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Tips for Managing the Downturn

 

Be approachable; be visible. Of the many enquiries and pricing opportunities that will come your way, there will be one that WILL make a difference to your business.

Tony Woodburn
Managing Partner, Henriques Griffiths Solicitors


 

Train, train and train again – with reducing workforces, you will need to get more flexible staff and this involves investing short term in training for long term benefit.  There is a lot of cash out there to help you fund it and the bureaucracy need not get in the way – there are other SMEs that specialise in helping you through the paperwork!

John Hepworth
Hepworth, Organisational and HR Development

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A good leader is respectful of the past, realistic about the present and optimistic about the future.

Kevin Ball
West Consulting

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Involve your customers - good customer relationships are even more important and they are also experiencing difficulties so there may be a 'win-win' for both of you, if you talk.

Cathy Monaghan
Head of HR, PES Consulting

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Review absolutely every cost in your business – honestly.

Sue Tumelty
Managing Director, The HR Dept

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Are you facing up to potential problems – not just ignoring them?
By talking to your accountant or other independent adviser at an early stage you are more likely to have time to solve your problem or at least reduce the risks.  You should not wait for your banker to say “no”; or your customer to default on their debt.

Rupert Mullins TD FIPA
Benedict Mackenzie LLP

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Consider all the alternatives to redundancy.  Do you have the right to introduce short term working or to lay workers off temporarily?  Consider offering sabbaticals, voluntary release or pay freezes.

Scrase Employment Solicitors

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Take advice early! It is absolutely essential the business is properly advised at the earliest stage of any difficulties, both to ensure continued trading and to avoid the potential for personal liability of directors and business owners.

Keith Mahoney
Meade-King Solicitors

View more tips from Meade-King Solicitors