Bringing mothers back after a career break is not just fair it also makes sense to our economy!

Last week the budget announced a £5 million fund for bringing mothers (and fathers) back to work after an extended career break (BBC News). 

In an interview with Mumsnet, Theresa May said ‘Returnships are open to both men and women but we should acknowledge that, more often than not, it is women who give up their careers to devote themselves to motherhood, only to find the route back into employment closed off – the doors shut to them. This isn't right, it isn't fair and it doesn't make economic sense.’(Click here to read the full interview)

Absolutely right. It isn’t fair and returnship funding is very welcome. However, haven’t we somewhat missed the point? We talk about fairness when this is all about our collective ignorance about the incredible expertise and experience that is currently hidden within our economy.  We talk about skills gaps and lack of technical expertise and completely discount parents who have had successful careers in the past and who, with only a little encouragement to build their self-confidence, some refresher training and access to flexible working could pick up where they left off. By not offering different ways of working that allows parents to combine both a job they love with looking after their children we collectively miss out!

We need to stop thinking that providing full-day childcare places and returner schemes to full time work is the only option and is good enough to harness the capabilities that exist in our communities. The reason I started Scirum Ltd was to offer parents and those who have retired a way of working flexibly, to go to assemblies and take an afternoon off to look after a sick child without having to feel the constant pressure from your employer.  By providing a mutually supportive environment for our staff, flexible hours and ultimately by focusing on our clients and delivering their needs it is possible to create a different and more positive working environment. This is not the only option but one of many which we need to explore and make work for us, for our families and for our customers.


In the end we have to realise that we will need different ways of working as we move towards the future and we have to recognise that bringing parents back to work after a career break is good for all of us and the economy and not just ‘unfair’.

Susanne Hasselmann
Director
Scirum Ltd 

To find out more about Scirum and and our services, please visit www.scirum.biz 

Creating a website that achieves results for small businesses - and doesn't cost the earth

If you have never done it before, developing a new website can be confusing. It can be difficult to know where to start and the pitfalls to avoid. Whether you develop your own or pay a company to help you, click here to read our latest blog to find the answer to the following seven key questions you should ask yourself (and your web developer) to make sure your website delivers results.

1. How much should I pay for a new website?
2. What is my domain name and how much does it cost?
3. How much will it cost to host my website?
4. Is your website mobile friendly?
5. Why does content and design matter?
6. How will I get my website out there and improve my search engine optimisation (SEO)?
7. How will I make changes to my website? Who will maintain it?

Social media marketing for small businesses - it makes sense!

There was a time when social media was considered a passing fad. Yet today, with over three billion Internet users and over two thirds of these people having active social media sites, social media channels have become a critical part of the marketing mix for businesses large and small.

1. Why should I use social media?
You should definitely consider using social media if your current and potential customers/stakeholders use it and/or your competitors exploit it. In addition, social media is a relatively cheap way of gaining market presence and reaching out to your target audience.

2. Which social media platform should I use?
Every social media platform is different; the only thing all of them have in common is that they reach large audiences. By understanding your customers’ demographics and buying habits, you can find the most appropriate social media channel. For example, if you have a product that is targeted at young mums you may consider Facebook and Instagram. If you are selling a B2B solution you may think about posting relevant content on LinkedIn. If you are selling a service into local government you may consider Twitter....

For more advice on how to make the most of the vast opportunities that social media could offer your start-up or small business, please click here to read the rest of the blog on our website.

Click here to find out more about the services we offer.

Calling all entrepreneurs - our top tips for start-ups

Top Tips for Starting a Business

Starting a business is a very liberating and exciting thing to do. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a challenge, is resilient and believes in an idea they wish to exploit. I have started a number of businesses and helped numerous people set up a business for themselves. This blog is bringing together some of this experience. I hope you find this helpful.

So, what are my top tips for starting a business? 

Your Idea – You need to be able to clearly articulate your idea – why you think it is good and what difference your product or service will make to your customers. Remember, your idea doesn’t have to be new; it just has to have a uniqueness about it that means people will choose you over your competitors. Test your idea on people you know. Gauge their reaction and adapt your approach if necessary.

Are you ready to be an entrepreneur? Do you have the right personality? I always think that to start a business you have to be an optimist. You certainly need to be resilient and you need to love what you do. You probably don’t like working 9 to 5 in a traditional office environment but prefer to be your own boss, confident about your business idea and the future. All that said, you also need to know your weaknesses and you certainly need to know when to stop, to realise that your original idea doesn’t stack up once you have started developing it further or conducted some market testing. However, remember that most entrepreneurs fail before they succeed!

Business Plan – You will need one. There is no way round this. It is a good exercise although not necessarily an easy task if you have never done it before. It can feel daunting but if you take it one step at a time you will build up the picture and it will help you focus and succeed. If you need a template, just Google ‘business plan template’. Most banks have template plans you can use. The Prince’s Trust has some very useful information which you can access via their website https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/tools-resources/business-tools/business-plans. We also have a template business plan which we use for our clients but in the end they are all roughly the same....

For more tips, please go to our website blog

Click here to find out more about Scirum Ltd's start-up support.

Susanne Hasselmann, Scirum Ltd

The power of ‘words’ helps to grow your start-up or small business

After my usual chaotic start to the morning of herding children out of the door, into the car and off to nursery or school, I breathe a sigh of relief and turn on the car radio as I drive into work – one of the only times I have a choice about what I want to listen to!

One particular morning, I happened to be listening to a programme about the use of words. The presenter gave an example of how her friend had changed career – mid-life – and went from being a lawyer to a mediator. As a prosecutor, the lawyer would use every word as a bullet to knock down the defendant and prove beyond all reasonable doubt that the alleged offence was committed. As a mediator, he would use every word carefully to build bridges between two parties in conflict with each other, with the aim of finding a way forward.

As a business owner, this story resonates with me. While we all have access to the same suite of vocabulary in the English language, the way in which we choose to use it can have a significant impact on the objectives we are trying to achieve and how we are perceived by others. 

From the way in which we answer the phone, respond to customer queries, present ourselves at meetings and networking opportunities, to how we promote our services through traditional, digital and social media marketing, we build a picture in our customers’ minds as to the sort of companies we are. More importantly, many will draw from these experiences and conclude whether we are credible, experienced, reliable and able to deliver a product or service that meets (and hopefully exceeds) their expectations.

So if you are thinking about reaching out and engaging with new and existing customers, suppliers and, if your company is large enough, employees, think carefully about the way you use your words, how they will be interpreted and how your marketing and communications can be used to help deliver your business goals.

If you are planning a new product launch or you are reviewing your marketing and communications plan, why not talk it through with us? We offer a free 30 minute phone consultation to talk through your objectives with one of our senior marketing and communications specialists. We are a friendly and approachable bunch. Give us a call to learn more about our team and what we do. Telephone: 01264 860060 or e-mail us.

Charlotte Welland, Head of Communications, Scirum Ltd