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Business processes

This section contains tips and ideas for more effective business processes...

Benchmarking best practice

Ways to monitor your progress and efficiency.

Designing for profit

Good product design is at the heart of business profitability.

Does your business pass the risk test?

A business risk assessment checklist.

Get better deals from suppliers

How to negotiate with suppliers while keeping good relations.

Is outsourcing the best strategy?

Which functions are best outsourced?

Making the most of your company meetings

Don’t waste time in board or company meetings.

Should you buy in or manufacture materials?

Checklist for the pros and cons of in-house manufacturing.

Stock answers

Inefficient stock management can be one of the biggest drains on profitability.

Ten reasons to benchmark your business

The benefits of benchmarking.

When cutting costs is counterproductive

Improving profits without just cutting costs.

29 Jan 2026

UK lenders agree £11 billion SME package

Five major UK banks have agreed a £11 billion lending package aimed at SMEs to support small business growth, the government has announced.

28 Jan 2026

Pubs get 15% business rates relief

Pubs and music venues in England will be given a 15% discount on their business rates bills from April and will not see increases for two years, the government has announced.