Small business blog

Cyber risks are real and serious, so smaller businesses need to understand and manage them. BSI’s Little Book of Cyber Security can help.

In the past year, 39% of businesses reported cyber security breaches, with the average cost of a breach put at £8,460.[1] In addition, there can be hidden costs to cyber security breaches that are hard to quantify, including the loss of potential business that may follow them.

“We are experiencing a fundamental shift in the way we work. As technology begins to shape people’s jobs and change the skills that organizations look for in prospective employees, now’s the time to ask: What will the workforce of the future look like? And how can we prepare for it?”

  - David Cuckow, Associate Director for Digital Standards, BSI

Few of us will have considered the wider challenges of getting our apples from creation to consumption. The products we use every day, and the food and beverages we buy each week, all come on their own supply chain journey before they reach the shelves. So, how have standards helped this apple get into your fruit bowl?

When it comes to brand reputation, consumers are both quick to judge and reluctant to forgive. While social media is a powerful marketing tool, it also makes it easy for people to shame companies and destroy their public perception in a matter of minutes.

It’s been over four years since the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were first introduced to address the pressing global challenges that confront humankind. From curbing climate change to reducing inequality, the SDGs exist to help facilitate sustainable development and promote inclusive societies; achieving a better future for everyone. 

As we enter a new year, it’s time for small businesses to reflect on the highs and lows of 2020 in order to make better business decisions and hit the ground running in 2021.

With the recent publication of a new guide to occupational health and safety for small businesses, this blog post discusses why OH&S matters to SMEs.

A proactive management style helps SME owners save costs, mitigate risks and promote innovation and agility. Greater efficiency and resilience also go hand-in-hand with such an approach.

Occupational health and safety is a critical issue for small businesses, although they may not realize it, and ISO 45001 is a great way for them to tackle OH&S, although they may not recognize this either. This blog post explains why.  

As the world’s economy begins to adjust to a post-pandemic world, there is cautious optimism for gradual recovery. We spoke to Anne Hayes and David Bell, senior directors at BSI, to find out how standards fit into the recovery picture.

To sustain long-term growth, SME owners must build risk management strategies to increase their resilience for the long term – and standards are amongst the best tools for the job. Taking a standards-based approach to planning helps you harness experience and embrace opportunities.

Small businesses are more vulnerable to risk – especially when growing in an uncertain financial climate. SME owners can use standards to promote growth, while protecting themselves from the unexpected.

In today’s digital world, commerce is borderless – with more and more SMEs thinking globally as a result. Find out about how standards can help your business sell overseas.

Strategic supply chain partnerships can be a game changer for smaller businesses – particularly when they connect with large or multinational suppliers.Taking a standards-based approach is the best way to optimize supply chain management and create positive working relationships with larger partners.