Knowledge centre

Welcome to our blog, guides and newsletter

Our Knowledge team are here for one reason – to be ahead of the headlines affecting your business or rental. But we’ll also point you in the right direction for business insurance - for shops, tradesmen and other professionals - and landlord insurance (it’s what we do, after all!). Whether it’s breaking news, industry tips or a snappy debate on our social channels, it’s perfect coffee break reading, wherever you are.

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28 September 2016
9/10 people fear hiring a tradesman

13 million homeowners in the UK worry about hiring a tradesman to carry out work on their properties, suggests new research.
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28 September 2016
Birmingham takes top spot in 2016 Enterprising Britain awards

Birmingham has been named the most entrepreneurial place in the UK in this year’s Enterprising Britain Awards, impressing the judges with a project that’s supported 1,000 businesses.
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27 September 2016
Local SEO for small business

All small businesses should have an online presence. It’s essential for local consumers to be able to find local products and services online. Specialist agency BrightLocal outlines the fundamentals of local SEO.
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26 September 2016
Business in Britain survey: SME confidence reaches four year low

The latest Business in Britain report shows that UK small business confidence is at its lowest level since 2012, with experts claiming post-Brexit uncertainty is partly responsible.
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23 September 2016
How to prevent shoplifting: 10 ways to protect your retail business

Every week there’s a new story - someone has tried to shoplift something in brazen or bizarre fashion.
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22 September 2016
Best buy-to-let areas in Manchester in 2016

Manchester tops the list of buy-to-let locations with the best rental yield, but if you’re thinking of buying property in the city, which postcodes are the most promising?
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20 September 2016
Tradesmen reveal the worst part of their jobs

From long hours to filing tax returns, a new survey by Simply Business has shone light on the worst parts of being a tradesman.
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20 September 2016
How to make money from buy-to-let property

Many landlords may feel that their profits are dwindling fast following the introduction of tax changes and tighter mortgage lending criteria.
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20 September 2016
UK areas with biggest drop in new rental properties: a rent increase opportunity for landlords?

Rents look set to rise as new figures show a drop in the number of buy-to-let properties listed on the market.
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16 September 2016
Best buy-to-let mortgages 2016

Our buy-to-let mortgage guide explains some of the main factors affecting mortgage rates and runs through some of 2016’s best deals depending on your loan-to-value ratio.
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