Operations

Regardless of economic conditions businesses need to continually improve their operations to remain competitive.

Quick tips

• Spreading the risk by attracting a wider customer base through the internet will enable you to approach a wider audience for minimal cost.
• Streamline your operation to suit your current (but also take into account anticipated but realistic future) circumstances. If your business has cut back operations, consider moving to smaller premises, sub-letting existing unused space or selling of excess equipment. Review staffing regularly to check people and skills are concentrated in the right areas. Look at employment options e.g. flexible working to match skills to business need. See our page on redundancy if considering redundancies.
• Avoid taking on more work than you can handle (overtrading) - you may run out of cash to finance new orders.
• When expanding into new markets or acquiring new equipment use alternatives such as asset finance rather than cashflow to fund development.
• Visit Business Link for more information on eCommerce and selling online. Business Link's environment and efficiency web pages have advice on how "going green" can save money.

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