The pros and cons of taking on an apprentice So what could be some of the pros and cons of taking on an apprentice?

The apprentice’s perspective Michala already had 15 years’ experience before starting a 2½ year apprenticeship at Dudley College. A year into her course, we asked her what an apprenticeship means on a day-to-day level.

Apprenticeships: Are you up to date? Apprenticeships have changed in recent years. The image of a young school leaver learning a trade simply isn’t what modern apprentices look like these days. The fact is, apprentices can be any age and could already be decades into their career.

There are three of us running this business and we don’t agree! If you find yourself saying this or something similar, it may be comforting to know that this problem is not uncommon. It can easily happen, for example, when a company owner exits the business and leaves it in the hands of a new

How do I get my increased wage bill reflected in sales and profits? As businesses grow, so does the need to take on extra staff. But if you’re finding that your profits are not keeping up with your increased wage bill, it’s time for a rethink. Ally Maughan, People Puzzles founder, lists some of the

‘I’m tired of saying the same thing and nothing changes!’ Have you ever found yourself saying this about your staff? Paul Gordon, HR Director at People Puzzles, looks at how to improve communication channels with colleagues.

New Year’s Resolutions for small businesses What will you (and what should other SMEs) resolve to do in the new year?

‘Back from the future’ planning It’s often said that hindsight is a wonderful thing, so if you actively build it into your planning, you might be able to spot pitfalls before they happen. John Tattersall, HR Director at People Puzzles, explains how ‘back from the future planning’ can give you a vital extra perspective.

Self-Management: a vision of the future? – part two Self-Management: a vision of the future part one – introduced the idea of self-managed teams explaining what they are and how they work. In part two we explore the idea working in practice, and how you would move from traditional hierarchical structures to self-management.