We’ve recently had this article published in Charities Management Magazine, on forming better corporate partnerships: http://www.charitiesmanagement.com/Magazine-No88/sub-ke49v/page-14.html

  In February the book of the month for our free online business book club was Adapt by Tim Harford (Bookworms). This book applies evolutionary thinking to how organisations and other systems develop. The author makes a distinction between the circumstances in which trial and error is an effective and useful solution, and those where […]

  Recently we blogged about people being “persuaded” towards self employment, and some of the risks that we think that poses to individuals. You can read it here (link). On reflection, there are a whole other set of risks from this trend (if indeed it does turn out to be a trend- figures pending). If […]

  You know those contestants on the X-Factor who are truly awful, but are surprised to receive negative feedback? The ones whose friends and family have always told them how great they are. That’s you that is. One of the biggest risks to your business is underestimating how hard you need to work to convince […]

  I recently read this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21260331 an article which mirrors a number of others which have emerged over the last few months, and one which reflects my own experience of supporting start-up businesses. Whilst this article is primarily about a tax/benefit fiddle, to me there is another equally worrying effect of any trend which forces […]

  The meeting monster: The “All the Time in the World” Type. Characteristics: You may not be quite sure how this meeting has come about. As it approaches you may have found yourself wondering why you agreed to it. You often have no idea what, if anything is likely to come from it. Exploratory meetings […]

  Here at Ruby Star Associates we’ve been doing something new…. and we’re so excited about it we wanted to share. As many of you know we operate a pro bono scheme and give a significant amount of free support to start up social enterprises, community groups and charities. Now, we are taking that one […]

  The meeting monster: The “I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you”, type. Characteristics: This type knows that knowledge is power, and they are determined not to hand the power to you by giving you any. Unfortunately, without information this meeting is headed no-where fast, and you aren’t building any sort […]