless vehicle with all the technology built into the ‘real thing’ and you will see that sometimes scaled prototypes don’t have the capabilities required to send products to testing and quality control. By contracting a company that offers prototyping services, you may be able to begin scaling up to size as development progresses.

3. When Working Models Are Needed

Speaking of the technology involved in self-driving vehicles, you will begin to understand how some products need to move on to the ‘to scale’ prototype. Although you may not be developing a product anywhere near as technologically advanced or quite as large, you can understand just how important that to-scale working model can be. As each stage moves on, you will want rapid prototyping services to test each adjustment or addition made warranted by the previous prototype.

4. To Realize That All Prototyping Services Are Not Created Equal

Another aspect of using prototypes effectively is to realize that not all prototyping services are created equal. Some have more advanced technology than others and some have been using CAD and CAM (Computer Assisted Manufacturing) throughout their processes. Of note here would be, Chinese prototype manufacturers, Rapid Direct, that saw a need more than a decade ago and were pioneers in the field of hi-tech CAD/CAM prototype manufacturing. When it comes to rapid prototyping China excels and this company, Rapid Direct, leads the pack. They can offer a wide range of prototyping services, from metal fabrication to injection molding.

5. To Build Enthusiasm in Your Market

As mentioned early on, one of the ways in which prototypes have been historically used is to create and build enthusiasm with a product or company’s market. It could be to gain financial backing or it could be to introduce a product line to build enthusiasm within a potential customer base. However, when it comes to using prototypes for this purpose, it is vital to find low volume manufacturing because you will almost always be working with a scaled model. Yes, sometimes you will be working with a model manufactured in its final form and size, but for larger products, you will typically see smaller versions. The company you choose should have the capacity to manufacture within as little as 24 hours and get that order out to you immediately. That’s another benefit of working with Rapid Direct because that’s a huge part of what they can offer.

6. To Benefit from Collaboration

When you have your prototype manufactured by a company like Rapid Direct with more than 150 engineers on staff specializing in everything from appearance to reverse engineering, you get the benefit of collaboration. These professionals can often spot flaws in designs or aspects which could perform better with a few minor tweaks.

This is collaboration at its finest and an invaluable resource only available when contracting with the right prototype manufacturers.

In summing up, your key takeaway should be that prototypes can be worth so much more than you give them credit for. They are obviously important for that last minute checks and balances necessary before going into major production and as a marketing and financing tool but they can also be a great way to get input from other professionals who may see something you’ve missed.

They say that two heads are better than one and when it comes to the development of prototypes, this adage becomes doubly important. With rapid production and the invaluable expertise of engineers, you can have a working prototype that solves almost any issue you are faced with. That’s what prototypes should be all about!

5 marketing tips for boutique hotels

Marketing is everything in the hospitality industry. If people don’t know about your hotel, the chances are you won’t get many bookings.

Unlike the large brand-name hotels who have an endless pot of cash to spend on their marketing and advertising, boutique hotels tend to be small privately-owned businesses, which can feel overwhelming when it comes to competing with large resorts and international brands. Here are five marketing tips for boutique hotels, helping to attract new visitors to your brand.

Use SEO

First things first, if someone is checking out hotels in your local area, it’s likely that they will use Google, Yahoo, or Bing to complete their search. Guests will want to research into rates, amenities, and attractions nearby, so if you’ve just started running your boutique hotel, there’s a chance your business listing won’t show up in immediate search results, therefore, using SEO (search engine optimisation) can help market your brand and have it appear higher in search results. Make sure to use specific keywords which will allow your website to climb up the Google search ranks.

Use Social Media

We all know how popular social media platforms like Facebook are. With millions of users from across the globe using such websites every day, using social media to market your boutique hotel can do wonders for your business. Whether it be setting up a business page on Facebook or creating an Instagram account to appeal to a younger demographic, the more people who see what your boutique hotel is all about, the better.

Offer Discounts

We all love a knocked down price, so to get more people through the door, why not offer special discounts? It can be a fine line between reducing the price too much and still making money for your business, so you will need to work out how much you can afford to knock off. There are plenty of websites such as Groupon that you can use to promote discounts for you. Word of mouth can make or break a business, so providing incentives and exclusive perks to new and regular customers can see your boutique hotel flourish.

Create Your Own Blog

As a way to engage with your customers, creating your own blog can be a great way for guests to get to know you on a personal level. While you should already have a website in place, keeping your viewers updated with the latest developments in your boutique hotel can show guests how dedicated you are to your business. There are all sorts of platforms you can use to set up your own blog, such as WordPress.

Digital Signage

Keeping up with the times and using digital signage in your boutique hotel is important. Whether it be information points, interactive kiosks, or menus, there are lots of ways on how you can vastly improve your guests’ experience, which is essential when it comes to marketing. You may be interested in using digital signage software by Cenareo who are specialists when it comes to providing digital signage for the hospitality sector, helping to increase customer engagement, sales, and brand loyalty. Cenareo can help your guests have a comfortable stay at your boutique hotel and show them how to navigate the different areas.

Whether you use SEO, social media platforms, digital signage, or create your own blog, there are lots of things you can do to market your boutique hotel. What’s more, many of the options listed are completely free to use, meaning you don’t have to have lots of cash in order to attract more guests to your brand. As with any business, make sure that you have a marketing strategy in place first which can give you more direction on what you need to do to get more guests through the door.

Six top email tips and tricks for startups

There’s no doubt that email has made our lives simpler and more convenient, but this has come at a price.

Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed with the sheer volume of email traffic we get and it’s hard to know where to start to get on top of it. Furthermore, the settings and functions available in modern email software can seem mind-boggling, even to the tech-savvy.

Working in a busy and ambitious startup only exacerbates these issues. So, if you’ve ever felt burnt out or befuddled by your inbox, have a read of the following simple tips that will help keep your emails organised and your inbox running smoothly.

Switch on ‘undo send’

Gmail has a handy but not very well publicised ‘undo send’ feature in its settings. By switching it on, you can stop or withdraw the email you’ve just sent. This is really useful if you’ve spotted a typo or have sent the email to the wrong recipient. To activate ‘undo send’, just navigate to the settings cog in the top right corner of the screen, click ‘settings’, then choose the cancellation period that works best for you.

Create a good email signature

Having a good email signature that contains information about your company not only looks professional, it’s also required by UK law if you’re operating a Limited Liability Partnership, a private or public company. This legislation requires professionals to include key details about their business in their email signatures, such as the company’s office address, its place of registration and its registration number.

In addition to the legal considerations, including an email signature in your correspondence just looks more professional than not including one. Bear in mind that email signatures can appear differently across different devices and email platforms, so you might want to spend some time investigating ways to achieve consistency in your company signature through third party software.

Use default replies

Spending a bit of time creating or utilising default replies is worthwhile. If you frequently use the same responses in emails, for example to customers or clients, making use of this feature can be a time-saver. Gmail has integrated this feature into its email software, presenting you with reply options it thinks would be useful (e.g. ‘Thank you!’, ‘Great’, ‘No I don’t, sorry’). You can also create customised responses in most modern email software, so have a play around with your email settings and see what is available to you.

Make use of task lists

Task lists are now a common feature in most email software and you can make use of this feature to stay on top of your workload. Task lists can be used in a variety of ways; use them to set reminders to email a colleague or follow-up an email, or to make a note of when a mailshot needs to be sent out to your customers. The faster you familiarise yourself with your email software’s task list function, the easier it will be for you to manage your inbox.

Monitor your spam filter

It’s important to make sure your email software’s spam filter is working correctly. Make sure that you properly flag email as spam when it hits your inbox so the filter can learn and adapt in classifying messages as spam.

Also, although current spam filters are very sophisticated, non-spam does sometimes end up in the folder. It’s therefore worth checking your spam folder regularly to make sure no important emails are ending up in there by mistake. For startups this is particularly important as customers or clients could be kept waiting as a result of an email incorrectly landing in your junk folder.

Filter your emails by priority

It sounds obvious, but one of the best ways to manage email traffic is to quickly prioritise your incoming emails. Not only will this help you stay on top of things, but it’s also a great way to declutter your inbox. You can achieve this in a number of ways and what method you choose will largely depend on the size of your startup and its particular needs.

For example, email software such as Gmail allows you to assign a star to an email, so you could colour code your emails by urgent (red star) to semi-urgent (orange star) and non-urgent (yellow star). Other features are more sophisticated and involve sorting email automatically into folders using filters. You could have folders labelled ‘to do’ or ‘important’, for example.

Top tips for doing business on the golf course

Golf is more than just a leisurely sport. It makes for the perfect setting to conduct business.

The best part about business golf is that you don’t necessarily have to be an experienced professional.

In business golf, it’s all about doing your research, being patient, and having the best golf clubs.

Whether you are hosting an event or have been invited to play business golf for the first time, there is some preparation involved and key tips you should follow while on the course.

Arrive Early

This is especially important if you are hosting a business golf event but also just as crucial if you have been invited.

As a host, you must arrive at least one hour prior to your tee time. You will want to pay for your guest’s green fees to ensure all is sorted for their arrival.

As a guest, you should arrive at least 45 minutes prior to your tee time. This will give you time to get your golf shoes on and converse with your playing partners.

Whether you are the host or guest, make sure everything is organized beforehand, that way you can make the best first impression possible.

Be Prepared

No one wants to look like an amateur on the course. If this is your first time golfing, make sure you familiarize yourself with the rules, etiquette, and lingo. Maybe even practice hitting a few balls at a local course or driving range.

Stay aware as you play and sense how your partner is doing things. If he or she is worried about keeping up with the group ahead of you, make sure you do the same. Don’t be an inconvenience and take too long.

If you are a woman playing business golf, don’t be intimidated by this male-dominated sport.

Anyone can play the game and get a successful deal.

Dress the part

Golfing attire is iconic in the game. There are so many useful accessories and stylish pieces of clothing.

It wouldn’t hurt to invest in some nice gear, especially if it will make you feel better about your skills.

In business golf, looking the part is most definitely an advantage.

Use The Right Equipment

Your golf equipment says a lot about what kind of golfer you are.

If you own your own clubs, you are obviously a regular. If you’ve never played a day in your life and you purchase a set of clubs, make sure you chat with a local golf pro to get properly fitted. This is also recommended for mid and low handicappers

If you rent gear, you may not be interested in putting your best foot forward. Make sure you do your research and know what all the gear is designed for.

Choose the Right Course and Facilities

As a host, you will want to choose a course that suits your guest’s skill level.

If they are beginners, don’t choose a difficult course filled with trees, bunkers and water holes. Pick a course that has a reputation for being relatively easy. If the guest is high profile, you will want to choose a course that is in pristine condition with a good reputation.

The facilities are just as important as the golf course itself.

Midway through the course or after the 18th hole, you may want to grab a drink or bite to eat to keep the conversation going. This is a great way to reflect on the game and finalize any business you may have left to discuss.

Pick Strategic Partners

Depending on the size of your event make sure you are divided in a way that one person from each business is represented within a pair or four-ball.

This guarantees that you have time to chat with the right person and get to know more about where they stand.

Use Your Time Wisely

One of the key tips in conversing with someone at business golf is to never bring up a serious conversation right away. You want to gradually ease into things without being pushy. A good rule of thumb is to wait until your guest brings it up.

Even if it’s business golf, you have to remember to have fun!

Keep the conversation light and throw in a joke or two. This will take the pressure off and allow you to enjoy the game.

8 Tips for writing an excellent essay

Essay writing is a daunting affair for most working students today. The workload is enormous and the study hours are on the increase to ensure the syllabus is fully covered.

Each teacher gives out homework, and at the end of the day, the students are overburdened. To lessen this burden order a paper from custom essay writing service and spend your time revising for your exams. Using professional writing service can also save you from the unhealthy sleepless nights and embarrassing grades plus late submissions.

For students who have enough time, they claim to lack necessary skills to come up with a top-notch essay. They sometimes claim that writing is boring and they don’t even know where to begin. With this simple tips and tricks, you can successfully and confidently write your essay. Follow each step-by-step. Here are the tips:

Read the essay prompt carefully and understand the question

This is the most crucial stage in essay writing. Once you know the question asked you can be able to identify the type of essay. Highlight the keywords; ‘compare,’ ‘contrast’ ‘discuss,’ ‘explain’ ‘evaluate’ and identify any limiting words, e.g., during the 21st century, within Europe, etc.

Pick a topic

After getting an overview of the essay, you will be in a better position to choose a more relevant topic. Begin by brainstorming, sit down, be calm and start a free flow of thoughts and jot down ideas. Narrow your focus and choose an interesting topic depending on the type of essay and purpose so you can create a top notch essay. If you find it hard to come up with an essay topic, ask your teacher for assistance and you will get a topic which you will be required to defend with relevant sources.

Create an outline

Before you begin your writing, create your essay outline. Jot your topic in the middle of your page, draw lines branching from the topic and write main ideas at the end of each line. From the main ideas at the end of the lines draw more lines and include your thoughts.

Another option is to use a simple outline. Write your topic at the top of your page, separate your essay into introduction, body, and conclusion. For a five paragraph essay, have an introduction, at least three main ideas, and a conclusion. Leave spaces under each idea to enable you to list smaller ideas supporting the main idea. The ‘skeleton’ will enable you to write a more organized essay.

Sample outline:

Introduction paragraph

• First sentence
• Thesis statement

Body paragraph

• Give statistics
• Information on the subject
• Research on the topic
• Relevant data if any

Conclusion paragraph

• Restate your thesis statement
• Support arguments
• write a call to action

Write your essay: Create a thesis statement

You already have a topic and the paper outline it is time to start the writing. Begin by creating a thesis statement which must tell your reader the purpose of your essay. Read through your outline to help you create an appropriate thesis. Your thesis statement must state the topic and the main argument of your essay. The single statement must carry the overall response to the problem. Put your thesis statement in your first paragraph then make sure you refer to it several times within the essay then restate it in your conclusion.

Write the introductory paragraph

After creating a thesis statement and the body of the essay write an introductory paragraph. Make your introduction fascinating to capture the attention of your readers. Begin with a ‘hook’; you can use a story, dialogue, shocking revelation, a quote or a topic summary. Make sure that your ‘hook’ ties with the thesis statement.

Write the body paragraphs

This is the part of the essay that you are supposed to explain, describe or argue the topic. The main ideas you wrote down on your outline becomes separate paragraphs. Each paragraph carries the main idea. The paragraph begins with an introductory sentence which carries the main idea.   Supporting ideas follow suit in sentence format backed with relevant information and examples. Don’t forget to cite every reference materials used. Direct quotes must also be cited using the required format style.

Write the concluding paragraph

This part must be given much importance as the introduction part. The conclusion gives you a chance, to sum up, your ideas and close up the topic. Make it short; write three to five sentences. Do not introduce any new ideas at the conclusion; summarize your prior arguments. You have the chance to restate your thesis statement and once again support your stance.

Edit your first draft

Before you consider your first draft a finished essay, do the editing and proofreading. Checks the general structure of your essay and make sure the correct format is used. Ensure that the strongest points appear first and at the last paragraph within the body of the essay, the others can be fixed in the middle of the body paragraph.

Read and reread your paper to ensure the sentences are sensible and paragraphs flow into each other smoothly. Check the grammar, spelling, and punctuation make necessary corrections. Delete any irrelevant sections; improve expressions by changing the vocabulary. Ensure you meet the word count. Now write up your final draft and submit it before the deadline.

It is not easy to do the editing and the proofreading on your own. Give your essay to a friend to go through it before writing your final draft or rather use professional proofreading services available online at affordable prices.

Tips for going eco at your next exhibition

With huge amounts of energy and resources required to deliver on such short lived projects, exhibitions might appear in direct contradiction to the concept of environmentalism.

Thanks to advances in technology and a burgeoning eco awareness across the business board, there are ways you can reduce your environmental imprint in the exhibition space.

Stand

Exhibition stands can be short lived affairs, up for just a few days before being dismantled, at which point a lot of the branding can and often does end up in the bin.

Where possible reuse your materials, keep your messaging simple and avoid using dates or seasonal imagery, not only will this cut down on waste but it should save your business money too. Many display products allow you to keep the frame and update the graphic message.

If you’re not able to reuse your backdrops then trying to make the waste as recyclable as possible is the key – using recyclable backdrops such as fabric rather than plastics for instance.

Think about your up and coming events, and the size of space that you will be occupying, how best can you use your display equipment without having to change it for each show. It is possible to hire certain elements from the venue or a display company.

During the build it’s also worth considering the entirety of your stands carbon footprint. Not just in regard to the waste that you personally produce at the event, but also the carbon that’s consumed by both the production and transportation of the products. For instance, where possible use products made from eco materials, which rely on low energy production processes, and that are locally sourced.

Go digital

Discard the paper leaflets, business cards and attendee packs and go digital instead. The amount of waste that’s produced from discarded handouts at exhibitions is staggering. And not only is it bad for the environment, it’s not good for business – it’s a waste of money and resources, and if your marketing material ends up in the bin it’s not driving sales either.

Instead there are tools on the market that capitalise on QR codes and mobile apps to create digital platforms that allow interested delegates to simply swipe and collect information from exhibitors. Many exhibitions actually offer their own scanner hire and provide all delegates with coded badges, which allows data collection for the exhibitor too.

Going digital not only cuts down on waste and drives efficiency in data collection, but it also provides easy to use data post event, which should enable the business to effectively chase their sales leads.

Team

Exhibition events are resource greedy, not just in the materials they require in the build and execution of an event, but also in man hours required on the ground. The actual event itself can run for multiple days, each of which may demand up to ten or twelve hours a day on the stand. And for this reason any exhibitor will reasonably need a large team of people to effectively service the event. So with all of these people involved it’s essential to consider the impact they’ll have on the environment.

When organising the logistics for a team the two key elements that can have an eco impact are the travel and accommodation arrangements. Most exhibitions take place in major cities, so wherever possible choosing train travel over cars is preferential, or if vehicles are needed then opting for a green fuel or electric car hire company is the best alternative. And in these days of environmental awareness hotels have picked up the eco baton, which means there’s a good selection of carbon neutral or low carbon hotels and self catering apartments in many of the UK’s major cities.

Carbon offsetting is a great thing for businesses to back to increase their green credentials and to show that they are serious about the environment. As well as a fuzzy glow for the businesses of ‘doing the responsible thing’, it also creates a great boasting point to boost conversions as a USP.

It’s now not enough for businesses just to say they’re green by adding a recycling box in their kitchens – it’s more about becoming carbon neutral and making more considered purchases that aren’t wasteful to the environment (in terms of their production as well as opportunity to reuse & recycle to not end up in landfill – which also increases their ROI).

Offsetting

Why not join the likes of Sky and offset your carbon, it is relatively cheap and makes a brighter future for all.

Carbon offsetting is great for businesses to back to increase their green credentials and to show that they are serious about the environment. As well as a fuzzy glow for the businesses of ‘doing the responsible thing’, it also creates a great boasting point to boost conversions as a USP. It’s about becoming carbon neutral and making more considered purchases that aren’t wasteful to the environment in terms of their production as well as opportunity to reuse & recycle to not end up in landfill – which also increases their ROI.

Nimlok are providers of bespoke exhibition stand design and hire. Visit the site for all your exhibition stand needs.