BUSINESS REPORT DON’T LOSE YOUR MOTIVATION


A top 12 UK firm of chartered accountants and business advisors has released the findings of the second stage of its For Love or Money survey. The survey by Haines Watts


explores why business owners lose their motivation and how they can get it back. It revealed that 29% of Northamptonshire business owners lose motivation at least once a year. While this is below the national


average of 35%, they still appear to be losing motivation more than is desirable. Nearly two thirds of local


business owners – 62% – state


financial worries and frustration about not getting enough done are their top sources of stress, closely followed by peaks and troughs in their volume of work at 57%. Stephen Watts, partner at Haines


Watts Kettering (pictured), comments: “Our research shows that money is one of the most common reasons why business owners find


themselves in a spiral of stress, which can dampen their motivation. Part of this stems from business owners attempting to tackle financial difficulties, such as cash flow problems and over-expansion, as they arise rather than planning for them in advance.


PROTECTED STATUS FOR CHUTE “Business owners need to create


time to step back and plan for the future. This often starts with short, medium and long-term business planning and then building a strong management team to help deliver the plan and keep the wheels turning.” When it comes to


rekindling business owners’ love for running their company over two thirds – 71% – say their own personal drive and customers re-


motivate them, while 67% cite


friends as a key re-motivating factor.


SUPPORT FOR


BUSINESSES A group of business finance consultants that specialises in commercial finance and mentoring has launched a series of free seminars. Daventry-based Business


Finance Services Ltd (BFS) is running seminars on the support available to SMEs, covering a range of topics from ‘alternative’ finance sources to mentoring and business planning. The first sessions introduced


SMEs to crowd funding and BFS will run seminars on other alternative funding sources such as trade and stock finance and Single Invoice Finance. Managing director Peter


The fairground at Wicksteed Park, including its historic water chute in 1951 (left) and today


Britain’s oldest water chute, at Wicksteed Park, Kettering, has been given listed status by Historic England because of its significance to Britain’s heritage. The water chute was built in 1926 and its designer, philanthropist Charles Wicksteed, who owned a successful engineering company in Kettering, was a huge influence on attitudes to children’s play. He created a leisure park with amusements and his swings and slides were soon exported across the world. The park remains free to enter today. Wicksteed Park managing director


Alasdair McNee said: “We are delighted with the decision to give the water chute the listed status. “It has been an integral part of the park for many


years and showcases the wonderful vision and engineering of Charles Wicksteed in his quest to


10 inbusiness APRIL/MAY 2017


encourage children and families to explore and have fun.” Today Wicksteed Park combines rollercoasters and


‘HIS SWINGS AND SLIDES WERE SOON EXPORTED


rides with an historic 147-acre country park. Its attractions include the RUSH zipwire and activity tower, which includes one of the UK’s longest and fastest zipwires, and an Air Bag Jump. It has launched Tree Top Walk, a 90-


ACROSS THE WORLD’


metre walkway of activities and obstacles, and Meerkat Burrows, an underground tunnelling experience with pop up viewing areas to allow visitors


to see the park’s meerkats up close. There is also a new Snakes & Ladders dropslide, a farmyard experience and a new


musical garden. New for 2017, is the Sway Rider wave swing and the


chance to explore the rope courses and overground tunnels of the Sycamore Circle. Rides open for 2017 on 1 April.


Douglas said: “Over the last few years the big banks have been less able to loan money and several smaller, specialist lenders have come on the scene. A lot of time can be wasted in seeking out the best option; time that would be better employed in running the business. We decided to run free seminars for SMEs to raise their awareness of these alternative sources of finances. “Our seminars are also


useful for businesses that support SMEs, such as solicitors and accountants, and potential investors.” BFS has about 500 business


angels. The firm provides a business support package featuring business plans and an ongoing mentoring service.


Visit: www.bufinserv.co.uk Call: 0800 093 5240 Email:


enquiries@bufinserv.co.uk


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