Administrator, Author at Small Business Insider

Boosting Business by Training Paralegal Employees

Posted on June 16, 2022 Written by Administrator

Whether it is drafting employment contracts or ensuring that debts are chased and collected, it is very likely that someone on your team will be performing tasks with a legal element to them. This requires an element of expertise. Of course, staff can be trained to systematically do the job, but would it not be better to offer them qualifications to give a better understanding of, not only what they are doing, but also why?

Today it is more important than ever to retain good staff and create a positive working environment. Not only because a happy employee means a happy business, but also because well trained and qualified staff can help promote your business and give your customers/clients confidence.

In the legal sector, many law firms employ ‘paralegals’. Some of whom may want to eventually become solicitors but there are many who do not – they wish to retain their paralegal status as a career in its own right. It is quite common for a law graduate to apply to a law firm for a ‘paralegal’ position. However, just because they have gained a degree, it does not mean that they necessarily know the practice and procedure of law. A law degree means that they should have knowledge of academic and substantive law. However, it requires further training to be an effective and useful paralegal (i.e. one that can offer genuine service to your firm and not just do the filing, make the tea or carry out a bit of research). To be trained and educated to perform certain tasks is the key to the success of any employee and therefore ultimately of any company. This is why sponsoring your staff to gain further knowledge is a must.

A very famous entrepreneur (Sir Richard Branson) once said that as long as you keep your employees happy, they will make your business successful. This premise is paramount in maintaining a healthy and contented workforce and a healthy and successful business. There is nothing worse than an employer regarding their staff as replaceable commodities: a ‘there’s plenty more to fill your role if you don’t like it’ mindset. Employees need to know that they are respected members of the workforce. Not only that, they must be given proper remuneration and recognition for the work they do. Employing an individual at a basic wage may satisfy them initially as they may be grateful for the employment in the first place, but that is not sustainable.

The businesses that retain their employees are those that regard them as ‘the business’ and without them, there would be no business. Far too often you hear about individuals who say, ‘I am only in this business to cream off the income and make myself a fortune’. It is usually these businesses that have a huge turnover of staff and fail to be sustainable.

But legal training is not just about retaining employees, important as that is. It also about giving confidence to the person carrying out the tasks. With greater knowledge and greater confidence, they will be more effective, will need fewer hours spent managing the work they do, and ultimately, they will instil trust in the clients they work with. In addition, proper training helps to ensure that tasks are carried out accurately and thoughtfully, and potential problems are identified because the person doing the job has a deeper understanding and knowledge of their work and its implications. Following the right legal procedures is not only the right thing to do, but it will also ensure that should an issue need to be taken further, perhaps all the way to a tribunal or court, you can be sure of your legal position and have a stronger chance of winning the case.

Paying for your employees to be trained and qualified must be budgeted for if you are to sustain the objectives and aims of your business. In employment law terminology, as an employer, you owe a duty of care to your employees, and your employees owe a duty of loyalty to their employer. A duty of care means that you must nurture your staff, make them feel secure and safe in their employment and give them a reason to be happy to wake up with a smile on their face. A duty of loyalty needs to be earned and by looking after your employees, you will see that loyalty grow.

So, whether you are a business needing that extra legal expertise or a law firm wanting to retain your paralegal staff, it is a good strategy to sponsor them through some extra training.

Training courses can now be delivered in many different ways – in-house, remote at set times, remote at times to suit you, and in-person in a college setting. They can be anything from short intensives to longer term courses carried out alongside normal working hours. There are so many options that there is really no reason not to sponsor an employee to boost their skills. And training does not need to be expensive either. For example, NALP Paralegal qualifications start at £450 at the basic level.

So, ask yourself these two questions: Is it worthwhile nurturing your employees to encourage them to nurture and help your business grow? Is it also beneficial to have your customers and clients gain more confidence about liaising with your well trained and qualified staff?

If the answer to both these questions is ‘yes’, then you know what to do.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Hamilton is Chief Executive of the National Association of Licenced Paralegals(NALP), a non-profit membership body and the only paralegal body that is recognised as an awarding organisation by Ofqual (the regulator of qualifications in England). Through its Centres around the country, accredited and recognised professional paralegal qualifications are offered for those looking for a career as a paralegal professional.

Web: http://www.nationalparalegals.co.uk

Twitter: @NALP_UK

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalAssocationsofLicensedParalegals/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-hamilton-llb-hons-840a6a16/

Whatever Your Décor, Make Your Hotel Greener

Posted on June 16, 2022 Written by Administrator

If you are running a hotel, there is no excuse for not being aware of the increasing importance customers put on green credentials. Almost a decade ago a TripAdvisor survey warned that two-thirds of travellers take environmental issues into account when choosing hotels, transportation and meals. [1] Since then, pleas for the planet from the likes of David Attenborough and Geta Thunberg have likely only increased the number of hotel customers making bookings based on green considerations.

Climate change policies and legislative changes, including the recent green claim code announcement, make now the perfect time to switch to sustainable products and services. Making the switch to environmentally friendly products and operations often leads to both short- and long-term savings, reduces waste, engages your guests, and boosts efficiency. For example, climate NGO Wrap found that hotels saved $7 for every $1 invested in reducing food waste and 70% had recouped their investment within just one year. [2]

Here are a few easy swaps to make a difference in your business and join the sustainability movement:

The Low Flow Toilet Retrofit

Add a toilet tank bag to existing toilets to save up to 11.4 litres of water after each flush!

Toilets can use up to 14 litres of water per flush wasting valuable freshwater resources and raising your water bill. [3]

While dual flush toilets are rising in popularity, they are often costly, are used incorrectly, are poorly made, and take a long-time to install on a large scale. [4]

Toilet tank bags are an inexpensive retrofitting option that is quick to install and very effective in reducing water consumption in hotel rooms and throughout the facility. Savings can be realized in the short-term and as climate change threatens freshwater accessibility—raising the cost of water—this is a great solution to help use the water we have more thoughtfully.

Towel Transition

Switch from white towels to dark towels for a longer life cycle, better sourcing options, and fewer harsh chemicals entering the environment.

Whether your towels are hired or bought outright, the transition to dark towels will make a huge difference for the environment and your bottom-line. The textile industry is one of the most highly polluting, generating a fifth of the world’s industrial water pollution. [5]

Dark coloured towels are better for the environment since they can be made from post-consumer recycled materials, reclaimed textiles, and scraps, and do not require bleaching, whereas white towels often require virgin resources and bleach to ensure a white finish, and then require large quantities of chemicals to maintain their colour.

QR Coded Menus

Swap traditional printed room service and restaurant menus for QR codes to save resources, reduce waste, and reduce costs.

When the pandemic flipped the world on its head, printed menus quickly went out of fashion. Print menus require resources for paper, ink, lamination, and binding, and often need to be reprinted if they are damaged, updated with new menu items, or simply out of style. Additionally, in the wake of the pandemic, regular sanitization is also needed for those menus to be used between guests.

These unnecessary steps take resources from the environment and contribute to waste at every level from production to maintenance – all for a product that has a short life cycle. Swapping physical room service menus in exchange for easy to scan and use QR codes will help your hotel save money. It will reduce the need for menu reprints and sanitisation while increasing hotel website traffic as guests scan a link to look at your menu.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

Reduce waste and environmental toxins while saving money and improving indoor air quality by swapping outdated, toxic cleaning products for natural, eco-friendly professional cleaning solutions.

Commercial and professional cleaning products are filled with toxic chemicals that are costly (financially and environmentally) to produce, harmful to use, and detrimental when washed back into the environment. These products often contain allergens that cause long-term health issues, and many cleaning products negatively impact the guest experience as they worsen air quality. They also hurt the environment and biodiversity when run-off spreads to local ecosystems, particularly water systems, which are then destabilised by the introduction of harmful chemicals like triclosan, phosphates, phthalates, and more. [6]

By using eco-friendly products, run-off from your facility will have low to no toxic chemicals since they are made from natural, biodegradable ingredients with few allergens. Many come in biodegradable packaging making end of life disposal easier too. [7] [8]

Green cleaning products can also be made out of products already found in your hotel. This saves money and allows your hotel to advertise that some cleaning products are made in a closed loop life cycle. For example, using citrus peels and vinegar from an on-site kitchen to make a natural all-purpose cleaner.

Many eco-certified cleaning companies offer professional-grade, eco-friendly cleaning products that can be bought in bulk – allowing additional savings on cost and packaging.

Shower Product Dispensers

Swap out expensive, wasteful, single-use shower products in guest rooms for refillable dispensers containing environmentally friendly, cruelty-free products.

Individually packaged shower products like mini shampoo, conditioner, and body wash that must be replaced after each guest can become very wasteful and costly. This is especially a problem if a guest only uses a little bit of the product and then throws it out. Another issue is that many eco-friendly vendors will not sell in a single-use size due to the waste associated with the excess plastic packaging, which takes years to degrade, harms ecosystems and fills ever diminishing landfills. Switching to shower product dispensers allows guests to take what they need and avoid waste while remaining sanitary. This easy swap also allows you to have more options when choosing products to include in your hotel, including eco-friendly, cruelty-free, locally made natural shower products available at a lower cost in bulk.

Summary

By choosing these few, simple swaps you can make a genuine difference to your guests, your bottom line and to the future of the planet. Many suppliers are already stocking kinder options, whether it is for cleaning, personal care, towels or bed linen. And sites like Beyond Bamboo have specific sections for the hospitality sector to help buyers access certified products they can trust.

But remember, for these changes to be most effective, you need to make sure that potential customers know that you are doing your bit. Be sure to tell your staff and guests about the planet-friendly changes you have made. This information becomes a talking point and a reason for guests to tell others about their experiences.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Divya Vaghela is from Beyond Bamboo, a global community of sustainable products, services and suppliers working as a collective to restore and rejuvenate the planet. With a consumer marketplace, a B2B supplier portal, a knowledge hub and a team of passionate people dedicated to triple bottom line reporting, Beyond Bamboo aims to help us all do well by doing good.

Web: www.beyondbamboo.online

Twitter: https://twitter.com/beyondbambooRT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondbamboo.online/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondbambooglobal/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-bamboo-global/

[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewbender/2013/04/22/survey-two-thirds-of-travelers-want-green-hotels-heres-how-to-book-them/?sh=774b8e32e2fa

[2] https://wrap.org.uk/resources/business-case-reducing-food-loss-and-waste/hotels

[3] https://www.thegreenage.co.uk/tech/water-saving-toilet/

[4] https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-the-wednesday-edition-1.5744950/dual-flush-toilets-are-wasting-more-water-than-they-save-says-u-k-water-utility-1.5743509

[5] https://www.nrdc.org/issues/encourage-textile-manufacturers-reduce-pollution#:~:text=Textile%20mills%20generate%20one%2Dfifth,by%20burning%20coal%20for%20energy

[6] https://www.aspenclean.com/blogs/sustainable-living/the-environmental-dangers-of-using-cleaning-products

[7] https://puracy.com/blogs/lifestyle/reasons-to-use-natural-cleaning-products

[8] https://www.thespruce.com/reasons-to-start-green-cleaning-today-1706950

Picking The Right Architect Is Essential For Your Small-Scale Property Development Project

Posted on June 9, 2022 Written by Administrator

The most important thing you will need to do to successfully complete a small-scale property development project is putting together the right team for that project. Just because one person was good for a previous project doesn’t mean they will be good for every project. This is something that applies particularly to architects.

I once partnered with a friend (his name is Rob) on a development project. He’d had an old light industrial building that he no longer needed and wanted to know what he could do with it. However, his story had begun a few months before I was approached.

Rob was acquainted with an architect, the only one he knew, so he’d first asked them to see whether there was scope to develop the building. Several months and £10,000 later, the architect produced a set of drawings. And as plans go, they were impressive. The existing building would be demolished to make way for three 2-bed flats and a studio. There would be granite worktops and gold taps, plus they’d even included one of those fancy electric turntable things that allowed cars to be parked in tight spaces. It was all very smart and rather high-end.

The architect had then suggested that planning shouldn’t be a problem, and once they’d received a further £10,000, they could move things on to the next stage. At this point, Rob felt a little uneasy about parting with even more cash and somewhat belatedly gave me a call. Having visited the building and seen the plans, several things were obvious.

Firstly, the market for studio flats in the area was non-existent. The architect had simply been trying to make use of some left-over space, however Rob could be left with a final flat that he couldn’t sell. Secondly, the building was situated in what could only be described as a less-than-desirable part of town. Not a ghetto, but certainly not somewhere you’d find granite worktops and gold taps. Or fancy parking turntables, for that matter. Finally, I had strong doubts that the plans would get planning consent as the new building was out of character with the street scene, particularly the row of listed cottages next door over which it would loom. But apart from these issues, I loved it.

In the end, I agreed to help him develop it, and we did something completely different. Instead of demolishing it, we converted it to residential use under permitted development which neatly sidestepped most of the planning issues. Then we built five entry-level one-bed flats, which our estate agent said would sell much quicker than two-beds or studios. And because permitted development doesn’t carry a parking requirement, we didn’t need to install a fancy turntable, which gave us a lot more space. And there wasn’t a granite worktop or gold tap in sight.

Now, you might be thinking, hold on a moment; that architect sounds like a bit of a sharp practitioner. Taking my friend for £10,000 and proposing to build a white elephant; surely that can’t be ethical? Ok, here comes the cautionary part. Rob made several fundamental mistakes, although to be fair, they are all too easily made. Firstly, he didn’t give the architect a proper brief, so basically, the architect had free rein to design whatever he liked. Pretend if you will that I’d asked you to design me a car, and you’d knocked up a natty two-seater sports coupe. If I then complained that I couldn’t get my eight kids in the back, you’d quite rightly say that I hadn’t mentioned that this was a requirement. In Rob’s case, it’s not the architect’s job to do some market analysis to see what type of development would sell; that should have been Rob’s job as the developer.

Neither did Rob check out the architect’s website. Had he done so, he would have noticed that they specialised in high-end luxury houses and wouldn’t know a commercial conversion if one jumped out of a dark alley and bit them on the backside. Asking them to tackle this project was like hiring Frankie Dettori to ride in a donkey derby. In other words, all architects can design homes, but many have specialisms. It’s horses for courses. Asking a high-end architect to design a cheap and cheerful conversion project was not the way to go. Instead, Rob should have looked around for an architect with that specialism rather than talking to the only architect he happened to know.

All that said, I do feel that the architect in this case, while not technically at fault, could have had an ‘are you sure about this’ chat with Rob before banking his cash. But ultimately, it’s a case of caveat emptor. As for the planning issue, they’d got as far as asking the planning authority about the principle of building their new design but, in my view, had misinterpreted their response. Still, we shall never know since events took a different path. A path, incidentally, that required far less capital and which could be completed in half the time since we weren’t demolishing anything. Good old permitted development.

So, where does that leave us when it comes to finding a decent architect? Our cautionary tale exposes a couple of golden nuggets, which I’ve included below, along with a few others you might want to have in mind:

1. Make sure you set a design brief

Any architect is going to want to know what to design. Do your due diligence to determine what will sell well and who your end customer is. Talking to local estate agents will give you a great steer here, as will looking at what has been built recently in the area. The more specific you are, the less margin for error your architect will have, and you should be able to get a great design at the first attempt.

2. Pick an architect with relevant experience

It’s the horses for courses argument. You want to find someone with plenty of experience working on the type of project you will be building. Whether you’re tackling a development project or simply building an extension, it pays to go with an architect who’s familiar with the species. Ask to see some past projects similar to your brief.

3. Have a beauty parade

Don’t pick the first architect you come across that can do the job. Make sure you’ve at least three in the frame, and then make sure you go and see them all in person. Get quotes from each of them. If it’s a practice instead of a one-person operation, be sure to speak to the person with whom you’ll be working.

4. Ask about freebies

There will be times when you want to call your architect to discuss an in-principle idea. It happens all the time. You’ve just seen a great little opportunity but want to know if such-and-such is feasible. You want your architect to take ten minutes out to have a quick look and give a non-binding opinion. What you don’t want is for your architect to say, ‘that will cost £500, please send me a written design brief, and I’ll get back to you in a month’. So, check this out BEFORE you appoint your architect, but make it clear that you’d fully respect a fair usage policy when it comes to freebies.

5. Get referrals and testimonials

Ask around to see who comes recommended. Speak to contractors and project managers to see who they would recommend. All architects look the part on their websites, but the proof of the pudding will come from talking to their previous clients. Ask to speak to a client who has had a completed project and one that is ongoing. You’re looking to establish how responsive the architect has been, how easy to deal with, and how well they have interacted with the contractor and the rest of the team. Also, ask whether there have been any design errors and how they were rectified.

6. Learn how to block plan

When considering a potential development opportunity, a key question right off the bat is ‘how many units can I build on this site?’. If you have to ask your architect every time you look at a deal, it will soon get expensive and time-consuming. Instead, learn the art of block planning yourself, and then compare your ideas with the architect once you know the deal is worth taking to the next stage. Challenge your architect to do a better job than you have – after all, they’re supposed to be the experts.

7. Have a reserve list

Not only may you be encountering a variety of projects that might suit different architects, but you’ve also got no way of knowing whether your first-choice practice will be available when a deal comes along. It’s always sensible to know who your backup B Team will be, not just for architecture but also for every other member of your professional team.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ritchie Clapson CEng MIStructE is a veteran property developer of almost 40 years and co-founder of propertyCEO, a nationwide property development and training company that helps people create a successful property development business in their spare time. It makes use of students’ existing life skills while teaching them the property, business, and mindset knowledge they need to undertake small scale developments successfully, with the emphasis on utilising existing permitted development rights to minimize risk and maximize returns.

https://propertyceo.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/propertyceotraining/

https://www.instagram.com/propertyceotraining/

https://twitter.com/Property_CEO

https://www.linkedin.com/company/propertyceo

The ‘Great Resignation’, angel investing, and why they are going hand-in-hand

Posted on May 20, 2022 Written by Administrator

Regardless of what we see in the movies or on TV, not everyone who quits a job does so with a slam of the door (literally or figuratively). More often than not, it is a considered action, with the prime motivation of taking advantage of an opportunity to better one’s circumstances. That will likely be the case with those adding to the unusually high number of people quitting that has been called ‘The Great Resignation’. 2022 is seeing Britons leaving their jobs at the highest rate for over a decade.[1]

Notably, alongside the ‘Great Resignation’ there has also been an increased interest in angel investment, with an uptick in people looking to invest in start-ups – according to the research firm Beauhurst: angel networks are becoming an increasingly active and important part of the UK’s high-growth eco system.[2]

Whilst these two phenomena may seem unconnected, when you consider what drives the people behind the statistics, much more becomes clear: there is a notable overlap between why someone may consider leaving their current role, and why they may be interested in becoming an angel investor.

An angel investor is an individual that invests in early stage companies and is typically a High Net Worth Individual – they have an annual salary of at least £100k, or net assets, excluding property and pensions, worth £250k.

Empowerment

After the pandemic, more people are looking to feel empowered by their work. By becoming an angel investor, you can spend your time and money helping to grow businesses that inspire you. Moreover, you have the chance to enrich yourself – while angel investing is riskier than other asset classes, and is less liquid, it does have the potential to offer greater returns.

Research conducted by Envestors over 2021/22 analysed the portfolios of nearly 50 experienced angel investors and found a weighted average Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 14.7%.

Participants were required to have invested a minimum of £250k in at least 5 companies over a ten-year period, and the study found that:

• 89% of respondents showed a net gain

• 11% of respondents showed a net loss

• 173 of the businesses had exited while 368 had failed and 1,119 were still in play

As an active angel myself, I find the results of the report enlightening. Angel investing is known for being high risk, but what the study clearly shows is that it can be very lucrative.

Furthermore, under the HMRC’s Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), angel investors receive income tax relief of 30-50% on funds invested in start-ups and early-stage businesses. This amazing scheme has helped to raise £1.929 billion for 3,920 companies, yet is still surprisingly unknown to many potential investors who could benefit.

Impact

As an angel investor, you know you are making a real difference to a start-up.

Rather than feeling like a small cog in a big machine, you can make a huge impact to a start-up, not only in terms of cash, but by providing the knowledge you have gained from your experience and your connections. Angels are typically evangelists for the businesses they support and can provide advice and strategic direction by sitting as a non-executive director, advisor, or just acting as a champion.

Community

If leaving work has meant meeting fewer new people, angel investing can fill the gap. Many investors join angel networks, not only to find their next great opportunity, but also to meet like-minded people. In addition to the social aspects, joining a network can make it easier for you to find good investment opportunities. As well as this, investors that join a network benefit from deal flow, support in due diligence and opportunities to participate in larger deals through syndication.

Beauhurst has produced a report of the most active angel network in the UK right now, the top three being Envestors, Minerva Business Angel Network, and Cambridge Angels.

On the flip side, working closely with a start-up also means increasing your network of enthusiastic entrepreneurs, with whom you can share a sense of purpose.

To minimise risk, working with an angel network listed on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register is recommended.

Flexibility

After the pandemic, many people have opened their eyes to the possibility of flexible working.

Especially with the use of digital platforms such as Envestors’, you can be a nomadic angel and work from anywhere in the world.

Ultimately, if you’re one of the half a million people in the UK that qualifies as a High Net Worth Individual, and are looking for more empowerment, impact, community and flexibility, now is the time to consider becoming an angel investor.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Oliver Woolley is CEO of Envestors. Envestors’ digital investment platform brings together entrepreneurs and investors across geographies, communities and sectors – creating the single marketplace for early stage investment in the UK.

Envestors partners with accelerators, incubators and angel networks to provide a white-label platform empowering them to promote deals, engage investors and connect to other networks.

Founded in 2004, Envestors has helped more than 200 high growth businesses raise more than £100m through its own private investment club.

Envestors is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Web: https://www.envestors.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/envestors-llp/

Twitter: @EnvestorsLondon

[1] https://www.standard.co.uk/business/great-resignation-uk-rate-deutsche-bank-sanjay-raja-b978084.html

[2] https://www.beauhurst.com/blog/top-angel-networks-uk/

Why establishing ‘who you are’ is still the biggest challenge in Internet Customer Experience

Posted on May 18, 2022 Written by Administrator

On the Internet, nobody really knows who you are. Digital identity has been an afterthought. Today this is one of the biggest weaknesses in terms of cybersecurity and long-term sustainability of the digital economy. However, things are changing, and fast. This is an area that needs to be understood much better.

Let’s begin by clarifying the definitions of personal data.

Identification: the process of identifying an individual

Authentication: the methods used to re-identify and validate individual identities either by what they have (eg SIM, phone, cookie), what they know (eg password or pin) or who they are (eg biometrics)

Verification: the steps taken to corroborate information provided by the individual by accessing trusted data sources and services (eg data brokers, aggregators, telcos)

ARE OUR IDENTITIES SECURE?

The security of personal data and identity is now a major concern for consumers. Each year, the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) surveys the level of trust in the ecosystem, and 2021 data revealed a clear gap between the level of expectations from consumers versus real experience. The gap for mobile apps and services keeping data secure (versus the expectation) is 27 percentage points; the gap for privacy is 28 percentage points. This size of gap usually indicates a breaking point in the level of trust between users and a product. In short, the situation looks serious.

After scandals such as phishing or account take-overs, consumers are worried. From the 2021 MEF Survey, the top user concerns are:

Being defrauded / losing money – 49%
Cybercriminals gaining access to my data – 49%
Someone gaining access to my mobile – 47%
My online activity being monitored – 43%
Losing data from my device – 41%
Companies sharing or selling my data – 39%
Spam / junk email – 37%
Companies experiencing a data breach – 33%

Interestingly, None of the above scores just 6%.

Concerns over Personal Data Security and Privacy is now a reason to delete an app (37%), avoid installing one (33%) or stop using a service altogether (29%). The level of authentication/security is an element with clear impact to consumer preferences.

ONLINE THREATS

In 2015, global fraud amounted to $3trillion dollars. By 2025, the figure will be $10.5trillion from fraud and cybercrime. The implication is that identity and access management to enterprise systems is becoming increasingly critical.

Globally, we are seeing a pronounced move towards an increasing reliance on digital identity and a clear move away from a distinctly unexceptional user experience and inadequate underlying security. Industry is having to develop new solutions that (a) meet the evolving needs of the user experience and (b) work to mitigate the threats.

Online threats are becoming more intense, as is the inevitable fraud that drives these threats. Globally, 59% of enterprises surveyed in 2021 by MEF cited security and fraud prevention as the key driver for digital identity and authentication. The solutions becoming available seek to tackle some of the major issues we are currently seeing:

Device compromisation – where a hostile party can take control of a device remotely
Smishing – when fraudsters attempt to elicit sensitive personal data, passwords, or banking details through SMS (the most common ways to authenticate globally)
SIM (Subscriber Identity Modules) swapping: where a mobile phone identity is swapped with the intention of taking over an account in order to impersonate the user (e.g. making calls, receiving authorisation codes etc.)

MODELS FOR PERSONAL DATA AND IDENTITY

So, what are the models for personal data and identity? This is a critical question to ask. We need to analyse the ‘architecture’ of personal data/identity. The differences among these models implies different applications and threats. We can identify three architectures that are developing and succeeding across the globe that link the individual’s attributes to databases. Interestingly, biometrics are the common thread across all these architectures:

Centralised model – often operated by a government or consortium of financial institutions. In this model, an individual’s information is handled on a centralised database from cradle to grave and has the effect of offering a simplified means of establishing digital identity for a range of services. An example of this approach is Singapore’s SingPass.

Federated model – operating with a series of distributed databases that represent different groupings and where parties can access personal data in one of those databases. The European eIDAS system is an example of one federated approach where trusted service providers can issue and deliver digital signatures and identity. Countries adopting this model include Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy

Self-sovereign identity model – which has no centralised database where the individual owns, manages, controls, and issues their personal data.

Each of these models needs to ensure that the digital identity provided by a trusted service provider has strong authentication. In practice, we are starting to see the emergence of a new model based on these three models. This could be considered as the establishment of digital credentials. An example of this would be an individual’s Covid status. This would allow a person to obtain their signed and verified health credentials which would then be trusted for access to venues or travel.

Clearly, there are issues around maintaining an individual’s privacy and how authentication fits into the process. Standards are developing that can provide further reassurance. Furthermore, there is the issue of regulation, how liability is distributed in this model of verifiable credentials, and how data is controlled and handled under regulatory requirements such as GDPR.

THE FUTURE

The ecosystem is fighting back from the threats of cyberattacks and we will see more of these innovative solutions emerge. There might not be an overall winner, but the co-existence of alternative approaches is now expected.

The good news is that the effort required to maintain security and reduce fraud will be significantly lessened by these technologies. This is because they will replace or enhance inadequate access control and authentication. Organisations and governments need this enhanced measure of multi-factor authentication to progress in the coming years. And individuals need the knowledge that their data is safe and that they can exercise trust in the integrity of it.

The global economy needs solutions to the developing issues that personal identity and authentication present. There are three major pillars to these solutions:

the role of the individual
establishing trust with organisations
handling the online experience.

To review or define an internal solution we should cover these three essential points. Covid has had a major impact on the way we live our lives and the ability to conduct in-person transactions has been transformed. Individuals are forced to navigate a remote and brutal online environment whilst establishing their identity. They are subject to ransomware and continual threats. This transformation is fast-paced and is requiring a strong degree of trust with sharing personal data with organisations and authorities. Clearly, there are inherent risks with online interactions and the sharing of personal data and the traditional ways of handling these are no longer fit for purpose.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dario Betti is CEO of MEF (Mobile Ecosystem Forum) a global trade body established in 2000 and headquartered in the UK with members across the world. As the voice of the mobile ecosystem, it focuses on cross-industry best practices, anti-fraud and monetisation. The Forum provides its members with global and cross-sector platforms for networking, collaboration and advancing industry solutions.

Web: https://mobileecosystemforum.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mef

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mobile-ecosystem-forum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MobileEcosystemForum/

Do Not Be Your Own Project Manager For Small-Scale Property Development Projects

Posted on May 4, 2022 Written by Administrator

Many people assume that a conversion project where a commercial property is converted to residential would be more difficult and stressful than a refurb or flip. After all, they generate much bigger profits, so therefore surely, they must be more challenging. That’s not been my experience, and I’ve been in development for forty-odd years, so I have seen more than a few of each. For my money, conversions are much easier, and that’s mainly because you can afford to hire better people to do more of the work that you might otherwise have done yourself.

Many new developers consider managing their own projects, presumably to save money or perhaps because they think they will enjoy it. Don’t do it. With a refurb or flip, you’ve little choice but to adopt a DIY approach since your budget won’t stretch to hiring a project manager. But with a conversion project, the budget is available, and having a good project manager on board will completely transform your experience as a developer.

The problem with the DIY approach is usually a lack of experience. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because you’ve managed a project in another sector or discipline that overseeing a construction project will be the same – it won’t. As someone who teaches new property developers for a living, I’ve taught many construction project managers how to develop property for themselves. They look surprised when I tell them not to manage their own projects. After all, surely that’s their number one advantage? The penny starts to drop when I ask them whether they are learning development in order to do more project management work or to earn enough money not to be a project manager anymore? There’s only ever been one answer to that, and that’s because project management of a construction site is hard work, and you get paid a lot less than the developer does. And getting paid more for doing less is usually an easy decision for most people to make.

The advantage to you as the developer is that your Project Manager will be coordinating everything on site so that you won’t have to. Instead, you play more of an executive role. You’ll have a weekly phone call with your project manager, who will have been to the site, to meet with the key protagonists and check on progress. They’ll also deal with the numerous bumps in the road that can crop up in development while you’re sitting at home doing something far less taxing. Compare this to the newbie, first-time, have-a-go developer who tries to manage their own project, and the stress levels are incomparable. Why be worried about meeting your construction team on site and feeling like a fish out of water due to your inexperience? A Project Manager will have your back. It’s the same when it comes to contractors trying to pull the wool over your eyes, as project managers have seen and heard it all before.

So how do you go about finding this superhero? Here are my top five tips for bagging yourself a peachy Project Manager:

1. Get some recommendations

Construction project management is a defined role in the construction industry, and there are many to be found working up and down the country. If you can, the best way of finding a good one is through word-of-mouth recommendations. Speak to other professionals such as architects and contractors to see if you hear any common names, and then go and interview them personally. Of course, you can always start with an online search to come up with a few names if you’re just starting out, but when you meet them, be sure to ask for references from their previous and existing developer clients.

2. Make sure you get on with them

I’m not suggesting that your project manager will become your best friend, but you must be able to get along. They are your eyes and ears on the ground, and they will almost certainly pay for themselves through the tighter controls that they’ll bring to your scheme. They’ll raise any issues with you and will be able to guide you based on their experience. In short, they will be the most valuable member of your team, so it makes sense to appoint someone with whom you can get along. If you’re speaking to a larger practice with several Project Managers on their team, make sure you have met in person the individual that would be appointed to your project.

3. Make sure they have experience of the type of project you’re doing

As development projects come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, from large new-build housing projects to small-scale conversion schemes, make sure that your project manager has experience doing the sort of project you’re looking to do. Ask them about similar projects they’ve done and see if you can speak to their clients to get some direct feedback, both good and bad. Conversion projects are different from new builds, so make sure they have the right track record.

4. Go local if you can

You ideally want to find a project manager who lives within striking distance of your project. There are several benefits to this. The first is a practical one: they’ll need to go to the site several times a month, and so it will cost you more if they have to travel long distances to get there. Also, it can often pay dividends for the Project Manager to have local connections. There’s a fair chance they’ll have worked with some of the other professionals on your team before, plus they’ll know other local professionals and contacts that can be called on if needed.

5. Avoid creating a clique

Recommendations can work both ways, and there’s no harm in asking your project manager for other professionals they recommend. After all, your interests are going to be aligned. You don’t want any lazy, inept, or unreliable people on board, and your Project Manager certainly won’t either. However, just be careful about creating a clique. If the Project Manager and the contractor are bosom buddies, you need to be confident that the former will call out the latter if they do something wrong. You won’t want any mistakes brushed under the carpet or, worse still, marked up as ‘sundry items’ and appearing on your bill.

So, there are a few tips to get you started. Working with a project manager on the team doesn’t mean you should never show your face on site. I would highly recommend you visit now and again to rally the troops and take the time to speak to the people who are working on the coalface. After all, they are the people who will be finding practical solutions to problems that could otherwise cost you money to fix, so it pays to be both visible and friendly.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

https://propertyceo.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/propertyceotraining/

https://www.instagram.com/propertyceotraining/

Tweets by Property_CEO

https://www.linkedin.com/company/propertyceo

Important Transferable Skills That Paralegals Gain In The Workplace

Posted on April 26, 2022 Written by Administrator

Training as a paralegal is a great way to start your career in the legal sector. But that’s far from all there is to gain from becoming a paralegal. Unlike other routes into the legal sector, paralegal work involves a lot more freedom and variety of experience, allowing you to focus on the skills, areas and clients that you want. So, what can kind of personal development can you hope to achieve as you work towards becoming, and indeed whilst working as, a paralegal?

1. Office skills

The skills needed in your work as a paralegal, i.e., source analysis, critical reading and writing and digital knowhow, are useful for any career. These office skills, essential for paralegal work, offer a promising outlook for climbing the ladder as a leading paralegal. However, lots of these skills, such as learning to use office software, writing a formal letter, organising your own time and workload, are useful skills to have navigating life in the 2020s.

2. Self-confidence

Lots of the day-to-day work of a paralegal requires working closely with other legal professionals and clients. It would be hard for a fresh paralegal to get far without picking up some useful interpersonal and communicative skills. The ideal paralegal will develop the self-confidence to assert themselves at work, pursue their clients’ interests and express themselves clearly.

3. Independence

As a qualified freelance paralegal, you’re free to take on as much, or as little, work as you like. If you would like to build your portfolio as a paralegal, you’re free to take on as many clients as you can handle. If you have other responsibilities, maybe you’re a parent or care-giver, the flexibility of freelance work allows you to pursue a high-powered profession while also keeping on top of your personal life. Besides the personal development provided by the job, the flexibility and freedom given to paralegals allows you to pursue any further personal development without having to choose between yourself and your career.

4. Formal personal development courses

Alongside the opportunities for personal development that come with the role, there are also plenty of training courses provided by licensing bodies and law offices. For example, at NALP we offer training courses alongside our paralegal qualifications to help you develop soft skills that are applicable in a variety of workplaces. The potential for progression in the legal industry is fantastic, and employers are usually happy to invest in upskilling their talent.

5. Network with people in the legal sector

Pursuing a career as a paralegal will expose you to a variety of people, from different backgrounds, destined for different places. The people you rub shoulders with as a paralegal could one day offer you a job, or help you find clients. More than just networking, meeting a variety of driven, capable people is a great way to make friends.

The opportunities for personal development and transferable skills afforded by a career as a paralegal are part of what make it such an appealing career choice. You won’t leave your first job without being able to navigate your way around a bustling office, deftly use various office software platforms and speak with confidence. But most of all, on every step of the journey, work as a paralegal offers you the freedom to pursue other ways of developing yourself personally and professionally. Freedom to train remotely and, once qualified, practice in a workplace that suits you: as part of a large law firm; as your own boss; as a freelancer. Whatever way you want to see yourself develop; the paralegal profession can help you achieve it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Hamilton is Chief Executive of the National Association of Licenced Paralegals(NALP), a non-profit membership body and the only paralegal body that is recognised as an awarding organisation by Ofqual (the regulator of qualifications in England). Through its Centres around the country, accredited and recognised professional paralegal qualifications are offered for those looking for a career as a paralegal professional.

Web: http://www.nationalparalegals.co.uk

Twitter: @NALP_UK

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalAssocationsofLicensedParalegals/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-hamilton-llb-hons-840a6a16/

Boost Your Business With A Spring Clean

Posted on April 15, 2022 Written by Administrator

Decluttering your business can feel like bursting open the windows to breathe in the fresh air of a whole new creative chapter for your business. Clearing out and letting go of what is no longer serving you and your business is a strong signal to your subconscious mind that you are upgrading. You are ready to welcome in the fresh new creative emergence and growth for you and your business.

CLEAR OUT YOUR MIND

Cut out the external noise in your environment causing irritation, overstimulation and stress to your mind.

Turn off social media, unfollow any people and groups you respond negatively to. Unsubscribe from expert newsletters letting you know daily the 5 mistakes you are making in your business. Petitions and campaign updates, turn them off. Turn off the news too.

Turn off phone notifications beeping, interrupting your focus and flow, pulling your attention away from what is truly important into time wasting apps. Delete all the apps and games from your phone that are distracting you; and remove yourself from any WhatsApp groups draining your creativity and lifeforce energy.

This doesn’t have to be forever. For now, turn down the volume (right down) on external stimuli so you can hear your own heart’s wisdom and inspiration leading and creating this fresh chapter of your business.

Get out into nature. Go to the water—rivers, lakes, oceans and seas—and clear your mind. For as Wallace J Nichols, author of Blue Mind, why we are happier, healthier and more connected by water, explains: “All the information your mind has to process in an office – computers whirring, conversations chattering, comings and goings, technology beeping – all this background noise falls away leaving only the sound of the waves and the views of the horizon. Now with less background noise for our minds to process we have much more bandwidth for inspiration.”

CLEAR OUT YOUR BODY

Cut out stimulants, such as caffeine and sugar habits that may have crept in, that give you false energy bursts and can amplify and exacerbate unwanted thoughts on repeat on your mind. If you can’t cut them out completely, reduce them a little each day and notice the difference.

You may like to dive in deeper into a full body detox cutting out alcohol, gluten, meat and dairy too, perhaps working with a nutritionist or you may like the ayurvedic approach.

CLEAR OUT YOUR ENERGY

Notice if there are any outstanding business relationships, commitments or ties, any beliefs and behaviours draining you of energy that are ready for a timely good-bye. Saying no to what is no longer in alignment, serving or relevant to you, your clients and customers might feel uncomfortable for a moment; but makes the space for what supports you, your business, your clients and customers to grow now.

CLEAR OUT YOUR OFFICE

Take a look around your office. How does it make you feel? Are you inspired or irritated? Do you feel clear and expansive or hemmed in and cluttered? What needs to go and be recycled, thrown out or given away? What needs to be organised more beautifully?

Go through your entire office. Start with the desk draws and cupboards and clear them all out. Organise any piles of filing, old receipts, contracts and agreements. Recycle, throw away and give away anything that no longer serves your business.

Find some lovely storage boxes to tidy up, straighten out, organise and brighten up a space that you love being in, a space that inspires you when you walk into it, a space that says you are ready for the new.

I once spent the day helping my neighbour, a spa designer and yoga teacher, clear out her office. She threw away 20 years of paperwork, courses and meditation CD’s she’d forgotten she’d created, health and beauty products she’d represented, old contracts and agreements, mood boards from past spa projects.

Over 20 bin bags later, she’d been reminded of her career success, skills and dedication, filling her with confidence. The following week she was offered a new position harnessing all these skills to design and develop a world-leading spa for a 5 star hotel in India. Clearing out the old, made space and invited in the new.

CLEAR OUT YOUR DIARY

Take a look at your diary for the coming week and month. What’s scheduled out of habit or obligation? Which meetings are time wasting? Are there meetings that can be delegated? What can be cancelled if you make and communicate a decision now?

Now schedule in your priority time in nature to listen to your heart’s wisdom and receive the inspiration that will guide the next evolution of your business. Make space for this fresh, new creative emergence.

CLEAR OUT YOUR EMAIL

Do you have 1000 unopened emails in your inbox? Take 2 minutes and scan for the one or two that are truly vital and important. Create an action mailbox folder and move these one or two into that. Delete the rest. Double delete by emptying the deleted or bin folder. How does that feel?

CLEAR OUT YOUR BUSINESS STRUCTURE

Lastly, time for some honest business reflection. What about the structure of your business is no longer working? Scan your purpose, audience, product, pricing, marketing and PR, financial structure of your business. Which areas need a clear out, a reboot and refresh to welcome in new life and creative energy?

Is there a product that has run its course or is crying out for the next evolution and relaunch? Does your value and pricing need an upgrade? Perhaps staying hidden away in the background needs to go as you listen to a calling to step up and be the creative, vibrant leader and spokesperson for your business that you are? If chasing financial goals or financial survival during the pandemic has left you burnt out, let it go and reconnect with your heart’s wisdom, purpose and reason for being in business. Be brave. Clear it out to make space to welcome in the fresh, new creative energy, lifeforce and success for you and your business to evolve and grow.

About Kat Byles

Kat Byles is the Founder of the True Business School, for creative leaders, entrepreneurs, teachers, artists and healers who want to do business differently. She works with people to find and align with their purpose and creativity to build a happy, healthy, wealthy business and world.

Web: www.KatByles.com & www.True-Business-School.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katbyles/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katbyles/