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ABBEY ENGLAND

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the abbey information exchange

helping everyone we know develop and grow.




People working on laptops

Let's share



Welcome to The Abbey Information Exchange.

At Abbey we believe strongly in continuous professional development and we’d like to do all we can to help our customers, suppliers, colleagues – in fact everyone we know – develop and grow.

So in this forum we’re going to be sharing tips, articles, news, videos, in fact anything and everything we think will give your personal and professional efforts a boost.


_________________________________________________

2022 ARTICLES

Hover image
The Importance of Following The Green Claims Code


Being an environmentally friendly business is something to shout about. These days, terms like ‘sustainable’, ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘recyclable’ are commonplace. However, unless there is evidence to back these green claims, it is illegal to use them in your marketing.

That's where the Green Claims Code comes in. What is the Green Claims Code and why should we follow it?  Find out in this week's article.
Hover image
Making an exhibition of yourself – top tips on exhibiting at live events


In this week’s article, we seek advice from executive Director and Secretary of the British Equestrian Trade Association, Claire Williams on the importance of taking part in trade exhibitions post-covid. The article includes some helpful tips and advice on how to make your business stand out from the crowd.
Hover image
Making an exhibition of yourself – Jumping on the bandwagon of events.


Many events are returning to in-person, but even if you aren’t quite ready to attend yourself, there are still plenty of ways in which you and your business can jump on the bandwagon of these to generate new business.

In this week’s article, we talk you through how your business can support international awareness days and events relevant to your business to increase you brand awareness. Find out the ways your business can make the most of jumping on the bandwagon, with helpful tips and advice on how to plan for these events and promote your products on social media.  
Hover image
National Apprenticeship Week: Everything You Need to Know.


National Apprenticeship Week takes place this week so we thought it would be the perfect time to explore what apprenticeships have to offer. We discuss what types of apprenticeships are available within the leather and equestrian trade and how your business can benefit from hiring an apprentice.
Hover image
What you need to do to export to the EU.


We know the setbacks and difficulties of trading outside the Single Market and Customs Union having been bombarded with returned parcels at the start of 2021. We therefore thought it is important we shared the updated EU trading rules.

Here we give you a step-by-step guide so you can successfully export to the EU.

If you are planning on exporting to the EU in 2022 or need a quick refresh on the rules and regulations, then this is the article for you.

_________________________________________________

2021 ARTICLES

Hover image
Top Tips for working from home during COVID-19


As a result of the pandemic, many of us have had to adapt the way we work and lots of us are still working from home now.
Here are seven tips about how to get the most out of working from home. Plus we have advice from Master Saddler, Helen Reader from HR Saddlery.
Hover image
Apply for a QEST scholarship funding of up to £18K


The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, or better known as QEST, offer scholarships and apprenticeships of up to £18,000 to help fund vital training and education for over 140 craft disciplines including leatherwork and saddlery production. Find out how to apply and our top tips for the application process by reading our exchange article.  
Hover image
A Guide to T.E.S.T


Don't sell, tell! Marketing is not about selling your products to an individual but showing that individual that you'll look after them if they choose to become a customer.

Find out the four ways you can ensure customers choose your business, which we like to think of as the Customer T.E.S.T.

_________________________________________________

2020 ARTICLES

Hover image
How to grow your hobby and craft business online.

 

Are you an independent hobby and craft business? Have you struggled to get footfall to buy your goods since the recent pandemic, and are wondering how you can keep your craft business sales up?

If the answer is an astounding “Yes!”, then this is the Abbey England information exchange article for you.

If you are just getting started or need that extra push, we give you some useful advice about growing your business online such as how to rank your website in Google and more!
Hover image
How to write a press release.


A press release is a great way of promoting your company, its products and services to a much wider audience. Once shared by an online or print publication, it can be seen by hundreds – sometimes thousands – of people, which can be highly beneficial to a business.

Here are our top tips for writing a press release, to help ensure its success.
Hover image
5 Courses to Improve your Leather Skills.


Leatherwork is a skill which needs to be taught. Here we run through some of the top leather courses for novice leatherworkers which are available in the UK today. We look at location, online v face-to face learning and course lengths to ensure our readers have a comprehensive range to choose from.
Hover image
Product Liability Insurance? We have you covered.


Here we discuss product liability insurance, a word many of us dread. However, it is important that your business has the right protection. We spoke with PLI expert Paul Winterbottom from Gallagher Insurance brokers to offer his guidance on the matter.
Hover image
Receive a £500 grant from the HCA.


We wanted to draw attention to this opportunity to apply for a grant of up to £500. The Heritage Crafts Association (HCA) grant is open to craftspeople operating as sole traders and small businesses to invest in something that will help make their business more sustainable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hover image
Why Content Curation is Key during COVID-19


If you're a SME’s you may not have a huge marketing budget but that should not stop your business from creating content.

Here we discuss the importance of creating content and give you advice on what you need to think about when writing or making new content in order to keep in touch with your customers and remain present.
Hover image
COVID-19: A guide to Government Help. 


Struggling to understand how your business will be looked after during the pandemic?
Read this simple guide to government help as our Non Exec Director, Ian Traynor, from Luminate Ventures shares the advice he received from the Chambers of Commerce.
Hover image
Warming up to Cold Calling.


Cold calling is your first interaction with a potential customer so it is important you get it right. Here we share Vicki Culverhouse, owner of Straightahead’s top tips for cold calling.
Hover image
Why we should all be adopting Agile Project Management.

After adopting Agile Project Management at Abbey, we wanted share on our exchange how you can apply this technique to your business. Agile project management scales down projects and splits them into shorter, more achievable projects so you can achieve your goals much quicker.
Hover image
The best free tools to help with your social media strategy 

Social media is an incredibly powerful tool for any kind of business. Here we outline the best free tools to help you manage your social media accounts saving you valuable time.
Hover image
 Abbey Brand Story 

Rich Wilson, Director of Cake Marketing and Advertising takes us through the process of how to position a brand and what better case study to use than Abbey England itself.
Hover image
 Cutting Strips with a Jerry Stripper

In this week’s exchange we have put together a short video showing how to assemble the Jerry Stripper and discuss the benefits of owning one.
Hover image
 Receive up to £175k with an RDPE grant.

This article provides a summary of the handbook of UK Government’s Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). Find out key information such as how to apply for the grant and more. If you are a small or micro business, that is rural based, you are eligible to apply.

_________________________________________________

2019 ARTICLES

Hover image
Add invaluable skills to your business and apply to Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses. It’s FREE.  

For our first ‘The Abbey Information Exchange’ article, we share with you our experience of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK Programme and see if your business can also benefit from the scheme.

ABBEY ENGLAND

_________________________________________________

the abbey information exchange

helping everyone we know develop and grow.




People working on laptops

Let's share



Welcome to The Abbey Information Exchange.

At Abbey we believe strongly in continuous professional development and we’d like to do all we can to help our customers, suppliers, colleagues – in fact everyone we know – develop and grow.

So in this forum we’re going to be sharing tips, articles, news, videos, in fact anything and everything we think will give your personal and professional efforts a boost.


_________________________________________________

2022 ARTICLES

Hover image
The Importance of Following The Green Claims Code


Being an environmentally friendly business is something to shout about. These days, terms like ‘sustainable’, ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘recyclable’ are commonplace. However, unless there is evidence to back these green claims, it is illegal to use them in your marketing.

That's where the Green Claims Code comes in. What is the Green Claims Code and why should we follow it?  Find out in this week's article.
Hover image
Making an exhibition of yourself – top tips on exhibiting at live events


In this week’s article, we seek advice from executive Director and Secretary of the British Equestrian Trade Association, Claire Williams on the importance of taking part in trade exhibitions post-covid. The article includes some helpful tips and advice on how to make your business stand out from the crowd.
Hover image
Making an exhibition of yourself – Jumping on the bandwagon of events.


Many events are returning to in-person, but even if you aren’t quite ready to attend yourself, there are still plenty of ways in which you and your business can jump on the bandwagon of these to generate new business.

In this week’s article, we talk you through how your business can support international awareness days and events relevant to your business to increase you brand awareness. Find out the ways your business can make the most of jumping on the bandwagon, with helpful tips and advice on how to plan for these events and promote your products on social media.  
Hover image
National Apprenticeship Week: Everything You Need to Know.


National Apprenticeship Week takes place this week so we thought it would be the perfect time to explore what apprenticeships have to offer. We discuss what types of apprenticeships are available within the leather and equestrian trade and how your business can benefit from hiring an apprentice.
Hover image
What you need to do to export to the EU.


We know the setbacks and difficulties of trading outside the Single Market and Customs Union having been bombarded with returned parcels at the start of 2021. We therefore thought it is important we shared the updated EU trading rules.

Here we give you a step-by-step guide so you can successfully export to the EU.

If you are planning on exporting to the EU in 2022 or need a quick refresh on the rules and regulations, then this is the article for you.

_________________________________________________

2021 ARTICLES

Hover image
Top Tips for working from home during COVID-19


As a result of the pandemic, many of us have had to adapt the way we work and lots of us are still working from home now.
Here are seven tips about how to get the most out of working from home. Plus we have advice from Master Saddler, Helen Reader from HR Saddlery.
Hover image
Apply for a QEST scholarship funding of up to £18K


The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, or better known as QEST, offer scholarships and apprenticeships of up to £18,000 to help fund vital training and education for over 140 craft disciplines including leatherwork and saddlery production. Find out how to apply and our top tips for the application process by reading our exchange article.  
Hover image
A Guide to T.E.S.T


Don't sell, tell! Marketing is not about selling your products to an individual but showing that individual that you'll look after them if they choose to become a customer.

Find out the four ways you can ensure customers choose your business, which we like to think of as the Customer T.E.S.T.

_________________________________________________

2020 ARTICLES

Hover image
How to grow your hobby and craft business online.

 

Are you an independent hobby and craft business? Have you struggled to get footfall to buy your goods since the recent pandemic, and are wondering how you can keep your craft business sales up?

If the answer is an astounding “Yes!”, then this is the Abbey England information exchange article for you.

If you are just getting started or need that extra push, we give you some useful advice about growing your business online such as how to rank your website in Google and more!
Hover image
How to write a press release.


A press release is a great way of promoting your company, its products and services to a much wider audience. Once shared by an online or print publication, it can be seen by hundreds – sometimes thousands – of people, which can be highly beneficial to a business.

Here are our top tips for writing a press release, to help ensure its success.
Hover image
5 Courses to Improve your Leather Skills.


Leatherwork is a skill which needs to be taught. Here we run through some of the top leather courses for novice leatherworkers which are available in the UK today. We look at location, online v face-to face learning and course lengths to ensure our readers have a comprehensive range to choose from.
Hover image
Product Liability Insurance? We have you covered.


Here we discuss product liability insurance, a word many of us dread. However, it is important that your business has the right protection. We spoke with PLI expert Paul Winterbottom from Gallagher Insurance brokers to offer his guidance on the matter.
Hover image
Receive a £500 grant from the HCA.


We wanted to draw attention to this opportunity to apply for a grant of up to £500. The Heritage Crafts Association (HCA) grant is open to craftspeople operating as sole traders and small businesses to invest in something that will help make their business more sustainable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hover image
Why Content Curation is Key during COVID-19


If you're a SME’s you may not have a huge marketing budget but that should not stop your business from creating content.

Here we discuss the importance of creating content and give you advice on what you need to think about when writing or making new content in order to keep in touch with your customers and remain present.
Hover image
COVID-19: A guide to Government Help. 


Struggling to understand how your business will be looked after during the pandemic?
Read this simple guide to government help as our Non Exec Director, Ian Traynor, from Luminate Ventures shares the advice he received from the Chambers of Commerce.
Hover image
Warming up to Cold Calling.


Cold calling is your first interaction with a potential customer so it is important you get it right. Here we share Vicki Culverhouse, owner of Straightahead’s top tips for cold calling.
Hover image
Why we should all be adopting Agile Project Management.

After adopting Agile Project Management at Abbey, we wanted share on our exchange how you can apply this technique to your business. Agile project management scales down projects and splits them into shorter, more achievable projects so you can achieve your goals much quicker.
Hover image
The best free tools to help with your social media strategy 

Social media is an incredibly powerful tool for any kind of business. Here we outline the best free tools to help you manage your social media accounts saving you valuable time.
Hover image
 Abbey Brand Story 

Rich Wilson, Director of Cake Marketing and Advertising takes us through the process of how to position a brand and what better case study to use than Abbey England itself.
Hover image
 Cutting Strips with a Jerry Stripper

In this week’s exchange we have put together a short video showing how to assemble the Jerry Stripper and discuss the benefits of owning one.
Hover image
 Receive up to £175k with an RDPE grant.

This article provides a summary of the handbook of UK Government’s Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). Find out key information such as how to apply for the grant and more. If you are a small or micro business, that is rural based, you are eligible to apply.

_________________________________________________

2019 ARTICLES

Hover image
Add invaluable skills to your business and apply to Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses. It’s FREE.  

For our first ‘The Abbey Information Exchange’ article, we share with you our experience of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK Programme and see if your business can also benefit from the scheme.