Innovate UK is the operating name of the Technology Strategy Board, the UK's innovation agency. It's purpose is to accelerate UK economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. In line with its purpose, Innovate UK will be contributing a series of blogs, videos and other useful tips to the SecretBirds-London Nest.
Game Changers: Bethany Koby, Technology Will Save Us
…and to think it all started with a laptop in a bin!
Inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs to follow their dreams is best left to those who know what they’re talking about. Successful female entrepreneurs, who despite starting out with nothing more than an idea have gone on to become true game-changers.
Bethany Koby fits the profile from top to bottom.
…and to think it all started with a laptop in a bin!
Inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs to follow their dreams is best left to those who know what they’re talking about. Successful female entrepreneurs, who despite starting out with nothing more than an idea have gone on to become true game-changers.
Bethany Koby fits the profile from top to bottom.
A Mum on a Mission
Along with her team, Bethany is on a mission to spark the creative imagination of kids with hands-on technology. She founded her company – Technology Will Save Us – after noting just how wasteful society as a whole has become.
“We found a laptop in our bin and thought it was crazy that someone would throw a working piece of technology away,” she said.
“It really highlighted the role that tech has in our everyday lives and our relationship with it. We don’t really understand it, yet it pervades everything.”
Since then, her company has grown and evolved to a 30-strong team of designers, engineers, problem solvers and educators, specialising in the make-it-yourself kits for children to develop technology-based skills and interests.
There’s a music kit to create and amplify sounds, a Micro:Bot kit for making DIY robots and a wearable device designed for kids to code themselves. All of which couldn’t have come about at a better time, with programming having recently been added to the school curriculum in the UK.
Start Small, Think Big
“We started small, around our kitchen table, and have now built a company of 28 passionate designers, educators, engineers and problems solvers – obsessed with inspiring kids and empowering parents to become creators of technology. We have 6 different make it yourself kits and hundreds of digital tools and projects to support kids in learning through play,” said Bethany.
“We have sparked the imaginations of kids in over 87 countries around the world. We work closely with children to design our kits, engaging in large scale research projects before beginning on design & manufacture.”
Like most successful entrepreneurs, Bethany doesn’t try to claim it was all smooth sailing from day one. She readily admits the whole thing was a bit of a “rollercoaster” ride and demanded total “certainty and focus” along the way.
She also has a strong message to offer those who might think their own ideas and ambitions are a little too far-fetched.
"I think every entrepreneur will say that entrepreneurs are crazy – you have to be,” she said.
“And crazy in the kind of ambitious, you want to make something better, making sure that you really love the thing that you’re building, because you’re going to have those lows that are going to make you feel like it’s not possible. But if you really believe in it you’ll find a way to go through the journey of building a business."
What’s in a Name?
Last up, if you’re wondering where exactly that name came from, Bethany explains:
“We often get asked about our name and if we actually think technology will save us… The answer is that we believe diverse, creative and empowered kids and families will save us and technology will be at the heart of how they do this!”
Find out more about Bethany's story on the Innovate UK blog:
Along with her team, Bethany is on a mission to spark the creative imagination of kids with hands-on technology. She founded her company – Technology Will Save Us – after noting just how wasteful society as a whole has become.
“We found a laptop in our bin and thought it was crazy that someone would throw a working piece of technology away,” she said.
“It really highlighted the role that tech has in our everyday lives and our relationship with it. We don’t really understand it, yet it pervades everything.”
Since then, her company has grown and evolved to a 30-strong team of designers, engineers, problem solvers and educators, specialising in the make-it-yourself kits for children to develop technology-based skills and interests.
There’s a music kit to create and amplify sounds, a Micro:Bot kit for making DIY robots and a wearable device designed for kids to code themselves. All of which couldn’t have come about at a better time, with programming having recently been added to the school curriculum in the UK.
Start Small, Think Big
“We started small, around our kitchen table, and have now built a company of 28 passionate designers, educators, engineers and problems solvers – obsessed with inspiring kids and empowering parents to become creators of technology. We have 6 different make it yourself kits and hundreds of digital tools and projects to support kids in learning through play,” said Bethany.
“We have sparked the imaginations of kids in over 87 countries around the world. We work closely with children to design our kits, engaging in large scale research projects before beginning on design & manufacture.”
Like most successful entrepreneurs, Bethany doesn’t try to claim it was all smooth sailing from day one. She readily admits the whole thing was a bit of a “rollercoaster” ride and demanded total “certainty and focus” along the way.
She also has a strong message to offer those who might think their own ideas and ambitions are a little too far-fetched.
"I think every entrepreneur will say that entrepreneurs are crazy – you have to be,” she said.
“And crazy in the kind of ambitious, you want to make something better, making sure that you really love the thing that you’re building, because you’re going to have those lows that are going to make you feel like it’s not possible. But if you really believe in it you’ll find a way to go through the journey of building a business."
What’s in a Name?
Last up, if you’re wondering where exactly that name came from, Bethany explains:
“We often get asked about our name and if we actually think technology will save us… The answer is that we believe diverse, creative and empowered kids and families will save us and technology will be at the heart of how they do this!”
Find out more about Bethany's story on the Innovate UK blog:
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Innovate UK’s Infocus Campaign: Shining a Spotlight on Women in Innovation
The number of female entrepreneurs in the UK is around half that of men. Simply encouraging diversity and boosting the number of women in innovation could deliver approximately £180 billion to the UK economy. We began our Infocus campaign as a bid to remove barriers for female entrepreneurs and shine a light on the women who are leading the way in innovation. The limited access to role models is something that can hold women back. Our campaign is intended to aid in the identification of ‘women like me’, helping others achieve great things in their field. We’d like to introduce you to our three leading ladies. |
Becky Sage, CEO at Interactive Scientific
Becky Sage is the CEO at Interactive Scientific, the brand behind software platform Nano Simbox. This software allows users to immerse themselves into the world of atoms and molecules. Available on various devices (including VR), this tech lets learners and researchers explore and understand the scientific world. The platform not only aids researchers but is also a highly useful tool for engaging students in a notoriously tricky subject.
We caught up with Becky shortly after an important investment meeting. She offered some vital advice to any budding entrepreneur:
“In terms of just stepping into a room I think… do you know what? You’ve just got to be brave, and actually that really helps. Just do that thing that scares you.”
She goes on to speak of experiences which many female entrepreneurs can relate to:
“There are times when I walk into rooms with people who make me feel this small and a lot of that is because they’ve looked at me and perceived me in a certain way, and a lot of that’s to do with my gender. At this point in my career, those relationships flush themselves out very quickly, I know the right people are out there. Earlier on in my career, not so much because I was like ‘oh I need this person, I need this person."
Becky Sage is the CEO at Interactive Scientific, the brand behind software platform Nano Simbox. This software allows users to immerse themselves into the world of atoms and molecules. Available on various devices (including VR), this tech lets learners and researchers explore and understand the scientific world. The platform not only aids researchers but is also a highly useful tool for engaging students in a notoriously tricky subject.
We caught up with Becky shortly after an important investment meeting. She offered some vital advice to any budding entrepreneur:
“In terms of just stepping into a room I think… do you know what? You’ve just got to be brave, and actually that really helps. Just do that thing that scares you.”
She goes on to speak of experiences which many female entrepreneurs can relate to:
“There are times when I walk into rooms with people who make me feel this small and a lot of that is because they’ve looked at me and perceived me in a certain way, and a lot of that’s to do with my gender. At this point in my career, those relationships flush themselves out very quickly, I know the right people are out there. Earlier on in my career, not so much because I was like ‘oh I need this person, I need this person."
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Emma Sceats, Chief Executive of CN Bio Innovations
Emma Sceats is the Chief Executive of CN Bio Innovations, a company that develops organ-on-chip technologies. These are devices which enable formation of miniature models of human organs in the lab. Emma reiterates the importance of strong female role models: “My grandmother was a major influence. She started up and ran her own businesses, so I was inspired by her.” She goes on to discuss her driving motivations and her attitude towards business: |
“I think I’ve always been very motivated to build or create something. If for instance, I go out and I didn’t raise investment. Is that because I’ve got a poor business plan or because I’m a woman? Unless someone comes straight out and says ‘I just don’t invest in female led businesses’ but people don’t ever say that. Male or female, being an entrepreneur involves taking risks but in my experience it’s been about understanding and managing risk”.
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Beth Dawson, Projects Manager at Fuel Cell Systems Ltd.
Beth Dawson can be described as an intrapreneur, an entrepreneur within a company. She works as a Projects Manager in Fuel Cell Systems Ltd., a company that takes fuel cell systems and implements them. Beth explains a little about the proud work Fuel Cell Systems Ltd. does: |
“Using energy is one of the biggest things we do as a species and we have a problem looming imminently that I think we all can see. We are part of a larger movement that’s getting new technology out there, enabling it to be used well and improving the environment as we go”.
She goes on to offer this insight:
“If I had one piece of advice to give to any female engineer it would be, having the confidence that what you have to say matters. The projects and ideas that you might have are worth looking at.”
“I’m really honoured to be part of the women in innovation group. There’s such a high calibre of people there, you can’t fail to be inspired by them”.
If you’d like to find more inspiring videos like these, subscribe to Innovate UK’s YouTube channel here.
Additionally, you can follow @InnovateUK on Twitter here.
She goes on to offer this insight:
“If I had one piece of advice to give to any female engineer it would be, having the confidence that what you have to say matters. The projects and ideas that you might have are worth looking at.”
“I’m really honoured to be part of the women in innovation group. There’s such a high calibre of people there, you can’t fail to be inspired by them”.
If you’d like to find more inspiring videos like these, subscribe to Innovate UK’s YouTube channel here.
Additionally, you can follow @InnovateUK on Twitter here.
Partnership marketing. It sounds like a corporate strategy which wouldn’t apply to your startup. The truth is, it could be the answer to your brand’s pains. Audience growth is naturally difficult and stressful – not to mention time consuming and costly too. With partnership marketing, you can effectively open the door to thousands of relevant consumers in an instant. These tips will help your brand unlock the secrets of this seriously effective method.
1. Target Established Businesses
Partnership marketing is the approach of sourcing and working with complementary businesses for marketing purposes. Obviously you should avoid approaching competitors. Ideally, you’ll be seeking a brand that’s already established in an industry with direct links to your target audience. There are numerous reasons why partnership marketing is used as an approach:
A perfect example of partnership marketing at its best is when Red Bull and GoPro teamed up. Both brands have strong links to the extreme sports industry. One is an energy drink that regularly sponsors extreme sports while another offers point-of-view camera technology. This campaign proves that partnership marketing is a versatile approach which can be utilised by small, medium or global companies.
2. Research the Market
It’s important to fully research any option in business before going through with it. Partnership marketing is the same. Before picking your partner, look towards your consumers. Ideally your partner brand will offer a complementary product or service. They should be relevant and share the same values as yours. Furthermore, ask yourself what you can offer them – after all this is a partnership, not a one-way marketing strategy.
Once you’ve settled on the company, you need to consider how you’ll open lines of communication. Social media is the perfect place to get noticed. Don’t go at things cold. Follow the brand, like their posts and share their content. Do this for a short while and they’ll take note of who you are. Now it’s time to start a conversation. Direct messages and emails are equally effective ways of getting in touch.
3. Let’s Start Simple
You should never rush into a big campaign when forging a partnership. You should look to build the business relationship first. Social media campaigns are the perfect place to start. Try running joint promotions, a competition or even content exchange at first. When you’ve gauged the success of this, you can look towards bigger collaborations.
Be clear when discussing a new partnership. It’s perfectly acceptable to put your objectives on the table and discuss how these can be fulfilled. If both brands are up-front about this, the partnership has a greater chance of success.
4. Never Underestimate the Data
It’s important to analyse the return of any campaign. This is even more critical for partnership marketing. If you understand how a strategy is performing, you can steer it on the course to success if needed. First, consider the metrics by which you’ll measure success. This could be anything from social engagement to conversions. Potentially, this could even be a more abstract concept like brand trust or reputation. Once you’ve settled on your metrics, you can analyse whether your partnership marketing is performing better than any previous solo campaigns.
If you’d like to find more startup tips like this, subscribe to Innovate UK’s YouTube channel here.
Additionally, you can follow @InnovateUK on Twitter here.
Partnership marketing is the approach of sourcing and working with complementary businesses for marketing purposes. Obviously you should avoid approaching competitors. Ideally, you’ll be seeking a brand that’s already established in an industry with direct links to your target audience. There are numerous reasons why partnership marketing is used as an approach:
- It opens the door to a larger audience
- It adds value to your existing consumers
- It validates new brands
- It allows you to tap into another brand’s values/reputation
A perfect example of partnership marketing at its best is when Red Bull and GoPro teamed up. Both brands have strong links to the extreme sports industry. One is an energy drink that regularly sponsors extreme sports while another offers point-of-view camera technology. This campaign proves that partnership marketing is a versatile approach which can be utilised by small, medium or global companies.
2. Research the Market
It’s important to fully research any option in business before going through with it. Partnership marketing is the same. Before picking your partner, look towards your consumers. Ideally your partner brand will offer a complementary product or service. They should be relevant and share the same values as yours. Furthermore, ask yourself what you can offer them – after all this is a partnership, not a one-way marketing strategy.
Once you’ve settled on the company, you need to consider how you’ll open lines of communication. Social media is the perfect place to get noticed. Don’t go at things cold. Follow the brand, like their posts and share their content. Do this for a short while and they’ll take note of who you are. Now it’s time to start a conversation. Direct messages and emails are equally effective ways of getting in touch.
3. Let’s Start Simple
You should never rush into a big campaign when forging a partnership. You should look to build the business relationship first. Social media campaigns are the perfect place to start. Try running joint promotions, a competition or even content exchange at first. When you’ve gauged the success of this, you can look towards bigger collaborations.
Be clear when discussing a new partnership. It’s perfectly acceptable to put your objectives on the table and discuss how these can be fulfilled. If both brands are up-front about this, the partnership has a greater chance of success.
4. Never Underestimate the Data
It’s important to analyse the return of any campaign. This is even more critical for partnership marketing. If you understand how a strategy is performing, you can steer it on the course to success if needed. First, consider the metrics by which you’ll measure success. This could be anything from social engagement to conversions. Potentially, this could even be a more abstract concept like brand trust or reputation. Once you’ve settled on your metrics, you can analyse whether your partnership marketing is performing better than any previous solo campaigns.
If you’d like to find more startup tips like this, subscribe to Innovate UK’s YouTube channel here.
Additionally, you can follow @InnovateUK on Twitter here.
“Failure is the mother of invention,” the self-assured co-founder of global programmatic advertising heavyweight Scoota proclaims, “this company has come out of failure, all of this has come out of being fired”. The route to the top hasn’t been simple for Torie Chilcott. In truth, she wouldn’t be sitting at the helm of a company set to turn over £9 million a year if it was. So what is it that makes the female entrepreneur so inspiring? The latest addition to Innovate UK’s Game Changers Women in Innovation series explains all.
1. What is Scoota?
Scoota is a leading programmatic advertising platform which enables advertisers to create, measure and optimise large-scale brand campaigns. Using real-time data, the platform targets specific audiences allowing companies to tailor their message. This allows brand communication to meet the “right people at the right time online”.
2. Failure to Fantasy
Originally a Producer in television, Torie worked with companies like CNN, ITV and Sky. Landing a job with Pop Idol, she seemed to be on her way up. Then in 2008 she was sacked by Simon Fuller. It was at this point that she met co-founder James Booth. Together they saw the potential for content heavy online brand advertising.
3. The Week from Hell
For their idea to come to fruition, the pair needed £100k investment each. James secured his but Torie’s was less than certain. She had a week to gain the necessary funding. This was when she encountered the week from hell:
“I haven’t met an entrepreneur ever, who’s successful in some way or another, who hasn’t had the ability to take one on the chin and go down like a sack of spuds. So you just have to learn and move on, because it’s just experience. And you only get there by doing it.”
4. Investments & Awards
Torie proved that she needed a level of tenacity to make it in the industry. Scoota is now going global and has gained nearly £4 million of investment from Innocent Drinks co-founders Richard Reed, Jon Wright and Adam Balon as well as Sir John Hegarty. Torie has gone on to become a key supporter of Geek Girls UK, assisting women in the science, technology, engineering and maths sectors.
If you’d like to find more videos like this, you can subscribe to Innovate UK’s YouTube channel. Additionally, you can follow @InnovateUK on Twitter here.
Scoota is a leading programmatic advertising platform which enables advertisers to create, measure and optimise large-scale brand campaigns. Using real-time data, the platform targets specific audiences allowing companies to tailor their message. This allows brand communication to meet the “right people at the right time online”.
2. Failure to Fantasy
Originally a Producer in television, Torie worked with companies like CNN, ITV and Sky. Landing a job with Pop Idol, she seemed to be on her way up. Then in 2008 she was sacked by Simon Fuller. It was at this point that she met co-founder James Booth. Together they saw the potential for content heavy online brand advertising.
3. The Week from Hell
For their idea to come to fruition, the pair needed £100k investment each. James secured his but Torie’s was less than certain. She had a week to gain the necessary funding. This was when she encountered the week from hell:
- Monday – Torie planned to re-mortgage her house but a snag prevented this from happening.
- Tuesday – Her father was hit by a bus, whilst she was on the phone to him.
- Wednesday – Her husband lost his job.
- Thursday – The pair’s nanny left.
- Friday – She secured the funding.
“I haven’t met an entrepreneur ever, who’s successful in some way or another, who hasn’t had the ability to take one on the chin and go down like a sack of spuds. So you just have to learn and move on, because it’s just experience. And you only get there by doing it.”
4. Investments & Awards
Torie proved that she needed a level of tenacity to make it in the industry. Scoota is now going global and has gained nearly £4 million of investment from Innocent Drinks co-founders Richard Reed, Jon Wright and Adam Balon as well as Sir John Hegarty. Torie has gone on to become a key supporter of Geek Girls UK, assisting women in the science, technology, engineering and maths sectors.
If you’d like to find more videos like this, you can subscribe to Innovate UK’s YouTube channel. Additionally, you can follow @InnovateUK on Twitter here.
There are so many important steps when it comes to turning your ideas into a successful business. From finding your niche to attending the right networking events and meeting up with potential investors, developing your startup takes time, patience and hard work. Another key part of developing a great business is to have a clearly defined USP (unique selling proposition), that separates you from the pack and makes people sit up and take notice. Below we’ve outlined some of the best ways to find your USP and get your ideas out there as best you can.
1. Decide on your target audience
The first step is to decide who your business is going to be aimed at, but it needs to be a lot more focused than simply saying “males between the ages of 25-35”. Get into the finer details, such as the buying habits and latest trends for the people who you’re going to be aiming your product at. After establishing your demographic you’ll begin to pick out why they should choose to pick you over any competitors.
2. Make sure you’re solving a problem
Offering genuine value to customers is critical if you want to set yourself apart from the pack. If your idea is solving a real issue that people have then you are much more likely to garner consumer interest. Of course, startups have been known to find solutions to problems that don’t really exist, so try to identify beforehand whether it’s actually going to be useful to your demographic.
3. Show your benefits
Customers spend money on products or services when they’re convinced about the benefits it will bring them. That’s why your messaging needs to clearly reflect what you’re all about, why you’re in existence and whether or not people should be dealing with you in the first place. Picking the reason why your customers are choosing you over rivals is one of the best ways to establish your USP and set yourself up for success in the long run.
4. Become Validated
There’s nothing better than having early adopters of your idea, as it’s recognition that this is something that could actually go somewhere. The earlier you have people looking into your services, the quicker you can recognise that customers would be willing to take an interest and spend their money on what you’re creating. Not only that, but it’s also the best way of attracting investor interest. It’s much easier to get investors on board if they can see that you’re already got willing customers who are adding to your revenue stream. Remember, the main reason that startups fail is because they run out of money too quickly, so getting cash into the pot early on means you can plan on spending the resources elsewhere.
And there you have it, four ways to develop your USP and ensure that your startup develops from a great idea into a fantastic business. If you like the video above and you want to see more tips and advice then subscribe to the Innovate UK YouTube channel now.
You can also check out their Twitter account here.
The first step is to decide who your business is going to be aimed at, but it needs to be a lot more focused than simply saying “males between the ages of 25-35”. Get into the finer details, such as the buying habits and latest trends for the people who you’re going to be aiming your product at. After establishing your demographic you’ll begin to pick out why they should choose to pick you over any competitors.
2. Make sure you’re solving a problem
Offering genuine value to customers is critical if you want to set yourself apart from the pack. If your idea is solving a real issue that people have then you are much more likely to garner consumer interest. Of course, startups have been known to find solutions to problems that don’t really exist, so try to identify beforehand whether it’s actually going to be useful to your demographic.
3. Show your benefits
Customers spend money on products or services when they’re convinced about the benefits it will bring them. That’s why your messaging needs to clearly reflect what you’re all about, why you’re in existence and whether or not people should be dealing with you in the first place. Picking the reason why your customers are choosing you over rivals is one of the best ways to establish your USP and set yourself up for success in the long run.
4. Become Validated
There’s nothing better than having early adopters of your idea, as it’s recognition that this is something that could actually go somewhere. The earlier you have people looking into your services, the quicker you can recognise that customers would be willing to take an interest and spend their money on what you’re creating. Not only that, but it’s also the best way of attracting investor interest. It’s much easier to get investors on board if they can see that you’re already got willing customers who are adding to your revenue stream. Remember, the main reason that startups fail is because they run out of money too quickly, so getting cash into the pot early on means you can plan on spending the resources elsewhere.
And there you have it, four ways to develop your USP and ensure that your startup develops from a great idea into a fantastic business. If you like the video above and you want to see more tips and advice then subscribe to the Innovate UK YouTube channel now.
You can also check out their Twitter account here.
So this is it, you’re taking the dive and starting a business. This isn’t going to be easy, but you already knew that. All entrepreneurs go into business ready to work hard for their idea. Before you get out there with your carefully constructed plan, there are a few considerations you should make. Innovate UK have put together four essential tips that all startups should take heed of.
1. Ask Difficult Questions
Before you head out to the real world with your idea, take a moment and ask yourself a few key questions. These are difficult to ask and can be even more painful if you don’t find the answer you’re hoping for. This is why it’s important not to involve friends and family at this stage. Their bias may be comforting but it’s not representative of the general population. Here are the questions you should be asking:
- Does your product/service satisfy a need or solve a problem?
- Is your idea disruptive to the current market?
- How will you monetise your idea?
- Can you identify at least one USP?
If you can’t answer these with conviction, there’s a chance your company won’t succeed.
2. Research Your Opportunity
There’s nothing more vital than thorough research and understanding of your market. Take the time to consider your opportunity at length. Think about what demographic you’re approaching and whether they’d be willing to pay for your product/service. Take a look at the competition and understand what makes them so successful. Look beyond the obvious competition to see whether there are any avenues indirect competition could explore to disrupt the market. How do your price points fit into the market? Also, find out whether the market itself is in growth of decline.
3. Build Your Team
Now it’s time to assess the needs of your business and decide what team you should put in place. Don’t jump head first into this. Pick a company structure that’ll work. Whether you choose a co-founder, employees or outsourcing to agencies should depend on your requirements and financial plan. Whatever you pick, be sure you can trust your team. Competent staff are critical to success.
4. Draw Up a Financial Forecast
This is the most crucial point of all. Half of all startups fail within the first five years – this is usually due to a lack of money. Put together a long-term financial plan which takes into consideration staff and manufacture costs. It’s important to be aware of how long your initial cash flow will last, when you’ll need more investment and when you’ll actually start making money. When putting together your plan, be realistic about early demand and remember that revenue isn’t the same as profit.
If you’d like to see more videos from Innovate UK, you can subscribe to their YouTube channel here.
Alternatively, you can follow @InnovateUK on Twitter here.
A challenging part of running a business is recruiting a team. If you get this right, it can be the key to success. If you get this wrong, it’s going to cost a lot of money. So how can you ensure your recruitment process is effective? We’ve got four essential tips to help you recruit the perfect team.
1. What Can You Afford?
“Make key hires that can fill skill gaps and complement existing staff to help you reach the next level” – Zac Williams, Founder and Director of GradTouch.
Can you actually afford to recruit a full-time employee? Does your workload warrant this level of commitment? A large number of small businesses are finding freelance resources increasingly important to their growth. There are numerous benefits to this strategy:
2. Hire the Skills You Need
“Growth is not just about profit; bigger budgets allow us to use skilled freelancers, increasing the quality of our output” – Graeme McGowan, Creative Partner, Jamhot.
When your business grows, you can easily fall into the trap of speeding the hiring process and neglecting to screen candidates fully. It’s important to look for more than just experience. Try to understand what motivates the candidate. Will they be happy working in your company? Can you offer the right career path, challenges and progression?
When looking to hire new team members, look towards the strengths and weaknesses of your team. Most business owners will start life hiring people who match their skillset. As you grow, you should look towards hiring people with skills in areas you lack. For instance, a tech startup may have a great team of technical minded individuals but if there’s no business development skills, growth will be restricted.
3. Explore all Recruitment Options
“Utilising specialist websites for your industry can give quicker access to appropriate skills” – Gary Casey, MD of Cass Productions.
Now it’s time to seek out the perfect candidate. Recruitment agencies may be the easy option but they often come with lofty fees. The main career sites might be your next choice though these can sometimes be better tailored to large organisations. It can be tough to find a cost effective strategy as a startup.
Try looking towards the smaller job boards tailored for your industry or niche. These are usually lower cost and appeal directly towards the type of candidate you’re looking to hire. Have you thought about speaking to your network? You never know, a friend-of-a-friend could be perfect for the role. LinkedIn is ideal for reaching out to your community about vacancies. Don’t forget other social media platforms either, social recruiting is big business. Try advertising your vacancies on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
4. Scrutinise Your Applicants
“99% of being successful is about having the right attitude. Those people can learn new skills” – James Vizor, CEO of Rule Recruitment.
Before you host any interviews, you need to think a little about the type of person who you’d like working for you. Cultural fit is hugely important, especially in startups or small businesses. While considering this, it’s vital to look at the type of brand you’re portraying in your job search. Much has been spoken about employer branding recently. Candidates want to know what your culture and values are before they join. Show them exactly what working for you will be like.
If you’re stuck about what type of person you want in your company, look towards other brands and see what they’re looking for. Richard Branson, has gone on record to explain the three key characteristics he looks for in candidates:
If you’ve found this helpful and want to find other handy tips catered to startups and SMEs, be sure to check out the Innovate UK YouTube channel full of videos like this.
Additionally, you can follow @InnovateUK on Twitter here.
“Make key hires that can fill skill gaps and complement existing staff to help you reach the next level” – Zac Williams, Founder and Director of GradTouch.
Can you actually afford to recruit a full-time employee? Does your workload warrant this level of commitment? A large number of small businesses are finding freelance resources increasingly important to their growth. There are numerous benefits to this strategy:
- Access to experience and expertise is cheaper than permanent hires
- You can tap into talent without putting it on the payroll
- You can increase or decrease involvement to meet demand
2. Hire the Skills You Need
“Growth is not just about profit; bigger budgets allow us to use skilled freelancers, increasing the quality of our output” – Graeme McGowan, Creative Partner, Jamhot.
When your business grows, you can easily fall into the trap of speeding the hiring process and neglecting to screen candidates fully. It’s important to look for more than just experience. Try to understand what motivates the candidate. Will they be happy working in your company? Can you offer the right career path, challenges and progression?
When looking to hire new team members, look towards the strengths and weaknesses of your team. Most business owners will start life hiring people who match their skillset. As you grow, you should look towards hiring people with skills in areas you lack. For instance, a tech startup may have a great team of technical minded individuals but if there’s no business development skills, growth will be restricted.
3. Explore all Recruitment Options
“Utilising specialist websites for your industry can give quicker access to appropriate skills” – Gary Casey, MD of Cass Productions.
Now it’s time to seek out the perfect candidate. Recruitment agencies may be the easy option but they often come with lofty fees. The main career sites might be your next choice though these can sometimes be better tailored to large organisations. It can be tough to find a cost effective strategy as a startup.
Try looking towards the smaller job boards tailored for your industry or niche. These are usually lower cost and appeal directly towards the type of candidate you’re looking to hire. Have you thought about speaking to your network? You never know, a friend-of-a-friend could be perfect for the role. LinkedIn is ideal for reaching out to your community about vacancies. Don’t forget other social media platforms either, social recruiting is big business. Try advertising your vacancies on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
4. Scrutinise Your Applicants
“99% of being successful is about having the right attitude. Those people can learn new skills” – James Vizor, CEO of Rule Recruitment.
Before you host any interviews, you need to think a little about the type of person who you’d like working for you. Cultural fit is hugely important, especially in startups or small businesses. While considering this, it’s vital to look at the type of brand you’re portraying in your job search. Much has been spoken about employer branding recently. Candidates want to know what your culture and values are before they join. Show them exactly what working for you will be like.
If you’re stuck about what type of person you want in your company, look towards other brands and see what they’re looking for. Richard Branson, has gone on record to explain the three key characteristics he looks for in candidates:
- People skills: Can they get on with other people?
- Risk-taking: Are they afraid to fail? Are they determined to succeed?
- Optimism: Can they see the best in a situation?
If you’ve found this helpful and want to find other handy tips catered to startups and SMEs, be sure to check out the Innovate UK YouTube channel full of videos like this.
Additionally, you can follow @InnovateUK on Twitter here.
