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www.homebusinessnetwork.co.uk Issue 3August 2009
HOmE BUSiNESS CLiNiC SNAP SHOT fEATUrE :: SPEAkiNG
from the Home Business forum:
“Can I put down food, electricity and other household expenses as business
Top tips for
expenses if I work from home?”
public speaking
Clive Lewis, head of enterprise at the iCAEw, replies:
“You can include a “use of home as office charge” in the business expenses. It would WORKING from home might mean you have
be based on the total costs of the house – electricity, gas, council tax, etc with the to make an extra effort to seek-out speaking
charge based on the proportion the office space bears to the total floor area. Care opportunities so you and your business get
must be exercised to prevent the charge in the accounts resulting in a Chargeable known and get noticed.
Capital Gain if the house is sold.” Louise Third, director of PR company Integra
Communications coaches the most reluctant
of speakers for every kind of situation. She also
helped set-up Nottingham Speakers’ Corner and
recommends the thrill of open-air debate to lift
IF you are planning to set up and run a ‘work at home’ business, there are
the soul.
a number of points to check before you begin. Working from home can
SNAP SH
OT
Are you ready for a challenge? I know that
affect your mortgage, your home insurance, your tax situation and even
as a Home Business reader you are passionate
your neighbours.
about what you do and willing to go the extra
If you are thinking of using your home as a workplace, it is a good idea to
check with the following:
Name: Herbert Eppel
mile to succeed. So here goes: in two months’
Location: Leicester
time I want you to have been on your feet
• Your mortgage lender or landlord/freeholder - your mortgage or tenancy
Company name: HE German
speaking to a live audience on a topic you
agreement may prevent you from using your home to run a business.
understand well and that your audience wants
Technical Translations
to hear. Then we want you to tell us how you
• Your insurance provider, to see if you need to take out extra insurance. Age: 49
got on, especially if it has been the first time
• The Valuation Office Agency (VOA), to see if you will be charged
Most useful item: Translation
you have made a presentation.
K
n
O
W
business rates.
management software, electronic
You will need to ask around to find an
dictionaries
opportunity, but the best places to start
d
t
O
• HM Revenue & Customs and an accountant, to see what your income,
Home worker tip: Join
are local networks run by the Chamber of
VAT and Capital Gains Tax position is.
professional virtual networks such
Commerce, Business Link or other support
n
E
E
• A solicitor, to check legal aspects. as LinkedIn, but don’t get bogged organisations. Try to fix on a topic which your
• The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) or your local authority, to find out
down with social networking. listeners will find interesting or useful, and
the health and safety aspects of running a work at home business and
Web:
www.HETranslation.co.uk then give yourself plenty of time to plan what
how to do a risk assessment.
you are going to say. If you follow the coaching
“I was working as a senior points I have prepared, you will get off to a
• Your neighbours, to make sure they have no objection to you running
lecturer and research fellow
flying start.
your business from home.
in the Institute of Energy and
• The planning department of your local authority, to see if you need to make
Sustainable Development at De
10 tips for speaking in public
structural changes to your home. You may need planning permission. You
Montfort University, where I
must also make sure you comply with building regulations.”
helped to set up a new MSc course
1. What do you want to achieve from your
in the mid 1990s, among a wide
speech? Set one clear objective which will
Ceri Henfrey
range of other activities. The work
guide your planning. You should be able to
Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank
was very rewarding, but I wanted
answer this question: ‘When I have finished
to explore new opportunities
speaking my listeners will...’
based on my solid technical
and academic background and
2. Who will be listening? What will they be
bilingual language skills.
interested in? Plan your speech to get your
So I reduced my working hours
listeners’ attention and keep them interested.
at the university to half-time and Think about what they want to hear, not just
launched HE German Translations what you want to say!
Areyoulooking for new business? around 15 years ago. I deal with
a wide range of subject areas, 3. Shape your speech with a clear beginning,
In the current climate it has never been more
especially engineering, technology middle and close.
important to develop your sales pipeline.
and science, with particular focus
on renewable energy, environment 4. Use stories, examples, anecdotes and quotes
and sustainable development. to bring your speech to life. Even use props but
I have some 100 customers avoid humour if it’s not your style.
from around the world and use
Areyoueasily found on the internet?
a team of subcontractors in
5. Use note cards with bulletpoints and not a
several countries to meet any
full written speech on A4 sheets. This way you
Most people today use Google to find products and
peaks in demand and to cover
can look up and talk to the crowd.
subjects outside my own area of
services rather than traditional printed directories.
expertise. Enquiries come via my
6. Rehearse with a few friends as ‘audience’ and
website, relevant directory entries
encourage constructive criticism.
and through participation in
Areyoudeveloping contacts by networking? numerous online forums.
7. To make a powerful noise, don’t shout – fill your
Working from home without
lungs and ‘throw’ your voice. If you have to use a
Business networking has fast become the number 1
having to go through a daily
microphone, practise with the technology first.
marketing strategy/lead generator for many businesses
commuting routine suits me
very well and helps to reduce my
8. Use face and body movements for more
across the UK. carbon footprint, something I’m
‘drama’ and impact. It’s easier to smile than
very keen on as an active member
to frown! You are the best ‘visual aid’, so don’t
of Friends of the Earth and other
overpower your audience with unnecessary,
With Business Scene you will:
environmental organisations.
cluttered slides.
•
A few months ago I attended
Improve your search
•
Grow your network of a seminar on the subject of
9. Look for feedback from your listeners.
“observational marketing hints”,
Are they nodding in agreement, or have
engine rankings. contacts who know you.
organised by the local Business
they nodded off? Adjust your approach if
•
Link. The speaker, Geoff Ramm,
you sense you are losing their interest.
Find over 10,000 networking
•
Raise your company and
events across the UK. personal profile online.
was excellent, highly entertaining
10. Enjoy and learn from the experience. Make
and quite inspiring. He gave 11
a note of what went well and what you think
specific tips; the first one was
you can improve next time.
“2009 - Your Year of Creativity and
Opportunity”. So far his advice has
Join thousands of small business
Remember that practice makes perfect so
worked very well for me.
have a go and email us at:
owners and register for FREE on
One of the things I want to follow
info@homebusinessnetwork.co.uk
our business directory!
up this year is further expansion
through fusion marketing, i.e.
Tell us all about it!
www.business-scene.com
collaboration with colleagues who
deal with other languages.”
www.integracommunications.co.uk
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