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Data-Driven Decision Making

They say that there are three types of people, those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.

If you’re a business owner or leader, it probably pays to be in that first group.  

The relevance of this for business leaders was made clear by the American quality expert W. Edwards Deming: “It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory”.

If your organisation isn’t measuring activity and using data with a view to sustain or improve itself, then how confident can you be that there will be a tomorrow?

Emerging Trends in the Food and Drink Sector

A recent published report on understanding consumer behaviour in the restaurant and bar sector conveyed what may seem to be some good news for 2019 and beyond.

Tech, Talent and Trade for Manufacturers

Learn about manufacturing trends, challenges and opportunities, including R&D Tax Credits and Capital Alllowances at 3MB Innovation Centre Huddersfield.

New Year Resolution – get your paperwork in order

Are you part of a farming partnership? Do you know what the annual accounts show in terms of ownership of the business? 

Deal or No Deal - Brexit VAT Guidance

The Government yesterday offered clarification to UK businesses that supply and receive goods to or from other jurisdictions, applicable to the (increasingly likely?) position where the UK leaves the EU in a "no deal" scenario.

Legislation that shouldn’t keep retailers awake at night

At a recent speaking engagement I spoke about current legislation that, some of my retail clients' inform me - keeps them awake at night! 

During my talk I went on to discuss my views way to solve these issues and reduce stress.

Firstly let's look at what are the major legislations affecting retailers?

National Living Wage / National Minimum Wage

5 lessons to be learned from Yorkshire Linen's online retail strategy

5 lessons to be learned from Yorkshire Linen's online retail strategy and how they are winning with customer experience and innovative products.

High Street lending to SME businesses has fallen

Access to funding has become more or a key issue for SMEs especially those in the property sector as lending falls over the last 12 months. This fall is indicative of the wider lack of financing available to smaller businesses from the high-street lenders across all industries as the economy rebalances. Contact Armstrong Watson for help and financial support.

Whitakers Chocolates - The Key to Sweet Success!

We recently asked William Whitaker, the Managing Director of Whitakers Chocolates 5 questions about the current issues facing his business. find out what he said below.

Innovation and the Glencroft chair of wool

In our recent Family Business survey, we asked how often companies “felt pressure to adapt and innovate in order to keep up with an ever changing environment”.  As I look at the results it occurs to me that one survey question cannot do justice to the vast subject of innovation.

There were some really interesting results from the original question.  38% did not feel any pressure to adapt or innovate at all. A further 11% felt that they “sometimes” felt the need to adapt or innovate.