Author: Alison Jenkin
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Grant funding can provide a valuable boost for small businesses, helping to support growth, innovation, and new opportunities.

However, one of the biggest challenges business owners face is that many grant programs have a very short application window.

​By the time a grant is announced, there may only be a few weeks to prepare and apply.

My office whiteboard currently has notes about boundaries. The way we manage our time, energy and commitments in business and life are rarely separate and inevitably affect the other. 

The way we manage our time, energy and commitments in one area inevitably affects the other. Those notes serve as a daily reminder not to lose sight of the things that support long-term wellbeing.

​They prompt questions about priorities: What needs my attention right now? What can wait? What deserves space alongside work — family, health, rest, or simply time to think?
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Most small businesses invest significant time and money into their website, yet many still struggle to generate the enquiries, leads and sales they expect.

​The reality is that having a website is no longer enough. To be effective, a website must do more than simply look professional; it needs to actively guide visitors towards becoming customers.

Let’s see how  you can make your website more sales effective?
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Let's be honest, we've all received those annoying sales emails from businesses we've never heard of. Most of the time, they go straight into the bin without a second thought. So why would anyone want to invest in email marketing?
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The reality is that businesses across almost every industry still use email as a major part of their marketing strategy because it works. When done properly, email marketing can generate leads, build customer relationships and drive sales consistently. The problem isn't email marketing itself, it's bad email marketing.
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Facebook’s AI has already changed its algorithm, from showing your business page posts to followers, to showing them to non-followers who are interested in the content. 

​Over 40% of your customers’ feeds now shows AI recommended content about what they like, instead of your posts! People want to see interesting content, and do not care about who made it.

By the end of 2026 Facebook intends to be an AI first, discovery based engine that prioritises original content and interest based engagement.

If your Followers are not engaging with you, you will miss out!
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Google has quietly flipped the rules of search, and many businesses won’t realise it until their website traffic drops. Over the past two weeks, Google rolled out a major update to its search algorithm. The result: Rankings are shifting fast, and what worked before may no longer work today.
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So, what has changed, and what should you do about it?

​When people search for your business, or even a service you offer, your Google Business Profile is usually the very first thing they see.
​It’s your digital shopfront. They can click through to your website, call you, or get directions to your office or store. 
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