< Previous East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PRINT AND PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT When acting to encourage more customers to stick around, accessibility goes further and encompasses more than you might expect. Simplicity and softer colours in your imagery, while keeping print bolder in colour and easy to read, could help visually impaired customers find the details they need more easily. Providing alternative means of accessing this information, such as braille or QR codes, will further link more people with sight related disabilities to your product’s benefits, ideals and backstory. Clarity and transparency should be an essential factor in both print and packaging, inclusive of every potential customer that comes your way. Even the keenest and most able of readers could be put off by unclear information, or too much or little of it. All the essentials, such as a product name, ingredients, usage instructions and any necessary safety warnings, should therefore be clearly printed and easily legible. These details should also be strategically and prominently placed to guide consumers’ eyes across the packaging, and towards the most critical information. Using appropriate font sizing and styles also enhance readability, while providing an opportunity to experiment. See what happens when you challenge yourself to make clear labelling and copy an expression of your brand’s unique vision and personality. The quality of your raw materials takes www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link PRINT AND PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT the excellence of your print and packaging design to a deeper level. Investing in best practice with printing techniques and materials ensures that print looks professional, and is set to outlast the product’s lifecycle. Durable print options can work even harder to maintain packaging’s appearance, preventing information from fading or smudging. Sturdy yet minimal packaging and labelling will assist you in being mindful of sustainability, as well as communicating your ethos to customers. Labels can be an especially touchy area for eco-friendliness, as some materials aren’t as recyclable as others. There are still plenty of safe and reliable options, including paper and cardboard. Especially if they are uncoated or have water-based adhesive, these labels can usually be processed along with other paper waste in recycling facilities. Print methods are equally varied in sustainability, whether applied to labels or directly to packaging; sustainable print techniques aim to minimise waste, energy consumption and the use of harmful chemicals wherever possible. Digital printing is a favoured eco-friendly option because it doesn’t require the creation of plates or the use of chemical- based inks, all while allowing for customisable on-demand printing, reducing waste and inventory space. Water-based inks have lower levels of volatile organic compounds than solvent- based varieties, and reduce the emission of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Soy-based and vegetable- based inks make an especially kind replacement for those that use chemicals such as petroleum, being both renewable and biodegradable. UV printing alternatively reduces the need for solvents by using ultraviolet light to cure inks instantly, eliminating the need for solvent-based drying methods, consuming less energy and emitting fewer harmful chemicals. The more adaptable, reclaimable and high quality your base materials are, the higher the chance they can be infinitely broken down and reused, provided you don’t opt to reduce and reuse from the outset. Making recyclable packaging from already recycled materials is known as circular packaging, based on the concept of a circular economy – one where as many materials as possible keep being reused in a continuous loop, never needing to go to waste. Even after every aspect has been decided and your final products are on shelves, the process doesn’t have to end there. Carrying out user testing reinforces a strong relationship between business and customer, and helps evaluate how effectively your packaging and print works together. Actively send out surveys and be open to spontaneous feedback from consumers, to assess how well the packaging communicated information or resonated with them. You never know where the spark of a unique refit or rebranding idea may come from, as the target audience of a product knows what it needs better than anyone else. © stock.adobe.com/zzzdim East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PUBLIC RELATIONS I magine carefully building a global brand over three centuries that is essentially based on discretion and then it is all undone in a matter of moments after the very modern “cancel culture” card is waived. The irony of course being that this stellar reputation has just been annihilated by none other than its own Reputation Committee. That’s what has happened to Coutts after a certain N Farage was put onto a “glide path” from his Coutts accounts to a generic NatWest account because he no longer met the criteria to qualify for Coutts’ exclusive services. In an internal document it transpired that the bank views Nigel as a “disingenuous grifter” who promoted “xenophobic, chauvinistic and racist views.” Now, that may well be the opinion of the bank and perhaps many letter to Farage apologising for the way Coutts had handled its decision to cut ties with the Brexit campaigner. This came after a series of interventions by the prime minister and senior members of his cabinet, and more than two weeks after Farage went public about Coutts no longer wanting him as a client. Rose said the comments, prepared for Coutts’ wealth reputation risk committee, “do not reflect the view of the bank,” adding: “No individual should have to read such comments and I apologise to Mr. Farage for this.” However, she stopped short of reinstating Farage as a Coutts client, instead reiterating an offer to open a basic account for him at NatWest. Ouch! Farage then accused Rose of being forced into an apology: “...so thank you Dame Alison for apologising. What I’ve Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, reflects on the Coutts/Farage situation and the impact of taking a political stance as a business. readers of this column. It may well be the absolute opposite. The problem is, the banking brand that is built on discretion has been found wanting for that exact corporate value and it probably couldn’t have happened with a worse client in mind given Nigel’s skill in riding the media waves when the tide turns his way. Never one to let personal embarrassment get in the way of an opportunity, Farage has skillfully turned the topic into a wider debate about “cancel culture” recognising that this will strike chords with folk who follow him or perhaps had forgotten about him post- Brexit. “If they can cancel me, they can cancel you,” Nigel warned. Dame Alison Rose (the head of parent company NatWest) issued a public statement on Thursday and even wrote a www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link PUBLIC RELATIONS actually been told quietly, privately, is that you were forced into doing this by the Treasury. “But at least you’ve done it, I suppose. But the whole letter smacks of ‘not me, guv, I mean I’m just the chief executive, I mean, don’t blame me for what the banks under my direct control are doing’.” Here’s the clever bit from Nigel. He turns the debate away from himself and shines the spotlight back onto the average person, suggesting there were thousands in the same position as him, as he vowed to battle on: “I’m afraid I can’t just walk away from this. I’ve started this, and I’ve got to continue. So thank you for the apology. It’s a start, but it’s no more than that.” Rose had said it was not the bank’s policy “to exit a customer on the basis of legally held political and personal views.” However, the problem here is twofold. Coutts is being dragged into an unseemly public debate which is all very much “poor form” and not what one would expect of a brand that has banked every royal family since way back. It is also in danger of “virtue signalling” as it tries to attract a younger clientele that is distinctly not Nigel but yet was happy enough to bank former Chilean dictator Pinochet and many more, less than savoury characters. Now, some might argue that Coutts is making a good start and that they should take a stand. Maybe it will attract a new generation of clientele to Coutts who will be delighted by this booting out of Nigel. “No such thing as bad publicity” etc. etc. etc. Nonsense. If one banks with Coutts, darling, one expects a tad more decorum and discretion. Whoever one is. A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press for Attention PR in 2008. He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk ACCOUNTANTS REVIEW The right person for the job The right person for the job www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link ACCOUNTANTS REVIEW Picking the right accountancy to handle your finances could be as easy as calling a number, but is that the best way to find the perfect company, or just the easiest? P icking the right accountant or accountancy firm for your business can be a tricky challenge. It may feel like everyone is a financial expert online nowadays, and there are plenty of dodgy actors on the market just looking to take advantage of people. The introduction of AI and ChatGPT has only made this worse, as even some actual lawyers have been caught out trying to use AI-generated briefs in the courtroom that were found to be entirely inaccurate. One of the biggest things to look for in an accountant – beyond the obvious of certification and qualifications – is whether an accountant has had relevant expertise in your industry before. Finance may be finance, but no two industry sectors are the same, and accountants with expertise in manufacturing or agri industries may well be able to direct a customer toward available grants, savings, and benefits that an accountant unused to the industry might not know of. Ideally, your accountant should work in your best interests, and that means being more than a simple bookkeeping service. They should be capable of spotting things others may have missed, highlighting problems and alerting someone 37 Á © stock.adobe.com/Drazen East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk ACCOUNTANTS REVIEW © stock.adobe.com/ijeabwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link ACCOUNTANTS REVIEW within your company to address the issue. Many of the best accountants look to work with companies who are continuously expanding as well, which means they’ll often have departments offering best advice and framework for securing additional capital and may even be in touch with investors. You want to find an accountant who is proactive about saving and making money, and who isn’t going to be stuck and buried doing hundreds of tax returns a year when they could be helping you. With that in mind, it’s always worth interviewing different accountancy firms. It may seem strange, and some might call it a waste, but you would want to interview an accountant you were hiring to work for your firm, so why would you not want to speak to a new supplier who might cost you even more? A good accountancy firm will be happy to speak with you and discuss what they’ve done for other people, and they will be eager to boast and show evidence of satisfied clients. Look deeper than simple testimonial and see if they can provide case studies of instances where they went out their way to save a customer money. Meet the person who would become your personal agent within the company as well, if they’re available, and talk with them. Having a strong channel of communication is integral in terms of continued cooperation, and you should make sure that the individual knows exactly what you expect of them. When it comes to searching however, one of the best things you can do is get in touch with other businesses through social media or networking events and pick their brains. Ask them who they use, how they are, and get a candid response over a glass of wine or can of beer. When people are away from the office and the legal need to be fair and even in all recommendation, they can afford to be more honest and tell you, in no uncertain terms, whether a company is worth talking to or not. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk ENVIRONMENTAL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT Embracing environmental responsibility not only helps preserve the Earth’s natural resources but also enhances brand reputation, attracts eco-conscious customers, and fosters long-term business success. Embracingwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link ENVIRONMENTAL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT © stock.adobe.com/vchalup B efore implementing any changes, businesses must conduct a thorough environmental audit. This assessment provides a holistic view of the organization’s environmental impact. Factors to consider during the audit include energy consumption, waste generation, water usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and supply chain analysis. By identifying areas with the highest impact, businesses can prioritize their efforts and allocate resources more effectively. Once the audit is completed, setting measurable environmental goals is crucial to ensure that your efforts are effective and on track. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for energy consumption, waste reduction, water conservation, and other relevant metrics. Regularly monitor and analyse your progress and use the data to identify areas where improvements can be made. Amidst ongoing climate changes, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by a business is at the forefront of many minds. To reduce your carbon footprint, consider transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or hydro power. Investing in on- site renewable energy generation, where feasible, not only reduces your dependence on the grid but also yields cost savings in the long run. Companies can claim capital allowances on energy efficient or zero carbon technology investments, reducing the amount of tax payable. If your business owns or plans to construct its premises, consider adopting green building practices. Energy-efficient building design, green roofs, energy-saving windows, and 40 ÁNext >