www . simplybizmortgages . co . uk 17
A GUIDE TO BUILDING BUSINESS RESILIENCE
A GUIDE TO BUILDING BUSINESS RESILIENCE
The Accord Growth Series aims to support advisers to grow their own businesses with a library of free blogs , podcasts and guides . Nadine Edwards , Corporate Account Manager at Accord Mortgages explains how advisers can equip themselves with the tools needed to maximise their potential in 2021 . www . accordmortgages . com www . accordmortgages . com
Getting a business resilience plan today
According to The Prince ’ s Responsible Business Network , 43 % of small businesses don ’ t have a business continuity , disaster recovery or crisis management plan in place . This is indicative of a general lack of preparedness - it can sometimes seem a waste of time preparing for upheaval when your business is performing well .
How to prepare
It ’ s impractical to have a separate plan for every single type of incident , so develop plans to handle a few of the incidents most likely to occur . If a different type of crisis happens , you can always adapt parts of these plans to guide your response .
Before coming up with a plan , it can be useful to do some networking . Make the most of your industry contacts to find out how they have reacted in times of crisis . Ask other brokers what went well and what didn ’ t work when they encountered adversity and try to learn from their experiences . In times of difficulty , sound , practical advice is invaluable . Learn more : Podcast # 48 - Virtual Networking .
In the current climate , we ’ d suggest planning for a future large Covid-19 outbreak , loss of a key person and an IT security breach , not to mention anything that you ’ ve identified as a particular threat to your brokerage , for instance flood damage .
We ’ d recommend having some sort of plan in place , but you should also let your plans be flexible .
Adhering too strictly to protocols when a crisis happens might mean that you don ’ t have the adaptability to respond effectively . While planning is important , you need to structure your business in a way that it can absorb threats when they happen . A flexible structure will continue to benefit your brokerage in the post-recovery period . You need to be prepared for plans to change .
Traditionally , January can be an interesting month . The start of a new year is always full of possibility , ambition and the opportunity for a fresh start . But it can also be tinged with the hangover of a fun-filled Christmas , the over-indulgence of the previous month and poor weather often overshadowing our moods as we return to work .
However , this year feels different . I think every one of us will have enjoyed saying farewell to 2020 , whether we ’ ve suffered from professional or personal struggles during the pandemic , or just felt drained by the dramatic events which have impacted all of us to varying degrees . So 2021 , with the prospect of widespread vaccinations , a chance to reset and hopefully a renewed energy should offer hope and excitement for the future .
Following the increase in demand we saw in 2020 , the future looks promising and 2021 has all the makings for a successful year . Home , and what it represents , took on a whole new meaning last year and the desire for more space , inside and out , will see the housing market continue to flourish , even if there ’ s a slight stalling at the end of March . Hopefully an increased confidence from lenders will lead to greater availability of higher LTV lending , meaning more options for clients .
To maximise your chance of success , it ’ s worth equipping yourself with all the tools you can to make things better . The Accord Growth Series has just relaunched with a brand new website – a hub full of content which contains more than two years ’ worth of blogs , guides and podcasts .
INDUSTRY EXPERTS
The content , which is completely free to access , covers a range of topics and features industry experts sharing their hints and tips . For example , if you ’ re looking for new ways to engage your customer base , there ’ s a wealth of information including practical advice on client retention with hints and tips on cost effective ways to keep in touch with clients . If you want to generate more leads , there ’ s a free to download guide on improving your website , using social media and digital channels effectively . If you ’ re looking at expanding your services , there are guides on selling protection and supporting a client ’ s financial wellbeing , topics more relevant than ever in the current climate .
And even if business is booming , it ’ s important to look after your physical and mental health and wellbeing . Our mindfulness blog gives advisers the chance to reflect on the current situation , and a podcast featuring a specialist on subconscious behaviours , to help you understand not only what your clients may be thinking at present , but also to encourage them to reconsider their own thought-processes and how to focus on the things they can control and not those they cannot .
Also new for 2021 is our Growth Series Live programme which will offer free practical advice on specialist topics to give you the opportunity to upskill in areas which will benefit your business growth . We ’ ll be piloting the first session soon , so keep an eye on our social channels for information on this virtual event .
As an industry we have demonstrated incredible resilience over the past year , whether that be finding new ways to engage with existing clients or upskilling to offer new business areas . We ’ ve seen our Growth Series membership reach 7,000 this year as advisers look to expand and improve using the library of free tools . But we are constantly looking to evolve it and if there are areas of business growth which you think we should be addressing , please get in touch . And if you like what you have seen so far , why not share with your personal network to help them benefit from the wealth of free advice available ?
To sign up , please visit the website which can be found at https :// info . accordmortgages . com / growth-series