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Enterprise Management Incentives Scheme Update

The enterprise management incentives (EMI) scheme is a tax-favoured share option scheme, designed to assist smaller and/or entrepreneurial companies to recruit, incentivise and retain employees. This is done through the offering of tax-advantaged share options in the company as an alternative to cash rewards such as bonuses. read more

 

Structuring Employee Rewards Without Using Shares

Employing people is usually the biggest cost and headache for most businesses; for companies to be successful, they need to attract, motivate, reward and retain the key individuals who will make this happen. This takes the form of reward, usually in cash, but a sense of ownership is also a huge incentive for those concerned. read more

 

Measuring Employee Performance

The success and growth of your business depends on your employees contributing effectively to your business objectives and priorities. Their contribution is a blend of achieving objectives (the ‘what’ of the job) and behaviour (the ‘how’ of the job). Both these aspects need to be based on clarity of what is expected, fair and meaningful measures, and regular feedback. read more

 

Keeping Your Staff Happy And Motivated

The difficulties in the current job market mean that your employees are less likely to move jobs in a hurry. Most businesses are still trying to keep costs at bay and it’s important to remember that your staff will be motivated by more than just money. read more

 

Updating Your Business Plan

A well-drafted business plan is crucial when raising finance or trying to attract investment, but it is also, of course, an essential tool for the successful management of a business. A carefully researched ‘roadmap’ which includes the right information provides focus, prevents business drift and reduces risk. read more

 

The Big Challenge

Guy Rigby, Head of Entrepreneurs at Smith & Williamson, asked six successful entrepreneurs about the biggest challenges they faced when setting up a business. Here’s what they had to say: read more

 

Reducing Owner-Dependency: The Journey To Leadership

In their book, Growing Your Business: A Handbook for Ambitious Owner Managers, Gerard Burke, Liz Clarke, Paul Barrow and David Molian describe the owner-manager as developing across specific roles over time. These roles include ‘artisan’, ‘hero’, ‘meddler’ and ‘strategist’. read more

 

Ten Key Points To Include In Your Shareholders’ Agreement

Business owners should set aside the time early on in their relationship to discuss and implement a shareholders’ agreement, as it will almost certainly help to avoid the disruption and additional costs involved in resolving any further disputes. read more

 

Entrepreneurs And Their (Not So?) Glittering Academic Careers

We asked six successful entrepreneurs about their academic careers. Here’s what they had to say: read more

 

Cashing Out But Staying In

There are many owners who had planned on selling their businesses by now, but as a consequence of the ongoing recession, it just hasn’t happened — the clocks have been forcefully turned back. So, instead of selling, they may want to take some cash out of their businesses to provide security for themselves and their families. read more