Working from Home with A Disability

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article |Working with a Disability|Working from Home with A DisabilityIt is estimated that around 19% of the UK population of the adult, working age suffer from a disability according to recent data obtains by the department of work and pensions (DWP.) Despite significant improvements in employment rates and government programs arising to further support those with disabilities enter into work, it is undeniable that having a disability has a significant impact on your success when seeking a job.

Depending on the impairment, disability can influence the duties you are able to perform. In the case of mobility complications, getting to work and around work can present its own set of challenges that cannot always be avoided. Advances in technology and online job roles present a much greater opportunity for those with disabilities to work from home, and this can actually be an advantage. It can offer autonomy, flexibility and the opportunity to either take up remote working for a company or to work for yourself.

What can you do?

The options available to you are limited only by your own imagination. If you are computer savvy then suggestions could include:

  • Remote telemarketing
  • Online tutoring
  • Freelance writing
  • Transcription
  • Home call center or customer support agent
  • Online auctioning
  • Online businesses

In addition to this there is also a growing trend surrounding crafting, and many people both enjoy and make a good living from making things to sell; baking, greetings cards, trinkets, artwork, and customized clothing are all popular homemade products that are allowing people to make money, work around their family life or appointments and enjoy the autonomy of working for themselves.

It is fairly straight forward to set up an online business, there are many apps and software to manage your finances and invoicing and it is quick and easy to get professional websites and marketing material produced.

Preparing for home working

There are a few things to consider when preparing for working from home with a disability:

Technology

If you plan to take up an online endeavor then you may require a computer or laptop, or appropriate hardware or software to improve its ease of use. There are various technologies available such as screen readers, magnification, voice recognition, and adapted keyboards available for those with physical impairments, that can make computer use far more accessible.

Access

Mobility can pose an issue both at work and at home. If you intend to set up your own home business then you may prefer to use a designated office space. For many this can be a spare bedroom or study space. The chances are that you will store paper work, materials or other essentials away from your working area and if you suffer from mobility issues or are a wheelchair user, this can be taxing. Terry Lifts can make traveling from floor to floor for work much easier and quicker, are unobtrusive and don’t require significant structural changes to your property to install.

Deciding what to do

Settling on a business idea or setting up a home business can present its own hurdles. The beauty of home working is you have the autonomy to find your passion. You can try a few things and see what brings you the greatest job satisfaction, job satisfaction is important for both motivation and mental wellbeing. Test the water a little, experiment and pursue something that you find interesting or enjoyable. Contacting equal opportunities for employers and enquiring about remote working options may open up other ideas that you had thought were off the table. Do some research and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance; there are many charities, community, and government schemes and investors whose objectives are to assist those with disabilities in finding work.

Don’t let disability hold you back

Whatever your condition, don’t let it hold you back from following your dreams. Remote working opportunities, crafting, online retail, having a determined and positive mindset and finding convenient work can bring a multitude of job opportunities to your doorstep, quite literally.

3 Reasons Why Your Kitchen Staff Are Underperforming

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article | 3 Reasons Why Your Kitchen Staff Are UnderperformingCustomer wait time is one of the most important metrics in the restaurant industry. You could have everything right, but if the service times are too long, this will eventually play against your establishment. How good your kitchen staff are will have an effect on that, but you could also be making mistakes that are hindering workflow and making things more difficult for them. Here are some of the possible reasons why your staff aren’t performing as well as they should.

Your Kitchen Doesn’t Reflect Your Current Needs

If you’ve bought an old establishment and kept some of the equipment as part of the deal, then it might not fit the current demand. For instance, if your cold room is too small for your current needs, not only will it make things difficult when staff are trying to find things, or go in and out, you could end up facing some health violations because you ran out of space and had to cut corners.

If that is the case, we strongly suggest you invest in a bespoke cold room. This will allow you to build one that will take minimal space in the kitchen while still being efficient. You’ll be able to organise the storage in a way that fits your needs the most. Companies like fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk can build all types of cold rooms and walk-in freezers according to your exact specifications. Look for a provider that can build one that will fit the best within your kitchen’s floor plan.

You’re Using Time Wasting Processes

In many cases, you could get things done much faster if you reconsider some of your processes. For instance, if you only have a few burners available, but have a huge convection oven, you could use the convection oven to cook rice by using rice, water, and foil covered metal containers instead. You shouldn’t be afraid of the freezer either. There will be little difference between a frozen soup base or tomato sauce and a fresh one, so consider cooking more in batches and use the freezer when you can without sacrificing quality.

The Floor is Unsafe

If people don’t feel safe in the kitchen, they will not perform as well. They will constantly be afraid of causing an accident or seriously injuring themselves. This is why your kitchen’s layout has to be organised with safety in mind first and foremost.

With an ergonomic design, you’ll be able to reduce the amount of movement your employees have to make. Proper lighting and ventilation are essential as well. No one wants to work in a smelly, smoke filled kitchen. Your employees have to be able to see what they’re doing as well to avoid accidents.

Improving your kitchen’s productivity comes down to a few simple principles. Make sure that you take a look at how your kitchen is designed and look for possible pain points. And don’t be afraid to ask your staff for recommendations either.

The Four Best Business Sectors to Invest in Right Now

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article | The Four Best Business Sectors to Invest in Right NowAs an entrepreneur, you will have already made a few risky decisions – some that have paid off, and some that have not. For business owners that are looking for new ventures that guarantee stability though, read on to see which sectors are in demand and sustainable long-term.

Cyber Security

The tech revolution is well underway and in full swing, but with advancements in technology comes associated risks. These risks exist especially within cyberspace. The protection of information is crucial in this day and age, which is why regulations have been established to protect both the public and the organizations storing data. Data leaks, email threats, cyber crime and malware all present a colossal threat to operating businesses globally. Luckily, there are security specialists and professionals who specialize in cyber security, offering a solution to most businesses’ IT needs.

A start-up company of cyber professionals who can consult and provide outsourced services is a literal goldmine currently. Of course, this highly-skilled arena comes with a hefty price tag, which is why IT security consultants can afford to charge high rates.

Hiring employees with a degree in cybersecurity is not cheap, so careful consideration and planning should go into this business opportunity. Even if you currently own a business, you should have an IT expert that guards your data for a living. If not, consider upskilling them by enrolling them for a cybersecurity bachelor’s degree.

Software Developer

Keeping within the tech space, the most sought-after profession is software development. Because the industry is currently booming, the demand for software engineers is unprecedented. It is a great time to be studying or working as a software developer. The demand for good coding professionals continues to grow at an alarming rate which makes investing in this type of company a great financial idea. Investing in or starting up a software company right now will provide great returns in a short period of time.

Nutrition and Health

The health, wellness and fitness market growth has been steadily accelerating over the last decade because of a mental shift towards health and fitness across the globe. People are starting to realize the benefits of being fit and healthy and are taking it seriously.

With the focus on sustainability, the raw and whole food market is a trend not to be ignored, as well as the rise of vegetarianism and veganism. Investing in plant-based materials and food is a relatively stable investment and is earmarked to grow exponentially over the next few years.

Fitness tracking gear is also a good money-maker with the rise of wrist-worn garments which are in high demand with the fitness fanatics or health conscious consumers. You can’t go wrong in this sector.

Baby Tech Products

Keeping within the tech theme, the need for technology for parents or parents-to-be is surmounting. Fertility trackers, baby monitors and breast-feeding equipment are all in demand globally. As the children grow, their needs change and so do the tech requirements for parents raising them. GPS or location enabled wrist watches or software to track their online security and privacy are all best-sellers currently. You only need to tap into this industry by speaking to a parent or two, to realize the potential a kid-focused business creates.

If you are looking for a good investment opportunity, these four suggestions should get you started.

What You Don’t Know May Be Hurting Your Business

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We tend to think of our companies in terms of what we can do, what we can bring to the table. However, while it is, of course, recommended to focus on those positive aspects of your business, you should also keep in mind that there are other things that’ll influence your chances of success. For example, the things that you don’t know. If you’ve got some blind spots in your knowledge bank, then your venture won’t be as watertight as it could be — and what’s more, you might not even know it. Below, we take a look at a few key areas where entrepreneurs often fall down.

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Your Competitors

You might think that you’re doing all the right things at your business, but are they as good as what other companies are doing? If you’re not actively keeping tabs on your competitors, then you should be. By checking the practices/products/services of other companies, you can see the areas in which you need to improve. Now, it’s not like you need to adopt everything that rival businesses are doing — just being aware and making sure you’re not falling behind will be enough.

How to Hire

You might have begun your venture as a one-person operation, but there will eventually come a point when you need to hire employees if you’re going to develop. If you’ve never been an employer before, however, then this might prove to be more difficult than originally thought. There are right and wrong methods for bringing a member of staff on board; get it right, and you’ll have an employee who can help push your company forward. Get it wrong, and you’ll have an expensive mistake on your hands. As well as knowing how to hire, you’ll also need to look at yourself, and learn how to work with others. You won’t get the full benefits of having an employee if you can’t properly delegate work.

Specialized Fields

It’s not possible to be all things for your company. You’ll be spreading yourself too thin if you’re the leader, the paper pusher, the receptionist, and so on. And there’s another reason why you shouldn’t take on all the tasks: some are specialized, and too important to be handled by a non-expert. We’re talking about things like your internet marketing. Because SEO is so important to the success of a business, you’ll want to work with a company such as Local Spark Marketing. Other areas of your business you’ll want to outsource include your accounting and legal matters – these are complex tasks that require expert hands to ensure they’re completed correctly. You may also find it very useful to take a look at this Data Analytics Infographic; it is so important to consider analytics if you want to be successful in your career. Understanding the big picture of how your marketing strategies impact certain target demographics, can really help you to hone in on your audience. Exploring the impact of data analytics might be worth the while if you want to specialize in this industry.

Where You’re Going

While you’ll want to mostly focus on the day to day tasks of your company, you should also keep an eye on the future. If you don’t, then you might find that it arrives and you’ve got nothing in the pipeline; you are just where you were two years ago. Additionally, you’ll also want to stay on top of any upcoming issues that may affect your industry in general.

Why Your Business Needs To Be Tech-Savvy From The Get-Go

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We’re well into the second half of 2019 now, and boy do we have some crazy hardware, software, and apps around. Everywhere you go, and almost everywhere you look, you’re bombarded with a piece of technology. The future really is now; lord knows what our communities will look like in a decade or so. If you look back at around twenty years ago; you’ll picture things being awfully different to now.

From a business and money-making standpoint, it’s kind of crazy how many opportunities to earn a good living are based around the tech and gadgets we have in our households. For example, you could sit in your home working on a website, and within two years, you could be the CEO of a thriving online business. It would obviously take a lot of work, but it’s completely possible – isn’t that amazing?!

With that said, if you’re currently running a business or you’re planning on launching one, then you might want to get yourself online and figure out how it all works pronto. There are still some old-school business and old methods being applied, but they’ll soon be swallowed up by an industry that is only going to grow from here on in. There will be more and more tech in our faces as the years go by, so you’ll need to get to grips with this stuff ASAP.

It’s not a mad rush; don’t panic. But you will want to be a tech-savvy company with a sexy online presence sooner rather than later – the success is waiting for you; all you have to do is get with the times. Here’s why it’s probably a good idea to have modern online existence right from the word ‘go.’

You’re Ready Immediately

A proactive attitude is better than a reactive one. If you’re constantly on your heels and behaving to what happens around you, then you’ll also ways be second best. Beginning on the front foot is the right way to go about things.

You’ll Look A Lot More Attractive Overall

When you look at a company’s website to learn a little more, how annoying is it when the site isn’t available because it’s not ready yet? Quite. First impressions are key, so you’ll want to make sure that people’s perceptions of you are great right from the start. Being online and knowing what you’re doing in this walk on life also looks a lot more professional. People are comfortable being around a group that knows what they’re doing.

You Can Be Protected At All Times

If you know your onions, then you’ll know that you can be attacked by hackers and alike at any time. Knowing what you have to do in terms of cybersecurity may save you a lot of stress and a lot of money. Getting help from companies like Vertex Solutions early on can save you any hassle or heartbreak as they’ll keep you secure and deter any wrongdoers.

You Can Evolve Quickly

Sooner or later, technology and different apps are going to go one further and become something even more powerful. If you’re in the position to move with the times, then that’s only going to be beneficial. If you’re stuck in the past and aren’t really familiar with what’s around now, then you’ll be forever playing catch-up.