Alex Pratt
THE VOICE OF DIRECTORS
Alex Pratt is the founder of thriving small business Serious Readers and an adviser to the UK government on innovation and skills
innovation
Innovate and fly
Got a great idea that will make you millions? A look at the airline industry shows it's what you do with it that counts
finance
Taxing times for small firms
The government claims to be keen to boost the enterprise economy, but there is still too much red tape and far too many punitive taxes
managing a downturn
Hold on for a bumpy ride
Managing a small firm is as much about the thrilling risks as it is about the satisfying gains. Just make sure you hang on tight when the ride gets rocky
business education
The university of life
Is time spent out of the office studying for an MBA worth the paper it's written on if you're falling behind your competitors at the same time?
strategy
Fighting more with less
If you want to know why looking after the consumer is crucial to any business, take a trip down to the local hospital and see what happens when you don't
customer care
Patients as a virtue
If you want to know why looking after the consumer is crucial to any business, take a trip down to the local hospital and see what happens when you don't
strategy
In pursuit of imperfection
If you know which area of your business needs your attention and when, then you are halfway there. It's also crucial to know when it's time to change
forward planning
Foresight is 20/20 vision
As a small boat sailing vast and changeable seas, the best route to long-term success for small businesses is to concentrate on short-term goals
quangos
You've been quangoed
Quangoland is a sea of conflicting agendas, pointless ponitificating and niceties over dinner. The rules of engagement will decide whether you sink or swim
corporate social responsibility
Next season's colour
Whether or not you are a "believer" in climate change, green branding and business opportunities are here to stay
health & safety
A healthy approach to risk
While we all enjoy a good rant about silly health and safety regulations, directors must recognise the need to take staff and customer safety seriously
work-life balance
In defense of endeavour
Those calling for tougher regulation on long working hours are missing the point—the best businesses are born out of blood, sweat and tears
customer service
The lay of the bland
Customer service is about far more than managing the numbers. If you treat each customer like a respected guest, most will reward you with their loyalty
leadership
Up close and personal
Swotting up on the latest management methods will not turn you from a good leader into a great one. But a warts-and-all look at yourself just might
marketing
The price is right (or is it?)
One factor which seperates the wheat from the chaff is a bold pricing strategy, so why do so many businesses sell themselves short?
business awards
Respect for the gladiators
Self publicists undermine the value of business awards. To measure real success look no further than the gladitorial ring of the public pitch
productivity
The pow-wow puzzle
Do the Americans have a higher productivity rate than the Brits because they're more inclined to work than to "meet up and discuss" on a daily basis?
finance