Tips and Tools – Page 135 – Business Plus Baby

July 27, 2015

Business Innovation: Who’s On Top In 2015?

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

Those wise words from the late Steve Jobs sum up why businesses are always striving to innovate. By doing so they are able to lead and stay ahead of their competitors and, in turn, by being at the head of the pack they are seen as a brand worth investing in and doing business with.

So who is proving their strength when it comes to innovation in 2015, and how is this impacting on the business world?

Microsoft

It’s a big year for Microsoft, not least because Windows 10 is upon us. The new operating system will undoubtedly be important for businesses and consumers alike – with neat new tools to utilise – but the bigger game changer might well come with the accompanying release of the Hololens.

This device might seem like a bit of fun for the end user – the chance to play with holograms as if you’re in your own personal Star Wars film, with hand gestures, voice control and gaze helping to control the virtual world your visor projects onto the world in front of you. Yet actually this could be the business innovation of 2015.

The device will actually allow the user to pop it on, ring an expert and show the person at the other end what is in front of them. The expert could then annotate that view and point the user in the right direction – a powerful use that could be transformative in a host of industries. It could certainly help to assist the design, manufacture and installation of high tech specialist equipment so that a customer purchasing paint spray booths from Airblast Eurospray could call on one of the firm’s experts to ensure the machinery and materials were being correctly handled.

Apple Continue reading “Business Innovation: Who’s On Top In 2015?”

July 8, 2015

5 Tips To Improve Your Businesses Health And Safety On The Road

There are two key mistakes you can make when thinking about health and safety in the workplace.

Firstly, you can allow yourself to be sucked in by the pervading myths surrounding the term. These are the surprisingly widespread views that anything from conkers to custard pies, selfie sticks and paperclips are banned under the banner of health and safety. Being sucked in by such stories will cause you to become sidetracked from what is both common sense, and indeed the law, and do little to actually boost safety.

Secondly, you can get sucked into thinking health and safety in the workplace simply refers to the confines of the office. A big chunk of businesses require their employees to travel – whether that’s to attend meetings, to perform a service ‘off site’ or to deliver goods. Continue reading “5 Tips To Improve Your Businesses Health And Safety On The Road”

July 1, 2015

8 Awesome teacher training hacks

So, you wanna be a teacher – cue Bugsy Malone style inspirational montage with singing – well, there’s lots to be done before you are placed in front of that class of tiny people who need to be steered, encouraged and cajoled in the right direction.

First up, you’ve got some teacher training to get through. Think of it like a high impact interval training session that throws you in at the deep end with in depth theory lessons in a classroom environment and then practical sessions in an actual classroom with actual students all looking to you to teach them. Scared yet? Don’t be.

Here are some great ‘hacks’ (well, helpful tips) to get you through that year of teacher training and on your way to becoming someone’s new favourite teacher.

Find work experience

If you have a spare afternoon in your training regime don’t think about lying at home lounging around. You are not a fresher now. Instead, ask for work experience at a school in your area – it will give you the inside scoop on what’s going on until your training course places you in one permanently.

Read

There are plenty of books and articles out there on teaching to sink your teeth into – like a predatory teacher on hallway duty telling students not to run. To stay on top of those important developments in education you should be reading up on things, even once you are qualified.

Read some more

Here’s a list of great books to get you started. Yes, extra homework for you! The Tough Kids Book is a great guide on how to deal with those one or two disruptive children (and they will always be there) in a classroom while Letters to a New Teacher, by Jim Burke, gives the reader some insight into exchanges between a new teacher and the author and highlights how important your mentor will be in that first year.

Erin Gruwell’s Freedom Writers Diary is another great book to get your hands on and details a real teacher’s account of turning an underprivileged class who were deemed incapable of learning into respectable students.

Revise

You need to be the expert in your specialist subject so be sure to revise the latest curriculum. You don’t want any awkward, ‘I’m not sure, let me check moments’ in front of a class of smug ten year olds.

Be relevant

Students need to understand how what they are being taught impacts on the world, always be on the look out for ways to tie current events into lesson plans, VE Day is the perfect opportunity for a history lesson on World War II or a new development in electric car technology can support a lesson on the importance of caring for the environment.

Practice

Many students go through teacher training without any idea of their ‘style’ of teaching. Are you going to be loud? Reserved? Friendly? Scary? Teaching can be compared to acting, the best teachers are the ones who can take a boring subject and make it exciting for a class through sheer enthusiasm and style. Practice your teaching style on your family and friends, borrow small children or just talk at your dog and see if it holds their interest.

Make friends

It’s funny how some people can join a course and not speak to anyone. You’re all in the same boat, make friends with your fellow trainee teachers and the year will go a lot smoother – plus you’ll have someone to turn to when you’re struggling with an assignment or had a tough experience with a class.

Watch other teachers closely

While training you will get to sit in on lots of different lessons, watch closely and see how the masters do it. You might pick up a fun trait that works well for them or make a note on how to avoid a certain situation based on their actions. In your teacher-training year simply be a sponge and take everything in.

Fictional teachers are also great inspiration

John Keating, Albus Dumbledore, Mr Feeny – there are so many inspirational fictional teachers out there whose slightly unorthodox ways might raise eyebrows but they get the job done. So while you might not be a wizard or fancy jumping on desks shouting ‘oh captain, my captain’, it’s still a good idea to watch some of these inspirational teachers in action for some tips on how to inspire your students.

Plan ahead

Once you’ve passed that scary teacher training course (okay, it’s not really that scary) but aren’t guaranteed a position in a school it’s time to look for a job! Bookmark a site such as Edustaff or start reaching out to local schools early and get a head start on the competition. You’ll thank yourself later.

Finally, be prepared for how small the children will appear to be then be prepared to marvel as they all grow taller than you. What are parents feeding kids these days? Miracle-Gro?

June 25, 2015June 14, 2016

Innovative resolutions to common commercial security problems

Business owners have to think more innovatively than ever about how to protect their companies. Cyber crime is on the increase and conventional crime shows no signs of easing.

Protect the outside of your building

Roller blinds are one of the most effective ways of protecting the exterior of your company. Some local authorities do ask that you seek planning permission before fitting these invaluable security devices, so it’s always a good idea to consult with the planning department before going ahead with an installation. Click here to see a wide range of blinds, shutters and grilles that can protect your premises.

Talk to the police

It sounds obvious but many commercial property owners fail to talk to their local police force about security. Most forces across the UK have informative websites where business owners can keep up to date with the most effective trends and types of security devices. For example Surrey police force even advises on how to make the best use of your CCTV and offers guidance on different types of alarms. A very useful piece of information suggests that business owners frequently change their security codes on their doors and other points of access. It’s not just the criminals that can harm a building; a dissatisfied former employee can also damage a business. Continue reading “Innovative resolutions to common commercial security problems”

June 23, 2015

10 silly mistakes you’re making with your business cards

Business cards should be a simple concept. You pop your logo, name and contact details on and you’re done, right? Wrong. There are businesses out there making some silly mistakes when it comes to business cards and as a result not seeing the return they should when handing them out. Take a look at these mistakes below and check that you aren’t doing the same:

Outdated contact details

You have 200 business cards that need using, but they feature your old phone number. You think ‘it’s fine, I’ll just tell people it’s wrong when I hand it over and to email me instead’ but a business card featuring outdated information gives a poor impression of you and your brand. Recycle the cards you have (do not amend that telephone number with pen) and have more created with the right details. Continue reading “10 silly mistakes you’re making with your business cards”