The Business Ladder Blog

Another encouraging development as business skills and enterprise continue to go mainstream, especially for young people. This time it’s the 100+ year-old movement commonly known as the Scouts who are taking steps to encourage members into the field of enterprise.

“The Scout Association will today launch an entrepreneur badge, adding an enjoyment of commerce and figures to more traditional pursuits like camping, collecting stamps and engaging in campfire singalongs.” See here for the full article.

Here’s a look at five key qualities that make an outstanding entrepreneur. See here at the BBC News site.

Another interesting new interview is up on the resources part of the site. We chat to Lonneke Kwantes, founder of Inspirational Speakers 4 Schools. IS4S sources and organises inspirational speakers for educational establishments around the UK to inspire young people to learn and succeed. The interview can be found here.

To find out more about Inspirational Speakers 4 Schools, visit www.inspirationalspeakers4schools.com.

Entrepreneur Rory James MacLaren-Jackson successfully completed the 6.5km Crisis Square Mile Run 2010 last Thursday in a time of 35mins 40 secs (and he’s got the T-shirt and blisters to prove it!)

Thank you to everyone who sponsored Rory and helped him get well over the £100 target that Crisis were aiming for from each runner. By doing this Crisis can give Changing Lives Awards to 250 people, giving them the chance to study or train for a new job or giving them the skills and tools to become self employed. The money raised really does transform lives.

To find out more about Crisis please visit: http://www.crisis.org.uk/

The Business Ladder co-founder Fabio Del Piero is participating in a feature called ‘An Oxford Education’ on the Oxford University website. He shares his experiences and gives his opinions about the role Oxford played in helping to develop analytical skills and a successful mental approach for business and life.

Have a read of it here.

Consumer group Which? has published the top 10 most useless financial products that essentially sucker consumers – from mobile phone insurance, to store cards, to loans.

A general caveat should be that not all such items will be useless in themselves, but poor value is often the problem.

Have a browse here at the Guardian.

Here’s some good advice from lovemoney.com on how to manage your money.

A fool and his money are soon parted… so be smart!

A quick summary of the effect of the upcoming scrapping of HIPs (Home Information Packs) on property sales.

Estate agents selling property around the country should of course be aware of the influence of the new measures and the relevant cut-off date. However, Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) – which formed part of a HIP – will remain in force, with particular application to the lettings market which continues to be robust.

See the 4 Everything Property blog for more details.

A very interesting video by the RSA* about the psychology behind human motivation – things might not work quite as we assume!

Definitely recommended viewing for anyone running or managing a business. View it here.

* Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce

Owners of businesses of all sizes that manage personal data should be extremely careful in relation to keeping their customer records.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has introduced fines of up to £500,000 for breaches of the Data Protection Act, which came into force on April 6 to try to prevent further serious breaches of data protection laws and regulations.

Critics have pointed out that many of the most serious breaches have come from government bodies or departments, and not the private sector. However, the new penalties are expected to be used to fight violations by all persons or organisations holding information.

Especially in tough times where real financial issues occupy most of your time, it can be easy to overlook the importance of being fully up-to-date and compliant with all the relevant regulations. But this change in the applicable penalties should serve as a reminder to all business owners that compliance is far better than running the risk of being punished.

Notification to the ICO can be performed online at www.ico.gov.uk and costs just £35 for all but large entities.