Be the Business

We’re incredibly proud to see our Productivity Programme making a real impact!⚡

The anticipation for Elite Business Live 2025 Day 2 is building! Our team enjoyed great conversations with business leaders, inspiring talks from the industry’s brightest minds, and insightful discussions on innovation and growth.   In just a short while, Elite Business Live will launch the second part of the UK's foremost SME conference.    Join for FREE via livestream using the link below and be a part of the excitement! Don't miss out! #EBL2025  https://lnkd.in/d36-Z_Zc  

Day 1 of the electrifying Elite Business Live 2025 is about to commence - are you ready to be part of it? Our team is looking forward to attending the conference and connecting with business leaders across sectors.   Immerse yourself in the UK's premier SME conference by accessing the FREE livestream here: https://lnkd.in/d36-Z_Zc    Don't miss out on this opportunity! #EBL2025 

This International Women's Day, we’re celebrating the incredible business leaders in the Be the Business community who are making a real difference in their industries. The theme for #IWD2025 is #AccelerateAction - a powerful call to step up the pace in closing the gender gap. Today, we’re highlighting the women in our community who are driving progress in business. From leading teams to mentoring future talent, they’re taking action and inspiring change every day. Let’s celebrate these brilliant women making an impact: ⚡ Asma K., CEO at Chatterbug Ltd Speech and Language Therapy ⚡ Damini Sharma, CEO & Founder at The OM Group ⚡ Elaine Clarke, CEO at Baa Bar Group ⚡ Helen Tonks MBE, Founder at Hydraulics Online Ltd ⚡ Jo Scott, Co-Founder & Group Director at Truth Creative Manchester ⚡ Kavita Cooper BSc FCIPS Chartered, CEO at Novo-K Procurement Solutions & BuyingStation ⚡ Laura Baker, Managing Director at Fearless ⚡ Lina Bourdon, Managing Director at City & Country Financial Services Ltd ⚡ Shazana Raja, Marketing Director at Multicultural UK ⚡ Subha Balakrishnan, Co-Founder Bodha Drinks Who inspires you? Tag them below! 👇 #IWD2025 #WomenInLeadership #AccelerateAction

🚀 Speaker Announcement! 🚀 We’re excited to welcome Piers Linney, co-founder of Implement AI, and former Dragons' Den investor - as a keynote speaker at our upcoming event in Birmingham with The Productivity Collective in partnership with BT Business! 🎤 Piers will share practical ways to navigate the complex and dynamic AI landscape and unlock new opportunities for growth, productivity, and profit. We have limited spaces available so book fast to avoid disappointment! What’s in store? ☑️ Develop a practical, actionable plan for AI implementation ☑️ Expert discussions on real-world AI applications ☑️ Connect with mid-sized business leaders (10+ employees) 📅 Date: Wednesday, 2 April | ⏰ 08:30 AM - 12:30 PM 📍 Location: BT HQ, Birmingham ⚠️ Only 40 spots available – secure yours now! 🎟 Sign up today: https://lnkd.in/dcgPvkbb Karolina Jagodzinska Anthony Impey MBE Joshua Sheppard Rebecca Nelson Amber Rees Maarja Toomsalu Jean Stevens (Duprez) MBE FCIOB Zoe Nash Laura Parker Ioana Axinte Sue Chellew Akshay Sunda Ian de Cordova #SMEs #AIProductivity #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Networking #BirminghamBusiness

Did you know 31% of SME owners believe they could save on energy costs if they had more time to review their bills? The good news: smart meters can help. With SMART Energy GB’s Accuracy P.L.A.N., businesses like Edgie Eats have reduced energy costs by analysing patterns and making smarter choices. Whether it’s negotiating bulk discounts or tracking energy consumption, every step adds up to improved productivity and savings. 💡 Learn how your business can save time and money here: https://lnkd.in/esxadbcW 📑 Here's an Action Guide on how small businesses can improve productivity with smart choices: https://lnkd.in/eN3_sEXx #BusinessTips #SmartDecisions #SMEs #Sustainability

SME leaders in Birmingham, this one is for you! 🌟 Together with BT Business, we're bringing The Productivity Collective community to BIRMINGHAM and you're invited! 📅 When: 2 April 2025 | 08:30-12:20 📍 Where: Birmingham 🔗 Sign up: https://lnkd.in/grN6v_Zc Discover how AI can drive productivity in your business. You’ll leave the session inspired, equipped with an action plan, and ready to implement it. What's in it for you? ☑️ Learn how to integrate AI tools to cut costs and enhance your team's work ☑️ Develop a practical, actionable plan for AI implementation ☑️ Connect with mid-sized business leaders (10+ FTEs) Only 40 spaces available: https://lnkd.in/grN6v_Zc Whether you're new to AI or looking to take your business to the next level, this workshop will provide insights to help you work smarter. #SMEs #AIProductivity #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Networking #BirminghamBusiness Karolina Jagodzinska Anthony Impey MBE Joshua Sheppard Rebecca Nelson Amber Rees Maarja Toomsalu Jean Stevens (Duprez) MBE FCIOB Zoe Nash Zoe Thompson Laura Parker Ioana Axinte Sue Chellew Akshay Sunda Ian de Cordova

The 1% Rule: How Small Improvements Add Up to Big Gains Most businesses think growth comes from big, transformational changes. But our research shows that consistent, small improvements - just 1% at a time - can drive significant long-term impact. 📈 If every small business in the UK improved by 1% each year, it would add £94bn to the economy annually. 💡 What’s one area of your business you could improve by just 1% today?

Yesterday, we kicked off the first expert-led session in our new webinar series on #tech and #marketing in partnership with BT Business. In a small, interactive group, Anna Morrish from Quibble shared expert insights on how digital tools drive growth, SEO boosts visibility, and AI-powered CRMs enhance customer management. 📅 Throughout February and March, we’ll be running sessions on: 💠 How to get the most out of your CRM 💠 Search Engine Optimisation 💠 Finding and generating high quality outbound leads 💠 Setting goals for video marketing strategy 💠 AI to enhance marketing efforts Want to be part of sessions like this one? 👉 Join the Productivity Collective and stay ahead with expert-led, interactive sessions like this! Join here: https://lnkd.in/dKEPQGxq 💡 What makes these sessions different? They’re designed for small groups (business size 10+FTE), encouraging discussions and questions so you get insights that truly apply to your business. #theproductivitycollective #SEO #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategy #SmallGroupLearning Joshua Sheppard Ioana Axinte Karolina Jagodzinska Ioana Jago

We're thrilled to congratulate our trustee, Phil Smith CBE, on his appointment as Chair of Skills England! Phil’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment as the government introduces reforms that will empower employers and apprentices alike. With plans to unlock up to 10,000 additional apprenticeship completions per year by reducing the English and maths requirements and shortening apprenticeship durations from 12 to 8 months - there’s never been a more exciting time to drive skills development. We’re proud to have Phil among our trustees, championing a national vision that empowers employers. Please join us in wishing him every success in this new role. #Leadership #SkillsEngland #Apprenticeships #SkillsDevelopment #EconomicGrowth #FutureOfWork