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Is Planning Permission a Postcode Lottery? Exploring Regional Approval Rates Across England

2024-11-13T15:22:57Z

With property prices rising and moving costs increasing, the experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have found that more homeowners in the UK are opting for home improvements rather than relocating. This trend, driven by factors such as rising property prices and the growing costs of buying a new home, has seen more people investing in remodelling and extending to create their dream homes where they already live.

Research from TSB reveals that two in five (41%) homeowners would prefer to build an extension than move house. According to Pepper Money’s Specialist Lending Study , 41% of those surveyed said affordability of properties is preventing them from moving to a larger home elsewhere and that 51% are considering a secured loan to make home improvements.

With Google searches for “planning permission” up YoY in the UK, and “home improvement ideas” up 9900% this month, for many, redeveloping a home offers a more practical solution to moving home. Rather than facing the expenses of moving and the challenges of relocating, homeowners can transform their spaces to better meet their needs and preferences. From adding extra rooms or modernising kitchens to creating open floor plans or upgrading the home’s energy efficiency, these improvements not only add value to a property but also improve daily life.

However, what many homeowners may not realise is that there is a planning permission postcode lottery going on across the country. In 2024, it’s harder than ever to get approval on your property, with approval rates at an all-time low. While you may expect that adding an extension to your home or converting a loft space may be a relatively straightforward option – your location could have an impact on the decision made.

With this in mind, experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have reviewed planning applications across England from July 2023 to July 2024 to compile a list of the best and worst locations for planning approval, highlighting which areas make it easiest – and hardest – to secure planning permission for your home.

86% of all planning applications in England have been granted in 12 months

With more homeowners opting for redevelopment, planning applications across England have remained high, with 327,217 applications submitted from Q3 2023 to Q3 2024. Despite the high volume, England has maintained an 86% approval rate for these applications, making it an attractive option for those looking to upgrade their homes. However, it’s clear there are regional inconsistencies and some areas are seeing more favourable outcomes when it comes to planning permission.

The South East is revealed as the region with the most applications, receiving 66,795 in the 12 months – demonstrating a high demand for home updates and development in the area. Gosport in the South East leads in approval rates, with 99% of applications granted, while Barking and Dagenham trail behind with the lowest approval rate at 61%, signalling potential challenges in that locality. Approval rates also vary across regions, with the North East boasting the highest at 91%, compared to London’s more selective 80% approval rate.

Householder development approvals are down year-on-year

Of the 327,217 applications this past year, 167,604 were for householder developments. These are residential planning applications that are within a residential property and are not a change of use. Examples of householder developments include extensions, garages, swimming pools, walls, fences, vehicle accesses, porches, satellite dishes, loft conversions, and dormer windows.

If you're considering a home renovation or addition, understanding the trends in planning applications can offer valuable insights – and it’s clear that planning approval rates are shifting across England. In the past year, 148,406 planning applications were approved, accounting for 89% of decisions made. While this is still high, it reflects a slight dip from the 91% peak seen in 2021.

The North East is the region with the highest percentage of planning approvals

The South East remains a hotspot for home improvement projects, with 32,922 householder applications granted – leading the country in volume. This is followed by London (21,490) and East of England (20,207). However, in the North East, while having a lower number of applications, it’s the region with the highest percentage of approvals at 94%, making it an ideal region if you're looking for a smooth approval process.

Regions with the highest number of granted planning

Buckinghamshire has the highest number of approved planning applications

When it comes to individual local authorities, if you’re looking for near-guaranteed approval, some areas offer exceptionally high acceptance rates. For those applying in Buckinghamshire in the South East, you’ll be joining the most acquiescent local authority, with 2,913 granted applications – the highest in England. The City of London, London Legacy Development Corporation, Northumberland National Park, and the Isles of Scilly stand out with a 100% approval rate, making them attractive for homeowners who prioritise certainty in their renovation timelines.

Local authority with highest % granted

Barking and Dagenham has the lowest rate of approval at 63%

On the other end of the spectrum, Barking and Dagenham is the hardest location to get planning permission, with only 63% of applications granted, which may mean a higher chance of revisions or challenges in this area. This is followed by Greenwich (67%) and Hounslow (68%)

Local authority with lowest % granted

Only 62% of applications in Bristol are made on time

If you’re applying in Bristol, keep in mind that only 62% of decisions are made on time, so be prepared for a potentially longer waiting period. This is followed by St Albans (65%) and Runnymeade (73%). The planning guarantee is the government's policy that no application should spend more than a year with decision makers, including any appeal. In practice, this means that major planning applications should be decided in no more than 26 weeks, and non-major applications within 16 weeks.

Local authority with lowest % decision in time

For homeowners weighing up the decision to renovate, these statistics provide a helpful view into which regions are seeing higher success rates and where projects might face more scrutiny. Whether you’re planning a loft conversion or a more substantial remodel, these regional trends highlight where approvals are more streamlined and where it may be worth revisiting your plans.

When embarking on a renovation or redevelopment project, securing planning permission is just the first step. To bring your vision to life, you’ll also need a skilled builder or structural engineer and architect to design and ensure the safety of your project. And, if a neighbour raises concerns, a chartered building surveyor can step in to help secure a party wall agreement, ensuring that your project proceeds smoothly and meets all legal requirements. With the right experts from ��ɫ��Ƭ.com, you can navigate the planning process confidently and bring your ideal home transformation to reality.

Heating Expert Gives Advice on How to Avoid a Winter Breakdown

2024-10-15T13:34:03Z

As across the UK temperatures officially hit single digits, homes will be turning to their trusty thermostats to give them some much-needed warmth this autumn. However, with your boiler sitting docile all summer, you may find yourself without heat when you need it. With an average of 5,100 searches each month, in autumn, searches for “boiler repair” begin to creep up. They peak in December as households find broken boilers when they need it the most. Searches have climbed 257% this month alone. With this in mind, ��ɫ��Ƭ has partnered with David Doran, a plumbing expert at Blackstone Plumbing & Heating Ltd to find out what heating checks you need to make and how to avoid a winter breakdown.

What checks should you carry out before turning your heating on?

● Check your boiler pressure

Your boiler pressure gives you an idea of how efficiently your heating system is running by telling you the pressure of the water circulating through your system. If the pressure is too high, then this could cause leaks to develop. If it’s too low, the system won’t work as well, leading to ineffective heating, and you’ll find your home will be colder than expected. David explains, “Low pressure can result in ineffective heating, while high pressure can potentially damage your system.” He recommends keeping the pressure gauge between 1 and 2 bars, which provides the ideal balance for optimal performance. If you notice a slight increase in boiler pressure while it’s running, don’t worry—this is completely normal. Just ensure the pressure stays below the 3-bar mark during use.

● Check your thermostat

Make sure your thermostat is working properly and accurately reading the temperature. If the readings are inaccurate, the thermostat might cause your boiler to work overtime, wasting energy trying to reach a room temperature that’s already been achieved. Conversely, it could shut the boiler off too early, known as short cycling, leaving you in the cold. David suggests, “ Consider replacing old thermostats with programmable or smart thermostats to improve efficiency. If your thermostat runs on batteries, check if they need replacing. ”

● Test out your heating system before you need it

It’s important to test your boiler before you need it, to avoid being one of the thousands of Brits searching for “boiler repair” in December. Run your heating system for a short period (e.g., 15-30 minutes) to ensure all radiators heat up evenly and there are no unusual noises from the boiler or pipes (e.g., banging, clanging, or gurgling sounds). Should you notice anything untoward, such as cold spots, it’s worth reaching out to your local heating specialist . On ��ɫ��Ƭ, you can either browse nearby listings or post an enquiry .

● Ensure your boiler is regularly serviced

Annual servicing of your boiler is important to ensure that your system is operating safely. According to insights from HomeServe , more than half (58%) of UK households haven't checked that their boiler is working as it should and 56% of the population haven't had an annual boiler service. David says that it’s important to “ have your boiler serviced once a year. Faulty boilers can lead to dangerous situations like gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be deadly. ” A service includes checks for leaks, blockages, and the correct operation of safety devices. David adds, “R egular servicing keeps your boiler running efficiently. Over time, boilers can accumulate dirt, dust, and limescale, reducing efficiency. A well-maintained boiler burns fuel more effectively, helping you save on energy bills. ” Alongside this, it’s important to remember that many boiler manufacturers require annual servicing as part of their warranty terms. Skipping a service could void your warranty, leaving you without coverage if something goes wrong. Additionally, some home insurance policies may also stipulate that your boiler must be serviced regularly. A local plumber should be able to service your boiler and give you the advice and support you need.

Tips on how to get the most out of your heating during cold weather

According to Pepper Money’s Specialist Lending Study , 73% of people say that even a £100 increase in monthly bills would seriously affect their household finances. With winter on the way, maximising the efficiency of your heating during cold weather can keep your home warm and comfortable while also saving on energy bills. David Doran and ��ɫ��Ƭ provide tips on how to make the most of your heating in the cold weather:

● Only set your heating to when you need it: A programmable thermostat allows you to create a heating schedule that fits your routine, reducing wasted energy when you’re not home or during sleeping hours. Smart thermostats can learn your habits and adjust heating automatically, optimising efficiency.

● Aim for a comfortable temperature: Aim for a comfortable temperature between 18-21°C (64-70°F). Setting your thermostat at 18-20°C can significantly reduce energy consumption compared to higher temperatures. For every degree you lower your thermostat, you can save around 1-3% on your heating bill.

● Only heat the rooms you need: Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) only heat the rooms you’re using. Keep unused rooms at a lower temperature or turn the radiators off entirely in those spaces.

● Don’t block the heat with furniture: Avoid placing large furniture or curtains in front of radiators. This blocks heat circulation and makes your heating work harder to warm the room. Clear airflow helps the heat distribute more effectively throughout your home.

Data Reveals the UK Cities That Are Best for Learner Drivers in 2024

2024-10-03T12:16:22Z

Research by driving experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed that Leeds and Belfast are officially the best cities to be a learner driver. With driving lessons averaging at £33 per hour in Leeds, this city makes an affordable choice for most learner drivers at 13% less than the national average of £38. Belfast is 3% above the average of £38, but learner drivers benefit from short wait times of 10 weeks.

Demand for driving lessons is at an all-time high as the backlog from the pandemic continues. Until driving test capacity increases, the backlog is expected to only get worse, with high-demand areas having seemingly no end in sight. In 2024, there are an estimated 3,712,728 learner drivers in the UK competing for driving test slots, but the Driving Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) can only accommodate 2,042,976 of them. This means that demand for driving tests is expected to exceed capacity by 82%.

This pressure only continues as data from the DVLA shows that , from January to March 2024 (Quarter 4), 666,000 car theory tests were conducted in Great Britain, an increase of 12% from January to March 2023 (Quarter 4). Equally, from January to March 2024 (Quarter 4), 561,000 car practical tests were conducted in Great Britain, an increase of 25% from January to March 2023 (Quarter 4).

The delays in booking tests and the ongoing backlog are causing major frustrations for both drivers and instructors. Learners are having to take more lessons to make up for the additional waiting time and instructors are unable to take on more drivers due to the backlog. According to a survey from car insurance provider Marmalade , 77% of learners have cited that the extra cost of more lessons has been their biggest frustration.

DVSA says that learners will need an average of 45 lessons to pass a test , working out around £1,710 per student. However, with wait times for tests now at an all-time high at an average of 21 weeks across the country , driving instructors and their students are in a crisis. Learners across the country are facing a postcode lottery when it comes to waiting for a driving test slot, and most centres are seeing over double the wait times of pre-pandemic levels, which saw an average of only 6 weeks.

Leeds and Belfast revealed as the best cities for learner drivers in the UK

Taking into account the average cost of driving lessons in each city, the average wait times and driving test search demand, ��ɫ��Ƭ has created a list of the best cities to be a learner driver in 2024.

It’s revealed that Leeds and Belfast are officially the best cities to be a learner driver. With driving lessons averaging at £33 per hour in Leeds, this city makes an affordable choice for most learner drivers at 13% less than the national average. While driving test wait times are still relatively high at 20 weeks, this is one week less than the national average, and search demand in the city is slightly less than the national average, seeing 1,700 searches each month.

Belfast averages £39 for driving lessons, which is 3% more than average, however drivers benefit from short test wait times at only 10 weeks. Belfast also has a smaller search demand of 1,400 searches each month for “driving lessons Belfast”.

London is ranked as the worst place for learner drivers. The average driving lesson costs are second highest in the country at £41 per hour, 8% over the national average. London has the second highest wait times at 23 weeks, which is mirrored in its monthly search demand, which is the highest in the UK with over 2,800 searches for “driving lessons London” each month.

Sourced from internal ��ɫ��Ƭ data (September 2024).

Bristol is the most expensive city for learner drivers

The most expensive city for learner drivers is Bristol, with an average cost of £51 per hour lesson. This is 34% above the UK average of £38. At an average of £51 per lesson, learners in this area can expect to pay over £2,295 to learn to drive. This is followed by Edinburgh at £42 and London at £41.

The cheapest city for learner drivers is shared by both Glasgow and Leicester, with lessons in these areas at £32 an hour , which is 16% less than the national average. Having more affordable lessons may also be attributing to the long wait times in both of these areas, seeing wait times of 28 and 23 weeks. This is followed by Birmingham and Manchester at £34.

Sourced from internal ��ɫ��Ƭ data (September 2024).

Leicester is the most in-demand city for driving lessons

Google search demand for "driving lessons" sees over 53,000 searches each month in the UK, up 4% this month. Searches reach their highest peaks in January and June. Alongside this, “driving lessons near me” also sees over 12,000 searches each month across the UK. Outside of London, the location that sees the most searches is Leicester, receiving an average of 2,000 searches each month. The least demand is found in Brighton, with an average of 1,000 searches each month.

Glasgow has the longest wait for driving tests currently, with a wait of 28 weeks in this area, 7 weeks over the national average. The area with the shortest wait is Bristol, at just 9 weeks.

While the backlog doesn’t look to be reducing any time soon, don’t let that put you off from jumping into the driving seat. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has taken several measures to reduce the backlog, including:

● Recruiting more driving examiners

● Offering tests on weekends and bank holidays

● Asking qualified warrant card holders to continue testing

● Encouraging examiners from areas with shorter waiting times to test in areas with longer waiting times

● Raising awareness of the Ready to Pass? campaign which encourages learners to delay their test if they are not ready

If you or someone you know is looking to start driving lessons, ��ɫ��Ƭ.com has a wide selection of instructors from across the country on hand to give you the best start when learning to drive. Whether you’re feeling unsure about whether to choose manual or automatic driving lessons or stuck picking between several driving instructors, ��ɫ��Ƭ is here to help.

On ��ɫ��Ƭ.com, you can view profiles, browse reviews, and contact driving schools for more information. Start by comparing the best driving lessons near you or post an enquiry if you want to hear from businesses directly. Whichever method you prefer, it’s absolutely free.

Driving Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ Reveal the UK’s Top-Speed Camera Hotspots

2024-08-27T10:48:50Z

New research by driving experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed the UK’s top 10 speed camera hotspots and which regions are catching drivers out this summer. Looking at police records from every county across the UK between the periods of July 2023 and August 2023, the experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have revealed that Surrey takes the top spot for the most speeding violations in the UK with 22,811 between July and August 2023.

In 2023, 203,801 people were found guilty of a speed limit offence - this is a decrease of 8% when compared to the previous year, but an increase of 85% since 2011. Across the UK, there are now around 7000 cameras on the road networks, catching drivers out across the country - from speeding violations to using a phone whilst driving, or parking illegally.

Below, the driving experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have identified the top ten speed camera capitals in Britain:

Top 10 UK regions with the highest number of speeding offences

The UK’s number one speeding hotspot in the UK is Surrey with 22,811 speeding violations between July-August 2023 . Within Surrey, the speed camera hotspot that has been catching the most drivers on the road is the M25/M3 Junction.

The location coming in second for the most speeding violations is West Mercia. West Mercia saw 21,266 speeding violations in the period of July-August 2023, with the M5 J8 SB speed camera catching the most speeding violations.

The location coming in third highest for speeding violations is Nottinghamshire, with 16,400 violations being caught. The M1 North Bound between Junction 26 and 27, Notts has been identified as the location that catches the most speeding violations in Nottinghamshire between July-August 2023.

The top 10 UK speed camera hot spots

��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed that the UK location with the most number of speed cameras is Lancashire with 225 speed cameras in total. The location with the highest number of offences caught is between Windermere to Colne Road.

The location with the second highest number of speed cameras is South Wales, with 200 cameras spanning across the region. The number one hot spot in South Wales for speeding violations is A470 Northern Avenue Cardiff.

Coming in third highest for speed camera hotspots is Essex, where 195 cameras are placed around the region. Essex’s speeding hotspots that see the most violations include Basildon and Southend.

Below are the top 10 regions that host the most speed cameras across the UK

Speeding fine punishments

The majority of people caught speeding via speeding cameras will be classed as committing a 'minor offence'. The driver will receive a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of a £100 fine and three points on their licence.

The £100 fine is compulsory and will be issued to everyone caught, but you can avoid the points and opt for a speed awareness course if it is offered to you. This is only considered if you have not already committed any other speeding violations in the past three years. Whether you're eligible for an awareness course varies depending on which police force is handling your offence.

The punishment can be more severe and you may be prosecuted in court leading to a significantly higher fine, more points on your licence or even a driving suspension or disqualification if the police force deems it necessary, especially if you have previous convictions surrounding driving and speeding.

All speeding fines in the UK are calculated as a percentage of weekly income after tax and National Insurance deductions are applied. The law states that you are liable for a speeding fine as soon as you exceed the limit, so if you’re doing 31mph in a 30 limit or 71mph on a motorway, you’re breaking the law and will receive one of the above fines if caught. The fines for these are capped at £1,000 and £2,500 if you are caught speeding on a motorway.

Little-known driving laws & fines

Whilst we all know you should not be speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, there are some other little-known laws that are catching drivers out and resulting in a magnitude of fines.

The Highway Code contains 307 regulations and contraventions that if broken, will result in penalties being issued. Whilst the widely known laws are featured within the highway code, there are a few that are less known, resulting in Brits being caught out on the roads, unaware that they are actually breaking the law. From splashing pedestrians in the rain to driving with your number plate being covered, ��ɫ��Ƭ has identified the cost of breaking these little-known laws below.

Driving is a necessary day-to-day activity and can easily become too comfortable, but it's essential to be aware of and comply with these lesser-known laws to avoid substantial fines. By staying informed and respectful of these and newer regulations, you can be sure you are following the law, and driving safely no matter the conditions.

Expert Reveals How to Create a Wimbledon-Worthy Lawn at Home

2024-07-01T08:20:27Z

Wimbledon kicks off on July 1st and is expecting around 54.3 million people to be watching the matches this year. With that many eyes on the revered courts, it is understandable why Brits will be attempting to replicate their own Wimbledon-worthy lawn at home this summer. In the run-up to the biggest tennis event of the year, search demand for “how to make your lawn green” has increased by 85% over the last 14 days.

With this in mind, gardening experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have spoken to gardener and landscaper Simon Akeroyd to find out how to achieve a Wimbledon-worthy lawn at home this season.

The most popular lawns in the world

Wimbledon is a quintessentially British event known for its lush green courts that have been meticulously groomed for 15 months before the championships. The Wimbledon Centre Court is one of the most famous lawns in the world thanks to its nine tonnes of grass seeds being planted every year with precision, and daily maintenance that helps create the Perennial Ryegrass courts we see today.

The most popular lawn in the world when looking at search demand is The Old Trafford Cricket Ground, with a monthly search demand of 8,000. Kensington Palace Gardens comes in second for the most popular lawn in the world, with a monthly search demand of 3,300. Taking third place is the Wimbledon Centre Court, which sees a monthly search demand in the UK of 2,200.

Creating the perfect Wimbledon green

After a long 15-month process to create the perfect lawn for Wimbledon’s Centre Court, the grass is maintained daily to ensure the court wear and surface hardness are up to standards, as well as to help keep that famous green colour we all know and love throughout the season. Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have identified the exact Pantone colour code of the Wimbledon Centre Court: Pantone 349 C.

When asked how to keep your lawn as green as Wimbledon’s Centre Court this summer, Gardener Simon Akeroyd advises: “The key to keeping your lawn green this summer is to keep it regularly watered/irrigated. Watering in the evening is the best time as the water has a chance to soak into the ground overnight instead of evaporating in the midday sun.”

How to create a Wimbledon-worthy lawn at home

The greenkeepers at Wimbledon work tirelessly all year round to ensure the courts look 100% for when the games begin. If, when looking at your lawn at home, you are envious of that perfect green crispy grass, you may want to try following these tips and tricks from our expert gardener Simon Akeroyd to get your very own Wimbledon-worthy lawn at home this summer.

1. Caring for your lawn in hot weather

Over the years, Wimbledon has been graced with blazing hot summers, with July 2023 recorded as the hottest on record in the last 10 years - but despite this, the courts at Wimbledon always seem to stay looking fresh all season long.

When asked about the best ways to care for your lawn in hot weather, Simon says: “ As the summers heat up, make sure you are watering your lawn occasionally in extremely dry periods. There is no need to do it every day unless you intend to play tennis or golf on it. Remember that it is possible to overwater your lawn, which will cause the soil around the roots to become anaerobic. This starves the area of much-needed oxygen, which causes the grass to stop growing.”

Simon warns that the most common mistake made when it comes to caring for your lawn in the summer is “ mowing during exceptionally dry weather. If your lawn is already looking dry, avoid mowing altogether. It just stresses out the lawn and causes it to die back and go even browner.”

2. How to mow your lawn like Wimbledon

While Wimbledon’s Centre Court is hand-weeded and mowed daily to a set height of 8mm, this isn’t always feasible at home. However, Simon Akeroyd has an easy-at-home tip to recreate the Wimbledon look in your own back garden.

“The greenkeepers at Wimbledon will use special cylinder mowers with a roller on the back to provide the strips. By walking in a straight line, alternatively up and down the length of your lawn, with the roller on the back, will give you those much-desired stripes. Most people don’t have a cylinder mower, but a rotary mower with a roller on the back will also give you lovely stripes.”

3. How to fix a patchy lawn

Even with regular maintenance, sometimes lawns can suffer from surface thinning and patchiness, and occasionally even holes will form.

If you notice this happening, Simon has advised: “Sowing seeds for small patches is a cheap and efficient way to fix any patches in your lawn. The best time to do this is late summer / early autumn, or in the spring, as they will require less watering. However, you may need to protect grass seed from birds.

You will get faster, more instant results if you lay turf down over the patches. However, this does require more watering if the weather is dry, which is more expensive.”

4. Preparation and maintenance

A great lawn in the summer is nothing without prior preparation and proper maintenance. Ensuring your lawn is Wimbledon-worthy starts far before the tennis season kicks off.

Akeroyd advises: “Keeping a good, healthy-looking lawn is all about preparation. Carry out repairs, overseeding, aerating, scarifying, and feeding in the autumn, and your lawn should look after itself for the rest of the year and flourish in the summer. In addition, leave some areas of your lawn longer to encourage wildlife. You will be amazed at how many beautiful wildflowers will appear if you aren’t cutting your lawn once a week.”

Following a garden lawn checklist

The standards of Wimbledon’s Centre Court lawn are hard to beat, but by following this expert-approved checklist this summer, you can create your very own Wimbledon-worthy lawn at home that will stay fresh and green all season long. If you are unsure of where to start, contact your local gardening expert for advice.

Data Reveals UK Cities That Are Paying the Most to Visit a Hairdresser in 2024

2024-06-07T08:06:16Z

Research by ��ɫ��Ƭ has found that Londoners are paying the highest rates to visit a hairdresser in the UK. The average price in the city is 42% above the UK national average of £130. Data reveals that the average cost across the UK to get a wash, cut and blow dry in 2024 is £48, whilst the average cost of the same treatment plus a colour service now sits at £130.

Rising energy and business costs in 2024 have seen hairdressers' costs increase by over 20%. As salons try to recoup these costs, it’s been reported that over 64% will increase their prices over the next 3 months. In the third quarter of 2023 alone, Brits spent around £1.7 billion in the industry which had a value of £4.3 billion by the end of the year. With this in mind, looking at the most popular hairdressing services across the UK, hairdressing experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have identified the UK regions that are paying the most to visit a hairdresser in 2024.

The Cost of Hairdressing Services by UK Region

As Brits head off on their summer holidays, search demand for hairdressing services is on the rise. Besides December, the summer months between June and August see the biggest spike in searches for “haircuts near me” across the UK. Searches go from an average of 4,600 searches to 6,181 per month through the summer months. Searches for “hair colouring near me” also see an annual spike between June and August, jumping to 1,000 per month compared to 800, on average, at any other time of year.

The team at ��ɫ��Ƭ have looked into the most commonly asked-for hair services, taking into account the costs of a wash, cut and blow dry service, as well as the costs of a colour service. By combining the average costs of both of these services, they have revealed the highest and lowest-paying cities for both the combined service and the stand-alone services.

Data reveals that the UK's average cost to wash, cut and blow dry in 2024 is £48, whilst the average cost of the same treatment plus a colour service now sits at £130.

London was revealed to be the highest paying region for a wash, cut and blow dry plus a colour service. The average price in London is £184 which is 42% higher than the UK national average cost of £130.

Coming in second was Glasgow, paying an average of £159 for a wash, cut and blow dry plus a colour service, which is 22% above the national average.

Coming in third highest is Brighton, paying £155 which is 19% above the national average for a wash, cut and blow dry plus a colour service.

The joint lowest-paying regions are Manchester and Nottingham, costing an average of £101, which is 22% below the national average.

Cost by Treatment Across UK Regions

Londoners are paying the highest average cost for a colour treatment at £122 - 48% higher than the £82 UK average . They are also paying 29% more (£62) for a wash, cut and blow dry stand-alone service, which is the highest in comparison to all other UK cities.

Cardiff is the lowest-paying city for the average colour treatments, costing £54, which is 34% lower than the UK national average of £82.

Nottingham is the lowest paying city for a stand-alone wash, cut and blow dry at £33 - 60% lower than the national average.

How to Support Your Local Hairdressing Salon

Alongside booking appointments, there are lots of ways to support a local salon during these financially challenging times. The experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have compiled a list of a few helpful tips on how to do this.

1. Interact with your hairdresser's social media platforms

94% of UK hair salons utilise social media to market their businesses. Liking, sharing and commenting on one of your salon’s social media posts is one of the easiest ways to support. One share alone can help their posts reach new customer bases that they wouldn't have reached previously, meaning you are helping increase your salon's clientele and expand their business with just a few clicks.

2. Purchase hair products directly from the salon

As of 2023, 51% of hairdressing customers said they would like to purchase retail products while in the salon, while only 28% of them actually do. Whilst purchasing our hair products online may be convenient, it is not beneficial for your hairstylist. To help support and grow their business, you might decide to purchase their recommended products from the salon directly the next time you have an appointment.

3. Give positive reviews for your hair transformation

Reviews are crucial to businesses, as it is one of the first things people look for when trying a new salon. One good review can go a long way and can help salons and stylists increase their bookings and build up their regular clientele.

4. Buy gift vouchers

Gift vouchers are a great present idea, especially if you are stuck on what to get that special someone. Whilst making a great last-minute present, buying a gift voucher from your salon also helps with the business's cash flow - whether it is for the value of £10 or £100, the salon will appreciate and benefit from the gesture.

Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ Share Their Favourite Tiktok Tips and Tricks to Spring Clean Your Home

2024-03-20T16:04:52Z

Each March search demand for “Spring Cleaning” peaks in the UK as Brits look to start the new spring season with a deep clean or clear-out of their home. Searches for “How to spring clean” have risen 49% over the last week as the first day of spring approaches compared to the same period last year.

While there is nothing more satisfying than having an annual spring clean once the warmer season hits - it’s often hard to know where to start and the sheer amount of clutter you may be clearing out can be overwhelming. TikTok is a great place to find tips and tricks you may not have thought of and with over 18,700 posts with the hashtags “#Springclean” and seeing over 322.5 million views, there are plenty of tips to be found.

With this in mind, the experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have trawled through Tiktok’s most popular tips to compile a list of their top hacks on how best to spring clean your home in 2024. As we reach the end of the winter months, getting organised and transforming your space into a freshly cleaned and less cluttered environment boosts your mood and gets you ready for the next season.

1. Start Small

Before the deep spring cleaning can commence, it is a great time to clear out any clutter. Clearing out the clutter can be incredibly overwhelming - especially when you accumulated a lot over a long period. A key tip is to start small. Starting small allows you to make small steps towards a big, long-term goal, and a little progress every day will have a far bigger impact over time. If you start small you will feel a sense of achievement quickly. This will motivate you to continue.

A great principle to stick to was created by online creator Becoming Minimalist , called the 12-12-12 Challenge. The idea is that you locate only a select number of items at a time dedicated to the clearing out of your home. First, you need to locate 12 items that you are going to donate, then 12 to throw away or recycle, and 12 to return to their proper home in your house. Repeat as often as you like, and you’ll start to see the clutter disappear.

2. The 20/20 Rule

The need to hold onto too many items, otherwise known as the “just in case” items, can really impact your spring cleaning and make the venture that much more difficult. When struggling to make decluttering decisions so you can easily deep clean your home, the 20/20 rule comes into play. The 20/20 rule is designed to help you get rid of those items that are cluttering up your home, that you’ve held onto “just in case” but have instead remained unused, taking up space in your home.

When coming across these times you need to ask two questions - can this be replaced for under £20 or less? Can I replace this item in 20 minutes or less? If the answer is yes to both of these questions - it’s time to get rid. If the answer is yes to one of these, then take more time to consider if it’s easily replaceable and if you have the space to keep it in the meantime.

3. Learn How to Spot Clutter

Learn how to spot clutter when it comes to spring cleaning your home to ensure a quicker and more efficient cleaning process. This can apply to any item that you might not actually need. Anything you are keeping ‘just because’ or through obligation, it may be time to show it the door. Clutter can grow exponentially through bad habits or even guilt, and result in a build-up of dust and dirt in difficult-to-reach places due to excessive amounts of clutter. If you take the time to identify the usefulness of said clutter regularly and discard things that way, you can easily release any of it from your home before it creates an irritating build-up and makes your spring cleaning journey more difficult.

4. Create a Spring Cleaning Checklist

Lists are always a great place to start when it comes to spring cleaning your home. This way, you can plan and map out as much as you want to get done within certain time frames. When we step into a dirty or cluttered room, our brains are immediately overstimulated which makes it difficult to focus. It’s easy it is to get distracted while clearing out and cleaning when you start doing 5 things at once.

A key tip is to make a list of every room in your house. When you enter the room make a list of everything that needs to be both cleaned and decluttered. Take on one room at a time and tick off each section of the room as you clean.

With a checklist handy, you can focus on one thing at a time, taking you through a more structured approach to your spring clean. It not only keeps you as organised as possible but gives a great sense of achievement as you tick off each item on your list.

5. Let Go of Stuff That Doesn’t Fit Your Current Lifestyle

Take an inventory of everything that you own, from the spare chair you have cluttering up your hallway to the winter jacket that you haven’t worn in 5 years. Assess each of them individually and ask yourself if they align with your current lifestyle. Does it bring you joy and does it serve a purpose? If it’s not seasonal and you haven’t used it in the last 6 months, it may be time to consider getting rid of it.

This also applies to keeping things just because they were expensive - sorry to break it to you, but that money has been and gone. If you don’t use it anymore, consider donating it or if you want to make back that expense consider selling it on a re-sale site.

6. Start With What You Can See

When it comes to knowing where to start, it’s recommended to begin cleaning and clearing out the parts of your home that most need it. Start decluttering the stuff that you can see (the stuff that's taking up visible space all over the house rather than items stuffed in a wardrobe or a cabinet) and do a deep clean on, around, and underneath those items. The rooms that are generally used the most are usually the ones to accumulate the most dust, clutter and dirt and therefore are likely to need more immediate attention.

The kitchen and living rooms are great places to start your spring cleaning venture. As hubs of the home, if the rooms are messy, cluttered or dirty, they can feel stressful and frustrating.

7. Tackle the Entryway/Space by the Front Door

There is nothing more stressful than staring straight at a bunch of dust, general clutter or dirt as soon as you walk through the front door. The hallway or entryway is usually the place that has to handle the most dirt, dust, and clutter, due to the level of footfall every single day.

Clear and wipe down any surfaces, put away any out-of-season coats or shoes, and give the space a real deep clean. From mud on the floor from shoes to dust bunnies that have accumulated over time, giving your entryway a real deep clean will make the rest of your home feel easier to tackle. If you are looking at throwing away a significant amount of clutter, be it from your entryway or the house in general, hiring a skip is a great way to remove large amounts of clutter that allows you to really clean every spot thoroughly.

8. Get Organised

Cleaning your house in preparation for spring is far easier when your home is organised. Although moving items from one place to another seems slightly redundant, utilising storage spaces is a great way to organise and sort things out that don’t necessarily need to be in your house, but you want to keep. Ideal for anything from furniture to boxes of books and children's toys, storage units are available in various sizes depending on what you need to store away. This way, your home can only have things in it that are needed, making it easier to keep on top of your regular cleaning activities. By staying on top of your organisation, cleaning your home will feel less stressful and can be done quickly and easily. This way, you can have a clear and organised home that’s the peaceful and calming space it should be.

Checking Off Your Spring Cleaning Checklist

Spring cleaning your home doesn't have to be the daunting task you are putting off on your to-do list. By following this expert-approved checklist, you can avoid any unnecessary stress and stay on top of your home environment by organising and cleaning quickly and easily - ready to help you start the new spring/summer season afresh.

Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ Give Tips on How to Prepare Your Garden for Spring

2024-03-20T15:23:33Z

Spring is well and truly on its way, which can only mean one thing. The days of sowing seeds, growing and nurturing your garden as it comes back to life are just weeks away. Over the past week, searches for “want to sort the garden out, where do I begin?” have increased by 2,200% as avid gardeners start looking to prepare for the new season.

According to data, 27 million people in the UK (42% of the population) partake in gardening activities at home during their leisure time but 7% of UK adults admitted to failing to keep their garden plants alive. With this in mind, gardening experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have compiled a list of expert-approved tips on how to prepare your garden for spring to ensure a successful growing season this year.

Pre-Spring Gardening Tips

When you’re pre-spring cleaning and preparing your garden for the new season, your main focuses should be:

1. Clearing moss from your lawn

After a wet and rainy winter, you are likely to experience a slight moss problem on your lawn. In March, searches for “how to remove moss from lawns” spike by 49% as avid gardeners start preparing their gardens for spring. There are several types of moss that grow in lawns. These are usually coarse, loose, green or yellowish-green tufts between the grass, but can form densely matted tufts.

Moss can be removed by raking or using a powered scarifier, or by applying a non-chemical, bacteria-based moss remover.
To avoid moss growing in the future, make sure the growing environment is suitable - avoiding shade where you can, water-logged conditions, and dead patches.

2. Preparing your summer-blooming flowers in the spring

During March-April, searches for “what bulbs should I plant” peak by 59%. As the seasons change, so should the bulbs you plant. Although you may find summer flowers in full bloom at garden centres by the time summer hits, this is the most expensive way to buy them. Growing them in the spring will cost you a fraction of the price, and ensure you have a beautiful oasis in full bloom by the summertime.

Choose summer blooming bulbs: Dahlias, Begonias, Gladioli, Lilies, Peonies, Polianthes.
Soak them in a bucket or tray of water. Doing this will wake them up and give them a good start when planted.
Plant your bulbs in the garden in late May.

3. Pruning

March is the second-highest month for searches on “How to prune flowers”, with 44,000 searches on average over the 31 days. Pruning dead and spent flowers, foliage, and stems encourages healthier, fuller plants and more flowers. It also helps remove any dead or diseased flowers to prevent spreading.

Pinch or cut off dead and spent flowers and foliage. This will force the production of new stems, leaves, and flowers.
When the plant has multiple buds growing along the stems, cut just below-spent flowers to create the blooms further down the stems.
Plants to prune in the spring include roses, wisteria, winter jasmine, and buddleia.

4. Cutting your grass at the correct times

In March, searches for “when to cut grass after winter” spike to their highest as Brits are debating when the best time is to start cutting grass after a long and cold winter. Cutting your grass after winter can be a great way to revive your garden and give it a good tidy up before the summer.

Perform the first grass cut of the year around mid-late March.
Mow the lawn at least once every week throughout the spring and summer.
Try to keep grass the same height throughout the spring - ideally between 2.5-4cm.

5. Choosing the right plant containers

For those with smaller gardens or patios, container growing is a more viable choice. Search demand for “plant containers” spike by 71% between February - March and are a popular choice amongst beginner gardeners. Bulbs are great for growing in containers because they can be replanted each year to create new blooms.

Use good-quality, peat-free potting compost for temporary displays.
Ensure your containers are the correct size for your bulbs and their roots.
Note that plants in containers need watering more regularly than those in the ground.

6. Hanging some bird boxes

Birds are wonderful visitors to have in your garden. And whilst they are relaxing to watch, they hold an array of benefits to your garden environment. They can help rid your lawn of weeds, are brilliant at eating unwanted pests and can also help with flower pollination. “How to hang a bird box” is searched an average of 1,000 times a month when it comes to springtime. Here is some advice on how best to place and hang your bird boxes:

Do not place your bird box in a south-facing position.
Hang your box between 1-5 metres from the ground.
Ensure you are choosing the right size box for the types of birds you want to attract.

By preparing your garden for spring in advance, you are giving your plants, vegetables and flowers the best possible chance of a successful growing season. Following these expert-approved tips will see your garden flourish throughout the spring and summer, providing you with a healthy and beautiful-looking space all season long. Contact your local garden services for help or advice.

Two Thirds of Brits Attempt DIY Home Improvements Resulting in 79% of ‘Botched Jobs

2024-03-14T15:01:57Z

A survey from ��ɫ��Ƭ has found that 68% of Brits have attempted DIY home improvements over the past year, with 64% doing so to save money. Experts warn that while DIY may seem like the easier option, it should be approached with caution as 79% of those surveyed revealed they spent money hiring a professional to fix botched DIY jobs.

From re-wiring a kitchen to fitting light fixtures and plumbing, ��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed the most commonly attempted DIY home improvements and the cost of DIY mishaps.

The Most Popular DIY Home Improvements

As over 3.3 billion turn to TikTok to view the hashtag #homeDIY, it seems like many homeowners think they are a dab hand at the odd DIY job. According to those surveyed, while YouTube was their first point of call (41%), 1 in 10 believe they don’t need any help when it comes to DIY - which may explain the need for professional fixes. 1 in 3 surveyed said they would turn to their partner or husband first before calling a professional, whereas only 28% said they would reach out to a professional before attempting a DIY project themselves.

25-34-year-olds are most likely to refer to social media platforms such as YouTube before a professional when seeking advice or tutorials (57%). In contrast, with age comes experience as the older generations aged 55+ are most likely to contact a professional tradesperson first (37%).

Most Commonly Attempted DIY Projects

Understandably, low-risk DIYs are the most popular tasks that homeowners are attempting. The most popular DIY project was Painting (64%), followed by hanging pictures/shelves (47%) and bleeding radiators (36%). However, low-risk DIYs do not mean things can’t go wrong. While 63% admit that they attempt DIY to save money, botched DIY jobs could see you spending far more than originally planned. Drilling holes in your wall to hang a shelf can still result in a pricey mishap. Accidentally drilling through a water pipe in your wall could result in flooding or leaks and set you back anything between £150-£300 to have it repaired by a professional.

42% of those surveyed attempt DIY home improvements because they think it looks easy to do, despite the risks and having no previous professional experience. Only 10% wouldn’t attempt DIY themselves over getting a professional.

Top 10 Riskiest DIY Jobs Brits Are Attempting

Possible botched jobs, expensive fixes, and mishaps are not putting homeowners off attempting even the riskier DIY projects. In fact, DIY-related accidents spike annually over Easter, when many homeowners use the long weekend to get ahead on some home improvements.

From water damage and valve failure to flooding and even injury to the DIYer themselves, there are many risks involved when taking on a DIY plumbing job. Despite this, 1 in 12 individuals still said they have attempted to install a new bathroom in their home. Professional repairs for any mishaps caused by a dodgy plumbing installation could set you back an extra £100-£5000, with issues ranging from incorrect plumbing placements to not following legal regulations. Other high-risk DIY home improvements homeowners have admitted to attempting are fixing roof damage (6%) and rewiring (5%).

The Cost of DIY

While DIY may be initially to save money, a correction can be costly. 33% of those surveyed said they had spent anything between £500-£5000 on getting DIY help from professionals to fix their DIY mishaps. One even said they spent £30,000 on a DIY project, to only have to spend a further £50,000 on fixing their DIY mistakes through a professional.

The data revealed that homeowners on average spend £639.18 on doing their DIY projects for home improvements whilst the average spend on hiring a professional to fix any mistakes or mishaps is £935.

Regional Differences

Whilst reasons for DIY-ing may vary, the survey identified that the UK region that attempts DIY the most is the East Midlands with 72% attempting home DIYs in the past year.

The survey found that Greater London is the region that has DIY mishaps fixed by professionals the most (86%) and also spends the highest amount in doing so with an average spend of £1364. Whilst plumbing DIY jobs might be one of the riskiest, Greater London is also the region where most attempt this out of the rest of the UK (12%) alongside Wales (12%) and East Midlands (8%).

The data also revealed that 1 in 10 in the West Midlands are still attempting to fix their roofs themselves - the highest percentage in any UK region.

Leave It to the Professionals

Whilst saving money short term may seem like a good idea, this could leave you with botched home improvements that could result in pricey fixes. To quote Warren Buffet , who knows a thing or two about risk: ‘Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.’

Using ��ɫ��Ƭ to book a local electrician , plumber or handyman not only makes it more efficient but means you can avoid any long waiting lists due to 2024's surge in demand. You can rest assured that our tradespeople respond quickly, give you a dedicated time slot for their arrival and are available across the country, no matter where you are. From home maintenance to driving lessons, with ��ɫ��Ƭ you can also post a free enquiry that allows you to connect with local experts fast to get any task on your to-do list complete.

Psychic Predicts Sam to Win The Apprentice Based on Her ‘Fearless’ First Episode Body Language

2024-02-06T15:02:46Z

A celebrity psychic and body language expert has outlined her predictions for season 18 of The Apprentice

Sam Saadet stood out as the “only adult in the room” and is a clear candidate to win the series

Asif Munaf, who quickly went viral for his premature boardroom applause, won’t last long according to the experts

Before the first episode of the new series of The Apprentice aired, Lord Sugar was quoted as saying ‘you really can’t tell from first impressions’, but celebrity psychic and body language expert Inbaal Honigman disagrees, tipping Essex-based fitness coach Sam Saadet to take the series by storm.

��ɫ��Ƭ enlisted the help of Inbaal to carefully analyse each contestant’s body language throughout the first episode to predict who stands tall as a winning candidate, and after just one viewing, “Sam is already a winner”.

Why Could Sam Win The Apprentice?

According to Inbaal, Sam quickly stood out as the “only adult in the room” and the “group’s mother figure”, which is fitting for the mother-of-two. However, her real winning qualities come in the form of self-control and fearless honesty.

“Her self-control is exemplary – she looks ahead without flinching, she doesn’t fidget or play with her hair. Sam’s controlled body language tells us that she’s a resilient person who never shies away from a challenge and always does her best”.

“Her direct, steady gaze marks her out as an honest and fearless lady, as she doesn’t look away even in stressful situations. When Sam was picked to lead a challenge, she did a playful little dance of excitement, which tells us that she’s happy to be there, and is being her true self. This is the kind of exuberance that cannot be faked.”

Who Are Sam’s Biggest Challengers?

It won’t all be a direct walk to the final however, as Inbaal believes Tre, Steve and Onyeka could pose significant challenges. Tre Lowe, the “king of eye contact” came into his own, despite being a quieter figure in the first episode. “Even in his silence he’s an active member of the team, as he leans around to give his full attention to each candidate.

When Lord Sugar is taking the boys’ team to task towards the end of the episode, the time has come for Tre to speak up, and he does so with flair. Direct eye contact, clear and measured words, his body language still and balanced, even in difficult conversations, Tre displays maturity and inner calm”.

London-based management consultant Steve Darken found himself at risk of an early departure, but his “open and honest” body language will help him to shrug that off and go far. Inbaal remarks “when talking, he uses broad, wide arm gestures, palms facing up, which suggest honesty. Steve’s body language marks him out as a quietly confident and effective team member.”

Similarly, Onyeka Nweze “may have had a rough first episode, but her body language is genuine and fearless too, with a direct gaze ahead, and a happy smile. When she’s stressed, she doesn’t hide it, and even her unhappy pout is notable in its honesty. Her authentic air will help her to stay in the game.”

Who Will Get Fired Next?

Due to his body language alone, the writing was already on the wall for Ollie, who came across as “exceedingly nervous, with panicked raised eyebrows and tense face-rubbing”, but a similar trait was also seen in recruitment director Jack, who was “rubbing his nose, which is a sign of nerves. Jack’s body language appears inconsistent when he shakes his head to say ‘no’ when he verbally says yes, which may come across as unreliable”.

However, it was another member of the boys' team that stood out as the prime candidate for an episode two firing. “The biggest inconsistency is Dr. Asif, who tries to appear very confident and secure. He maintains eye contact with others, which appears quite mature at first glance, but when observed over the entire first episode, we see him looking downwards as he speaks, which reveals his insecurity. He’s also seen chewing his lip, which signifies tension, and he slicks his hair back non-stop, which is a preening gesture, meaning he wants people to like him”.

Just How Important is Body Language in Business?

Is body language really that important in a business setting? Isn’t it all about your actions and what you actually say, rather than visual cues? Inbaal believes that it’s actually the foundation for everything and despite what Lord Sugar thinks, is what sets that crucial first impression.

“Body language reflects how you truly feel and indicates who you truly are. It’s a good predictor of who will crack under the pressure and who can take the heat.

People who display stable, honest and fearless body language, such as standing tall, looking straight ahead and smiling, are likely to enjoy challenges and do their best. In business, those are important qualities.

Those whose body language is chaotic and uneven, for example shaking their head when they’re saying yes, or failing to make eye contact with people they talk to, are likely to struggle. Beyond that, any facial expression or body language gesture which displays boredom is a business killer”.

Sarah O’Rafferty at ��ɫ��Ƭ agrees, commenting: “When thinking about business body language, the mind can immediately go to the boardroom and more office-based roles, but this actually resonates across any type of business. Whether you’re a landscape gardener visiting someone to provide a quote or an estate agent showing someone around a property, body language is a huge trust builder and can be the difference between winning work and losing it.

In the modern age, body language isn’t only displayed in a face-to-face setting, business owners need to be mindful of it on video calls, and also any video tutorials that might be present on their websites too. With so many sectors being highly competitive with new businesses launching every day, how your business is presented on your website, social channels, and in that first in-person meeting has never been more crucial”.

To find out more and for tips on how to improve your business’s digital presence, visit: https://business.yell.com/digital-marketing-solutions/

Dog Grooming Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ Reveal The Most High-Maintenance Dog Breeds To Own in 2024

2024-01-25T11:10:31Z

Research by ��ɫ��Ƭ has found that the English Springer Spaniel is the most high-maintenance dog breed, with grooming needed every 2 weeks at an average annual cost of £1,222. By looking at UK dog registrations in 2023, compiling annual grooming needs and care costs per breed, dog grooming experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have identified the most high-maintenance dog breeds to own in 2024.

Dog ownership has soared over the last few years, with more people than ever opening their homes to a new dog. From getting a puppy for Christmas to wanting a fluffy companion for company, the estimated number of dogs kept as pets in the UK in 2023 was 12 million. With over 220 different breeds to choose from and certain breeds needing more care than others, be it food consumption, regular grooming or constant stimulation, it can be difficult to know which breed to pick that will suit your home and lifestyle the best.

The Most Popular Breeds in the UK

By looking at the number of dog registrations in the UK over 2022/2023, experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ identified the most popular breed with over 44,000 registrations was the Labrador Retriever. Following close behind is the French Bulldog with 42,538 UK registrations, with the Cocker Spaniel coming in third with 29,491 registrations.

The Most High-Maintenance Dog Breeds

Depending on which breed you go for, they may require different levels of maintenance. Dog Grooming Expert Shirelle Moore , based at Wright Scruffs, says that a dog's grooming needs will entirely depend on the breed, the length and type of coat and the lifestyle your dog has. “This is really breed-specific, depending on the coat. Some breeds need to visit every 4-6 weeks whilst others can go without for longer, every 6-8 weeks.”

Shirelle adds, “Woollen coats and long coats should be maximum every 6 weeks. This promotes good coat care, skincare, and can prevent ear infections (clearing the ears). It also ensures the dogs don't have parasites/matting and helps avoid potential skin conditions.”

Taking into consideration the breed, frequency of grooming and the average cost per breed, ��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed the most high-maintenance dog breeds. The English Springer Spaniel took the top spot for the most high-maintenance breed in 2024 with grooming needed at least every 2 weeks at an average annual cost of £1,222. Coming in second is the Labrador Retriever with grooming also needed every 2 weeks, with an annual grooming cost of £1,014. The French Bulldog was third most high maintenance, requiring at least a brush and bath every 2-4 weeks at an average annual cost of £503.

Whilst the most high-maintenance dogs will require regularly scheduled grooming appointments, it’s important to know the needs of different breeds. Shirelle recommends there are things owners can do in between appointments to care for their beloved pets, “Labradors shed their coats, so regular coat brushing is essential to ensure the undercoat is maintained. French bulldogs are a brachycephaly breed, they are renowned for bad skin conditions. Their faces must be cleaned daily, coat combed, and skin checked for any issues.

Cocker spaniels are naturally water-loving dogs, with lovely long ears and their coats can matt easily. Because they have long ears this breed often has ear infections, so regular brushing and checking of ears is advised.”

When it comes to dog grooming, pet owners mustn’t leave it too long between appointments and keep up regular grooming at home, otherwise further issues may develop. Shirelle says that one of the most annoying things they see is knotted fur, “Dog owners need to ensure they are regularly combing breeds such as Cockapoos, as their coats can easily get tangled and knotted together.

If the breed has long hair but wears a harness, this can also cause friction knots under the arms of the dog. This can take up a lot of grooming time to remove, which results in not having the time to carry out a complete groom.”

The Cost of Grooming by Breed Per Grooming Session

In the UK alone, Google searches for “dog groomers near me” hit 74,000 searches per month. But at what cost? By looking at the average cost for a full groom (shampoo, blow-dry, nail clip, hand stripping/clipping) for each breed, we have identified how size and type of coat can impact grooming costs.

The most expensive dogs to have professionally groomed per session are on average, the Golden Retriever, Newfoundland, Collie, Airedale, Husky and Portuguese Water Dog which all have an average cost of £62 per grooming session as they are the largest and usually have the thickest fur, meaning they take the most time. The cheapest dogs to have professionally groomed are unsurprisingly the smallest breeds, including the Jack Russell, Dachshund, French Bulldog, Chihuahua and Pug with an average cost of £29 per grooming session.

The Cost of Grooming by UK Region

Most UK Pet owners will be spending an average of £32 to have their dogs professionally groomed, but this can vary between £20-£100 depending on the breed and the area of the country you live in. To identify the average spend on professional grooming by UK region, we looked at the 3 highest-rated dog groomers in each UK city to estimate the average cost of professional grooming in that area.

The most expensive UK city to get your dog groomed in was identified to be London, with an average grooming cost of £50 per session. This was followed by Edinburgh with an average of £42 and Leeds with an average cost of £41 per groom. The cheapest city for professional dog grooming is Norwich, with an average cost of £20.

Whilst grooming a pet may seem like a luxury or an added expense it’s incredibly important for the health of the dog - but any at-home grooming isn’t recommended. Shirelle advises caution when it comes to at-home grooming and to keep it simple. “If owners are confident to cut nails, clean ears, and maintain their dog’s coat, great. However, groomers are there for the owners who are not confident grooming their beloved pet for fear of hurting them. Always better to play safe and leave this to the expert, inevitably, you always find something that needs sorting, so better to have the right skills and tools to ensure this is sorted.

Also, it’s worth considering some training if you’re keen to do this yourself, some groomers run workshops on a 1-1 basis, teaching owners how to groom their dog.”

Choosing the right breed

It’s always important to research any dog when finding the perfect breed for a certain lifestyle and accommodation. From the size to the grooming needs, exercise and nutrition, there are many characteristics to consider when it comes to choosing your furry friend. If you already have a dog and are unsure of its maintenance needs, contact your local dog groomer for more information on how best to care for your dog whatever the breed.

Methodology

We used a series of data sources and lists to identify the most high-maintenance dog breeds in 2024.

We used Statista to find the total number of UK dog registrations by breed in 2022, as well as the population of dogs as pets between 2011-2023.

To calculate the average cost of grooming per breed, we used ��ɫ��Ƭ’s directory for the 3 highest-rated dog groomers per city and calculated the average price for a full groom by city and by breed, as well as which breeds need the most regular grooming. We also utilised average costings from Nimblefins and multiplied our total averages by the number of times per year each dog breed needed to be groomed to calculate an overall annual grooming cost which gave us a list of the most high-maintenance breeds in the UK.

1 in 3 Business Owners Say A Better Work/Life Balance Is Their Top Priority For 2024

2024-01-18T12:18:48Z

A new study has revealed that 32% of small business owners wish they placed more focus on their work/life balance during 2023

Managing stress, branding and getting a handle on admin and finances also feature as the things business owners want to get better at in 2024

Business consultant Jon Barnes has offered his advice on how business owners can improve their wellbeing, as well as their business this year

New research by ��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed the new year’s resolutions small business owners are making for 2024, with a mix of managing their own wellbeing, as well as finances, topping the charts.

As January marks the opportunity for a fresh start but also to reflect on the year that’s just been, ��ɫ��Ƭ asked small business owners what they wish they prioritised more during 2023. One in three small business owners said they wished they’d ensured a better work/life balance and advised anyone running a business to make this a priority for the new year. Difficult in many lines of work, let alone when you run your own business, previous ��ɫ��Ƭ research that highlighted how three-quarters (75%) find it hard to set boundaries with their clients, hints at just one reason gaining a happy work/life balance can be so troublesome for so many.

In a similar vein, prioritising personal stress levels ranked as the second most common business resolution for 2024, with 27% stating that they wish they’d managed this better through 2023.

The Top 10 Resolutions Business Owners Should Be Making In 2024

Outside of personal wellbeing, admin and finance related tasks are also high on the list of 2024 priorities for business owners, with cutting costs and getting on top of admin both making it into the top ten resolutions for 2024.

With the tax return deadline looming on the 31st January, a further 1 in 10 business owners also admitted to wishing they had completed their tax return sooner and may currently be paying the price for leaving it as a problem for their 2024 selves.

How can business owners manage their finances better in 2024?

Being well prepared and investing in an accountant can be two easy ways to reduce the stress that comes with this time of year. Naz from Xpert Accountant Ltd explains: “Some business owners possibly don’t understand the importance of tax returns and leave it until last minute, and a lot of businesses tend to think doing tax returns is straightforward. Though it can be for some, a lot don’t know what they can and can’t claim for. Though it can be tempting to do tax returns yourself, as business costs can increase when using a professional, paying an accountant can actually save you money and stress in the long run.”

“The three best pieces of advice that I can give would be to keep all of your receipts, differentiate between your personal and business expenses, and invest in software so that you can understand where you are with your finances.

There are a handful of small business owners that know exactly what they’re doing with their finances, but there are a lot of businesses that may not understand what their finances are like throughout the year, so starting to learn more about this is always a good thing.”

What steps can business owners take to improve their own work/life balance and stress levels?

In addition to discussing better finances with Naz, ��ɫ��Ƭ also enlisted the help of business consultant Jon Barnes , who focuses on helping businesses become more autonomous and efficient, to tackle the two biggest business resolutions for 2024, and help owners to make this the year to improve their work/life balance and reduce stress levels, all while bettering their business:

1. Plan in a ‘recovery’ day - If you’re working on your business every day of the week, you’re likely to be pushing yourself towards burnout. Recovery in sport is when we often make the most gains, as muscles repair themselves, and it’s the same for business. Taking a break from work will let your brain recover and allow you to return back to work with greater motivation and a clear head. Jon says: “Owning a business is a marathon, not a sprint. As such, it requires thinking like an athlete. I actively schedule recovery time into my days and weeks, such as a daily workout and meditation, and even going to the sauna once per month.”

2. Prioritise sleep - If your quality of sleep is poor, you run the risk of trying to run a business with a half-empty tank. Jon says: “Not only is it harder to operate effectively when struggling with tiredness, but any problems are also likely to seem much worse. Getting good sleep will strengthen your decision-making skills, enhance your cognitive function and support your innovative thinking, so try and take steps like leaving your phone outside the bedroom and having screen-free time before bed to give yourself the best chance at a restful night”.

3. Try to reduce screen time - It’s easy to get wrapped up in screens while working, as your laptop and phone give you access to others (and them to you!) at the click of a button. However, this isn’t always a good thing. Taking time away from screens has been shown to help reduce stress levels, create better focus, increase productivity and improve your sleep among other benefits, all of which will help you to be more effective as a business owner. Jon comments: “I’m very disciplined about avoiding my phone - taking longer lunch breaks away from all screens is just one way you can work this into your routine.” Not to mention, taking time away from screens and work will help you reconnect and spend valuable time with your loved ones, and on other enjoyable hobbies too!

4. Empower your team - As a business owner, it can be easy to think that all the responsibility falls onto you, but as they say, a problem shared is a problem halved, and leaning on your team can quickly make your life much easier. Jon explains: “This isn't just delegating, but actively treating team members like adults who we want to see take ownership over areas of the business. This is incredibly motivating for team members and liberating for owners. I recently had a CEO I've been coaching, take a whole month off in the summer. When they came back, they said: "The team did so well. They didn't even need me!", which is exactly how any business should be able to run.”

How can business owners get more digitally savvy in 2024?

While wellbeing, admin and finances were all high on the list of business priorities for 2024, the resolution rankings also revealed that many business owners have also identified 2024 as the year to get more digitally savvy. In fact, approximately 1 in 5 business owners wish they’d spent more time improving their social media presence and website last year.

Having transitioned to being a fully digital business five years ago, ��ɫ��Ƭ know a thing or two about prioritising search, social and your businesses online storefront, with Sarah O’Rafferty at ��ɫ��Ƭ commenting:

“Having an online presence is critical for businesses in our digital age. Most of the consumer journey now takes place online, so if you’re not easily available, you’re missing out on a huge number of potential customers. However, with so many businesses competing in the online space, just having a website or social media platform isn’t enough – you need to go even further to show exactly why customers should be choosing your product or service.

Effectively utilising the platforms available to you will help to take your business to the next level. Strengthening your profiles with reviews, testimonials and regular behind-the-scenes content – plus helpful tips or product examples – will give customers confidence, and keep you front of mind for when they may next need your help. Keep an eye on newer platforms too – TikTok has quickly become a must-have social channel for many businesses, allowing them to reach a new audience, and for their services to quickly go viral, giving them a massive boost!”

To find out more and for tips on how to improve your businesses digital presence, visit: https://business.yell.com/digital-marketing-solutions/

Heating Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ Reveal Top Tips To Help You Save Money on Your Bills This Winter

2024-01-18T11:01:16Z

As we bunker down into the coldest time of year, every penny counts when it comes to your household bills, especially your heating. With gas and electric prices still at an all-time high, you might be looking for alternative ways to save that all-important coin whilst staying warm this winter.

As we enter January and February, notoriously the coldest months of the year, Google search demand for “how to save money on heating” has increased by 22% since last year, and nearly 500% in the last month alone. With this in mind, Plumbing Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have compiled a list of tips on how best to save money on your heating bills this winter to ensure you can stay warm whilst cutting costs.

1. Bleed and Clean Your Radiator System

Every January, search terms for “how to bleed your radiator” spike to their highest across the whole year, seeing 29,000 searches on Google within the month. After a mild Winter, January has seen a lot colder temperatures with more people becoming conscious of how well their radiators work due to heating costs. Making sure that the water that lives in your pipes and radiators is clean and free of any sludge, will ensure your heating system is as effective as it possibly can be. Sludge build-up can not only increase your bills by as much as 25% with up to 36% more heat loss but will also significantly reduce the lifespan of your boiler and central heating system.

Signs of a sludgy system or one that needs bleeding include cold spots at the bottom of your radiator or finding they take longer than others to heat up fully. Regularly check your radiators by simply bleeding a little of the system water into a container from your radiator valve. This way you can keep on top of any maintenance that may be needed, as well as ensure no unnecessary money is being spent. If you are unsure, you can call your local plumber to have a look or even replace the system with a new boiler or radiator if needed.

2. Check Your Radiators are Balanced

An unbalanced heating system within your home can lead to you spending far more money heating your home than you need to. In January alone, search demand for “how to balance heating” has increased by 35% in comparison to the previous year with around 1,000 searches.

When a thermostat is set to 20 degrees Celsius, an unbalanced heating system will result in the upstairs reaching around 23 degrees, whereas the downstairs will still be much lower and too cold. However, if you turn the thermostat up higher to heat the downstairs to a higher temperature, the upstairs will then be overheated which will lead to higher energy bills.

Increasing the temperature of your thermostat by just one degree will increase your annual heating bill by about 10% as it does not heat your home any faster, it will just stay on for longer as it tries to reach the higher temperature within the house. With a correctly balanced heating system, it is recommended to keep your thermostat between 18-21 degrees Celsius throughout the home to keep it at the most comfortable temperature upstairs and downstairs without significantly increasing your monthly bill.

It is important to note if you have a new boiler installed, your system will need to be re-balanced. Your heating engineer will be able to provide proof of this being done.

3. Programme or Time Your Heating

Between December - February each year, search demand peaks for “how to program heating” with around 9,000 searches in Google. As many people go back to work in January, they look at ways to turn their heating on and off at more convenient times to avoid any overspending or wastage when they are out of the house more regularly.

No matter the heating system you have, programming or timing how long your heating is on is a great way to cut costs and save money this winter. A timer allows you to schedule when your boiler turns on and off over 24 hours, whereas a programmer gives you more options allowing you to set different times and temperatures throughout your week.

Consider setting your timer to go off 20 minutes before you leave the house or go to bed. That way, there will still be residue heat left in the house before you need to leave. If you want to make an investment that will save you money in the long run, installing a smart thermostat will allow you to control your heating from your phone no matter where you are. This way, if you have forgotten to turn it off before leaving, you don’t have to waste money on heating an empty home by switching it off from your phone. You might also choose to turn it on just before you arrive home so the house has heated up by the time you get in.

Speaking to your local energy conservation consultant is a great idea if you are looking at making changes to save money this winter.

4. Set Your Thermostatic Radiator Valves To Low

Much like your thermostat, ensuring your thermostatic radiator valves (TRV) are set to low will save you more money than you may realise. You can then gradually turn these up until the room’s left at the desired temperature.

Turning your TRV to a higher setting will not heat the room any quicker as this depends on the size and setting of your boiler. All this will do is spend more money and use more energy for longer as it tries to get the room to a hotter temperature. Heating costs can be significantly reduced by ensuring your radiator can circulate the heat properly, even at a lower setting. Make sure there is no furniture blocking the radiator, curtains are not covering them, and cabinets are not used to disguise them. This way your room will heat swiftly without having to whack the thermostat up too high.

5. Stop Draughts

There is no easier way to save money on your heating bills than by ensuring any window and door draughts are blocked out. Draught-proofing around windows and doors could save you around £45 a year .

Draft proofing your home will vary depending on what level of proofing you need so it is worth identifying the ‘problem areas’ as soon as possible. Many draught-proofing hacks can be carried out by homeowners and won't cost much to do. A great hack is adding metal brushed windows and draught excluders to your frames. This way, you will be able to keep out the cold and reduce the amount of hot air that is being lost and therefore money that is going to waste.

As well as doors and windows, many older properties have open chimneys, which are known for letting out significant amounts of heat. Consider blocking the chimney with an inflatable chimney pillow or fitting a cap to your chimney pot.

If you are not comfortable fitting these yourself, hiring a handyman service is quick and simple.

Ticking Off Your Money-Saving Checklist

Saving money on your bills this winter is an easy process, and by following this expert-approved checklist, you can avoid any surprises or expensive bills over the colder months whilst staying warm and comfortable.

Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ Reveal How Driving With a Common Illness Could Cost You a Hefty Fine & How To Avoid It This Flu Season

2024-01-15T13:12:30Z

Motorists have been warned that driving under the influence of a common illness could result in a hefty fine as they could be “breaking the law” if driving while poorly. January and February see the peak of the cold and flu season and with especially cold, wet weather continuing across the UK, it’s the perfect breeding ground for viruses to spread, with cases on the rise.

Drivers who get behind the wheel whilst ill not only risk being handed a hefty fine and a possible driving ban but also jail time. With this in mind, Driving Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have revealed the fines and dangers you could be facing when driving sick and how best to stay safe on the roads this flu season.

Common Dangers of Driving While Ill & Fines You Could Be Facing

Sneezing fits

Any driver will say sneezing behind the wheel is something that's best avoided. There’s a high risk of losing control of the car, impairing your vision – where you could end up travelling around 155ft with your eyes closed – or simply swerving into another lane. Although not an official law, if you are found to be unwell behind the wheel and sneezing is found to be the cause of an accident, drivers can receive a fine of between £100 - £2,500 and three to nine license points depending on the severity of the accident.

Decreased concentration & fatigue

Illness can cause a foggy head, confusion, and fatigue, making it much harder to concentrate on the roads. Although there is not a specific offence when driving whilst tired or ill, you are significantly increasing your chances of committing other offences & causing collisions. If you are convicted of driving whilst fatigued or from distractions related to an illness, you could be facing charges of dangerous driving, an unlimited fine, a driving ban, and up to 14 years in prison.

Medication

Common legal, over-the-counter drugs – such as painkillers – may seem like a safe option to drive on, but these too can cause symptoms such as drowsiness, dizziness or blurred vision. If caught, you can be prosecuted for drug driving offences if your driving is deemed to be impaired, even if the drugs taken are completely legal. If convicted, you could face a minimum one-year ban, up to 6 months in prison and your driving license showing you were convicted of drug-driving for 11 years or even life imprisonment if the accident has caused a death.

Safety Tips For Driving While Ill

Although driving whilst sick is not illegal, it is strongly advised you do not get behind the wheel. However, if you must drive, there are some necessary precautions you can take to minimise any risks.

Be aware of medication side effects

Before getting behind the wheel, make sure you are aware of the side effects of any medications you have taken or are thinking of taking. If any will impair your driving, even slightly, it is advised you avoid driving and find a safe, alternative way to reach your destination. If you are unsure of whether the side effects of your medication will impair your ability to drive safely, contact your local medical practitioner for advice.

Assess your condition

Before getting behind the wheel, it’s vital that you assess your condition, and whether you think you will be able to safely drive to your destination. If you feel too unwell or impaired, consider alternative transportation options, such as your local taxi service , or delay your journey for another day, if possible.

Stay hydrated

Dehydration can result in fatigue, and these can both increase the effects of an illness such as a cold or flu. Ensure you are well rested and hydrated before getting in your car, and keep water with you whilst driving. If you feel yourself fighting back fatigue or dehydration, find a safe place to stop to pull over and drink some water. If it continues to impact your ability to drive and you have recovery cover, you can call your local roadside assistance should you be taken ill and there are no passengers who can drive the vehicle.

Limit distractions

By minimising the distractions in the vehicle, you are minimising the risk of an accident. This way you can focus solely on the road. Avoid using your mobile phone by putting it on aeroplane mode to stop any notifications from becoming a distraction, turn off any loud music, and wear your glasses if needed.

Driving whilst ill checklist

Ensuring you are fit and well enough to drive safely is vital for keeping yourself and others safe on the roads. By following this expert-approved list, you can avoid any expensive fines or accidents from occurring during the height of flu season, and ensure you and others on the road stay as safe as possible this winter. If your illness or symptoms affect your driving and are something more long-lasting than just a passing illness, you must inform both the DVLA and your insurer. If you fail to do this, it could result in up to a £1,000 fine.

Clucking Hell: Pouring Turkey Fat Down the Drain Could Cost You £250 This Christmas

2023-12-11T14:53:47Z

There are many reasons why people seek the help of plumbers during the winter months; burst pipes, leaking taps and boiler issues are all in peak season, but there are also other costly dangers that can come during the festive period. With experts warning of the expensive issues caused by disposing of unwanted food and drink incorrectly, the plumbing pros at ��ɫ��Ƭ Business have offered their advice on how to avoid this common festive plumbing emergency.

Which festive food and drinks can damage your drains?

Christmas dinner is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the festive season but there are plenty of Yuletide products that can cause plumbing issues. Anything that contains fat, oil or cream can cause an unwanted sink blockage that will likely need remedying by a professional. Some of the most common culprits include pouring leftover turkey fat down the drain which, when it cools, can harden to form a blockage or burst a pipe. The ever-popular Irish cream liqueurs with their high cream content can also produce a similar effect if tipped down the sink after one too many!

How much does it cost to fix a blocked or burst pipe in your home?

Costs can vary, particularly over the Christmas period and due to the time of day or location, however Philip Hill of Leicestershire-based Servo-Rod says that “unblocking a pipe caused by pouring fat, grease or oil down the sink will cost between £80-£120 dependent on how easy it is to access the pipe and whether any further damage has been caused.”

If you’re calling out a plumber after normal working hours for an emergency or on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day there will also be additional charges that could put the cost of a simple turkey-fat related blockage at around £250 (the equivalent of around 20kg of turkey or 12 litres of Baileys!).

What should you do with leftover Christmas food and drink instead?

��ɫ��Ƭ Business’ plumbing expert adds “It’s definitely wise to think twice about the leftover food and drink you put down your sink this Christmas. Prevention is always better than the cure of calling out a plumber, so wait for things like the fat from your Christmas turkey to harden before scraping out into the bin. If it’s oil or cream based, then pour into a sealable container and dispose of it in your general waste.

“When washing greasy pots, add detergent and make sure you’re using the hottest water that your hands can tolerate, as this will help to stop the build-up of grease and mean that less goes down the plughole”.

Sarah O’Rafferty, at ��ɫ��Ƭ Business, added: “Christmas is a time of celebration and for many, having a bit of a break after a long year. However simple mistakes, like pouring some turkey fat down the sink, can quickly turn it into a costly problem. At a time when finances are already being stretched, we hope this advice will help people to think twice when disposing of their Christmas waste and in turn avoid having to spend out on a fix that didn’t need to happen!”

68% of Brits Would Prefer To Receive a ‘Useful Gift’ Over a Traditional Gift This Christmas

2023-12-06T11:35:53Z

A survey by ��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed that 68% of Brits would prefer to receive a useful or functional gift rather than a traditional gift this Christmas. Of those surveyed, 58% said they would prefer a holiday as a gift over all else, but 37% admit that they will be spending far less on gifting due to the strains of the cost of living crisis.

This Christmas, the way we are gifting is changing due to both economic and financial factors. Instead of traditional token items such as clothing, books or chocolates, research has found Brits are more likely to ask for haircuts or home cleaning services, as ��ɫ��Ƭ revealed that people are more inclined towards useful presents as we head into the 2023 Christmas period.

The Change in Gifting Habits

The survey of 2,000 adults, who celebrate Christmas across the UK, revealed that one in three would now prefer to give a gift that truly makes a difference to the person's life, rather than a less impactful, traditional present. As Google search demand sees an 82% increase for the term “useful gifts for adults” in 2023 compared to 2022, it is clear that more Brits are looking at changing the way they give presents for Christmas. 39% of those surveyed reveal they are likely or very likely to give a useful gift this Christmas with 44% undecided.

When it comes to receiving gifts, only 29% would prefer a traditional gift over a more useful or functional one.

The Top 10 Most Popular ‘Functional’ Christmas Gifts to Receive

It’s revealed that a Holiday is the most popular gift to receive, with 58% saying that they would prefer this over a traditional Christmas gift. Haircuts were revealed to be the second most popular ‘functional’ gift (35%) to receive while paying for a painter or decorator (22%) came in third place.

The Top 10 Most Popular ‘Functional’ Christmas Gifts to Give

While it’s clear what Brits are hoping to receive this Christmas, will they be giving the same gifts? While a Holiday (14%) and Haircuts (12%) took first and second place again as the most popular ‘functional’ gifts to give this Christmas. Brits voted Driving lessons as the third most popular ‘functional’ gift to give this year (11%).

Spending Trends Over Christmas

According to the Office for National Statistics, 47% of consumers are cutting down on discretionary spending to help afford necessities such as energy bills throughout the autumn and winter months. New clothes and accessories are the most common items that consumers are cutting back on.

According to those surveyed, 37% are spending less because of the cost of living crisis. Meanwhile, 28% of those who are still willing to spend, said they want to give gifts that make a difference, and 27% said they want to save their money for more important things other than Christmas gifts.

The Cost of Gifting

Sales and purchases for physical products may be down in comparison to 2022, and financial and economic factors have changed the way we spend. But the Brits who are willing to spend more money are choosing to do so on more useful and functional gifts this year such as driving lessons and holidays rather than on a more traditional product-based or token gift.

The survey revealed that Brits are likely to spend slightly more on a useful gift, with the average spend being £96.41. In contrast to this when asked how much they would spend on a traditional gift, this dropped by just over £13 to an average of £83.10.

Regional Differences

Receiving

London was revealed to be the region that most want to receive a functional and useful gift (42%) over a traditional one this Christmas. A holiday (44%), a haircut (31%) and a gym membership (28%) were the top 3 most wanted functional gifts to receive this Christmas.

Scotland and Wales were revealed to be the regions that would most like to receive a more traditional gift this Christmas with 32% of those surveyed preferring one over a functional gift.

When it comes to the most wanted functional gifts in the UK, residents in the West Midlands are more likely to want a gym membership (40%) over the rest of the UK. Londoners are most likely to want sports lessons (16%) and Northern Ireland residents are most likely to want their chimney swept (21%).

Giving

Londoners (17%) are the most likely to give a functional gift over a traditional one this year. Interestingly, the most popular functional gifts Londoners are likely to give are car-related, seeing driving lessons (23%), car cleaning (17%) and car servicing (16%) being the top 3 most popular, the highest compared to all other UK regions.

Northern Ireland was the most likely to give a traditional gift this year over a more useful one with 11% (the highest of all UK regions) saying they are very unlikely to give any kind of functional gift this Christmas.

The survey revealed that Londoners are most likely to spend the most on a functional gift, at an average of £124.57 per gift. The East Midlands are likely to spend the least amount of money on a functional gift with an average spend of £85.72 per person with one in three willing to only spend between £11-£50 per gift.

The Perfect Christmas Gift

Gifting may have changed in the sense that more Brits are looking to both give and receive a more functional gift over a traditional one this year, but the premise behind “giving the perfect gift for Christmas” has not. Whether it is gifting something to assist a loved one around the house, driving lessons or even paying for a new haircut , the list is endless and there is no limit as to what to pick when choosing the perfect Christmas gifts this year.

Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ Reveal How To Avoid The Most Common Driving Mistakes In The Snow That Could Land You Fines Of Up To £30,000

2023-12-05T11:35:25Z

Across the UK, snow has started to fall this weekend, causing chaos and road disruption. Drivers are dealing with treacherous conditions after an arctic blast hit parts of the country this week with more set to come, but they could also be facing hefty fines for making common mistakes when driving in the snow.

Drivers caught breaking one or multiple laws whilst driving in the snow could be liable to pay up to £30,000 worth of driving fines and penalties. With this in mind, Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have compiled a list of the most commonly made mistakes whilst driving in the snow and tips on how to avoid them this winter.

Snow on car roofs

Whilst a blanketing of snow can look pretty, it is vital that all and any snow is cleared from your vehicle before you set off on your journey. If the snow from the car roof is not removed and you are caught driving, you could receive a fine of up to £2,500.

This hefty fine is due to the high risk of snow flying off the car whilst you are driving and hitting other cars on the road, causing a potentially dangerous situation. It could also block your view or someone else's view of both the road and the other's surroundings.

Low tread on tyres

A vehicle driving with low tread on its tyres is dangerous at the best of times but can be an even higher risk when driving in snow and ice. The low tread will result in your car having less grip on the roads, making it harder to come to a stop.

The cost of not having at least the legal tread depth of 1.6mm on your tyre tread could see you facing a fine of up to £10,000, ( £2,500 per tyre. ) To avoid this, regularly check your tread depth and consider changing your tyres once they hit the 3mm mark to ensure your tyres are properly prepared for the trickier conditions. Winter tyres are also recommended once the temperature hits below 7 degrees Celsius to ensure ultimate safety and grip on the snow and ice.

If you are unsure how to check the tread on your tyres or you need your tyres replaced in preparation for snowy conditions, you can find a local mechanic or garage for professional assistance.

Snow on car lights and number plates

Much like when it comes to having snow on the roof of your car, driving with snow covering your lights or your number plate could cost you a hefty £1,000 fine.

Checking for and clearing any snow that has settled on your lights or number plate before you drive will take 30 seconds, and ensure you are not breaking the highway code and your number plate and lights are fully visible whilst driving in treacherous weather conditions.

Not de-icing or de-misting your windscreen

One of the most common cold weather driving mistakes is getting behind the wheel and driving before your windows have been fully de-iced or de-misted. Driving with this kind of obscured visibility could see you not only facing a £60 fine but also 3 points on your license.

To avoid this from happening, make sure you are keeping a scraper in your car, along with your other necessary winter car kit accessories before setting off on your journey. Whether you have left your car for 20 minutes or 24 hours, if your windscreen is misted or icy, ensure it is completely clear before driving.

Your windscreen can become more vulnerable during the winter than any other time of year due to the prolonged cold, so ensure you avoid forcefully and repeatedly striking the ice as this can shatter or chip your windscreen. If this happens, make sure to contact your local garage or repair centre to get this fixed.

Defective exterior lights

Like having snow on your car obstructing your view, defective exterior lights can be extremely dangerous, especially in snow. Not only will this affect your own visibility but also other drivers around you.

After starting your car's engine, make sure you are taking a quick check around your car and ensuring all your lights are working correctly. This quick and easy check could save you facing a fine of up to £1,000. If the lights on your car are or do become defective, make sure to find your local car repair centre as soon as possible to avoid driving dangerously and risking any fines.

Lack of experience driving in the snow

Driving recklessly or dangerously, especially during the snowy periods can have you facing fines of up to £5,000.

If you are nervous or feel you need to brush up your driving skills in winter weather including snow and ice, it is worth speaking to your local driving instructors or schools about driving courses that can help improve your skills on snow and ice. This can be helpful even for some of the most experienced drivers. Because winter brings unique driving challenges, it is important to ensure your skills are up to the task, too.

Leaving your car unattended to defrost

Leaving your car unattended whilst defrosting could land you in hot water. Whilst it is practically inviting thieves into your car and therefore insurance is likely to not cover you if your car is stolen, it is also an offence under section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

If you daily to turn off your engine when instructed, you may receive a fixed penalty notice of £20 which can be increased to £40 if not paid within a specific time frame. Make sure to stay inside your car whilst defrosting before setting off on your journey. Beating the temptation to head back inside whilst your car is defrosting can save you both time and money.

Winter Maintenance Checklist

Ensuring your car is suitable to be driving in the snow may seem like additional effort, but by following this expert-approved list, you can avoid any expensive fines or accidents from occurring during the snowy period and ensure you and others on the road stay as safe as possible this winter.

��ɫ��Ƭ Co-CEOs, Luke Taylor & Mark Clisby, interview with Business Enquirer

2023-12-04T12:31:00Z

Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ Predict Blue-Black To Be The Hair Colour of Choice This Christmas Season After Reaching 6 Billion Views on TikTok

2023-11-21T15:16:10Z

Experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have predicted Blue-Black to be the 2023 hair colour of the festive season, based on current trends. The term “Blue-black hair” currently has 6,600 Google searches each month across the UK and over 6 billion views on TikTok - higher than any other hair colour. Given this trend, Blue-black can be revealed as the new must-have hair colour for Christmas and New Year 2023.

The festive season is one of the most popular times of year to play around with and change hairstyles and colours, gearing up for Christmas and New Year's parties and events. With this in mind, ��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed the most popular hair colour and style trends for Christmas 2023, along with advice on how to choose the perfect festive hair colour and style.

Experts At ��ɫ��Ƭ Give Tips On Winter Car Maintenance That Will Keep You Moving During The Colder Months

2023-11-16T11:18:36Z

During the winter months, your car maintenance needs a little extra thought and is key to reducing the risk of breakdowns, accidents or costly repair fees. Now that the cold months are approaching, preparing your car early for the winter will save you both time and money during the UK winter.

In 2022, the RAC attended over 12,000 breakdowns due to wintery conditions and a lack of vehicle maintenance before the cold snap. Winter breakdowns or accidents can cause hefty repair costs, large insurance claims or possible fines, so with this in mind, experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have compiled a winter car maintenance checklist to ensure your car is fully prepared in advance for this year’s winter season.

Check Your Tyres

Every winter, searches for winter tyres spike. In November 2022, there were over 25,000 searches which was an increase of +43% in comparison to October 2022. As we enter the colder months this year, searches for winter tyres are already +57% over the last month which means, as our winters get longer and start earlier, drivers are preparing for colder conditions earlier than ever before.

Worn tyres are dangerous at the best of times, but especially during the winter when stopping distances increase in icy, snowy or wet conditions.

Check your tread depth - The minimum tread depth for tyres is 1.6mm by law, but they are recommended to be changed once the tread reaches 3mm. This will maintain stopping distances and improve the grip your tyres have on the road to avoid loss of control in winter conditions. If the temperatures drop below 7 degrees Celsius or you are regularly driving on rural or uneven roads, winter tyres are required for ultimate safety, especially when driving in snow and ice.

Check your tyre pressure - This will ensure that you will have the utmost control of your vehicle on the roads during the winter whilst avoiding any potential blowouts uneven or incorrect tyre pressure can cause. Find your nearest garage or tyre expert for advice, professional checks and winter tyre options.

Check Your Car Battery

A flat car battery is the most common reason for a breakdown, especially in the winter where battery failure is more likely in the cold and wet weather. In fact, battery-related issues make up 24% of all breakdowns across the year. It is advised to check your car battery before the cold weather hits, but ensure you are changing your car battery every 3 years, if possible, to avoid problems in the cold weather.

Check for any unusual issues - A main indication of battery failure includes the engine turning over more slowly than usual when you start it.

Check your battery light - you may see the red battery light in the instrument display flicker while you are driving or take much longer than usual when you start the engine when your battery is indicating failure. To avoid battery failure whether sitting in traffic, out on the road or starting your car on the driveway, make sure you take it to your local garage or expert to check your battery before the winter and change if needs be.

Check Your Antifreeze

Searches for “how to unfreeze your car engine” see an annual spike in November. November 2022 saw an increase of 62% in comparison to October 2022. Ensuring your antifreeze is working properly is a must in the winter months, doing just as the name suggests which is to stop the water in the engine's cooling system from freezing.

Check your antifreeze is working correctly - if it needs topping up or not working correctly, unscrew the coolant reservoir cap under the bonnet whilst your engine is cooled, lower the antifreeze tester tube into the coolant and squeeze the rubber bulb. This will suck up some of the antifreeze inside the tester. It is then easy to read the freezing point of the antifreeze using the scale inside the tester to see if everything is as it should be. An antifreeze tester can be bought from local car spare shops, or if you are unsure, contact your local garage for assistance.

Check Exterior Lights

This may seem simple, and it is, but many will bypass or forget this simple check before the winter hits. The days are much shorter and the weather is getting worse, and about half of traffic deaths occur either in the dark or at dawn and dusk so maintenance on your exterior lights is an important aspect of any winter car checklist.

Although Searches for new car headlights annually peak in December where 2022 saw 54,000 searches (+18% compared to November 2022), a survey from eBay revealed that 64% of drivers will still risk the £100 fine by failing to carry spare headlamp bulbs with them.

Clean your lights - To avoid any fatalities or fines, make sure you check and clean your lights regularly. Salt and dirt can quickly build up, especially if the roads have been gritted in preparation for the icy and wet weather. The build-up will reduce the visibility of your vehicle to other road users as well as reduce your ability to see in the dark.

Carry spare bulbs - It is best to ensure you are carrying extra bulbs in case of failure, which holds a higher possibility of happening when it is cold and wet outside, and being stuck in the dark with no headlights is certainly not an ideal time to have to learn how to do so!

Ensure your headlights are not too bright - Bright headlights are not only annoying to other drivers but can also cause accidents, especially on dimly lit roads. The headlight glare can take the focus of other drivers off the road, reducing visibility and increasing the difficulty of driving safely. If you are unsure if your headlights or high beams are too bright, ensure you check with a professional.

Ticking Off Your Winter Car Maintenance Checklist

Getting your car ready for winter may seem like an additional effort to your regular car checks, but by following this expert-approved checklist, you can avoid any expensive emergency repairs or accidents from occurring during the winter and ensure you and others on the road stay as safe as possible this year.

68% of Brits Attempt DIY Hair and Beauty Treatments to save money

2023-11-14T14:00:26Z

A survey by ��ɫ��Ƭ has found that 90% of Brits admit to attempting DIY hair & beauty treatments at home before seeing a professional, with 68% of those claiming to do so just to save money. When it comes to DIY home treatments, hair and beauty are some of the most DIY-ed projects out there. From cutting your hair to doing your own lash extensions, ��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed the most common at-home DIY hair and beauty mishaps and which of those are most commonly corrected by a professional.

The Trend of DIY

At-home DIY treatments have increased in search demand over the years. From “how to cut your own hair” seeing 4,500 searches a month to “how to do gel nails at home” and “at home lash lift” with 1,000 Google searches a month between them, 2023 is increasingly seeing Brits jump onto the DIY bandwagon.

The internet is a huge educational tool when it comes to DIY hair and beauty treatments. Social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok are prime spaces for getting your ‘how-tos’ for hair and beauty recommendations. Over 57% of those surveyed used YouTube and 29% used TikTok to get their tips on how to do an at-home DIY.

TikTok is moving up the ranking of the most commonly used platform for 18 to 25-year-olds as 48% of those surveyed claim to use TikTok for hair and beauty tips - the highest of any demographic. According to TikTok data, 94% of users say they learned new tips and tricks about beauty from TikTok, while 90% of users agree that TikTok provides inspiration when it comes to at-home beauty with tutorials being 2.4 times more important to TikTok users. Ironically TikTok views for the hashtag #HaircutFails is at 26.6 billion views on the platform, while DIY ‘haircut at home fails’ is at 163.1 million views.

Interestingly expert guides from hairdressers and beauticians are least likely to be used for tips and advice, with only 25% using this for their DIY.

The Most Popular At-Home Hair & Beauty DIYs

As the season changes, we have all been guilty of giving in to a seasonal makeover. Thoughts of “Should I dye my hair auburn for the winter” and “Maybe I’ll give myself a fringe” fill our heads much to the dismay of hairdressers and beauty specialists across the country. From celebrity fads to online trends and special occasions, many factors encourage people to change their looks - but what is encouraging them to DIY rather than seek a professional?

According to those surveyed, the majority (68%) of DIY-ers admit to attempting DIY treatments at home to save money. This is followed by saving time (42%) and because it looked easy on social media (23%). 18-25-year-olds are least likely to try a DIY to save money, instead being inspired to take the jump as social media has made it look easy to do.

The most common at-home DIYs are facemasks (55%), trimming hair (50%), colouring hair (48%), cutting fringe (36%) and even teeth whitening (33%). However, whilst they might be saving money short-term “DIY-ing” at home, in the long run, 65% admit to having spent over £50 getting professionals to fix hair and beauty treatments they have done at home.

Getting Corre cted

DIY hair and beauty treatments don’t always go as planned, whether some bleach has burnt off your hair, or at-home eyelash extensions have gone wrong. Whilst we may be saving money short term - often a bad at-home DIY means a swift trip to visit a professional to get it fixed. 52% of those surveyed have had to get an at-home treatment corrected by a professional.

The most commonly corrected DIYs are trimming hair (18%), colouring/dying hair (15%) and cutting a fringe (13%). Interestingly 26-33-year-olds are most likely to be returning to the salon after bleaching their hair at home, while 34-40-year-olds are most likely to have to get an at-home treatment corrected.

Cost of Corre ctions

While DIY may be initially to save money, a correction can be costly. 62% of those surveyed admit to spending between £50 and £500 on getting things corrected by a professional. An average of £123 per person is regularly spent on top of the original DIY price to fix any mistakes, fails and mishaps. This can be anything from hair colour disasters, bleaching gone wrong or beauty treatments such as nail or lash extension corrections. 3% of those surveyed have even paid over £500 to get a DIY corrected. 26-33-year-olds are likely to spend the most on corrections (£139.74), while 18-25 spend the least (£107.94).

Regional Differences

Whilst people across the UK are trying at-home hair and beauty treatments, Londoners are most likely to try DIY-ing (96%) - especially when it comes to Hair Extensions (24%), Lash Extensions (16%) and Eyebrow Lamination (13%). The East Midlands are least likely to have tried to DIY a hair or beauty treatment (84%).

If you're from Scotland you are least likely to be influenced by a celebrity when it comes to trying out a new hair or beauty trend at home (3%), while Londoners are most likely to use TikTok (39%) or Influencers (34%) for their inspiration.

Londoners are also most likely to have to get a DIY corrected with 70% admitting to having something corrected by a professional. They are most likely to have to seek the help of a professional to correct at-home Hair Extensions (13%) and Lash Extensions (7%). Only in the East of England do individuals have to get their Gel Nails corrected by a professional.

Londoners are spending the most when it comes to corrections, spending an average of £156.71 on a correction, whilst the North East is spending the least at £80.51 on average.

Leave it to the professionals

Whilst saving money short term may seem like a good idea, not only could this leave you with botched haircuts or a dodgy set of nails, but often these DIY treatments don't follow proper instructions and regulations, which may harm your health. And let’s not forget the results from a famous ‘home haircut’!

Experts At ��ɫ��Ƭ Give Winter Gardening Advice to Prepare Your Garden for 2024

2023-11-09T15:01:12Z

While poor weather and cold temperatures may result in us neglecting our gardens in the Winter months - it’s important to get them prepared so that they will be in the best shape for the upcoming Spring. With this in mind, the experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have compiled a winter garden maintenance checklist to prepare your garden in advance of 2024.

Protect your plants

While plants may thrive in the Spring and Summer months - the harsh extremes of Autumn and Winter will do nothing to help your flourishing beds. As leaves start falling and there’s more wind and rain, your garden’s tender plants become vulnerable. They need protection from frost, gales, and freezing rains, or they could decline rapidly. To ensure a fruitful Summer growth isn’t lost, you should follow these steps:

Insulate tender plants: Now is the perfect time to move your plants into a greenhouse or sheltered spot. If you can’t move them, wrap your plants or pots in fleece or bubble wrap instead. This gives them a defence against the wind and rain. You can even protect roots from the cold by covering them with compost or leaf mould. A thick layer of chippings or fallen leaves are both decent alternatives, as long as they’re around 10cm deep.

Protect potted plants: Potted plants can get soggy – with drowned, rotten roots – if you leave them out in the rain. When planning for winter, make sure all your pots have drainage holes and raise them off the ground. This leaves space for excess water to run off. When plants are unlikely to survive the frost (tropicals and palms come to mind), bring them indoors. A greenhouse would be ideal, but your shed, garage, or home is suitable too.

Start Planting for Spring/Summer

For a luscious garden filled with thriving plants and flowers next year, start preparing now.

September: You should plant spring-flowering bulbs – like daffodils, crocus, and hyacinths – by the end of September. That goes for both borders and containers. The flowers will start blooming in April.

October: You can plant hardier summer-flowering bulbs – such as lilies, alliums, and crocosmia – in September and October, too. For the best results, pick a warm, sunny spot with good drainage.

November: As we move into November, it’s time to plant tulips. This later planting time helps reduce the risk of tulip fire – a fungal disease that affects the growth of tulip leaves.

Winter prune your fruit trees

It’s safe to prune your fruit trees since they’re dormant during the winter. This will promote a more stable tree with stronger growth in the year ahead (and that means more fruit too!)

Get rid of any dead or diseased wood.

You should also use some careful pruning to untangle branches that are rubbing against or crossing each other.

Different types of fruit trees need cutting at different times during winter. If you’re ever unsure, always check with a professional.

Winter Lawn Care

Autumn is the perfect season for getting your lawn ready for next year. This milder, wetter season is perfect for improving your lawn’s condition and giving it a solid base for the months ahead. Readying your lawn for winter is one of the most important autumn gardening jobs you'll need to handle. There’s ample time to refresh the grass and prepare your lawn for winter – if you follow the right steps:

Rake your lawn

The process is simple. Use decent force to rake across your lawn, removing thatch without tearing out grass. Go in one direction before doubling back on yourself.

Aerate the lawn

Use a garden fork to spike your lawn, ideally to the full depth of the tines. Move the pitchfork around to increase the size of the holes. If you wait until conditions are frosty or the grass is very wet, you could damage your lawn.

Complete top dressing

Apply a mix of loam (a fertile type of soil), sand and rotted organic matter to the lawns’ surface. This mixture will fill the holes formed by aeration. This process improves drainage, breaks down thatch, and feeds the lawn – so there are plenty of benefits.

Keep off the grass

Once you’re through with your autumn lawn care, you should give the grass time to settle in for winter. You’ll need to stay off the grass – the same goes for children and pets – especially if it’s frosty. Letting your grass breathe will give it the best chance of surviving winter unharmed. Only step out to rake up leaves and, if we’ve had a long spell of dry weather, water your lawn.

Experts At ��ɫ��Ƭ Give Tips On Winter Maintenance You Won’t Want To Forget

2023-11-09T14:56:48Z

Before you bunker down for the winter and as the cold weather approaches, it is important to ensure your home is prepared, both inside and out, for the onslaught of cold temperatures and more severe and unpredictable weather conditions. The key to avoiding either internal and/or external damage during the winter months is to prepare ahead of time.

Data reveals over half of Brits (54%) put off essential winter home maintenance jobs due to lack of time or money pressures . However, this can result in either hefty repair costs or large insurance claims if the roof has been damaged due to a lack of winter preparation. With this in mind, experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ have compiled a winter home maintenance checklist to ensure your home is fully prepared in advance for this year's cold weather.

Check Your Roof

Last November saw searches for “roof leak” peak to 5,550 searches as winter weather damaged UK roofs. If regular checks aren’t done correctly or in a timely manner, your roof can receive anything from minor to extensive damage during the winter. Winter storms bring heavy rain, strong winds, and snowfall which can all negatively impact your roof and your wallets if it has not been properly maintained and prepared for winter.

Safely find a good viewpoint where you can check out your roof to see if any damage has occurred, check for:

Missing tiles
Blocked gutters
Holes
Debris build-up

Missing tiles can result in water damage or leaks which can be a costly repair, whilst debris build-up and blocked gutters can put extra weight on your roof, as well as increase the risk of damage from high winds, rain or heavy snowfall.

If you are unsure or would like a professional opinion on how well your roof is prepared for the winter, calling a professional roofing service is the best choice.

Check Your Pipes To Avoid Freezing

Last December there were over 56,519 searches for “thaw frozen pipes” and 5,519 searches for “how to unfreeze pipes” as winter weather caused havoc in British homes across the country. Whilst a quick Google may seem like a quick fix, experts at ��ɫ��Ƭ warn that at-home thawing of pipes can cause them to burst and you should always consult a professional. Luckily, there are a few easy things you can do to ensure this doesn't happen:

Ensure all pipes in your roof space or loft, as well as pipes in other areas that may be vulnerable to the cold, are insulated and your boiler is serviced. You can also add some insulation to your popes and faucets which you can either do yourself at home or call a professional plumber in to do this for you.
If you are heading away for the winter or you are debating not turning your heating on much this year, ensure your heating is not turned off completely but instead remains low.
Either ensure your thermostat is set to a minimum of 18 degrees or have your heating timed to come on regularly throughout the winter to ensure the pipes are kept warm and are not at risk of freezing.

Block Out Window & Door Draughts

There is no easier way to save money on your heating bills than by ensuring any window and door draughts are blocked out. Draught-proofing around windows and doors could save you around £45 a year . If you have an open chimney, draught-proofing your chimney when you’re not using it could save around £65 a year. Key benefits include:

Uses less energy to heat your home
Helps reduce condensation and damp
Saves money on energy bills
Makes your home warm and cosy

Draft proofing your home will vary depending on what level of proofing you need - older properties will require more draft proofing measures - but much of it can be done by the homeowners themselves. By adding the metal brushed window and draught excluders to your frames, you will be able to keep out the cold and reduce the amount of hot air that is being lost. These can be fitted to both exterior and interior doors.

As well as doors and windows, keyholes and letterboxes are also big conductors of drafts so make sure to get these blocked too. If you are not comfortable fitting these yourself, hiring a handyman service is quick and simple.

Check Your Heating System

Every December sees a spike in searches for “Boiler not working” in the UK - last year by 300% - as neglected boilers are switched on in the cold weather, only to find they’ve stopped working. It’s a good idea to have your furnace or boiler system checked annually by a professional, but additional checks are advised when exceptionally cold weather or storms are imminent. If you have a boiler, you should carry out some easy monthly checks in addition to the annual review:

Check your water pressure once a month
Bleed your radiators twice a year
Check radiator valves are open and working properly before winter comes
Checking for any leaks in the venting system
Check if any wiring looks questionable or damaged
If your heating system is a heat pump, make sure your outdoor unit is free from any leaves or snow. There should be no greenery crowding the unit at any one time.

Technicians will also do annual checks on heat pump systems, but monthly checks and maintenance are encouraged before the winter months.

If you are unsure as to whether your heating system will withstand the coldest temperatures of the UK winter, calling a professional plumber is the best and easiest choice.

Ticking Off Your Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

Getting your property ready for winter may seem like a daunting task but by following this expert-approved checklist, you can avoid any expensive emergency repairs during the winter and ensure your home stays safe, warm and comfortable.

4.6 Million UK Businesses Are Losing Out On Almost £80 Per Appointment With ‘Friendly’ Clients

2023-11-09T14:49:02Z

A new study by ��ɫ��Ƭ reveals more than 85% of businesses could be losing out on almost £80 per appointment with ‘friendly’ clients as a result of not charging for additional time spent
The research, which surveyed small business owners from across the UK, also reveals (75%) find it hard to set boundaries with their clients, with 98% replying to business queries during their personal time
Shockingly, of those who’ve attempted to set boundaries with their clients, 3 in 5 (59%) have been met with negative responses

For small business owners, the line between personal and professional is much harder to define than for most employees, and new research by ��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed that a staggering number of business owners are potentially losing out on hundreds of pounds a week as a result.

The study, which surveyed just over 250 owners of small businesses in the UK (up to 50 employees), sought to find out more about how business owners separate the professional from the personal, and the impact this can have on their finances, particularly at a time when many small businesses may be struggling to stay afloat.

With three-quarters (75%) of small business owners stating they find it hard to set boundaries with their clients, it’s clear that many have difficulty when it comes to drawing the line. The nature of small businesses means they will often engage with the same customers on a regular basis and go on to develop closer relationships with them than the average high street brand would. According to the survey, 86% of business owners work with clients that have become friends or already were, though these numbers rise to more than 94% for those in the beauty sector, and 90% in the trades.

The vast majority (82%) of business owners admit that they take more time with ‘friendly’ clients, spending an extra 25 minutes on average with each of them, compared to their usual work time. Though working with someone you consider a friend may seem like a perk, the reality suggests that financially, this may not be the case at all.

Over Three Quarters Of Small Businesses Lose Money On Appointments That Overrun

With 85% of business owners not charging for this additional time, this results in a considerable amount of unpaid working hours. Less than ideal at a time when the cost-of-living crisis has made things increasingly difficult for the self-employed, the extra 25 minutes could amount to an average loss of £78 per appointment (based on the average hourly charge of £188.44 revealed by the study). This is a particular concern in the likes of the beauty industry, known for its high frequency of appointments and long-term clients.

Megan, a Beauty Influencer and Nail Technician at Gel By Megan commented: “My services are often a ‘treat’ for clients, who will have finished their working day, which can mean they take time restraints less seriously, and don’t mind the appointment lasting longer than it should. For them, it might just be twenty more minutes, but they don’t see how this can impact my working day. After two years of being self-employed, getting customers to see this side of the extra time spent has been one of the hardest things to navigate.”

Outside of lost earnings, the blurring of personal and professional has also been proven to take a toll on business owners’ free time; 98% of those surveyed admitted to replying to business queries within their personal time, with this number sitting at a staggering 100% for those in the beauty and trades sectors.

This is likely down to many small businessowners finding it hard to tackle the issue or having been put off from a bad experience when previously trying to enforce time boundaries or payment terms, with more than half (59%) saying they’ve received negative responses from customers when trying to do so.

How Can Business Owners Set Boundaries With All Customers?

Despite these difficulties, Sarah O’Rafferty at ��ɫ��Ƭ has detailed four things business owners can start doing, to set boundaries more effectively and therefore get paid the fees they should and keep their free time free.

1. Communication is key

“A lot of business owners can immediately be on the back foot when an appointment is overrunning, because they haven’t already communicated any extra costs that will be incurred to the customer. Having to backtrack and try to get this extra fee paid after the time has been spent, is where a lot of these negative responses can come from, as customers could feel ‘cornered’ into paying more, or that they haven’t agreed to the additional spend.

If you feel your session might overrun or are mindful that previous sessions have done so with that particular client, it's always best to communicate before this happens of any additional fees, or that you are simply unable to spend the time due to other commitments. This way, both yourself and your customer will be in agreement, and there’s no grey area, no matter how close your relationship is”.

2. Visualise these boundaries

“It’s one thing having the conversation and being in agreement, but there are ways you can make this even clearer. Detailing any policies on your website, and directing all new or existing customers to these, and any changes in them, will go a long way. You can then refer to these during appointments too, to continue to set the boundary.

Having these policies present on a website or even social media bios can be particularly useful for customers that contact you out of your working hours. Listing these clearly manages expectations of when you will and won’t respond. There’s a reason large companies have their customer service opening hours clearly displayed wherever you can find contact details for them. It should be no different for your business, no matter how big or small you are.”

3. Truly separate work from your personal life

“On that note, it isn’t all up to your customers to read your website, your policies and when you are available to answer phone calls or reply to messages, you need to manage your time too. When starting up, many businesses owners opt to use the same phone number and e-mail address for the sake of ease, however ignoring calls or messages when they’re right there in front of you is easier said than done. Simply by setting up a business e-mail and purchasing a low-cost work phone that you can switch off once the working day is done, will go a long way to solving this problem, and setting those much-needed boundaries.”

4. The power of saying ‘no’

“Finally, a big skill to learn in any businesses is being able to say no. There can be a tendency to want to agree to everything, please everyone and take every job on, but it simply isn’t possible. Remembering that you’re the boss and that you make the rules is key. Politely declining a request or making it clear up front that an appointment needs to finish at a particular time will help to manage expectations with your customers and, in the long run, help them to respect you and your business more”.

To find out more about how businesses can manage customer expectations, set boundaries and build their online reputation through a variety of channels such as websites, social media and business listings, visit: https://business.yell.com/digital-marketing-solutions/

Methodology

We partnered with Censuswide to survey 251 UK small business (up to 50 employees) owners that offer services to customers. The survey covered a range of questions about the boundaries that they have with their customers, and how ‘friendly’ clients affect this.

Responses were analysed nationally, as well as by industry sector and number of employees.

Survey conducted in October 2023.

��ɫ��Ƭ Launch “Eau de ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages” to Celebrate Return

2023-11-09T14:47:38Z

Imbued with the nostalgia of the iconic British brand, ��ɫ��Ƭ announces the launch of the “Eau de ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages.” A timeless and familiar scent created to transport the mind and the senses to a time when the iconic yellow book was a mainstay of homes up and down the country.

Five years after its final circulation, “��ɫ��Ƭow Pages” still receives over 18,000 Google searches each month in the UK as Brits pine for the iconic British brand. Whilst they can’t bottle up the original ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages, by creating a limited edition scent inspired by its unmistakable smell, they are guaranteed to transport you to a time during its 53-year-long run.

Inspired by the scent of a fresh copy of the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages, the fragrance is made up of invigorating top notes of Bergamot and a hint of Lemon. Followed by the rich, woody scents of Cedar and Musk, and with base notes of sweet Vanilla. These scents interact with one another to create a unique scent profile to awaken memories of leafing through a ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages or receiving a brand new copy on your doorstep.

Scent, emotion and memory are intertwined, sending signals directly to the area of the brain that links to emotion. Every time you smell a book, you remember those you have read before and invoke the positive emotions connected to them. The enjoyment experienced from the smell of a book is known as Bibliosmia. Bibliosmia refers to the enticing scent experienced when opening up a book and is created by the chemical breakdown of compounds within the paper. Over 1 million tonnes of paper were used to produce the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages - putting out nearly 1 billion copies and virtually 1 trillion pages over 51 years of print production.

Dan Rothschild aka @fragrance_weirdo , Content Creator and Perfume Expert commented, “ The power of smell is truly amazing in its ability to unlock all sorts of memories and experiences that we’ve forgotten over the years. Perfumes that capture this sense of nostalgia can ignite our emotional bonds with our history and transport us to the happiest moments from our past. I’ve noticed a shift over the last few years from perfumery just as something that smells nice to stuff inspired by memories and experiences - these nostalgia perfumes can be anything from the smokey haze of the dying embers of a bonfire to the scent of dusty books in a library. I’m particularly taken with this approach as it invites us to step not just back into our own memories but to try and inhabit those of the creators. ”

Sarah O'Rafferty, Head of Public Relations at ��ɫ��Ƭ commented, “The books are no longer a mainstay of our lives, but the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages had an unmistakable smell that still conjures up cherished memories. While the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages have moved on, we knew we had to launch something to celebrate both its heritage and uniqueness. By creating the scent of the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages, we can evoke the nostalgia of the iconic brand that has built the foundations for what ��ɫ��Ƭ.com is today.”

Almost five years on from when the final copies of the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages were last delivered in January 2019, its namesake is returning to showcase the absolute best in food, fashion, art and more in the locations of London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Whilst the product is still very much in production stages, ��ɫ��Ƭ is considering plans to launch a limited run of the fragrance so you can experience the original ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages in 2023.

The ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages Returns… with a twist: Selfridges and ��ɫ��Ƭ Collaborate For Limited Edition ‘Directory Of Now’ Release

2023-09-05T07:41:20Z

A unique brand association is bringing back the iconic ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages for a limited three month run, as Selfridges has collaborated with ��ɫ��Ƭ.com to launch the ‘��ɫ��Ƭow Pages, Directory of Now’.

Almost five years on from when the final copies of the 53 year long run of the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages were delivered in January 2019, its namesake is returning to help Selfridges showcase the absolute best in food, fashion, art and more in the Selfridges store locations of London, Manchester and Birmingham.

A match made in brand-partnership heaven, the businesses with identical brand colours and rich British heritage will be bringing the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages from the living room to a luxury setting, as the 72 page ‘Directory of Now’ will be available in-store, with a takeover of the specialist Chiltern Street newsagent Shreej and with other key partners including Versace, NEWGEN, Jil Sander, Nina Ricci by Harris Reed and Martine Rose.

This nostalgic guide to the current cultural zeitgeist will also be available as audio and digital versions, so more people can get their hands, on this one-off ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages revival.

��ɫ��Ƭ, which has granted Selfridges the licence to use the ‘��ɫ��Ƭow Pages’ trademark, know a lot about giving the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages a digital presence, having become a fully online business in 2019, which now helps to connect more than 2.5m businesses with consumers via the ��ɫ��Ƭ online marketplace, and further bolster their visibility with various digital marketing solutions.

Luke Taylor, Co-CEO of ��ɫ��Ƭ Ltd commented: “ ��ɫ��Ƭ has evolved a lot since we delivered the final copies of the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages in 2019, but we’ll never forget how the business started, and we can’t think of a better brand to bring back those origins with, than Selfridges. The parallels between both businesses go deeper than just the yellow and black branding, as both of us have been a constant in British life for decades now and have always been focused on offering the very best to our customers – be it helping someone to find the perfect outfit, or the ideal business for a variety of needs’ ’.

Discover who ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages has become today @ ��ɫ��Ƭ.com

To find out more about the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages, Directory of Now, visit: ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages | Selfridges

New Study Reveals Industries With The Most Confusing Jargon

2023-07-18T06:00:00Z

The study analysed thousands of words, phrases and acronyms to discover which job-focused jargon confuses us the most
IT and Telecoms ranked as the industry with the hardest to understand jargon, accounting for almost 54 million Google searches from people attempting to make sense of its often impenetrable language
Other industries with particularly difficult to understand vocabulary include finance, legal and marketing
The research also reveals the terms that baffle us the most with ‘CRM’ coming out on top

A new study by ��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed which industries perplex us the most when it comes to sector-specific language, as well as the buzz words and acronyms that prove the most difficult to understand.

Whether you’re buying a house, purchasing a new mobile phone or setting off on a DIY project, all of us encounter jargon on a daily basis, so ��ɫ��Ƭ used Google search data to discover the highest proportion of searches for ‘what does [jargon term] mean?’ and other similar queries.

Attracting nearly 54 million annual searches for a wide variety of terms including IP, VPN and bandwidth, the often impenetrable wording used by the IT and Telecoms industry cements it as the sector baffling outsiders and newcomers the most.

The world of finance is also notoriously tricky to navigate, with its abundance of antiquated phrases and terminology ranking it in second. There are almost 44 million annual searches from people hoping to define terms such as recession, APR and compound interest.

The Most Jargon-Heavy Industries

A wide range of sectors make up the top 15, with solicitors featuring third, closely followed by the marketing industry, agriculture and healthcare. Intriguingly, sports proved the easiest sector for people to understand, despite there being a large amount of sporting slang, such as ‘turnover’, ‘hat trick’ and ‘offside’.

The Terms and Phrases We Understand The Least

The study also analysed which specific terms and phrases prove the hardest for us to understand. ‘CRM’ (customer relationship management) tops the list, attracting nearly nine million annual searches. As a term that applies to those in leisure and retail, as well as people working in the world of sales and marketing, the technology is ever present in many of our working lives but is clearly still a source of confusion when it comes to understanding the acronym.

Other top terms that send people searching for their definitions reflect the times we are currently living in, with ‘recession’ the third most searched term and ‘algorithm’ ranking 11th. A term that describes the rules used by a computer system to make a calculation, algorithms, are often mentioned during the ongoing discussions around how social media platforms can dictate what content their users will be shown within their personal feeds.

The jargon terms that are the hardest to understand

To help people both within and outside of particularly jargon-heavy industries, ��ɫ��Ƭ has created a handy translation guide, which is available for free on their website.

Mark Clisby, Co-CEO of ��ɫ��Ƭ commented : “Jargon is everywhere in our daily lives, whether you’re buying a house, investing savings or trying to make sense of the current political landscape. Jargon clearly plays an important role in communication across almost all industries, however, overuse of it can make people disconnect from what you’re trying to say, especially if they’re not knowledgeable about the industry.

Whatever sector you work in and whether you are in a meeting, on a call or writing copy for your website or social channels, it’s important to find the simplest way of getting your point across to fellow workers, potential or existing customers. Some jargon may be unavoidable, but a good rule of thumb is to consider whether there is another word or phrase you can use which conveys the same meaning but has a higher likelihood of being understood.”

For more information on the study, and for ��ɫ��Ƭ’s downloadable translation guide of some of the most difficult to understand jargon, visit: https://business.yell.com/sme-insight/industries-with-the-most-jargon/

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Methodology

Google Keyword Planner was used to find both the most searched for jargon terms, as well as the most jargon heavy industries. To do this, ��ɫ��Ƭ created a list of terminology from 28 industries, compiling terms from online glossaries and jargon-based discussions, before using Google Keyword Planner to find the worldwide annual search volume for each, using the terms ‘what does [JARGON] mean’, ‘what is [JARGON]’ and ‘[JARGON] definition’. The volumes for each were combined to create the final ranking.

Data correct as of June 2023.

Side Hustle Society: New Study Reveals Which Professions have Second Jobs to Support their Lifestyle

2023-05-16T07:00:00Z

The study reveals that accountants are most likely to be supplementing their income with a ‘side hustle,’ as almost 1 in 10 accountants have a second job
Other professions that are particularly likely to have a job on the side of their main career, include software developers and those working in sales or administrative roles
The research also reveals the most popular side hustle choices, with Uber driver coming out on top, alongside writing roles such as becoming a part-time transcriptionist or proof reader

With ‘hustle culture’ a much-discussed term in 2023, a new study by ��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed which professions are most likely to have a ‘side hustle’, as well as the most popular choices when it comes to choosing a secondary source of income.

Using data sourced from YouGov to discover the professions that are most likely to have a second job, it’s accountants that come out on top. No strangers to understanding finances and making money work harder, it’s a profession blessed with multiple transferable skills that likely make it easier for accountants deciding to embark on a supplementary venture and income. In fact, almost 1 in 10 (9%) accountants were found to have second jobs.

Network managers, who help to design, install and run an organisation’s IT, data and telephone systems followed. Another profession with a wealth of transferrable skills, an obvious side hustle choice is to become a freelance IT consultant, or many will likely try their hand at some IT development work.

A wide range of professions follow to make up the top ten, including engineers, tradespeople and people working in sales or administrative roles. Interestingly, teachers fell just outside of the top ten, with 3% working a second role. This equates to almost 17,000 teachers in the UK alone, that are adding to their income with a side hustle.

The Professions That Are Most Likely To Have A Second Job

But what are all of these people doing to make more money, in their time outside of their primary career choice? ��ɫ��Ƭ used Google search data to find out, by analysing the number of people searching for common side hustle choices using terms such as ‘how to be a/an [side hustle name]’ and ‘[side hustle name] jobs.’

With many people in the working world also having a driving licence, becoming a driver for an app such as Uber or Lyft is a somewhat simple step to make, so could come as no surprise that it ranks as the most popular side hustle choice in 2023. Offering the opportunity to pick and choose your hours, and how much work you actually take on, there’s an obvious appeal to a whole host of ‘behind the wheel’ professions.

Flexibility is a theme that continues through the top spots, with other popular choices including freelance positions and roles such as being a transcriptionist, proof-reader or writer, all of which often allow you to choose when and how long you’re working for. However, the results also reveal that a second job can be something that allows you to indulge your interests a little more than your main source of income potentially offers, with the likes of dog walker, photographer and artist also ranking.

The 15 Most Popular Side Hustles in 2023

The Fastest Growing Side Hustles

With modern life and technology moving at such a fast pace, the study also looked at the side hustle options that are growing in popularity the fastest. Comparing the number of Google searches in late 2022 to early 2023, it's clear that the world of Esports (professional gaming) continues to expand, with a 30% increase in people searching for how they can get in on the sizeable prize money offered to Esports players, many of which start out on the side of their original career or studies.

Elsewhere, the creative draw of becoming a part-time nail artist has grown by 24%, while the popularity of the flexible incomes offered by becoming a transcriptionist (+23%), proof-reader (+22%) or Uber driver (+22%) continue to boom.

Mark Clisby, Co-CEO of ��ɫ��Ƭ commented: “ Supplementing your income in various ways has become a lot more popular in recent years, with modern technologies and business making it easier to earn more and live a more comfortable life financially.

For some though, having a second job is a necessity, especially within the current cost-of-living crisis. Whilst at times having a ‘side hustle’ can be romanticised, it's worth remembering the stress some people can be under when having to work in two jobs simultaneously to make ends meet.

Be it a passion project or a necessity, mental health is paramount, so our advice would always be to work out whether your ‘side hustle’ is manageable and will not be a detriment to your own time or health. For some, it could also be worth assessing whether your ‘job on the side’ could actually end up being more fruitful than what you currently view as your primary career. If so, it could be worth taking the leap, and prioritising it full-time, as its often how great businesses can get their start! ”

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Methodology

Data relating to the professions most likely to have a second job, was sourced from YouGov Profiles on 26th March 2023, by ranking the percentage of each profession surveyed by YouGov, that currently have a job outside of their primary profession.

16,914 teachers that currently have a second job, based on 3% of the 563,831 teachers working in the UK, as detailed by UK Government Education Statistics .

Google Keyword Planner was used to find both the ‘most popular’ side hustles, as well as those that are growing in popularity the most. To do this, ��ɫ��Ƭ created a list of over 100 professions regularly cited online as being popular ‘side hustles’ and used Google Keyword Planner to find the worldwide search volume for each, using the terms ‘how to be a/an [side hustle name]’ and ‘[side hustle name] jobs’. The volumes for each were combined to create the final ranking.

To ascertain which are growing in popularity the most, the same terms were used, however search volumes Sept-Nov 2022 and Dec ‘22-Feb 2023 were compared, to create the +/- percentage ranking.

Data correct as of April 2023.

New Campaign urges Consumers to ‘Just ��ɫ��Ƭ’ when in need of any service

2023-04-05T08:18:32Z

Five years on from delivering the final printed copies of ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages, ��ɫ��Ƭ’s new advertising campaign reminds consumers that they’re still on hand to help
The digital-first campaign will run in key areas in the North and Midlands, before rolling out across the rest of the UK
‘Just ��ɫ��Ƭ’ will also run across regional radio stations including Capital, Heart and Smooth

��ɫ��Ƭ has launched a new ad campaign using its strapline of ‘Whatever you need, just ��ɫ��Ƭ,’ to remind consumers that ��ɫ��Ƭ is on hand to help whenever they need to find a local service, be it a plumber, decorator, solicitor or more.

The ‘Just ��ɫ��Ƭ’ ad campaign focuses on how, since publishing the final editions of the 53-year-spanning ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages, ��ɫ��Ƭ has evolved into a leading online marketplace for local services. Now connecting consumers with businesses online, it enables consumers to post job enquiries for businesses to respond to, message businesses instantly, access reviews and more.

“Fill it. Paint it. Light it”, as one of the adverts states; “Whatever you need, just ��ɫ��Ƭ.”

With businesses able to create a free profile to appear across the ��ɫ��Ƭ network which includes Apple, Amazon Alexa and Microsoft platforms, the aim is to drive their online visibility, helping connect more consumers with local businesses to meet their needs.

Following a successful advertising trial in Newcastle last year which saw the area score the highest search volume behind London during that period, the ‘Just ��ɫ��Ƭ’ campaign will run for an initial two-month period in the Midlands and North areas of the UK, before being rolled out across the rest of the UK. Digital ads will run across social, search, display and apps such as Nextdoor, while a radio ad will run on key commercial local radio stations including Capital, Smooth and Heart.

Luke Taylor, Co-CEO of ��ɫ��Ƭ commented: “ ��ɫ��Ƭ has evolved a huge amount over the last decade - from saying farewell to the printed ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages to becoming a fully digital platform that helps millions of consumers find the right business for their needs wherever they are, across multiple devices.

“ However, one thing remains the same: ��ɫ��Ƭ helps connect consumers to local businesses, and after a positive advertising trial in Newcastle, we’re excited to roll this activity out further to keep supporting and building these connections. ”

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Almost 1 Million UK Businesses Have £1,000 or Less In Savings

2023-03-15T09:02:55Z

A new study by ��ɫ��Ƭ reveals that over 1 in 6 SMEs in the United Kingdom have £1,000 or less saved to help them stay afloat during a downturn in revenue
The research, which surveyed business leaders across the UK also highlights that 1 in 10 aren’t confident their business will still be afloat in just six months’ time
NerdWallet’s business finance expert Connor Campbell gives his tips for how businesses can save more - from negotiating with suppliers to reviewing utility providers

New research by ��ɫ��Ƭ has revealed the concerning financial tightrope many UK business leaders are walking, as almost one million SMEs have £1,000 or less saved, to help them survive any decline in their revenue.

The study, which surveyed just over 500 leaders of SME businesses within the UK, sought to uncover the financial landscape owners are currently facing, following a tumultuous three-year period marred by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis.

With almost half (45%) of business leaders in the UK stating they can save significantly less now, than they could three years ago prior to the start of the pandemic, it’s no surprise that savings levels are so low. Based on the 5.5 million SMEs currently trading within the UK, the 17% that admit to having £1,000 or less saved, amounts to just shy of one million (935,214) businesses with extremely slim savings.

As experts suggest that businesses should have 3-6 months of operating costs saved in the bank, this paints a particularly worrying picture, especially as the research also found that 1 in 10 businesses with up to 49 employees have no savings whatsoever, putting the jobs of millions at risk.

The Cost of No Confidence

The ongoing cost of living crisis is undoubtedly having an impact on businesses having the ability to save, as 1 in 10 (10%) SMEs say they can't save anything each month, with a further 9% also only able to save up to £200 per month. For sole traders, this is even more of a concern, as 1 in 3 currently don’t save anything to help keep their business buoyant each month.

Inflated costs and low savings are certain to have a knock-on-effect on the confidence of those at the top, and ��ɫ��Ƭ’s study goes on to show that 2023 could be a troubling year for many. 1 in 10 (amounting to 550,126 UK businesses) aren’t confident they’ll be afloat in six months’ time, a number that rises again when looking further towards 2024, with 13% of all UK SMEs not feeling confident they will still be trading 12 months from now.

This lack of confidence is more prevalent in certain parts of the country than others, with more business leaders in London feeling the pinch of what is an already expensive location to run a business and worrying whether they will still be around come 2024.

The Regions Where Small Business Confidence Is At Its Lowest

The Cost of No Confidence

With some news reports showing that the cost-of-living crisis could last until 2027, many business leaders will be wondering what they can do to enable themselves to save more, and add more security to both their livelihoods, and those of their employees.

To help, ��ɫ��Ƭ has worked with Business Finance Expert Connor Campbell from comparison site NerdWallet, who commented:

“Cutting costs without sacrificing quality is a balancing act. Whenever you look to make a saving, you should ask yourself whether it will materially impact the quality of your service or product. If it will, those savings may lead to greater losses down the line. However, there are a few areas that you can look at:

Suppliers - If you are sourcing supplies, is there a cheaper version of the same product that will not harm the quality of your own offering? Or can you negotiate your deal with your existing suppliers, and see if they can bring their prices down?
Utilities - Similarly, can you reduce the cost of your utilities? This could be finding a cheaper broadband provider, looking into energy saving measures to reduce your electricity and gas usage, or even switching business energy suppliers entirely.
Check your subscriptions usage - Are there any services your business is paying for that you don’t use - or don’t use enough - that you can get rid of? Can you replace any of these services with cheaper versions, or even free alternatives?
Don’t be afraid to raise your own costs - You may need to consider raising your own costs. If so, you need to find the sweet spot between increasing the price of an item or service enough that it allows you to save more, but without it alienating your customer base and driving people away.

“ Where business have cut all the costs they can, the most important thing is to then minimise exposure to risk. For example, locking in contracts for longer periods of time is one way of doing this - if businesses can afford their outgoings at present, ensuring those prices don’t change for the foreseeable future is an effective way to strengthen their financial position. ”

Mark Clisby, Co-CEO at ��ɫ��Ƭ added , ‘’ There is currently a lot of discussion around personal savings, and this feedback from UK SMEs is a good reminder of the importance of regularly reviewing where to invest and where to make savings.

Quite often, a common reaction can be to cease marketing activity, but time and again we see this as a counterproductive option. Marketing is required to bring in new customers and keep revenue coming in and your competitors may be increasing their media investment, so will be more prominent. As Connor outlined, the likes of suppliers, subscriptions and utilities are smart places to start, before making decisions that may be too drastic. ”

For the full findings, in addition to further tips and advice for businesses, visit: https://business.yell.com/sme-insight/slim-savings/

Methodology

We partnered with Censuswide to survey 503 UK SME owners/managers, asking them a range of questions about the amount their business has in savings, how their ability to save has changed and how they feel about the future.

Responses were analysed nationally, as well as by industry sector, region, number of employees and business turnover. Those with under 30 respondents (e.g., business owners based in the North East, Wales, and Northern Ireland) were omitted from any regional/sector specific breakdowns.

Survey conducted in February 2023.

New Report Reveals Most AI-Savvy Cities In The UK

2022-08-09T09:08:08Z

An extensive report by ��ɫ��Ƭ into the use of artificial intelligence (AI) has revealed how consumers are engaging with the technology, and using it to interact with businesses
The report, which surveyed over 2,000 consumers and more than 1,000 UK business leaders also reveals the cities with the most AI-savvy residents - with Cardiff taking the top spot
Compiled over 37 pages of in-depth analysis, the report also highlights the current challenges that AI technology faces, such as lack of consumer trust

A new report from ��ɫ��Ƭ focusing on how consumers use AI technologies and use them to interact with businesses, has revealed which cities around the UK are currently the most confident with the technology.

With AI-based household tech such as smart speakers and online tools such as chatbots and smart-saving apps already revolutionising the way we conduct our daily lives; ��ɫ��Ƭ’s report delves into more detail about how we interact with the technology. By using insight gained from extensive surveys with over 2,000 consumers from across the country, the findings help to shine a light on current attitudes towards AI, and how businesses could shape the way they operate as a result.

Namely, the report reveals that Cardiff is currently the most AI-savvy city based on the number of consumers already using the technology on a regular basis, with 23% of residents saying that they use AI tech daily. This puts the city significantly above the national average of 15%.

Despite London being the centre of technological advances and a stereotypically tech-savvy city, in this instance the capital falls just outside of the top ten, in 11 ^th place with 14% of Londoners using AI every day.

The Most AI-Savvy Cities

Looking more closely at how the use of AI has increased over recent years, it’s to be expected that many of the top cities for current AI usage have seen the most dramatic increase in use of the tech over the past 10 years. However, looking ahead to the next 10 years, Liverpool is the city that is predicted to see the most dramatic future increase in AI uptake. With two thirds (66%) of Liverpudlians predicting that they’ll use the tech daily, the city will see a 47% increase in those using AI vs today.

Top of The Tech - Which AI Tech Is Most Popular Around the Country?

Although Cardiff may be the most AI-savvy city in 2022, when survey respondents were asked which types of AI tech they use the most (regardless of the frequency with which they use it), the results highlighted some clear differences across the nation.

Nationally, banking apps are the most popular form of AI-based tech, with 59% of the population using them to help manage their finances more efficiently - although, in some cities such as Belfast, this figure is much higher with almost three quarters (72%) of residents using this form of tech.

In three cities across the UK, the most popular form of AI tech is digital assistants such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa devices. Glasgow is the city with the highest usage of this tech, at 62%, with Newcastle (57%), Norwich (55%) and Sheffield (48%) residents using the devices more than any other form of AI-based tech.

Looking at each of these key technologies in isolation, there are some cities where some types of AI-tech are much more popular than the national average - for example, Belfast residents are the stand-out favourites of savvy financial planning, while smart home set-ups such as apps to control heating and lighting are particularly favoured by those in Brighton.

Claire Miles, Chief Executive Officer of ��ɫ��Ƭ commented: “ Many of us have lived through the digital revolution with first, personal computers, then mobile devices and now AI, changing the way that we conduct our daily lives and interact with the world around us.

“ As with any new technology, there will always be early adopters, however it’s interesting to see how different cities are further ahead with their shift to AI than others. With consumers becoming more comfortable with the AI technology, different marketplaces and ways of booking a job, getting an instant response by chatbot, paying securely online, this is an evolving area for businesses to take note of. For example, businesses in Cardiff may do well to ensure they’re introducing and utilising AI within their customer-facing operations, given that people in their locality are happy to use it. Likewise for Glasgow-based businesses, where a third of people are happy to use chatbots, significantly above the national average. ”

To read the full report and discover further insights into AI and its impact on business and consumers, visit: https://business.yell.com/sme-insight/the-artificial-intelligence-report/

ENDS

Methodology

Survey conducted in partnership with Censuswide in March 2022 to the following respondents:

· 2,003 UK consumers

· 1,008 UK business leaders

��ɫ��Ƭ delighted to be part of Business Reporter’s ‘Best of British’ campaign

2022-07-13T14:16:42Z

��ɫ��Ƭ was invited to be part of a ‘Best of British Business’ campaign with Business Reporter and Independent Media Group which has gone live today, Wednesday 13 July 2022.

You can view the Best of British digital magazine here where ��ɫ��Ƭ and other participants are represented including Rolls-Royce DHL and Procter & Gamble.

In the video, you can hear Ashley Blake, the presenter, and Claire Miles, ��ɫ��Ƭ’s CEO discussing how SMEs fared during Covid, what ��ɫ��Ƭ learned from the pandemic and how ��ɫ��Ƭ is evolving its online platform, alongside offering expert digital marketing services.

New Report Reveals Businesses Could Save Over £29,000 Per Year With Artificial Intelligence

2022-06-29T10:16:15Z

An extensive report by ��ɫ��Ƭ into the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in business has revealed the significant time and money savings the technology can bring
The report, which surveyed over 2,000 consumers and more than 1,000 business leaders also reveals the industries that stand to make the most by adopting AI
Compiled over 37 pages of in-depth analysis, the report also highlights the current challenges that AI technology faces, such as lack of consumer trust and job loss fears

A new report from ��ɫ��Ƭ focusing on the growing potential of using AI in business has revealed the impressive time, money and effort savings, companies around the world could stand to make.

With data showing that AI in some form, is already used in 83% of UK businesses, ��ɫ��Ƭ’s report delves into more detail about this rapidly evolving technology. By using insight gained from extensive surveys with consumers and business leaders, the findings help to shine a light on current attitudes towards AI and the benefits to large and small businesses.

Namely, the report reveals that by adopting AI such as chatbots and automated financial reporting, businesses can save an average of nearly 40 hours each week, or 2,075 hours per year.

This substantial time saving also translates to revenue, with UK business leaders surveyed stating that AI can help them to substantially cut operational costs. Based on the savings outlined by those surveyed, this equates to average savings of more than £29,000 each year. For certain sectors, AI becomes even more inviting, with the likes of the Automotive and Commercial Services industries able to save upwards of £40,000 per year, simply by adopting more AI solutions.

The Sectors That Stand To Save The Most Money With AI

Time and cost savings aside, the report also outlines the huge money-making potential of AI, particularly where digital voice assistants such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa are concerned. Currently, 29% of UK consumers are willing to spend an average of £92 on purchases made via voice assistants, equating to a potential market of more than £1.8 billion in the UK alone.

The Hurdles Faced For Wider AI Adoption

Despite this great potential, ��ɫ��Ƭ’s report highlights potential barriers to AI being fully integrated into business plans moving forward. For the business leaders surveyed, these barriers include a lack of knowledge, with 30% stating they would benefit from training with various AI technologies, but mainly, there were strong concerns over human job losses. 67% of business leaders surveyed stated they were concerned that advancements in AI would result in job losses, creating a challenging landscape for business owners who want to benefit from cost and time savings, but avoid making redundancies.

For consumers, the main barriers centred around trust, with many expressing concerns about using AI such as voice assistants. 75% feel worried that their data will fall into the wrong hands, 68% have concerns about strangers hacking their devices and interestingly, 50% of the UK population are concerned about the government listening in to their conversations, via a voice assistant.

The Future Growth of AI

On the other side of the coin, the full report concludes that AI, with its huge profit potential is not only here to stay but should see continued growth in the coming years. There is a market that expects even more AI-driven personalisation, with more than 1 in 10 (13%) of consumers stating they would like to see more personalised adverts, with 8% admitting they would even share details of their family to gain this level of hyper-personalisation.

According to the data, the younger demographic will be the key drivers of this growth, as 16–25-year-olds are already willing to spend more than the national average via voice assistants (£150 vs. £92). This age group also actively wants their interactions with businesses to become more automated and less face-to-face, with 87% stating they would prefer the likes of product buying, complaints and appointment scheduling to be more automated.

Claire Miles, Chief Executive Officer of ��ɫ��Ƭ commented: “ The digital revolution has already changed many aspects of our everyday lives, both at home and at work.

It seems we are on the verge of another revolution with AI, with the time-saving and money-making capabilities of the technology being an absolute game-changer. The responsibility is now on business leaders of the world to ensure that any form of artificial intelligence is implemented properly, with the right security measures to alleviate trust and privacy concerns, as well as using it effectively and sensitively to create more specialised jobs, as the way we all work changes ”.

To read the full report and discover further insights into AI and its impact on business and consumers, visit: https://business.yell.com/sme-insight/the-artificial-intelligence-report/

ENDS

Notes to editors

Methodology

Survey conducted in partnership with Censuswide in March 2022 to the following respondents:

2,003 UK consumers
1,008 UK business leaders

£1.8 billion potential spend via digital voice assistants calculated using average purchase amount of £92.32 multiplied by the 29% of the UK population that currently spend via voice assistants (19,872,849 based on the current UK population of 68,527,067. Source: worldometers.info)

Llandudno in Wales is the Start-Up Capital of the UK

2022-02-15T10:10:01Z

New research using Companies House data has revealed where most new businesses were formed in 2021 per capita, with Llandudno ranking first, above Redhill and Tunbridge Wells
The study, conducted by ��ɫ��Ƭ Business also found that despite the challenges of 2021, more start-ups were founded than during pre-pandemic 2019 (718,441 businesses vs. 691,127)
Retail is the fastest growing sector in the UK, with 119,948 new retail businesses formed through 2021, followed by professional services and real estate

New analysis of Companies House data by ��ɫ��Ƭ Business has revealed that Llandudno in Wales is the start-up capital of the UK, with more businesses formed in the Welsh coastal town per capita, than anywhere else during 2021.

The report, that looked at every business formed in the UK during 2021, helps to show that despite another challenging year, the entrepreneurial spirit of the UK is alive and well, with more businesses founded per month in 2021 than in 2020, or even during pre-pandemic 2019.

With an average of 13% more new businesses founded each month in 2021 vs. 2019, the analysis pinpointed which areas of the UK were the most entrepreneurial, by calculating the number of new businesses formed in each location while factoring in population size. The research shows that big business doesn’t just start in the city, the humble Welsh town of Llandudno took the top spot, while Surrey’s Redhill and Tunbridge Wells in Kent followed.

Cheshire also stands out as being the most entrepreneurial county in the UK, with Chester, Stockport and Warrington all featuring in the top 20.

The 20 Areas That Saw the Most New Businesses Founded in 2021

Of the impressive 718,441 UK businesses that were founded up to and including November 2021, Retail was the industry that saw the biggest boom, with 119,948 start-ups registered within the sector, accounting for 16% of all new business ventures. This was closely followed by businesses offering Professional Services and Real Estate companies.

The 10 Fastest Growing Sectors in 2021

Claire Miles, Chief Executive Officer of ��ɫ��Ƭ commented: “ With the challenges of the last two years, we might expect to find that fewer people were deciding to take the leap into the world of starting their own business. However, the data clearly shows that it has potentially inspired more people to take ownership of what they do for a living and finally make the dream of running their own business come true.

With the background of the pandemic and numerous economic and supply chain challenges, it’s really encouraging to see that the entrepreneurial spirit of the UK is continuing to grow year on year. We look forward to working with some of these new business owners in 2022, to help make their venture a success ”.

��ɫ��Ƭ’s extensive research also revealed where budding entrepreneurs could find the biggest opportunities for certain business types. This was achieved by analysing Google search demand for the likes of ‘London accountants’ versus the actual number of businesses offering the particular service in each area. Revealing that demand for businesses such as hairdressers in Oxford far outweighs the supply and therefore could present an opportunity for any stylists looking to go it alone.

Further breakdowns of these findings can be found in the full report published on: https://business.yell.com/sme-insight/the-entrepreneurial-spirit-of-the-uk

ENDS

Notes to editors

Methodology

��ɫ��Ƭ Business used data from Companies House that detailed the businesses formed from the 1 ^st January 2021 to the 30 ^th November 2021. The number of businesses formed within each UK postcode was then calculated against each area’s population size to give a fair ranking of where most new businesses were formed in 2021. Companies House data detailing the businesses formed in 2019 and 2020 was also used.

Data from Google Keyword Planner was then used to find the search volume for specific location-based business searches and divided by the number of businesses listed on Google for offering that service to the local area. All data correct as of January 2022.

��ɫ��Ƭ wins two awards for Customer Service

2021-10-20T09:14:25Z

��ɫ��Ƭ is delighted to announce that Gemma Colby, Head of Customer Experience, won the Gold award for CX Leader of the Year at the UK Customer Experience Awards on 14 October 2021.

This award recognises the fantastic leadership Gemma has provided over the last 18 months at ��ɫ��Ƭ. Some of the achievements highlighted were:

Establishing Net Promoter Score as a key customer satisfaction metric
Developing and introducing our Customer Panel, where we engage with real customers about what matters to them
Keeping the customer experience front of mind through CX Forums, People Panels, call listening and transcript reviews.

Furthermore, on 19 October at the Institute of Customer Service’s UK Customer Satisfaction Awards , ��ɫ��Ƭ’s Smart Performance solution won the Customer Satisfaction Innovation Award.

This reflects ��ɫ��Ƭ’s commitment to improve customer experience through best-in-class technology, to successfully deliver and increase business reach and engagement with consumers online.

New study reveals SMEs could be losing up to 54% of online revenue by not updating their website

2021-07-13T09:46:24Z

��ɫ��Ƭ has released findings showing consumers spend 54% less per month on average, on websites that have not been updated regularly, versus those that have.
The report, which analysed over 1,000,000 SME (Small & Medium-sized Enterprises) websites also revealed many businesses are neglecting to update their websites, with the average site last updated 15 months ago.
51% of SMEs say that it is costly to update their website.

��ɫ��Ƭ today released new research into how small businesses are managing their online presence in light of the pandemic, and how, as we come out of lockdown in the UK, getting your website right has never been more important.

The research identified an effective online presence as a key driver for sales and enquiries for SMEs. 80% of businesses stated that their website and social media presence were the most important aspects for generating leads and sales, closely followed by digital marketing and branding (both 79%). 34% of businesses stated that they thought their website was unimportant before the pandemic, but now think that it is important and over one in three SMEs (35%) think that their business would not survive without a website.

Consumers are increasingly seeking out businesses online too. On average, 69% of consumers are either likely or very likely to seek out a business online before making a purchase or booking in a service. This trend looks set to continue beyond the pandemic, with 36% of respondents planning to make most of their purchases online following the lifting of all restrictions.

Content is king

Of the 1 million websites analysed, on average, websites were last updated an estimated 15 months ago, revealing that many SMEs are neglecting to update them regularly, with trades and transport websites being the least frequently updated (both 20 months on average).

��ɫ��Ƭ’s research shows that this could have a direct impact on revenue from online sales, with the study finding that consumers spend 54% less per month on average on websites that have not been updated regularly versus those that have. Moreover, when consumers were asked what element of a business’s website would most likely increase their chances of making a purchase or booking a service with that business, 42% stated that it was a website having up-to-date information.

The most common reason amongst SMEs for not updating or amending their website was a lack of expertise (34% of respondents). 31% of SMEs noted lack of time as a major factor, 30% were afraid of something going wrong that could break their current site and 26% believed they simply don’t have the money to make changes to their website. Interestingly, 51% agreed that it was costly to update their website.

Designed for success

According to SMEs, design is the most important part of their website (48% of respondents) and this is reflected in consumer behaviour too. Half of consumers surveyed stated that they would be less likely to give a website their business if it was badly designed and 41% said they would not use that business again.

However, the analysis of websites showed that 13% of websites contained text too small to be read on a mobile device. Furthermore, 34% of businesses had a website with horizontal scrolling on mobile devices, a common complaint amongst mobile users, and nearly 1 in 5 (19%) were not optimised for mobile at all.

Speed is of the essence

With 36% of consumers stating that they would be less likely to give a company their business if their website was slow to use and 9% saying they would even post a negative comment about their experience on social media, site speed is another incredibly important factor for SMEs.

On average, the analysis found that it took 6.7 seconds for a business’s website’s page to go from a blank screen to a visually complete state. The industries with the slowest websites on average, were travel (7.7 seconds), family entertainment (7.7 seconds) and sports and leisure (7.5 seconds). The fastest loading websites identified in the research were pet companies (5.8 seconds), waste businesses (6 seconds) and workshop trades (6.1 seconds).

Claire Miles, Chief Executive Officer of ��ɫ��Ƭ commented:

"It’s been an incredibly tough time for businesses across the country. The pandemic has forced them to adapt quickly and has led to a widespread adoption of digital services at speed. Whilst these digital services have been crucial for businesses to survive the past 16 months, our insights show that this trend towards digital is set to continue long past the pandemic. Therefore, it is crucial for SMEs to be getting their digital strategy right and an effective website will always be at the heart of that.

Our research highlights just how important an effective website is in helping to drive sales and leads, which is why ��ɫ��Ƭ is delighted to have enhanced its website product by teaming up with Wix, combining our digital expertise and customer service with one of the world's leading web development platforms to create websites that are easy to update, secure and professionally designed.”

To access further stats from the study and get tips and advice from ��ɫ��Ƭ on how to make your online presence the best it can be, please visit: https://business.yell.com/sme-insight/cant-see-the-web-for-the-trees/

- ENDS -

Notes to editors

Methodology

Survey of 1,011 UK SME owners conducted in March 2021 by Censuswide on behalf of ��ɫ��Ƭ Business.

Survey of 2,039 UK consumers aged 16 and above conducted in March 2021 by Censuswide on behalf of ��ɫ��Ƭ Business.

Website analysis conducted by Insites on behalf of ��ɫ��Ƭ in May 2021.

Contact

Alexander Jones, alex@propellernet.co.uk

Stephen Baker, stephen@propellernet.co.uk

��ɫ��Ƭ & Wix announce partnership offering Smart Website technology to SMEs

2021-07-06T09:33:52Z

��ɫ��Ƭ, the UK’s No.1 provider of managed digital marketing services*, today announced a new partnership with Wix , a leading global SaaS platform to create, manage and grow an online presence. This strategic alliance brings together two market-leading digital companies to help SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) in the UK to build and grow their business online.

Wix will be the technology provider for ��ɫ��Ƭ’s new ‘Smart Websites - powered by Wix’ enabling ��ɫ��Ƭ’s digital experts to offer their SME customers a faster customised website or online store build, with a broader range of functionality than ever before. These sites will be optimised for all devices as standard and SSL certified, providing a fast, secure, and engaging online experience for visitors.

In addition, to further support SMEs as they build their business profile post lockdown, the new Smart Websites also offer extensive analytics, built-in Customer Relationship Management capabilities, automated task triggers, appointment and restaurant bookings, event management facilitation and acceptance of credit cards and other forms of payments.

Yaniv Vakrat - Wix Chief Business Officer, said:

"We’re thrilled to bring Wix’s platform to the tens of thousands of businesses working with ��ɫ��Ƭ. This collaboration provides ��ɫ��Ƭ customers with a professionally designed and secure website, optimised for all search engines and devices and most importantly, gives them the ability to build and grow their online business. Consumers are increasingly shopping and searching online, and business owners need to ensure they have a great online presence to meet this demand. Our partnership allows ��ɫ��Ƭ to continue providing their customers with market leading solutions."

Claire Miles, ��ɫ��Ƭ CEO, said:

"This partnership with Wix ensures we can offer a truly unique website proposition to UK SMEs. We know SMEs have had to be creative in keeping their businesses up and running during the pandemic and they’ve told us a key priority is being able to establish a prominent and successful online presence. We can now meet this need in better ways than ever before, with our digital experts building brilliant websites packed with enhanced functionality using the world class Wix platform, and our customer care agents providing ongoing support for customers once their website is up and running. We chose Wix as our partner as their market-leading technology and ongoing commitment to invest in their platform ensures we will always be able to offer a best-in-class solution to our customers."

��ɫ��Ƭ customers can take advantage of this ground-breaking partnership by visiting https://business.yell.com/websites/

- ENDS -

About Wix.com Ltd.

Wix is leading the way with a cloud-based website development platform for over 200 million registered users worldwide today. The Wix website builder was founded on the belief that the Internet should be accessible to everyone to develop, create and contribute. Through free and premium subscriptions, Wix empowers millions of businesses, organizations, artists, and individuals to take their businesses, brands, and workflow online. The Wix Editor, Wix ADI, Editor X, a curated App Market, Ascend by Wix and Velo by Wix enable users to build and manage a fully integrated and dynamic digital presence. Wix's headquarters are in Tel Aviv with offices in Austin, Be'er Sheva, Berlin, Cedar Rapids, Denver, Dnipro, Dublin, Kiev, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, São Paulo, Tokyo, and Vilnius.

Visit us: on our blog , Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , LinkedIn and Pinterest .

Download: Wix App is available for free on Google Play and in the App Store .

For more about Wix please visit our Press Room

Media Relations Contact: PR@wix.com

New study reveals instant messaging services are key for SMEs to thrive post Covid-19

2020-11-10T11:23:03Z

��ɫ��Ƭ Business has released findings of a new report showing over half (53%) of SMEs state that instant messaging is key for business success post Covid-19
Over three quarters (76%) of businesses have introduced new ways of communicating with their customers as a result of the pandemic
76% of businesses have introduced a new service as a result of Covid-19
71% of SME owners are optimistic about the success of their business in 2021

November 2020: ��ɫ��Ƭ Business has today released new research into how small businesses have adapted to survive in light of Covid-19 and how the pandemic is changing the way businesses and consumers communicate.

The new study reveals the scale of the challenge business owners have faced in recent months with three quarters (76%) of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) introducing a new service as a result of Covid-19. Of those SMEs introducing new services:

34% started doing online video consultations or viewings
32% have started taking online bookings
25% introduced contactless payment systems
25% started home delivery services

Over half (52%) of businesses who introduced a new service said it was crucial for them to be able to survive the pandemic, with 88% of businesses stating they plan on continuing the service post Covid-19.

Who’s getting the message?

The research also identified how the global pandemic has accelerated changes in the ways businesses are communicating with their customers. Over three quarters (76%) of SMEs have introduced new ways of communicating in 2020 with instant messaging platforms coming to the fore. Over one in five (21%) have started using WhatsApp and 20% have started using online video calling to communicate with customers. 17% of SMEs have started texting their customers for the first time whilst 9% have implemented chatbots.

While a phone call and email are still ingrained as the most popular communication methods for SMEs and consumers alike, the most effective marketing communication tool used by businesses during the pandemic was found to be a Facebook page. When asked whether the tool had been either ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ effective since March’s national lockdown, 51% of businesses stated that it had. Text messaging (50%), email newsletters (48%), Facebook Messenger (47%), WhatsApp (46%) and an Instagram account (43%) followed.

Getting the message in an instant

The emergence of instant messaging tools such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and other social messaging platforms as vital communication tools for businesses was identified in the research. Over half (53%) of SMEs surveyed said that instant messaging is key for business success post Covid-19, whilst 39% stated they had seen an uplift in enquiries thanks to using instant messaging services during the pandemic. 38% said that they had seen increased customer satisfaction and 33% saw an uplift in repeat business.

Choosing the correct channel to communicate with customers was found to have far reaching benefits for businesses too. ��ɫ��Ƭ’s research revealed that over a third (36%) of consumers would be more likely to buy from a business that communicated with them on their preferred channel. 28% of consumers would be more likely to recommend the business to a friend and 24% would be more likely to spend more with that business. Conversely, if an SME communicated with a customer on the wrong channel, 37% of consumers wouldn’t use that business again and 18% would even leave a bad review for the business.

Optimism in the face of adversity

Despite the challenges brought on by Covid-19, businesses remain positive for the future. 71% of SME owners state that they are optimistic about the success of their business in 2021 and, on average, 71% of SMEs said they were more prepared to deal with another lockdown.

Claire Miles, Chief Executive Officer of ��ɫ��Ƭ commented:

“ The last six months have been incredibly tough for small businesses across the country but it’s heartening to see that the majority of SMEs remain optimistic in the face of adversity. Our diverse local businesses are the cornerstones of community, which is why it’s crucial that now, more than ever, ��ɫ��Ƭ continues to champion small businesses and provide the digital tools and insights needed for them to thrive.

Our research highlights not only the sheer adaptability of SMEs but also their determination to find the right way to communicate change to their existing and potential customers. It’s clear that during these uncertain times, instant messaging services have been a lifeline to businesses who have had to adapt and adjust their models quickly. Instant messaging facilitates timely and conversational communication between businesses and consumers and as the findings show, many SMEs will still be relying on these services to succeed post pandemic. "

To access further stats from the study and get tips and advice from ��ɫ��Ƭ Business on how to communicate effectively with customers, please visit: https://business.yell.com/sme-insight/whos-getting-the-message/

- ENDS -

Notes to editors

Methodology

Survey of 1,006 SME owners conducted in September 2020 by Censuswide on behalf of ��ɫ��Ƭ Business.

Consumer survey conducted in September 2020 by Censuswide on behalf of ��ɫ��Ƭ Business to 2,009 UK residents aged 16 and above.

Have you heard who's talking to Alexa?

2020-11-03T09:27:14Z

��ɫ��Ƭ is delighted to announce the launch of a new collaboration with Amazon which will enhance the opportunity for millions of the UK’s small and medium business enterprises (SMEs) to be found by end consumers, using Alexa-enabled devices.

In today’s challenging environment, it’s important that end consumers can search for and find business details about SMEs in various channels, including Alexa. Simply say "Alexa, I need a local plumber" or "Alexa, can you recommend a local hairdresser in Manchester?"

From October, over 2.5m of ��ɫ��Ƭ customers in the UK are discoverable via Alexa. The rich content includes consumer reviews, opening hours, images, and other business information.

This agreement adds to similar arrangements that ��ɫ��Ƭ has in place with Apple and Bing as ��ɫ��Ƭ looks to build out the value it provides to all businesses listed on ��ɫ��Ƭ.com; the UK's No.1 online business directory1.

Claire Miles, CEO of ��ɫ��Ƭ said:

"We’re always looking at how we can broaden the channels from which our customers can be found. With many of us spending more time in our homes, it’s key to enable end consumers to search for and find the local businesses or services they need, through their preferred choices of digital channel. We know that ownership of voice-activated smart speakers in Great Britain has grown by 35% since 20192 and over two-thirds of owners interact with their voice assistants on a daily basis3.

"This arrangement with Amazon, and their fantastic cloud-based voice service Alexa, now makes it even easier for end consumers to ask for local business information straightaway."

Sources:

1. ��ɫ��Ƭ.com has more visits than other business directories for all types of businesses. SimilarWeb December 2019

2. Statista Q1 2020

3. Populus Data Solutions/ One Pol 2019

��ɫ��Ƭ launches free new Messaging service in collaboration with LivePerson

2020-07-01T08:21:48Z

��ɫ��Ƭ is delighted to announce the launch of ��ɫ��Ƭ Messaging, in collaboration with LivePerson and using Apple Business Chat - a new way for users to communicate directly with companies using the Messages app on Apple products.

In today’s challenging environment, it is essential that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can interact with consumers seamlessly, using the latest virtual AI technology to assist them. This new free service offers support and ease of use to both businesses and their customers.

With this new service, when a consumer searches for a local supplier who has activated messaging, they will be presented with an option to start a Business Chat. If they tap on the Messages button, a conversation with the company will instantly open in the Messages app, and users can take their time responding when it’s convenient. The ��ɫ��Ƭ bot, Hartley, will assist with responses to a set of frequently asked questions before passing the customer through to their business of choice.

The new ��ɫ��Ƭ Messaging functionality is initially available via ��ɫ��Ƭ.com, through Apple Maps and Spotlight search on iPhone and iPad. The service also incorporates Apple’s new Chat Suggest feature, which offers the option to start a messaging conversation when a customer taps to call a business.

Claire Miles, CEO of ��ɫ��Ƭ Ltd commented: "Consumers now expect to be able to contact businesses around the clock and on the go. Conversational commerce has become a key digital trend, with 70% of consumers using a private messaging channel to engage with a brand and discuss their requirements.

"The new ��ɫ��Ƭ Messaging service not only provides our customers with vastly increased visibility for their business, it also provides exclusive access to leading technology not normally accessible to SMEs, due to prohibitively high costs and integration challenges. If a business is not activated to engage with consumers via Messaging, they’re missing out on a great opportunity to grow their business."

Jerry Haywood, Senior Vice President, EMEA of LivePerson said: "We’re excited to power ��ɫ��Ƭ’s Apple Business Chat experience and give its businesses the ability to connect over a messaging channel their consumers already know and love. By combining the ease and convenience of messaging with the guidance of their new bot Hartley, ��ɫ��Ƭ is making it easier than ever to quickly make lasting connections."

Want to read more about ��ɫ��Ƭ Messaging?

Smart Performance – the revolutionary new advertising solution from ��ɫ��Ƭ

2020-05-07T07:18:29Z

��ɫ��Ƭ is delighted to announce the launch of Smart Performance , an innovative digital marketing solution which enables small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to maximise their advertising budget by optimising spend across multiple channels, using machine learning and AI, to deliver the best results and return on investment (ROI).

��ɫ��Ƭ has been trialling this new solution in recent months. When comparing the results of Smart Performance customer campaigns to standalone PPC campaigns during the same timeframe, Smart Performance more than doubled the value returned by reducing average cost per click by 65% and improving average click-through rates by 230% 1 .

Smart Performance, built in conjunction with ��ɫ��Ƭ's technology partner GotU , combines all the major digital advertising platforms including:

Google and Microsoft Search Networks – ensuring a business appears in prominent, personalised, adverts on the world’s biggest search engines
Facebook & Instagram – running ad campaigns on two of the world’s most popular social media networks, targeting desired audiences and locations
Google Display and Facebook Audience Network – visually engaging banner ads to promote business messages across popular, and relevant, UK websites and apps

How does Smart Performance work?

Paolo Portioli, CEO of GotU commented:

"We are honoured to have been chosen by ��ɫ��Ƭ as the tech partner for this innovative omnichannel proposition. Smart Performance is the ideal solution for businesses as it works at every step of the consumer journey, using machine learning and AI to optimise budgets, whether big or small, to deliver excellent results at scale. We are thrilled to be partnering once again with ��ɫ��Ƭ; it is confirmation of GotU's ability to provide easy-to-use and effective hyperlocal marketing solutions to SMEs worldwide."

Claire Miles, CEO of ��ɫ��Ƭ said:

"In the challenging times that we find ourselves in, we know how important it is for businesses to be assured that their advertising works as effectively as possible. Smart Performance enables our customers to be advertised across a wider range of channels than ever before, with auto-optimisation ensuring that every click is cost-effectively delivered. The platform provides instant access to performance results with at-a-glance impressions, clicks and conversion data, and insight into the strongest channels. We are confident that Smart Performance helps deliver the best results we can for our customers' investment, and we are very pleased that early results have proved this."

- ENDS -

1. ��ɫ��Ƭ internal data 2020 (based on over 900 customers)

Supporting our customers in these uncertain times

2020-03-18T08:18:27Z

"During these uncertain times and rapidly changing circumstances in which we find ourselves, I want to reassure all our customers that we can continue to support you.

��ɫ��Ƭ, like all businesses around the world today, is currently experiencing unprecedented challenges. We are focused on keeping our people safe and healthy whilst serving our customers to the best of our abilities. As the situation unfolds, and government and NHS advice changes, we are continually adapting and putting in place new operational plans for our own teams and working with our partners to preserve our service levels.

However, we are experiencing high levels of demand into our customer service centres and have a reduced number of people at work, so our call wait times may be longer than usual, and for that I apologise. We are leveraging all options available to us to speak with customers as quickly as we can.

I would encourage you where possible to utilise our free ��ɫ��Ƭ for Business app which enables businesses to manage, amend and edit their account details and any advertising packages they have with us, and also to make use of our online chat feature available at yell.com/contactus .

Whilst these are unique and unpredictable times, I can reassure you that I and everyone at ��ɫ��Ƭ are focused on helping all our customers through this period. To that end, I have asked my team to collate useful advice, guidance and support from independent and trusted sources on the key challenges you may be experiencing, and we will be sharing this in the coming days.

I will keep you updated with any further information and hope that we can support you and your business at this difficult time.

Best wishes"

Claire Miles

Chief Executive Officer, ��ɫ��Ƭ Limited

- ENDS -

��ɫ��Ƭ enhances its Leadership team

2020-02-27T08:18:26Z

��ɫ��Ƭ is delighted to announce three new appointments to its leadership team with immediate effect, reporting to CEO, Claire Miles.

Mike Ainslie – Mike joined ��ɫ��Ƭ as its new CFO on 24 February. Mike spent the early years of his career at Ernst & Young and then at Bank One, where his last role was International CFO, before taking up various successful COO and CFO roles in private equity backed businesses
Dr Barbara Zesik - joined ��ɫ��Ƭ as its new Chief People Officer on 17 February. Barbara is an experienced HR and transformation leader, who previously worked at Santa Fe Relocation, Cognita Schools and most recently at Stanley Security
Debra Goodwin - joined ��ɫ��Ƭ as its new Chief Customer Services Officer on 6 January. Debra is a truly customer centric leader and brings wide and varied sales, service, marketing and commercial leadership experience most recently from Centrica, British Gas and Vodafone

Claire Miles, CEO said: "I’m thrilled that Mike, Barbara and Debra have joined the ��ɫ��Ƭ Leadership team. With their individual skills and experience, we are now fully equipped to deliver our strategy and continued improvements to our customer experience. Their external perspective and strong track record greatly improves our leadership strength and I am very much looking forward to working with them" .

- ENDS -

��ɫ��Ƭ’s new strategy delivers unique smart digital marketing solutions and helps businesses connect to consumers through the new world of conversational commerce

2020-02-20T08:18:24Z

��ɫ��Ƭ plans to re-affirm and grow its position as the No.1 digital marketing service provider for all types of local businesses* in the UK, by launching a new range of smart solutions, delivered by a customer-obsessed organisation.

It also plans to evolve and transform ��ɫ��Ƭ.com, by connecting businesses and consumers through messaging and conversational commerce. ��ɫ��Ƭ has partnered with a leading messaging platform provider to develop AI-driven local messaging marketplaces that provide unique experiences to consumers and new monetisation opportunities.

Stabilise and grow ��ɫ��Ƭ’s position with unique smart digital marketing solutions

��ɫ��Ƭ is launching a new range of smart digital marketing solutions, starting with ��ɫ��Ƭ Smart Performance in April 2020. Working in partnership with GotU, ��ɫ��Ƭ will be the first to deliver smart technology at scale to help businesses optimise their advertising spend across Google Ads, social adverts and online display networks. These new solutions will build campaigns faster and to a higher quality but, most importantly, will also deliver a significant increase in returns for customers’ investments.

Evolve and transform ��ɫ��Ƭ.com by connecting businesses to consumers through the new world of conversational commerce

��ɫ��Ƭ has partnered with leading messaging platform provider LivePerson to develop the ��ɫ��Ƭ.com proposition; securing its position at the heart of the new world of conversational commerce. With over 100 billion messages sent on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Instagram every day, the evidence is clear - this is how consumers want to communicate. Messaging is also the future language of commerce, harnessing artificial intelligence and digital voice assistants to power the devices of the future, however most businesses are not ready to take advantage of this opportunity. With 3m business listings and over 125k ��ɫ��Ƭ for Business app users, ��ɫ��Ƭ has more relationships with businesses than anyone else in the UK and is ready to help them get connected.

Once messaging is established, the ��ɫ��Ƭ.com brand will be transformed by building richer conversational commerce marketplaces on a local level, supported by rich data and insight. This will enable consumers to use messaging to find the best business, to get prices and quotes, find who’s available now, confirm bookings, make payments and review all within the messaging marketplace. ��ɫ��Ƭ will develop local marketplaces in specific business categories and locations across the UK supporting by localised marketing investment.

��ɫ��Ƭ’s new strategy delivers unique smart digital marketing solutions and helps businesses take advantage of conversational commerce.

Claire Miles, CEO of ��ɫ��Ƭ said: “We’re excited to announce our new strategy that will ensure ��ɫ��Ƭ strengthens its position as a digital brand that is loved by both businesses and consumers. We have a great opportunity to differentiate our proposition in the market, using leading technology partners and combining that with the creation of a truly customer- obsessed organisation.

Following the rise of messaging and conversational commerce, ��ɫ��Ƭ will evolve and transform ��ɫ��Ƭ.com to provide a truly unique consumer experience. We have many business relationships across the UK and we’re ready to help them connect to this new digital world, and in turn help them to harness the power of data and technology to meet the rising expectations of consumers.”

- ENDS -

*Source: M-Brain research 2017, #1 in terms of revenue from sales of managed digital marketing services

Is the grass really greener? New research reveals how much better (or worse) off you could be in another country

2020-01-07T08:18:23Z

Taking into account average salary and cost of living, ��ɫ��Ƭ Business has revealed the most prosperous places in the world for popular career choices
Their research details 28 job roles across 25 different countries, with the aim of exploring how the UK stacks up against the rest of the world
Differences include graphic designers being on average over £10K better off in Switzerland vs. the UK, and a £26K gap between Chinese accountants and their British counterparts

The worldwide earnings of 28 of the most popular career choices have been revealed by ��ɫ��Ƭ Business. Detailing international average earnings for roles ranging from an accountant to a bricklayer, ��ɫ��Ƭ Business has filtered each salary by the local cost of living, to truly answer the question: "Is the grass really greener?"

Employees and small business owners alike could be in for a shock when learning just how much better (or worse) off they could be for their career choice in another country. For example, a switch to Switzerland for UK graphic designers could see them become £11,471 better off each year (and that's after taking the notoriously high Swiss cost of living into account!)

New ParagraphElsewhere, UK tradespeople fare slightly better, with UK plumbers only better off in four of the other 24 countries. A plumber considering a move to China could take home close to an extra £6,000 per year (an average of £5,927). When it comes to bricklayers, there's five countries in the research where they'd find the grass genuinely greener. For example, a bricklayer opting to move across the pond to the USA could take home an extra £7,700 per year.

While some of the biggest changes to equivalent earnings are seen in further flung destinations, a simple trip across the Channel for some roles, can still put some extra cash in your wallet. Relocating to France could see UK accountants adding almost £9K to their yearly finances, with their equivalent earnings averaging at £45,328, while the UK's are £36,561.

Claire Miles, CEO at ��ɫ��Ƭ said:

"Our aim is to help small business owners from across the UK make the most out of their choice of trade. By looking at how equivalent earnings from around the world differ and how the UK stacks up against them, we aim to arm those who may be thinking of relocating with as much insight as possible as to the salaries and expenses they can expect across the world.

To get a clear idea of these differences in worldwide earnings, we wanted to add in some popular career choices, alongside common small business choices such as plumbing, hairdressing, builders and florists.

At a time when people may be considering career choice and where to live, this research can help people at any age see where they stand against the national average, and decide whether the grass actually is ‘greener’ for them in other parts of the world".

Have a look at ��ɫ��Ƭ's career table which allows you to select your career choice and instantly see how your equivalent earnings stack up against average salaries from 25 different countries, with the data considering average salary, filtered by cost of living.

- ENDS -

Worldwide salary data compiled in October 2019 using the following sources:

https://www.payscale.com/

http://www.salaryexplorer.com/

https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/

https://www.indeed.co.uk

https://neuvoo.ca

https://www.careerexplorer.com/

https://www.erieri.com

https://www.careercross.com

https://www.salaryexpert.com

Cost of living index sourced from https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/ in November 2019. All salaries converted to GBP using correct conversion rate on the 28th October 2019.

��ɫ��Ƭ wins Yext's International Partner of the Year Award

2019-11-18T08:18:22Z

At the recent annual Yext Explorer Awards which took place at the ONWARD19 conference in New York, ��ɫ��Ƭ was very proud to be announced as Yext’s 2019 'International Partner of the Year'.

��ɫ��Ƭ was selected from over 70 international partners for this prestigious award for its development and support in bringing the Search Experience Cloud to UK businesses and their customers. ��ɫ��Ƭ was the first of Yext's International Partners to integrate the software into a mobile app dashboard specifically designed to support small businesses.

This technology enables businesses to be visible across a network of websites and apps including ��ɫ��Ƭ.com, Facebook & Google. It also manages their consumer-facing business information, i.e. Reviews and Social postings, through ��ɫ��Ƭ's centralised Reputation Manager product available on desktop and mobile app .

In additional news, ��ɫ��Ƭ has announced the integration of Trustpilot, one of the UK's leading review sites, with its Reputation Manager product, alongside Google, Facebook and TripAdvisor among others. This new appointment will further help ��ɫ��Ƭ’s customers to build consumer trust by enabling them to manage location-based reviews directly on ��ɫ��Ƭ's digital platform.

Claire Miles, CEO of ��ɫ��Ƭ said: "We are truly honoured and delighted to have won the 2019 Yext International Partner award. ��ɫ��Ƭ has a fantastic relationship with Yext, which like us, is committed to building a digital platform that’s easy for business customers and consumers alike, to ensure they seamlessly engage online. Our development work with Yext’s Search Experience Cloud software has enabled us to deliver a world-class digital product designed for small businesses to be in control of their business information and manage their online reputation, in an increasingly busy marketing space."

Luis Baptista-Coelho, Executive Vice President of Global Partner at Yext commented: "��ɫ��Ƭ has been instrumental in bringing the power of the Yext Search Experience Cloud to UK businesses, enabling them to put their truth back online. ��ɫ��Ƭ is a key partner in our mission to build a world of perfect answers everywhere and we are so proud to recognise them as our 2019 International Partner of the Year."

- ENDS -

��ɫ��Ƭ and The Why Agency win big at the FMBE Awards 2019

2019-09-27T07:18:19Z

This year's Field Marketing and Brand Experience awards took place at Syon Park, the home of the Duke of Northumberland, on September 26th 2019.

��ɫ��Ƭ had appointed The Why Agency to create a consumer brand experience to align with the final ever delivery of the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages across the UK. They delivered a series of ��ɫ��Ƭ.com roadshows taking place in major shopping centres across the country throughout 2018.

The Why Agency shared their concept and results of the Just ��ɫ��Ƭ roadshow campaign with the FMBE judging panel and were shortlisted for the awards in August. On the night, both The Why Agency and ��ɫ��Ƭ were delighted to win three prestigious awards at the awards evening at Syon Park.

In total the ��ɫ��Ƭ.com roadshows won three awards – the coveted ‘Best Use of Space’ Gold award which carries all the prestige of an FMBE award, with an extra prize of £25K worth of promotional space in one or multiple Network Rail stations. In addition, the Just ��ɫ��Ƭ roadshows were also awarded bronze awards for Creative Intelligence, and Most Effective Roadshow.

Pete Barber, founder of The Why Agency commented: "What a fantastic night! A great result for a brilliant project that we all thoroughly enjoyed working on. This was one of those projects that truly demonstrates what can be achieved when agency & client are fully aligned with a shared creative objective. The team at ��ɫ��Ƭ encouraged us to develop ideas that really connected consumers with the ��ɫ��Ƭ.com brand and trusted our creative instincts to deliver something truly special".

Mark Clisby, CMO of ��ɫ��Ƭ said: "As part of our transition from print to a purely digital business, it was vital to directly interact with consumers to help them understand how ��ɫ��Ƭ.com can help them in a modern digital world. The ��ɫ��Ƭ.com Roadshows were at the heart of this campaign, delivering great engagement in key locations across the UK with the use of competitions, local celebrities and the innovative ‘Just ��ɫ��Ƭ' booth. We’re delighted to be recognised for all the hard work that both the Why Agency and ��ɫ��Ƭ teams put in to make these roadshows a success."

- ENDS -

Media Contact

Sarah O’Rafferty

Head of Public Relations

07702 140362

press.enquiries@yell.com

1 Million British workers never take a lunch break – with a further 1.6 million taking a maximum of 10 minutes

2019-03-19T08:18:17Z

Research reveals that only 17% of people take an hour for their lunch break
34% eat lunch at their desk with 325,000 employees eating lunch in the work toilet
59% of the workforce isn’t getting enough sleep between working days – with 6 hours being the average

Research released today reveals nearly one million ¹ British workers never takes a lunch break, with a further 1.6 million ² having just 10 minutes off during the day – despite all employees having the right to one uninterrupted break of 20 minutes, if they work for more than 6 hours per day ³

The study by ��ɫ��Ƭ , also revealed the average lunch break for full time workers in the UK is just 32 minutes, and only 17% of people take between 51 minutes and an hour for lunch.

One in three people (34%) eat lunch at their desks and 30% of people stay at their work’s canteen or kitchen. Shockingly, 325,000 employees ⁴ - equivalent to the population of Wigan – have been revealed to eat their lunch in the toilet at work.

When it comes to re-charging for the working day, 19 million workers (59%) aren’t getting enough sleep – recommended at 7-9 hours for 18-65-year olds ⁵ , with 6.01 hours being the average. 45% of people sleep for just 5-6 hours per night, 9% of workers have 3-4 hours, and 2% get less than an hour per night.

Mark Clisby, Chief Marketing Officer at ��ɫ��Ƭ said: “As a nation we’re busier than ever before and often our health takes a back seat. To consistently deliver high performance, we must ensure we’re keeping our bodies healthy, getting enough sleep and taking regular breaks during the working day.

“Consider small changes to long-standing bad habits. If you’re somebody like me who struggles to take a lunch break, or eats at their desk, commit to stepping outside your workplace and getting some fresh air and exercise. When this becomes the ‘norm’ and you’re getting at least 20 minutes’ break, you’ll go back to work feeling refreshed and with a positive outlook for the rest of your day.”

For more tips and advice for small business owners, visit https://business.yell.com/knowledge/ .

- ENDS -

1 3% of people say they never take a lunch break. According to https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/january2019, approx. 32.53 million people are currently employed in the UK. This means that almost a million people (975,900) aren’t taking lunch breaks.

2 5% of workers take a maximum of 10 minutes, which equates to 1.6 million workers

3 https://www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work

4 1% of those surveyed

5 https://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/sleep-needs-get-the-sleep-you-need.htm/

Media Contact

Sarah O’Rafferty

Head of Public Relations

07702 140362

press.enquiries@yell.com

Richard Paul

01273 760975

richard@propellernet.co.uk

Alex Jones

01273 760976

alex@propellernet.co.uk

The ‘wrong’ temperature is the UK’s biggest workplace annoyance, costing workers 16 minutes of productivity per day

2019-02-01T08:18:17Z

Research reveals that 23% of the nation is frustrated by being too cold at work with women more affected than men
Meanwhile, 1 in 5 employees are affected by being too hot in the workplace
In addition, a smelly tuna sandwich being eaten in the office could cost a business of 10 people, 6 hours of productivity per week

Being cold at work has been revealed as the biggest office pet peeve by 23% of British workers, with a chilly workplace affecting more women (28%) than men (18%).

The study, released today by ��ɫ��Ƭ found that the second biggest annoyance at work is poor internet connection with 1 in 5 saying this was immensely frustrating, an unclean workspace came third on the list, aggravating 18% of the nation’s workers.

Other grievances were:

Heat also gets to the nation’s staff, with 17% saying their office being too hot is their biggest pet peeve
Colleagues talking too loudly (14%), a cluttered workspace (14%), colleagues eating smelly food (12%), faulty electronic equipment (11%) and untidy colleagues (10%) also came in the top 10

It’s also been revealed that workplace annoyances cost businesses time – with poor internet connection costing workers an average of 20 minutes of productivity per day, while faulty electronic equipment leads to 19 minutes of lost time. A hot workplace also cost 19 minutes per day, while a cold workplace costs 16 minutes of productivity.

Noisy colleagues result in 17 minutes of lost time per worker, and affect millennials more than any other age group - 25-34 year-olds say loud co-workers result in them losing an average of 20 minutes of productivity per day.

Smelly food costs 7 minutes per worker per day, so a team of just 10 people could lose 6 hours a week in productivity, if a fellow colleague has a liking for tuna or egg sandwiches!

The UK’s top 10 workplace annoyances:

Workplace being too cold – 23%
Poor internet connection – 20%
An unclean workspace – 18%
Workplace being too hot – 17%
Dirty crockery/cutlery left in the kitchen sink – 15%
Colleagues talking too loudly – 14%
A cluttered workspace – 14%
A colleague eating smelly food – 12%
Faulty electronic equipment – 11%
Colleagues having untidy workspaces – 10%

The average loss in productivity (in minutes) per pet peeves

Poor internet connection: 20 minutes
Faulty electronic equipment: 19 minutes
Workplace being too hot: 19 minutes
Colleagues talking too loudly: 17 minutes
Workplace being too cold: 16 minutes
Poor lighting in workplace: 14 minutes
A cluttered workplace: 12 minutes
An unclean workplace: 12 minutes
Colleagues having untidy workspaces: 11 minutes
Cluttered computer desktop: 10 minutes
Colleagues leaving fruit peelings in their workspace: 10 minutes
Poor choice of music at work: 10 minutes
Loose wires getting in the way: 9 minutes
Colleagues leaving dirty crockery in their workspace: 8 minutes
Colleagues that eat the last treat and don’t throw the wrapper away: 8 minutes
Colleagues eating smelly food: 7 minutes
Colleagues that leave an empty toilet roll behind without throwing it away: 7 minutes
Dirty crockery left in kitchen sink: 6 minutes
Teabags left in the kitchen sink: 5 minutes

Mark Clisby, Chief Marketing Officer at ��ɫ��Ƭ, said: “While it can be difficult to get the right balance at work, it’s important that harmony is achieved to ensure your team is productive. Remind colleagues to consider each other’s needs – for example, before reaching for the aircon, check how the temperature feels for the rest of the team, and perhaps remove a jumper instead of turning the temperature down a few degrees.

Also, business owners should encourage employees to step outside for lunch, rather than eating at their desks – it’s important to take a break from work, and this then avoids any debate over any smelly food”.

For more tips and advice for small business owners, visit https://business.yell.com/knowledge/

- ENDS -

Media Contact

Sarah O’Rafferty

Head of Public Relations

07702 140362

press.enquiries@yell.com

Richard Paul

01273 760975

richard@propellernet.co.uk

Alex Jones

01273 760976

alex@propellernet.co.uk

Hannah Harris

01273 760992

hannah@propellernet.co.uk

James Nesbitt Delivers Final ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages to Brighton After 53 Years

2019-01-18T08:18:15Z

��ɫ��Ƭow Pages ends its print run after 53 years, marking ��ɫ��Ƭ's transition to a fully digital business
Final deliveries took place in Brighton, the city where ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages was first printed in 1966
James Nesbitt, star of famous ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages TV adverts, helped deliver final copies to locals

On Friday 18th January 2019, the final copies of ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages were delivered in Brighton, the city where the book was first published in 1966. The delivery marks the end of an iconic staple of British household history, and completes ��ɫ��Ƭ’s transition to a fully digital business.

Read Daily Mail coverage

View ITV News coverage

To celebrate the occasion, James Nesbitt, star of some of ��ɫ��Ƭ's most famous TV adverts, visited two customers that have been advertising in the famous directory since its very first issue. James also hand-delivered a few copies of the final edition to some local residents around Brighton.

Since launching, ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages has been delivered to over 27 million UK households, with almost one billion copies printed over its 53-year run. During this time, in excess of a million independent businesses have advertised in the books, from local hairdressers and plumbers, to artificial eye merchants.

The brand was also responsible for some of Britain’s most well-remembered TV adverts, including consumers’ favourite ad of the 1980s (according to Marketing Week and YouGov poll) JR Hartley’s ‘Fly Fishing’. The brand then moved onto a campaign which launched in 2003 starring James Nesbitt as a hapless character who uses the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages to get himself out of some tricky situations.

On being involved in the final ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages delivery, James Nesbitt said; "I’ve had a great time chatting to two of ��ɫ��Ƭ’s longest-serving customers and delivering the final copies around the city of Brighton. ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages is such an iconic piece of history - almost every household including my own had one by their telephone, and it helped to connect us to local businesses in our towns and cities. The ��ɫ��Ƭ brand has been great to me through the years, I thoroughly enjoyed filming the adverts and I’m really honoured to have played a part in their final delivery of ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages too".

Chief Executive of ��ɫ��Ƭ, Richard Hanscott, said: "What better place to deliver the final edition than the city where it all began, and who better to help deliver them than James Nesbitt? James has played a big part in ��ɫ��Ƭ’s history for his part in our iconic TV adverts, with our "Haircut" and "Yoga" adverts being remembered as some of the most memorable TV adverts in the UK.

"The book itself will undoubtedly always be remembered, and after over 50 years we’re extremely proud to say that we still have customers who have been with us since the very first directory, and they continue to advertise with us online. While goodbyes can be hard, we felt this was the right time to end the printed ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages and we look forward to continuing our business directory online with ��ɫ��Ƭ.com”.

Following the final deliveries, customers can still access the same services and directory information online at ��ɫ��Ƭ.com, or via the ��ɫ��Ƭ app. Instead of the physical ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages, ��ɫ��Ƭ offers a free listing to businesses on ��ɫ��Ƭ.com along with fully managed digital marketing services such as websites, video, Google Ads, Facebook advertising and more.

- ENDS -

Small business is winning big: more people than ever searching for, and shouting about local favourites online

2018-03-19T08:18:14Z

Shopping habits are seemingly returning to days of old, with more people than ever making the effort to get out, explore their local area and find ‘hidden gems’, a new study by online business directory ��ɫ��Ƭ.com has revealed.

Posts relating to finding a new local business on the photo-sharing app Instagram, have grown at a rate of more than 50% year-on-year. The most popular terms being used to describe a discovery of a new local business on social channels are all positive, including ‘wonderful’, ‘cool’ and ‘love’. In fact, the use of the term ‘wonderful’ to describe a local business has increased 270% since 2016.

With this heightened rate of discovery, local food and drink establishments are the most popular business types to be shared online, with shares of vegetarian food likes increasing by 408% from 2016-2017, Thai increasing by 217% and Spanish increasing by 200% in the same period. Locally owned vegan eateries closely followed, with a 157% increase.

There is a clear difference in local searches by gender. Men look for architects (58%), barbers (57%) and internet cafes (56%), whereas women are more likely to search for eyelash services (66%), nail salons (64%) and window cleaners (64%).

When it comes to regions, the City of Westminster leads the way where local discoveries are concerned, with more consumers sharing an experience than anywhere else in the UK over the past year. Manchester and Edinburgh follow in 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

The study also found that Sunday is our most preferred ‘day of discovery’, with 16% of all local shares via Instagram or Facebook, happening on what was traditionally seen as the day of rest.

Over 110,000 ¹ start-ups have already been launched in 2018 and to further celebrate the resurgence of local businesses, ��ɫ��Ƭ.com is visiting 20 cities in the UK to celebrate the nation’s local small businesses.

Heading up this campaign to ‘#lovelocal’ is former BBC Dragons’ Den panellist and champion of small business Sarah Willingham, who comments: “Small, local businesses can offer more exciting, enjoyable and personal experiences, so it’s amazing to see these local discoveries are being more readily embraced and shared by the British public. What I love about being an investor is discovering the small businesses in the country that are doing something different, so I think it’s great that ��ɫ��Ƭ.com is helping the country to discover these gems in their local areas more easily, too!”

On the findings, ��ɫ��Ƭ CEO Richard Hanscott also commented: “From starting the ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages in 1966 and launching ��ɫ��Ƭ.com in 1996, we have always strived to bring the nation’s small businesses into the limelight and are excited to tour the UK and take this a step further throughout the coming year.

The findings of our study show that these local businesses truly are the backbone of the UK, and the heightened social media conversations and interactions show they will become ever more important to local communities, with a new tech-savvy generation seeking out new discoveries and places that aren’t your high street stalwarts”.

For more information on the campaign, please visit: https://www.yell.com/justyell/

- ENDS -

About Sarah Willingham

Sarah is an entrepreneur, investor and consumer expert – best known for her previous role as one of the ‘dragons’ of the popular BBC series Dragons’ Den. Her main successes as an entrepreneur have included turning The Bombay Bicycle Club into the largest and most successful Indian restaurant chain in the UK and taking the likes of Pizza Express and Planet Hollywood onto greater success.

Notes to editors:

Study data gained from social reporting tools AudienceView and Brandwatch.

Increase in most used terms to describe making a local discovery (2016 v 2017):
Use of 'wonderful' grew by 270%
Use of 'cool' grew by 148%
Use of 'love' grew by 142%

1: Number of UK start-ups launched in 2018 courtesy of: http://startupbritain.org/startup-tracker/ Amount correct at time of writing

Media Contact

Sarah O’Rafferty

Head of Public Relations

0118 912 8999

press.enquiries@yell.com

Propellernet

Richard Paul

01273 760975

richard@propellernet.co.uk

Hannah Harris

01273 760992

hannah@propellernet.co.uk

Business by the year 2050: New report predicts robot co-workers and four hour working days

2017-11-07T08:18:13Z

A report released today by ��ɫ��Ƭ reveals a positive view on how businesses will look by the year 2050, thanks to a wave of new technologies including artificial intelligence, augmented reality and the internet of things.

The digital marketing services provider has partnered with acclaimed futurist and author James Wallman , to predict how certain changes in what has been dubbed ‘The Fourth Industrial Revolution’ will affect small, or relatively new businesses.

The full report, which is available to download here , focuses on seven key trends predicted by James, including:

The Cobot Revolution

Instead of worrying about robots, we should be excited about ‘cobots’ — robots that are colleagues, designed to work collaboratively alongside humans. Machines will conduct more of the repetitive, routine tasks — from chopping and fetching to searching through libraries of information and making complex calculations. This means that humans will move further up the value chain and do the tasks that machines don’t do so well - those that require creativity, empathy and, simply, the human touch. As a result, ‘cobots’ will make us more productive, and happier at work.

The 4-Hour Work Day

The current work day was set up to squeeze as much as possible out of workers when they performed routine tasks in factories and offices. Emerging research suggests that 8-hour days are a suboptimal way to work – the optimum is far closer to 4 hours per day. As robots and ‘cobots’ perform more of the routine tasks, humans will become more creative. And the best way to be creative is to work around four hours per day.

The Reputation Game

In an era of transparency, and heightened concerns about ethics and the environment, businesses are moving from a single-minded concern for profits, to a broader interest. Your priority is not only about running a successful business, but also people, our planet, purpose, and your performance. Your reputation — what you’re able to do and how you do it — will be ever more important in the future.

Following the rapid growth of digital and social media, ��ɫ��Ƭ has transformed into a digital business – helping businesses and consumers be successful online and is committing to help a million businesses be found, chosen and trusted by more customers online by 2020.

Mark Clisby, Product and Marketing Director at ��ɫ��Ƭ said: “We’re living in a time of incredible change. Amongst the ‘cobots’ and shorter working days, the importance of reputation in the future really resonated with us. Because for any small business owner, the focus must be on the customer, no matter how advanced technology gets.”

“The next 30 years are set to be very exciting for us all. We look forward to continuing to help business owners and consumers to adapt to changing technologies, both now and in the future.”

You can read more and access the report here

- ENDS -

About James Wallman

James Wallman is a futurist. He runs strategy + innovation + futures consultancy The Future is Here. He wrote the best-selling book, Stuffocation (Penguin, 2015). Wallman has advised companies from Absolut to Zurich Financial. He has given talks from Amsterdam to Las Vegas; at venues including the Googleplex and 10 Downing Street. He has forecast the future since 2004. His opinions have appeared in the New York Times, the Financial Times, the Economist, and Wired. He has appeared on TV and radio from Australia to Brazil and the US. He has an MA in Classics from the University of Oxford.

Media Contact

Propellernet

01273 760950

��ɫ��Ƭ@propellernet.co.uk

��ɫ��Ƭ now pure digital business with final publication of ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages

2017-09-01T08:18:03Z

��ɫ��Ƭ, the leading provider of managed digital marketing services*, today announces the final print cycle of ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages, marking the company’s full transition to a purely digital business. The first of the 104 final editions is being distributed in Kingston in January 2018, with the final edition to be distributed in January 2019 in Brighton, back where it all began.

��ɫ��Ƭow Pages was first published as part of the Brighton area telephone book in 1966, and for many years has been a popular way for consumers to search and find local businesses. ��ɫ��Ƭ has been the champion of local business for over 50 years and is well known for its iconic advertising, including the famous JR Hartley campaign.

Richard Hanscott, CEO of ��ɫ��Ƭ said: ‘‘ After 51 years in production ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages is a household name and we’re proud to say that we still have customers who’ve been with us from the very first ��ɫ��Ƭow Pages edition in 1966. How many brands can say they’ve had customers with them for over 50 years? ”

Following the rapid growth of digital and social media, ��ɫ��Ƭ has transformed into a digital business – helping businesses and consumers be successful online. Launching a new digital pledge , ��ɫ��Ƭ is committing to help more businesses be found, chosen and trusted by more customers online than ever before.

Richard Hanscott, CEO of ��ɫ��Ƭ continued: ‘’ We’re proud of the transformation we’ve made from print to digital. Like many businesses, ��ɫ��Ƭ has found that succeeding in digital demands constant change and innovation. We’re well placed to continue to help local businesses and consumers be successful online, both now and in the future. ’'

Trust in large institutions continues to wane with dentists and hairdressers leading the way as UK’s “most trusted” local business providers

2017-05-01T07:18:12Z

A new study out today has found that dentists, hairdressers and gardeners are viewed as being amongst the most trusted local businesses in the UK. The research carried out by ��ɫ��Ƭ , one of the largest providers of digital marketing solutions to small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) in the UK, found that by contrast, car dealers, estate agents and letting companies are viewed as being the least trustworthy to give a good standard of service at a fair price.

The nation-wide study, looking at trust in business, found that two-fifths (41%) of people are more likely to trust local services than bigger, nation-wide companies; echoing broader trends of an erosion in faith in traditional institutions.

Richard Hanscott, CEO of ��ɫ��Ƭ said: “While public sentiment towards established institutions such as governments, media and large corporates is decreasing, the need for reliable information in the era of fake news is growing. Our research illustrates that while trust for the traditional pillars is waning, local businesses are stepping up to the plate and filling this vacuum.”

The value attached to personal recommendations is also at a premium, with 77% of respondents saying they would take advice from a friend or family member when identifying a local business or service they haven’t used previously. The findings coincide with the launch of the ��ɫ��Ƭ for Business app, which allows SMBs to manage their ��ɫ��Ƭ profile and respond to reviews directly from their mobiles.

“Positive word of mouth from those we know has always been an important factor in the selection of the local services we use, however, the growth of online means that we can now get feedback and recommendations from far beyond those we know directly,”

Hanscott concluded. “These findings emphasise the need for SMBs to fully understand just how important reviews are in their target customers’ decision making process, and why they need to work to ensure that they have a strong and transparent online and social media presence.”

- ENDS -

About the study

The fieldwork was carried out in 2016 by research group Opinium, who sourced answers from 2,007 nationally representative UK adults aged 18 and above.

Media Contact

For more information please contact

Sarah O’Rafferty

Head of Public Relations

Tel: 0118 912 8999

Mob: 07702 140362

Email: press.enquiries@yell.com

Charlotte Coulson

Newgate Communications

Tel: 020 7680 6550

��ɫ��ƬUK@newgatecomms.com

��ɫ��Ƭ announces partnership with Facebook to help local businesses raise their profile online

2017-04-06T07:18:10Z

��ɫ��Ƭ today announces a new Facebook partnership and the launch of a unique and highly targeted social advertising product, aimed at helping local businesses harness the power of social.

The partnership will see ��ɫ��Ƭ offer local businesses advanced targeting of Facebook users, with the guarantee that they reach those users a minimum of 8 times a month, which research supports as the optimum number of times to see a Facebook advert*.

With 90%** of consumers in the UK using smartphones and tablets to access Facebook, as well as making other digital searches, local businesses risk missing out on the opportunity to promote their services through facebook. This partnership enables them to take advantage of this large and captive audience.

Richard Hanscott, Chief Executive of ��ɫ��Ƭ said: “The social advertising market in the UK has seen unprecedented growth over recent years, but has typically been dominated by major brands who have the advanced capabilities to directly target customers.

Today’s announcement, and this strategic partnership, will provide local businesses with these same capabilities, thereby levelling the playing field and ensuring that they too can leverage the significant market opportunity Facebook offers’’.

The announcement follows ��ɫ��Ƭ's continued position as the largest reseller of Google AdWords in the UK; reinforcing the company as the leading provider of managed digital advertising.

- ENDS -

* Facebook results June 2016

** GfK EMEA country profile study Dec 2015

Media Contact

For more information please contact

Sarah O’Rafferty

Head of Public Relations

Tel: 0118 912 8999

Mob: 07702 140362

press.enquiries@yell.com

New ��ɫ��Ƭ research shows video is key to driving online business awareness

2017-04-03T07:18:10Z

New research from ��ɫ��Ƭ , the largest provider of digital marketing services in the UK, has revealed most of the UK’s 5.5 million SMBs are struggling to embrace digital, or even the basics of web presence. Small businesses can generate (60%)* more web traffic and almost a third (30%)* more leads, by adding video to their online presence. Despite this, nine out of ten (85%) of UK small businesses are neglecting the basics and have out of date or incorrect information listed on their websites.

“Small businesses are missing out on reaching new markets and customers by failing to embrace digital,” says Mark Clisby, marketing director of ��ɫ��Ƭ. “Video is a powerful medium to reach customers and potential customers, being able to sell a product much easier and faster than words. Not only does video create local business awareness, it has a positive impact on your business interaction and customer acquisition. Someone who has enjoyed a video on your website are very likely to buy from you and recognise your business in the future, however (96%) of consumers say they’ve visited sites that are clearly not designed for mobile devices.’’*

“Small businesses are often time, resource and financially constrained. Optimising their online presence may not be an immediate priority. What many do not realise is that a website can be built in less than five minutes by digital marketing experts. And these experts can also help them to cost effectively harness video to capture and captivate their audience,” added Clisby.

The research also revealed the importance of personalisation and going mobile in driving businesses’ digital performance:

Personalised websites generate (17%) more time on a site*
Personalised websites experience a (25%) lower bounce rate*
Mobile makes up (88%) of all 'near me' searches with those mobile searches growing even faster, at (146%) year over year*

‘’Imagery is a key element which is often underestimated and a professional look and feel is vital to promoting your local business. With Social engagement constantly increasing and our customer’s businesses now being viewed by newsfeed ads on facebook, small businesses need to stand out online and grow their business to its full potential in a digitally dependant generation.’’ concluded Clisby.

- ENDS -

* ��ɫ��Ƭ stats May 2016

* ��ɫ��Ƭ stats March 2016

* Yext – March 2017

* ��ɫ��Ƭ internal stats 2016

* Google Data – September 2015

Media Contact

For more information please contact

Sarah O’Rafferty

Head of Public Relations

Tel: 0118 912 8999

Mob: 07702 140362

press.enquiries@yell.com

91% of painters & decorators in the UK miss out on business due to poor online presence

2016-07-11T07:18:08Z

Research conducted by ��ɫ��Ƭ highlights invisibility issues online for small businesses

��ɫ��Ƭ, one of the biggest providers of digital marketing in the UK, has discovered an overwhelming majority of painters & decorators (91%) it researched have wrong or inconsistent information online ¹ , including basic details such as a phone number or email.

Feedback shows 89% of customers say they will try another company if the details listed online for a particular business are incorrect ² , suggesting many small businesses, including painters & decorators, are missing out on a lot of potential custom.

��ɫ��Ƭ conducted research into how the 32,402 painters & decorators in its UK database appear online, also asking customers nationwide about their online habits and expectations. The results paint a gloomy picture pointing to some basic errors in small businesses’ approach to reaching potential online customers.

Key facts:

51% of customers said when they were looking for a new service, the most important source of information was a website ³
Having inconsistent or non-existent information online means small businesses are missing out on potential custom with 54% of people relying on positive online reviews when deciding on a new local business or service ⁴
There are 526 painter & decorator small business names in the UK beginning with “Paint”
There are 380 painter & decorator small business names in the UK beginning with “Paul”
There are 230 painter & decorator small businesses in the UK with “colour” in their names

“If a company’s information online is wrong, it’s arguably worse than not being online at all,” said Mark Clisby, ��ɫ��Ƭ’s Marketing Director. “Not only is the company effectively invisible to customers, it can also seem careless or even untrustworthy. This often happens because companies don’t always know all the listings sites where they appear, or when they move they forget to update their information. It’s easily done, but can be incredibly damaging for business.”

“A lot of small businesses tell me they get all their business from word of mouth and don’t need to be online. However, they’re ignoring the fact that word of mouth has moved online, with more than half of all customers choosing a local business based on online reviews. That’s a lot of work to be missing out on,” concluded Mark Clisby.

To support small businesses, ��ɫ��Ƭ has launched Connect , a service recognising the importance of connections, word of mouth recommendations and referrals. It helps business owners make their details visible online and get in front of the people looking for local products and services.

Connect uses smart technology to automatically list and update business details everywhere they need to be online, accurately and consistently. Details include company name, address, telephone number, logo, opening hours and payment methods on sites such as Bing, Yelp, Facebook, Foursquare, Scoot, My Local Services UK and iGlobal. As part of the service, Connect also helps set up social profiles on Facebook, Google+, Twitter and Foursquare. A centralised dashboard enables customers to view analytics, monitor and respond to online reviews, and post both real-time and scheduled updates on their social networks, as well as update their business details online at the click of a button.

��ɫ��Ƭ is offering small businesses in the UK the chance to try out Connect by completing a free scan of their business online . By entering the business name and address, Connect is able to identify how visible a business is online and, most importantly, report on how accurate the information is. On average, over 240 people a day are running the free Connect scan to check business details online ⁵ .

Additional interesting insights revealed by ��ɫ��Ƭ’s research into small businesses across the UK within its database showed that ⁶ :

5,612 small business names include the phrase “& Sons” or “& Son” but only 30 contain the phrase “& Daughters” or “& Daughter”
The most popular letter for small business names in the UK to start with is ‘A’, with 1 in 10 starting with ‘A’
The first five letters of the alphabet, A-E, account for 40% of the first letter of all small business names in the UK

- EN DS -

1: Research conducted by ��ɫ��Ƭ – March 2016. Using Connect, ��ɫ��Ƭ analysed the online presence of 858 painter & decorator businesses in the UK across sites including Bing, Facebook and My Local Services UK.

2: Research commissioned by ��ɫ��Ƭ with OnePulse in June 2016. 1,500 UK adults were surveyed.

3: Research commissioned by ��ɫ��Ƭ with OnePulse in June 2016. 1,500 UK adults were surveyed.

4: Research commissioned by ��ɫ��Ƭ with OnePulse in March 2016. 1,943 UK adults were surveyed.

5: ��ɫ��Ƭ internal data collected during April 25 – June 13, 2016.

6: Research conducted by ��ɫ��Ƭ – March 2016. ��ɫ��Ƭ analysed 428,710 small businesses in the UK.

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Tel: 0118 912 8999

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