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Blogs

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Throughout history, entrepreneurs have stepped up in times of crisis. Over the coming weeks and months, we'll be talking (remotely) to inventors, creators and organisers who are responding to the unprecedented challenge of Covid-19 in the only way they know how – by achieving seemingly impossible goals to help nation and world in their hour of need.

Amanda Hatcher , CLIC

‘Spread a little happiness as you go by…’

Many of us feel as if we are living on a perpetually moving, cut throat, dog eat dog, conveyor belt. So many people are in a continual rush and so have neither the time nor the inclination to spread a little happiness to the people they meet along the way. But are we really too […]

Charlotte Quince , CLIC

Why should Eddie Jones be on the board of every ambitious firm who wants to move up the rankings?

The answer is deceptively simple. Eddie knows that if you want to create a winning mentality, you have to challenge the status quo and ensure that everyone on the team buys unquestioningly into the mission. He also knows that if you want to move up the rankings, you have to rattle a few cages, make a […]

Matthew Hodgson - Tax Partner , PKF Cooper Parry

Why the next few decades will be electric for the UK car industry – in every sense of the word

By Matthew Hodgson, tax partner and car dealership specialist at PKF Cooper Parry With its announcement that all sales of new petrol and diesel cars will cease in the UK by 2040, the government has fired the starting pistol on an automotive revolution. Despite cynicism in some quarters, in my view this long-overdue legislation will go through. […]

Amanda Hatcher , CLIC

BDLN tribute to Dame Helen Alexander who died on Saturday

Successful senior female role models in business are rare, so the sad fact that Dame Helen Alexander, the first female president of the CBI, has died at the tragically young age of 60 should not pass without us paying tribute to her. Dame Helen never sought the bright lights of stardom, but she was renowned […]

Mark Nicholls - Client Manager , CK Chartered Accountants

Focusing too hard on scoring goals can be bad for business

Along with many people across the nation, I wait in anticipation for summer to be over. Saturdays are just not Saturdays without the football season. Despite my team’s poor showing in the previous three seasons (I’m a Wolves fan), I look forward to the first game with more hope in my heart than ever before. […]

Alex Boulter - Business Development Manager , CK Chartered Accountants

What accountancy practices can learn from sports teams

I came down with something nasty the other week. I lost my voice and spent the day watching documentaries, including a programme about the 2003 England Rugby Team. As a big rugby fan, I remember exactly where I was when that superb England team won both the Grand Slam and the World Cup. What was […]

Amanda Hatcher , CLIC

In pursuit of greatness

When we met with Peter Scott, former managing partner of Eversheds, he explained why complacency kills. Firms cannot sit back and rely on past glories. If they do, they will soon be replaced by firms who are continually adapting, modifying and refining their brand to keep one step ahead of the competition. ‘In pursuit of […]

Charlotte Quince , CLIC

Hanging on the telephone…for four million hours!

The public accounts committee receive more letters of complaint about customer service at HMRC than any other issue. Personal tax callers to the HMRC have recently experienced appalling service, being put on hold for a staggering 4 million hours last year. Director General, Ruth Owen, claims that they are trying to address the issue by […]

Jason D Baker - Partner , FRP Advisory

Has the economy ever been run this badly?

Napoleon is reported to have said we’re a “nation of shopkeepers.” Historians have interpreted this as meaning that, to the French, we were regarded as merchants and traders. It is how England was perceived to have amassed its wealth; from China and India in the east to the Americas in the west. If Napoleon did […]

Amanda Hatcher , CLIC

No compromise! Are you focussing enough on the areas that will really help your teams to succeed?

Vision and preparation are the key to success. We discuss the importance of first class facilities, training and equipment in boosting performance, whether it be for Team GB at the Olympic Games in Rio or for the fastest growing professional services firms in the UK… The National Cycling Centre in Manchester, built on the site […]

Amanda Hatcher , CLIC

The malingerers, the moaners and Marathon Man

Are you someone who does nothing all day but clock watch? Do you occasionally book a sickie after a tough night out? Do you know someone who constantly whinges about working hours, pay conditions and work-life balance? Is there someone in your office who walks in every day prepared to moan, complain and bleat about […]

Amanda Hatcher , CLIC

Osborne vs Gandhi: “Earth provides enough to satisfy everyone’s need, but not everyman’s greed”

The constituents of Tatton in Cheshire, who live 136.4 miles away from London, are surely right to be questioning George Osborne’s commitment to the area. Particularly as they claim that they only ever see him when he is on the box and, even without a second, third or fourth job, they rarely, if ever, see […]

Amanda Hatcher , CLIC

Keith Palmer: The bravest of the brave

We would like to add our tribute to the four people who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Westminster yesterday including the bravest of the brave; Keith Palmer, the police officer and father-of-two who lost his life, protecting our freedom and democracy. Bystanders report that he put other’s safety before his own as […]

Amanda Hatcher , CLIC

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” – Michelle Obama

The news that radical right winger Janusz Korwin-Mikke, a Polish member of the European Parliament, declared during a debate on gender pay gap that women earn less than men because they are weaker, smaller and less intelligent, is shocking (although in a world where Trump can be President, I am now becoming more used to […]

John Maffioli , CLIC

If disagreeing with Fifa is wrong, who wants to be right?

What is going on? How can observing a minute’s silence, wearing a poppy emblazoned black armband and sounding the last post at an Armistice Day football international be wrong? Honouring your war dead is not a commercial, political or religious act is it? It is, of course palpable nonsense that Fifa, one of the most […]

Charlotte Quince , CLIC

As the triumphant Olympians return home, who should we really be celebrating?

‘Alone we can do so little: together we can do so much’ (Helen Keller) As we celebrate the triumphant return of our Olympians today – led by such modest talismen as, Kate Richardson-Walsh, Jade Jones and Adam Peaty – we must not forget that they would never have made it to the top on their […]

John Maffioli , CLIC

Cameron, the Samurai

David Cameron has been forced to sacrifice his powerful position as the British public, who, given the right to exercise their democratic freedom, have forced his hand. One of the first leaders in history to fall on his sword was Brutus whose luck ran out when he was defeated at Philippi. Similarly, George Entwhistle, former […]

Amanda Hatcher , CLIC

How to avoid the BHS trap…

Sir Philip Green bought BHS for £200m in 2000 and during his tenure Sir Philip took out £400 million in dividends. Many of the directors at that time were home grown. They were loyal and long serving and they knew the business inside out. Above all, they were dedicated to the future success of their […]

Charlotte Quince , CLIC

Arrogance is your biggest enemy (in rugby and in business!)

The English rugby union team were clear underdogs in the series against Australia in June 2016 as they had never before won a series against any of the big 3 Southern Hemisphere sides. And yet Eddie Jones, the new coach, had declared, ahead of the first game, that it would be a failure if the […]

Charlotte Quince , CLIC

Jo Cox – a modern day superhero

Our mission at the BDLN has always been to celebrate incredible people. This, for us, usually means talking about interesting and successful accountants, lawyers and entrepreneurs. However, given the recent tragic events in West Yorkshire, we wanted to take a moment to recognise the contribution that Jo Cox made both here and abroad and to […]

Charlotte Quince , CLIC

Where angels fear to tread

The European Space Agency stretches their applicants to the edge of their ability on a daily basis. Tim Peake was one of 8,413 contenders for the latest mission to the International Space Station. Everyone who was shortlisted had already proved themselves academically and physically so he had to push himself and do something special to […]

Charlotte Quince , CLIC

Is your firm’s maverick an Eddie or a Kevin?

The news that Andy Murray plans to reunite with his former enigmatic coach Ivan Lendl in time for Wimbledon and that the resurgent English rugby union team under their fanatical Australian coach, Eddie Jones, have toppled Australia on home turf brings into sharp focus the question of the role that mavericks play in successful sporting […]

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