The UK’s business industry is slowly starting to feel hopeful about the future again. As vaccinations rolled out and lockdown lifted, businesses could reopen their doors to staff and customers.
However, the challenge is far from over, and many companies are about to face the hardest yet. The economy is still reeling from the pandemic, and consequences are starting to show. The UK government announced an increase in taxes in an attempt to recover from the costs of covid. In March 2021, the government planned to raise the corporate tax to 25% from 19% in April 2023. Recently, they announced an increase in national insurance tax to pay for NHS and social care costs. The UK is one of the first western governments to address the financial impact of covid and its long-term consequences.
Many companies will need to rapidly recover revenue and devise a long-term plan to get back on their feet. They need to rethink their business plan and identify how they can get ahead of the competition. One way of doing this is to reassess the talent and positions in your team. You need to play to the strengths of your employees and assess where people work best. Some businesses have integrated a flexible working approach so employees can choose between remote and office working. Others lost employees during the pandemic and needed to hire new team members to fill the gap in the team. You could bring someone in to bridge the gap during the hiring process through an interim management solution.
Business owners need to adapt to the current situation. The world has changed since the pandemic, and customers, investors, and clients have different priorities. Your old business plan does not apply to today’s world. You need to reconsider how to sell your product and whether there is even a demand for it now. Some companies have already adapted to the market and stormed ahead in the business industry. You need to innovate and think about how you can change your business idea to fit the post-pandemic era.
Building resilience is a vital part of running a business. You are going to encounter challenges and failures no matter what industry you are in. A good business owner will learn from these hurdles and grow stronger with time. Take a step back and think about what you have learned from the pandemic. How can you use these lessons to elevate your business? You might be surprised by how much your priorities and values have changed in the last year alone.
Covid-19 accelerated the digitisation of the business industry and kickstarted a huge shift. Remote working became the norm, and video calling stood in the place of business travel. You can automate processes within your company to streamline your task load. You can use specialist software to hold company data and protect yourself from cybersecurity breathes.
The business industry is not the same place it used to be. Adapt to the change, and make the most out of the next year.
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