Category: Uncategorized

  • Top 5 tips to start stand up paddle

    Stand up paddle boarding is all the rage these days, and with pretty good reason. Of all the water sports options out there it’s easily the most accessible for beginners, making it the perfect pick up and play option for those looking to get out on the water in an active but relaxing way.

    Even with that pretty gentle learning curve, though, there are still a few things you need to know about getting into the world of SUP. Here are our top five starter tips for wannabe paddlers.

    Choose the right board

    Choosing the right board comes down to a variety of factors: how you’re going to use it, how it’ll fit your body and how you want it to handle when you’re on the water. There are plenty of physical characteristics to consider, from the shape of the board through to volume and capacity and any extras and accessories you might want with it.

    In fact, there are an awful lot more questions that you might think when it comes to picking paddleboards, so we’d recommend finding an in-depth guide to get you started.

    Find the right spot

    One of the great things about SUP is that you can paddle almost anywhere, but finding a quality spot – as in a place or two that can be your favourite locations to go out and paddle, will be key to helping you develop your skills and fall in love with the hobby.

    A good place to start would be to join an SUP club or SUP social, or use this map of UK SUP spots to find some established locations that are great for paddleboarding.

    Make the right moves

    Learning to move around on your SUP correctly will be a key part of your early learnings in the hobby. You’ll want to find out what stance works for you, whether that’s neutral, hybrid or a full surf stance and get to grips with the best balancing techniques to keep you on the board.

    It’s not a bad idea to get a few lessons to start you out with all these fundamentals, and there are plenty of SUP instructors out there ready to help you get up and running. 

    Learn to fall off

    Falling and hitting the water is a natural part of just about any water sport you can think of – and it’s certainly something you’ll need to get used to as a SUP beginner. The key thing to learn in this regard is how to fall off and get back onto your board properly.

    As a general rule, feet first into the water and away from your board is best, while it’s easiest to get back on your board at the centre. If you pick up a few lessons to get you started, your instructor can walk you through the art of falling and recovering safely.

    Stay relaxed

    Perhaps the simplest tip of them all, and maybe one easier said than done for newbies, is to relax! Paddleboarding is made to be a chilled exercise where you can head out on the water and enjoy the views and the motion of the ocean. The sooner you can learn to keep cool on your board, the quicker you’ll get to grips with staying on your board and being able to enjoy the world around you – which is what SUP is all about.

    New to SUP? Don’t be afraid! With a great community of paddleboarders in the UK and loads of ways to get into the sport, you could be up and running before you know it.

  • Support for SMEs During the Pandemic

    The coronavirus pandemic has sent the UK into a deep recession. During lockdown, businesses were forced to close, leading to millions of pounds of lost revenue. For SME’s it’s been particularly challenging, with many struggling to get the help they need.

    Banks have been turning down SME’s for funding, leaving them with no choice but to look for alternatives. So, what alternative support is available for small businesses during the pandemic?


    Image via Unsplash

    The cash advance

    One type of finance that’s been helping small businesses get back on their feet is a cash advance. A cash advance from Nucleus can help tide the business over until they get paid. It is based on future revenue and you can typically borrow a set percentage of your credit card sales.

    There are a lot of different cash advance options out there, so it is vital businesses choose a reliable provider or you may have to get out of it.

    Fintech

    Something else that’s been helping MSE’s during this time is Fintech. Businesses have been forced to adapt to a new way of working, developing more flexible business models.

    While Fintech doesn’t provide financial support, it does bring in new ways of earning. It also helps to develop better customer engagement, increasing sales. Retail businesses have particularly made use of Fintech technology to help them get back on their feet.

    Investments

    Unfortunately, a lot of businesses have been forced to sell during the pandemic. However, many have found that bringing in investors has helped to save them from going under.

    Even in today’s climate, there are still investors looking to grab a bargain. Small businesses have therefore been able to attract investment, helping to keep them afloat while the economy recovers.

    Other options out there

    Although many businesses have been left frustrated by the lack of support available, there are a lot of alternative options. Crowdfunding is a popular choice for businesses looking for attractive interest rates. Capital finance and grants have also been available throughout the pandemic.

    Having these alternative options is a lifeline for many businesses. As banks turn down hundreds of business owners, alternative finance can provide the support needed.

    As you can see, there is a lot of help out there for businesses throughout the Covid-19 crisis. While it is certainly a challenging time, it is also providing opportunities for SME’s, particularly in terms of growth. Being forced to adapt to different ways of working is helping businesses to identify new opportunities.

  • Create a dining space perfect for entertaining

    Meals are always better when shared with loved ones. Long gone are the days when you needed a huge dining room, bone china or silverware to have guests round – now, it’s about creating a comfortable, practical environment with style. So whatever space you’re working with, be sure to get our tips on how to maximise what you have and start hosting wonderful dinner parties that everyone will be talking about for years to come!

    Some might say the home is where the heart is, we think it’s where the stomach is! From your first meal as a couple that went horribly wrong but you ate it laughing anyway, to your little one’s first vegetable, to wines with long-lost friends, your dining table is the hub of the household – where all the important moments take place. If you are a real foodie and want your table to act as an altar to the lavish feasts you’ll be cooking, you can’t do without a long solid wood table that can comfortably seat several people. Investing in one of good quality is definitely worth it, as something like solid oak or pine will keep you happy for decades with the right care. Smaller spaces, on the other hand, require something more adaptable. Folding tables are a good shout, however when choosing, bear in mind that a round table takes up more space but offers less seating. Therefore, classic rectangular tables could be a safer bet.

    Tip: Little details are important. Decorate your dining table with a vase of fresh flowers, candles, a fruit bowl filled with oranges – you name it, it can go on the table! Good, matching table linens are also worth the investment – no paper napkins here, please!

    Get yourself a dresser!

    PDo dressers and sideboards remind you of your nan? Well – no longer relegated to the 70s – they are fantastic options for modern dining rooms too, and are especially helpful for people pushed for kitchen cupboard space. Extra storage is always a win, right? You can keep your best crockery on display, find a spot for those huge salad bowls you love but never seem to fit on the kitchen shelf, and even make space for a cocktail bar! Get yours in a mid-century style, or a sleek, modern finish for maximum style impact.

    Shine a light

    If any part of the home deserves thoughtful lighting, it’s the dining room. Just follow a few rules: the light over the table should be soft and diffused, its shape should follow the shape of the table, and it shouldn’t be the only source of light in the room. A round table is best suited to a round pendant light, while longer rectangular tables work perfectly with lights hung in a row, to cover the whole space. And how high should you hang the light? Ideally, you should leave about 60 to 80 cm of space between the light and the table, so you get a more intimate atmosphere when dining, but at the same time everything will be lit effectively. Remember to add floor or wall lamps around the room too, otherwise you’ll be eating your dinner under a spotlight – which doesn’t add a great atmosphere!

    The warmth of the light also has a big influence on how a room feels. Choose a central light source above the dining table in a golden shade, that isn’t too harsh. Leave the strip lights in the kitchen! Don’t forget mood lighting, which adds to the atmosphere when dining with friends. A few candles placed around the room, as well as on the table, are great for this.

     

  • Smart Ways to Grow your Customer Base

    To reach a successful business level, you will need to grow and maintain your customer base. In simple terms, more customers mean more sales. The more sales you have, the greater your profits will be. Thus, to grow your brand, you need to grow your customer base. If you are wondering how that is possible, here are some tips.

    Image by Mediamodifier from Pixabay

    Leverage social media so that followers of followers see your brand

    It is simple to get followers of your followers to see your brand. For instance, sharing a video and encouraging your followers to share it will mean that their followers have a chance of seeing it.

    Using corporate video production services to help create your videos on a professional level will ensure that you can build long-term connections with your customers. You can keep them engaged and entertained while unconsciously interacting and helping your brand grow its awareness. When customers watch and engage with your videos, you will have a greater chance of being seen by more customers.

    The more your video content, especially those created by video production company Manchester, is viewed and shared on social media platforms, the more customers will see it as their followers will be able to see what they like and what businesses they are engaging with.

    Get to know what your customers want

    Giving your customers what they want will ensure to attain them and gauge the interest of new customers that want the same thing.

    But, how do you know what customers want?

    The simple answer is to ask. There’s no harm in reaching out to understand their expectations and preferences. When you do, you not only get to know your audience better but also position yourself to meet their needs more effectively. One impactful way to communicate your offerings and values is through visual storytelling, this is where working with a corporate video production agency can make a big difference. By creating engaging, customer-focused content, you can demonstrate your commitment to their needs while building trust and brand loyalty. Offering great service and taking the time to understand your customers pays off in the long run.

    Make the most of your networks

    As a business, it is important to have networks and more importantly, use those networks. It can open so many doors for new opportunities.

    When you network well and become friends with other brands, they might use word of mouth marketing to tell their customers about you. When doing so, your brand’s awareness will increase and you might be able to gain customers from them.

    Likewise, you could use networking events to introduce yourself to your ideal customer. You could set up a business event and invite your target audience. You can get to know them on a personal level, which will attain their interest and likely maintain their loyalty to you.

    Offer great customer service

    Speaking of giving your customer what they want, it is useful to offer great customer service. When you make customers happy and answer their questions in good time, you will be able to maintain their interest.

    Great customer service will be spoken about. If you always reply to your customers or offer incentives when something goes wrong, your customer will likely tell their friends and family, which will help your name be known by more people.

     

  • Streamlining employment verification, a comprehensive guide to I 9 form online fill

    Electronic solutions for I9 form have grown in popularity among businesses in recent years owing to their efficiency and ease. Benefits of using online fill choices include mistake checking, notifications about when forms need to be renewed, and quick access to previously submitted forms and other documents. Errors and omissions are less likely to occur while completing form I9 digitally since the program will often urge users to supply all needed information. Form I 9 may now be stored digitally, doing away with the requirement for physical copies and easing the administrative load of dealing with paperwork. Employers may confidently embrace the online fill process, assuring compliance with I9 regulations and streamlining HR processes, thanks to technological improvements and the availability of secure platforms.

    Details of online completing I 9 form

    In the United States, the I-9 form is used by companies to confirm the identification and legal right to work of newly employed workers. Details about theI 9 form online fill are provided below:

    • Form I-9 must be filled out by the employer and kept on file for each new employee. This document is used to confirm the legal right to work in the United States and the identification of any new hires.
    • Section 1 of the I9 form must be completed and signed by the employee no later than the first day of work, but not before the offer of employment has been accepted. Name, address, birthday, and Social Security number are all examples of personal data included in this area.
    • Section 2 of the I-9 form must be completed by the employer no later than the third business day after the employee’s start date. In accordance with this provision, businesses must verify the employee’s identity and legal right to work by reviewing government-issued identification papers.
    • The form may be filled out and submitted electronically by both employers and workers thanks to the online fill procedure. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)-compliant platforms and applications are available for this purpose.
    • Employers may get the electronic form of I 9 form and fill it out on the USCIS website, which is one option for online fill. To guarantee proper form completion, the website offers detailed instructions and advice.
    • The use of third-party applications or services that provide electronic alternatives to the paper I-9 is another possibility. Many of these systems also include document storage, grammar, and spelling checking, and the ability to connect with other HR software.
    • It is crucial to protect the confidentiality of the data submitted via the online fill procedure. Companies should only use reliable platforms that use secure data storage and transfer methods in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
    • I-9 form must be completed and stored electronically, but the USCIS has certain guidelines for how this must be done. This involves keeping appropriate audit trails, protecting the data’s integrity, and making the form available for review by authorities upon request.
    • To guarantee legal compliance, employers should review the particular standards and criteria for electronic completion and storage of form I-9.

    It is necessary to admit that Form I-9’s online fill procedure is a time-saving and streamlined approach for both employers and workers to complete and submit the form. The compliance and security of the submitted data depend on adhering to the USCIS’s regulations and recommendations.