VA Success Group – Business & Careers

February 12, 2019 Neil Post in Business,Career Development

Getting Your Name Out There

I do love a good business magazine - the type that comes out monthly and sits on the front desk of care homes, dentis surgeries, estate agents etc. etc. We have two or three a month posted through our front door. It's a handy way to remind us all that for any kind of service, whatever we may need, there will be a company out there supplying it. We also have access to county magazines which are basicially paid for by businesses who want to feature in the advertorials. These are a simply brilliant way to highlight your business - restaurants and bistros are a good example, as are tax accountants, diy and one man decorating companies. The cost may seem a bit steep at first but you know that the circulation will be instant to at least 15 to 20 thousand premises minimum. Well worth that fee when the enquiries come flooding in.

January 3, 2019 Neil Post in Business,Career Development

Needing Guidance On What The Exams Mean

It's all very well being chivied along at school to take this exam or that. The emphasis in all good schools, particularly the expensive Public schools and now rapidly catching them up, the free state schools is to get as many students into the very top 8 universities. No so much though has been given to whether the child rally needs the exam result to be double A or A star star star star etc. Most of today's school leavers at age 18 are going to uni because their school demands this much, having spent years impressing this upon every family through its hands. University is not suitable for every student - there are many who need vocational training in a different pace of life and without the constant competition for the tutors' favours. A local college still deals with animal husbandry, horticultural practices, farming year activities etc. and these give the average slow starter the real chance of a job they will like and live with contentedly all their lives.

December 21, 2018 Neil Post in Business,Career Development

Having A Starter for Ten… In Careers

It's impossible to say how many careers in tv will have been spawned from those famous few words - over the decades, many a seriously brilliant young mind has sat atop a bright, cheery student - one of four selected, to represent their revered university. They come and go, season after season. It started some years ago when a research geek fronted a new 'panel game' for bright sparks and it has grown since to such amazing seismic proportions. We even now have the Christmas versions in which the quiz master grills 4 celebrities who at some time studied at the university. It was probably to highlight how much better students were in the good old days. But actually the modern student learns a great deal more - much faster.

November 26, 2018 Neil Post in Business,Career Development

Regenerating Business From Old Venues

I have been involved with a fairly local heritage property this year. From when they re-opened at the start of this season, I have volunteered as a room steward and general helper. This has been a truly amazing experience - I have always been a very keen visitor to such properties as a member of several heritage groups, to be one of those folk who patiently hang around in the rooms, just in case someone wants info, is a completely different thing. I have also watched the young volunteer organising team make a tremendous effort in promoting the Hall for all kinds of events. Not just the wedding venue side - which in itself is now very popular and turning in a very good income. The rest of the house is also getting in on the act with torchlight ghost hunts in the grounds and spooky evenings in the cellar on the 'below stairs' experience.

October 16, 2018 Neil Post in Business,Career Development

Taking Stock Of What We Want To Achieve In Life

It can be so daunting trying to sort out a ong term career when you first leave school. University will of course bring with it a whole range of new skills and experiences but unless you take a degree course that is very specifically allied to an onging career such as law or medicine, there is a bewildering range of inbetween jobs. Very few folk really knows what they want to do early in life and only a small number of them actually achieve that dream and keep to it for their entire working life. Careers and vocations generally develop through life experiences. The Saturday and holiday job that invites you to stay on and train in something you never thought of. Perhaps a hobby introduces you to travelling around to source materials or inspiration. Making the very most of every opportunity is the best way to work through life.

September 19, 2018 Neil Post in Business,Career Development

Saving Money on Your Business Payment Processing Fees

For lots of businesses, the costs associated with taking card payments can be a crippling amount. Card payment companies always charge businesses for transactions, but it is a little known fact that you can shop around and find cheaper card processing companies. There are a range of comparison sites which can help you to save money on your processing fees, with Compare Card Processing a good example of this. They take some details about your payment processing needs, and can help to find the lowest costs for your card processing. We recommend you shop around to get the best deals, as the major card companies will not necessarily be the lowest costs! In fact, you are more likely to be paying a premium for the major companies.

August 8, 2018 Neil Post in Business

Finding the Perfect Event for Your Conferences

Getting the event right when you are planning a conference or work gathering can be difficult, especially if you have a large number of delegates attending from other areas. It can be a good idea to take in the services of a professional events management agency who can help you to locate the right venue anywhere in the world for your conference. There are many local agencies who also advertise themselves as a venue finding agency, so you should be able to source a good agency relatively easily. Hippo Events are one such agency, based in Surrey in the UK. Their team are able to find locations for different types of event anywhere in the world! From small office social events through to large scale conferences and exhibitions, they can definitely find the perfect location and venue for your big event. Contact them through https://www.hippoevents.co.uk/

July 12, 2018 Neil Post in Career Development

Developing Leadership Skills for Work

Many employers like their staff to feel confident to take on extra tasks if possible and to lead in some aspect of their job. It can be tricky to get experience in leadership and taking charge of a team of people, but there are ways to show you have the skills required. At school, there are often opportunities to join clubs or groups which can help build natural leadership. These could be through musical pursuits, sports or other hobbies such as army cadet training. These skills can be surprisingly useful even in the world of work. Be sure to mention these things on your CV! University is another area where many people can gain some leadership skills - perhaps you have to work on a project as part of a team and can prove that you lead the team through to successful completion.

June 12, 2018 Neil Post in Business

Legal Implications of Setting Up Your Own Business

Starting a business is an exciting adventure - free from "the man", working for your own money and getting your own client base underway. It is also challenging to keep up with all the necessary legal areas ! Insurance: one thing which is very important is business insurance. This can help you should anything go wrong, where you need to pay out or make a claim. Try to find a specialist business lender who can provide your insurance. Business Rates: In the UK, businesses pay rates to the local council, which helps to fund important things such as healthcare, the roads and schools. If you are found to be not paying your business rates, you can get into trouble with the law and potentially face a jail term.

May 12, 2018 Neil Post in Business,Career Development

Deciding Which Career Suits You Best

Choosing the right career path is something which should be done earlier rather than later in life, as in order to get the best chances of success at a new job, you need to have the right qualifications - these are much easier to gain when still at school! Take a look online for some simple career aptitude tests to see which sort of career you might suit best. A good example is provided by prospects - a UK based organisation aiming to give young people a better start in life. Try the career test here. Once you have tried the test, you can get a list of matching career ideas which could work alongside your ethos and ideals. This can help you to generate some ideas of your own, or begin to plan your steps to success!