Business Clinic
Protecting your key people is always a worthwhile move
QUESTION: What sort of plans should I be looking to put in place to protect my
business from unforeseen events?
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Inside Business Clinic
A positive attitude is your best asset during a recession
Monday, 29 September 2008
QUESTION: Credit is really tight, business risks are increasing, investment is
stalling, inflation is rising, asset values are falling. What is a business
leader to do?
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Connecting with audience is key to online marketing
Monday, 22 September 2008
QUESTION: Why do so few people read the e-mail newsletters which we circulate
to the customers of our manufacturing business as part of our marketing
campaign?
Comment: 1
Getting the best from your website is vital for firms
Sunday, 14 September 2008
QUESTION: I’ve recently launched a new website for my business and would like
some advice on getting the best from it.
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‘Energy champion’ can help cut costs
Monday, 8 September 2008
Question: I’m concerned about the impact of rising energy costs on my
business. What can I do to reduce my use of energy?
Sam Knox, a member of Invest NI's sustainable development team, replies: There
are several ways you can reduce your business energy bills and carbon
emissions, including designing more efficient processes and changing
employee behaviour. You could also save money by switching to alternative
energy sources.
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Scenarios can help prepare businesses for times of change
Monday, 25 August 2008
QUESTION: I run a small but thriving business. With the current ‘credit
crunch’ and so much focus on climate change and rocketing fuel prices, I am
concerned about what the future might have in store for business owners such
as myself. How can I plan for the future?
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Innovation is the key to improving your business
Monday, 18 August 2008
Question: With the business climate deteriorating, I want to ensure
that I am running my business to optimum efficiency. Have you any advice?
Comment: 1
Small firms should be proactive in bid to beat credit crunch
Monday, 11 August 2008
QUESTION: How do you expand your business within the current economic
climate?
Harry Parkinson, managing director of Close Invoice Finance (Ireland),
replies:
Although there's no denying that most SMEs across the UK and Ireland are
feeling the pinch of the credit crunch, it's certainly not all doom and
gloom. A recent survey showed that more than half of SMEs polled expect
their businesses to expand over the next 12 months, and many of them don't
feel that the market slowdown will directly impact their plans for growth.
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Development of new products is crucial to business growth
Monday, 4 August 2008
QUESTION: I have a product that is selling very well at the moment. Should I
invest in developing a new one or keep my focus on the one I already have?
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Check website for working hours rules
Monday, 28 July 2008
QUESTION: Can you advise on regulations surrounding holidays, rest
breaks and working hours relating to staff?
Comment: 1
Investing in experts is money well spent for entrepreneurs
Saturday, 12 July 2008
QUESTION: How do I find the time to manage my own financial assets
while running a business?
Comment: 1
Learning to succeed in the public sector tendering process
Saturday, 12 July 2008
QUESTION: I’d love to have a go at tendering for public sector
contracts, but I don’t know if my company would make the grade. Can your
organisation offer any help?
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Have a plan to deal with those who use IT to spy on you
Saturday, 12 July 2008
QUESTION: I read that IT security breaches are becoming more common.
What basic steps
can I take to secure my IT systems?
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Options to consider as retirement looms
Saturday, 12 July 2008
QUESTION: I am approaching retirement and confused by the various
options on offer.
Can you explain what the main alternatives are?
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Security against a deal that collapses
Saturday, 12 July 2008
QUESTION: I am currently supplying goods to a customer on 30-day credit
terms, but
in the current economic climate, is there anything I can do if my customer
becomes
insolvent and cannot pay for the goods I have supplied?
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Finance not the only crisis eating us up
Friday, 11 July 2008
QUESTION: I have heard that the rises in food cost can be linked to an
investment.
Is that true, and if so, how does an investment linked to the cost of food
work?
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Columnist Comments
• View from Dublin: Beware of the midnight mugging on October 14
One of many possible reasons for having an early Irish Budget in October may be contained in the fact that new taxes on the “old reliables” — drink, fuel and and tobacco — would come into force at midnight on October 14.
• John Simpson: Gas and electricity bills spark boisterous debate
Household home fuel bills are more than 50% higher than a year ago.
• View From London: Interest rate cuts will only reduce the short-term pain
Those who oppose interest rate cuts seem to base their arguments on one of three ideas. First, rate cuts won't work. Second, rate cuts will simply reignite earlier housing or stock market bubbles. Third, borrowers simply don't deserve rate cuts. Some people seem to believe in all three of these ideas, an approach which, to my mind, is nonsensical.
Business Poll: Corporation Tax?
Should Northern Ireland be allowed to adopt the same rate of Corporaton Tax as the Republic?
Should Northern Ireland be allowed to adopt the same rate of Corporaton Tax as the Republic?
| Yes |
 74% |
| No |
 26% |
ACADEMIC SELECTION
Which of these statements do you agree with
Which of these statements do you agree with
| The 11-Plus should be retained |
45% |
| The 11-Plus should be replaced by another form of academic selection |
29% |
| All forms of academic selection should be outlawed in Northern Ireland |
26% |
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Financial Crisis
Is the UK already in a recession?
Castration for Sex Offenders
Should the UK follow Poland's lead and force sex offenders to be chemically castrated?
Cancer treatment
Should cancer drugs be free for all patients?
Next US president?
Who do you think is likely to become the next president of the United States?
Who do you think is likely to become the next president of the United States?
| John McCain |
44% |
| Barack Obama |
42% |
| It won't make a difference |
11% |
| I'm still holding out for Ron Paul |
3% |
Sport legends
Who is Northern Ireland's greatest sports person of modern times?
Who is Northern Ireland's greatest sports person of modern times?
| George Best |
32% |
| Tony McCoy |
2% |
| Darren Clarke |
3% |
| Barry McGuigan |
4% |
| Mary Peters |
4% |
| Willie John McBride |
3% |
| Peter Canavan |
6% |
| Joey Dunlop |
39% |
| David Healy |
5% |
| Alex Higgins |
2% |
Poll: Tasers and the police
Do you support the use of Tasers by the PSNI?
Do you support the use of Tasers by the PSNI?
| Yes, it is better than using firearms |
56% |
| Yes, but only in exceptional circumstances |
22% |
| No, I'm genuinely concerned about the safety of Tasers |
8% |
| No, the police should not have these weapons |
14% |