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Businesses across the UK are increasingly turning to asset finance brokers to secure funding for essential assets. Whether it’s for acquiring new machinery, upgrading technology, or expanding their fleet, the expertise and market knowledge of asset finance brokers are proving invaluable. Asset finance is a financial arrangement that allows businesses to obtain the equipment or vehicles they need without paying the full cost upfront. Common forms of asset finance include leasing, hire purchase, and asset refinancing. Each option has its own set of terms and benefits, making it essential for businesses to choose the right solution tailored to their specific needs and financial situation. Navigating the myriad of asset finance options can be overwhelming for businesses, especially those lacking in-house financial expertise. This is where brokers come in. Unlike banks or direct lenders that may have a more rigid approach, brokers understand the nuances of different finance products and have access to a broad network of lenders, often allowing them to secure better terms and rates. We act as intermediaries between businesses and lenders to find the most suitable financing options. As each finance option has its own set of terms and benefits, we help choose the right solution by assessing a business’s needs and matching them with the right funder, saving you and your business time and resources. Securing the correct funding solution for your business can involve a considerable amount of paperwork and negotiation. We handle much of this burden, from preparing the necessary documentation to negotiating terms with lenders. This allows business owners to focus on their core operations without getting bogged down by the complexities of the financing process. For example, we were recently approached by a small manufacturing firm whose owner had struggled to find a suitable financing deal independently. We were able to secure a lease agreement with favourable terms that allowed the firm to acquire new machinery without depleting their cash reserves and, as a result, the business increased its production capacity by 30% within six months. Connect with Chris Mountain to find the right funding solutions for your business Photography: Headshot Toby

As a senior marketer who mentors junior talent, I’ve seen firsthand how marketing apprentices can transform businesses. Here’s why you should consider this strategic investment: Cost-effective talent acquisition Government funding often covers most training costs Lower starting salaries compared to experienced hires Fresh perspectives and innovation New ideas and creativity for marketing strategies Digital-first expertise to reach new audiences Tailored skill development Train apprentices in skills aligned with your business needs Fill specific gaps in your marketing capabilities Increased productivity Apprentices handle day-to-day tasks, freeing senior staff for strategic work Expand marketing capacity cost-effectively Long-term talent investment Higher retention rates among apprentices Build a loyal, skilled workforce for the future Enhanced company culture Demonstrate commitment to nurturing talent Inject enthusiasm and energy into your team However, I understand that not all businesses have the in-house expertise (or capacity) to mentor junior marketers effectively. This is where external support can be invaluable. As a consultant, I’ve helped companies bridge this gap. For example, I’m currently supporting the Digital Marketing Apprentice at a medical services company near Birmingham. My role includes: Aligning apprentice tasks with company goals Day-to-day mentoring and liaison with training providers Providing strategic marketing advice to the company This model allows businesses to benefit from both fresh talent and seasoned expertise. As the apprentice grows in competence and confidence, the need for external support gradually decreases. By combining a marketing apprentice with external senior guidance, you can cost- effectively expand your marketing capabilities, bring in fresh ideas, and invest in your organisation’s future. It’s a win-win that drives business growth while developing the next generation of marketing professionals. Find out more about senior strategic marketing support for your business Photography: Headshot Toby

Studies show that photography and artwork with faces attract more attention as they are more likely to evoke an emotional response compared to those without. Similarly, content on social media, and platforms such as LinkedIn, performs remarkably better when featuring people. Let’s jump straight into some interesting LinkedIn statistics: 1. Posts with photos of people see a 2x higher engagement rate compared to those without. 2. LinkedIn posts with photos get 94% more total views  on average compared to text-only posts. 3. Posts with human faces are 38% more likely  to receive likes and 32% more likely  to get comments. We’re social creatures, and by integrating people into your business photos, you not only enhance the visual appeal of your content but also create meaningful connections with your audience. We’re wired to seek connections with others, and this extends to our digital interactions. When we see a face, the part of the brain that specialises in facial recognition interprets the emotions and intentions. From this, we then make instantaneous decisions about how we feel about that person. Do we trust them? Do we want to connect with them, or avoid them? So, utilising selfies and photos of your employees on your business social media channels  goes a long way to building trust and authenticity. Instead of reaching your audience with sales messaging, you can engage them with content they feel they relate to, and in turn this may make them more likely to onboard with you as a client in the future. As a headshot and branding photographer, the worst-case scenario is seeing an empty profile photo on an active LinkedIn account. The individual may be trying to post, message and connect to grow their network, but will be treading water as the recipient battles with whether or not the faceless account can be trusted. It’s estimated we are exposed to anything from 5,000 to 10,000 marketing messages per day! We’ve evolved to do as much subconscious filtering through these to establish what is genuine or applicable to us. Brands that show us real-life moments of people enjoying their products, or capture behind-the-scenes style content, break down the barrier of what is a marketing tool and what is a real individual. This relatability encourages viewers to engage more readily, whether through likes, comments, shares, or a purchasing decision. So don’t be afraid to humanise your business. Showcase your employees, your workplace culture and client success stories. Create posts that resonate on a personal level with your audience with deeper, more meaningful connections. By including friendly faces in your content, you’ll see higher engagement rates. Click here to find out how a brand photoshoot works Photography: Headshot Toby

How Wallbreaker’s “Too Many Hats” Video Marketing Campaign Went Viral Video. Is. Everywhere. From TV adverts to social media campaigns, we’re bombarded with video content on a daily basis. Anyone can record a video, but it takes expertise, creativity, and a LOT of market research to create content that actually resonates with your target audience and encourages them to take further action. Wallbreaker’s recent “Too Many Hats” campaign is a testament to the importance of thorough market research, emotional appeal, and relatability. Our target audience for this campaign was marketing managers - a demographic we’ve engaged with repeatedly in the past. By conducting in-depth market research, we identified their most pressing pain points: hectic workloads, high-stress levels, and the need to juggle numerous tasks simultaneously. With our research phase over, we gathered the entire team together to discuss concepts and ideas. We wanted to address these challenges in a relatable and humorous way, and our research revealed that LinkedIn would be the most appropriate platform to use to target this group. Once a storyboard had been drawn up, the real fun began. Anyone who knows me will know I’m not one to shy away from a challenge. Especially one that involves arts and crafts. I got to work gluing together an impressive tower of hats for our actor to wear - the perfect visual metaphor for a marketing manager’s role. It raised a few eyebrows on  the way to the office, but the painstaking gluing and sticking paid off! The video went viral organically, garnering over a million impressions, with 26% of viewers holding the job title of our target audience. The campaign achieved over 9,270 reactions, 645 comments, and 1,074 reposts without any paid support. By connecting with our audience on an emotional level, we had created content that was both memorable and actionable. Once we’d assessed our organic reach, we initiated a paid LinkedIn ad campaign that resulted in eight warm. sales calls and two new clients, both of whom have signed up for our subscription service at £4k per month. Anyone can whip out a camera, turn on some lights, and record a video, but this campaign underscores the importance of market research in creating video content that truly resonates. These are the results we aim for - both for our company and our clients. If you’re looking for video content that connects with your clients, and you’d like to work with a company that has a 10-year proven track record of viral video success, drop me a message on LinkedIn. If the project involves arts and crafts, even better! Click here to connect with Ash Wilks from Wallbreaker Photography: Wallbreaker

The Little Book of Small Businesses After working within the design and print industry for over 19 Community Partnerships years as a Graphic Designer, the global pandemic lead Polly down an independent path. Raven Design Co. was founded in 2021, a Graphic Design Company based in the heart of uphill Lincoln. In the same year, she set up a publication called ‘The Little Book of Small Businesses’, which is a seasonal magazine showcasing a wide variety of local businesses throughout Lincolnshire, with a readership reaching from Brigg down to Stamford. The publication was founded at a time when hobbies and side-hustles became new and exciting independent businesses, and the ‘Little Book’ offers such businesses a platform to promote themselves, plus a resource to discover other like-minded entrepreneurs. Thus creating a community of talented independent businesses who collaborate, create events, workshops and classes/courses together for mutual benefit. Polly Fotheringham from Raven Design Co. Jumping in to start my own business was a real learning curve. Becoming every ‘department’ a larger company would already have, but on the shoulders of one person can be a bit daunting. For others in this situation, I would recommend finding a community of like-minded individuals that you can regularly meet up with and discuss ideas. This is a great way to gain advice, boost your self confidence and alleviate overwhelm. Also, the regular connection with similar minds is great for your mental health and can lead to new opportunities and collaborations! Finding people who share the same values as yourself, or who inspire and encourage you, will bring so many positives, leading to higher self esteem and empathy, lowering anxiety levels. It also provides you with a sense of identity, and enables you to learn new skills. Working for yourself can be an isolating experience, so feeling socially connected is more important than ever. Follow Raven Design Co. on Instagram Photography: Headshot Toby

Team training with One Degree and Andy Nisevic Being a nice person comes with great intent. An intent to create a cohesive team, where people feel safe and welcome, able to talk about the things that are bothering them, etc. The reality of nice has the opposite effect. When a team member approaches a nice manager for help, they’ll tell them exactly what they need to do, and where to go for the resources. Maybe even do some of the work for them. This leads to a reliance on the manager to solve problems, rather than a team capable of independent thought and problem solving. A nice leader will accept a piece of work that’s below the required standards, and finish it themselves. This results in an under-appreciation of what the standards are, and stifles that individual’s growth and development. During an annual appraisal, a nice manager focuses on where an individual has performed well and breezes through the areas they need to improve. This gives an inflated sense of progress and stunts growth. Setting them up to fail if they’re promoted. Andy Nisevic Instead, managers need to act with kindness. Kindness is having the difficult conversation with someone because they need to hear it. Kindness is telling someone they’re underperforming, helping them understand the requirements and how to improve. When a team member approaches a kind boss with a problem, they’ll ask their solution and fill in any knowledge gaps. A kind leader will hold an appraisal, providing credit where it’s due, while ensuring the individual knows what improvements need to be made if they want to fulfil their ambitions. Nice is easy. It takes no time and maintains a level of harmony. Being nice doesn’t improve anything. In fact, it can cause a retrograde in performance until the harmony becomes false and tension starts to grow. Kind is hard. It requires saying the things the other person needs to hear but doesn’t want to. Kindness creates uncomfortable situations and takes an investment in time. Kindness also creates independent, self-managing teams, who are multi-skilled and capable of high performance. Don’t be a nice leader, be a kind one instead. Connect with Andy Nisevic of One Degree Photography: Headshot Toby

Do you roll your eyes when the topic of work experience is brought up? A burden, a pain, a waste of your time. Babysitting some lazy teenager for two weeks. You don’t benefit. They don’t benefit. What is the point? Work experience is incredibly important for young people with additional needs and can be a hugely beneficial process for an employer – if done properly. You will find working with special schools a bit different to mainstream. Interactions with employers are tailored to the individual. For some, that is meeting employers in school or visiting a business with classmates. For others, that could mean taking on a three-day internship. At the Lincoln Saints Federation, we are developing an extensive careers program, building work experience gradually. Connor, a student at St Francis now employed by Stokes Tea and Coffee in Lincoln Initially, pupils will take on an internal work placement. This could be in the school kitchen, reception or in a role supporting younger students. This enables them to build their independence in an environment they are accustomed to. A supported external placement is the next step. We work closely with Lincolnshire County Council and have students at the Quad Café at their offices. While they are taken out of their school, their place of safety, a member of staff supports them. Business interactions at this stage come through group visits to businesses and welcoming visitors to the school. This year we have visited multiple businesses - from printers to building sites. We’ve even had crime scene cleaners tell us about their careers. Launched this year, we also have a school café manned by students. Every Thursday morning, the DT room is transformed into a bustling kitchen, with students churning out paninis, pastas, salads, soups and more. Only once these steps are complete do students enter the world of work independently. Rather than being a week placement here or there, it is long-term and one, two or three days a week. This enables them to slowly build confidence in their role and become part of the team. One partner business has given one of our students responsibility for an inventory spreadsheet that constantly needs updating. A job nobody takes ownership of, dealt with when it has built up too much. Rather than it being a chore nobody is responsible for, it is now taken care of each week. In a café, they may have to clear and clean tables in the first instance, but as they grow and learn from others, students will start to take food out, take orders. At Stokes Café at the Lawns, Conner has been a real success story. They have given him the time he needs to build up his skills and succeed at his pace. So, the next time the question of work experience comes up, just stop before you say no and find out a little more. Are you being asked to babysit for a week, or are you being offered the chance to develop somebody with additional needs into a future employee? Click here to connect with Adam Hooker of St Francis Special School Photography: Headshot Toby

Tommy Atkins and the team at Identity Agency No, this isn’t some weird reverse psychology trick. If you have started a business, you have enough to do without worrying about creating the ‘perfect’ brand. But surely branding is essential? Well, here are some reasons why it might not be too important just yet. You don’t have a marketing or growth strategy in place This is something you should have before you can think about branding. Your marketing strategy will inform your brand direction (and vice-versa) as it helps to identify your market niche, competitors, target audience, and customer personas. Great branding serves as the foundation for great marketing, but it’s not something that ‘stays done’ - the best brands regularly rebrand to pivot to a new audience or better reflect their offering. You aren’t ready for branding The first few months and years of entrepreneurship teach you a lot about your business, and yourself. You will both change so much over the first year that investing in branding too soon might result in something that won’t fit your evolving business later on. Think of it as the embarrassing clothes you wore as a teenager - for me, it was skinny ripped jeans and a pair of Vans, I wouldn’t be seen dead in these now (or fit one ankle into them, thanks). The point stands - your business will change, your customers will change, and regardless of your initial branding investment, your branding will need to change too. You don’t value branding Some people think they should have branding because they hear about it a lot and assume it’s important, but don’t understand what branding is, and as such, they don’t value it. Take the time to learn about what branding is all about, particularly around how it can impact price perception and trust, and when you start to understand the role it can have in helping you grow, invest heavily. How to know if you are ready If you have a clear growth strategy and know your business, customers, and market well, it could be time for branding. Yes, our business Identity Agency, offers creative services, but there are SO many great agencies in Lincoln, like Lincolnshire Marketing, Epix Media, Shooting Star, Pop Branding and more. However, if you’re wanting some genuinely impartial, non-salesy advice about whether or not an investment in branding or marketing is right for you… Visit Identity Agency for more information Photography: Headshot Toby

Ian Norton - Elite Confidence Coach As a strategic transformation coach, I work with clients on their personal and professional development. Many of my corporate clients are looking for ways to improve their business connections and inter business relationships. Particularly relevant when working with different nationalities- Americans trading with Japanese, Brits working with Swedish or Finnish, etc. We all know the expression, "You only get one chance to make a first impression", right? Well, first impressions matter in work, friendships, and relationships. Business etiquette isn't about knowing which cutlery to use, it's a skill set to put you ahead of the game, to make you stand out and be memorable for the right reasons. Greetings, first meetings, even your handshake will influence the outcome. When we meet someone for the first time, we decide if that person is someone we want to spend time with and get to know better, or if they're someone we want to avoid. And once that initial impression is made, its difficult to change it. This is because once we start to avoid someone, we are less likely to learn whether our negative impression was wrong. I am devoted to helping every client to dig deeper and try harder' to be the very ‘best' version of themselves. I don't mean just every now and then, I mean every day in every detail. I am reasonably confident that my clients would agree that I practise what I preach. I have spent a lifetime improving, refining, learning new skills and updating my own knowledge and image to project the best version of myself. I try always to lead by example. So, I am happy to share a very achievable 7-point list on how to make a best impression. Keep It Simple To keep it simple, just remember that your personal and online image needs to look professional and polished, and not over the top. Whether you like it or not, your appearance is being judged every day and by nearly everyone you come into contact with. Remember also, that many first impressions are made online and well before a face to face meeting takes place. You want to make sure your digital image and your personal image match each other and that people can tell that you are actually the same person. A filter is a wonderful thing but there is a limit and I am sure you know what l mean. 2 . Project An Image of Confidence and Success Your professional goals matter when meeting new people as much as they matter in other areas of your life. Take a moment before you attend an event to consider what type of impression you want to make, whom  you would like to meet and what type of message you want to convey, then follow through and make those interactions happen. 3. Don't Launch First If you really want the person you are meeting for the first time to like and trust you then you should practise controlling your urge to launch first. Launching into your area of expertise and accomplishments doesn't impress too many people right off the bat Ironically, one of the best ways to win people's confidence is simply to let them talk first. Your first meeting with someone is not a negotiation and you don't need to take charge of the conversation. You want to be warm, interested and engaging. Small talk is a good thing when you first meet someone you are trying to make a favourable impression on. 4. Make Eye Contact It is true that our eyes are the windows to our souls. You do however have to find a good balance between not having your window shutters closed tight but also not staring so intently that the person you are speaking with thinks you are a sociopath. Eye contact, at least in the Western world shows respect and interest. You can also show appreciation, reassurance and understanding with eye contact. There is nothing worse than having a conversation with someone who is staring out the window or constantly looking over your shoulder to see if there is someone more important or interesting to chat with. That is just plain rude! 5. Pay Attention To How Fast Or How Slowly You're Speaking Back in the '70s, researchers created over 50 synthetic voices and played them to participants at various speeds. Increasing speech rate led participants to assume the owner of the voice was more competent. The participants who listened to the slowed down tapes rated the interviewees as less truthful, less fluent, and less persuasive. Just make sure you are not talking like Piglet or Eeyore. Somewhere in the middle is best. 6 . It Is Fine To Be Vulnerable You'd think that with first impressions it pays to be as polished and perfect as possible, but experts say that showing your vulnerable side can be endearing and empowering. You need to exercise good judgement when to let your guard down but generally speaking, it is more acceptable these days to show that you are a real person and that you have career and life challenges just like the person you are speaking with. 7. In Person Is Always Better When meeting an important new contact for the first time, if at all possible try to do it face to face rather than over the phone or a Zoom. First impressions are formed differently in person versus online or by video. You can better gauge how interested someone is in what you are talking about by reading their body language. If you are in a meeting and your colleagues are fiddling with their pens, or checking their phones and watches, you know that you have to: 1) adjust the tone of your voice or 2 ) use more exciting language t o capture their attention. Likewise, if colleagues and partners are actively nodding their heads and smiling, it is clear that they are engaged with you and your message.

Behind the Scenes photos taken on set of a Wallbreaker video production for United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity . In today's digital age, where our inboxes are constantly bombarded with promotional emails and messages, the effectiveness of traditional marketing methods may appear outdated. However, my experience at Wallbreaker suggests otherwise. I am here to assure you that direct mail, the act of sending physical mail rather than emails, is far from dead. Let me share with you an exciting journey we embarked on at Wallbreaker. After feeling disappointed with the performance of some of our online ads, we decided to take a bold step forward. We launched our first-ever direct mail campaign, which we affectionately named the 'hamster-in-a-box. We carefully selected 30 businesses across the UK and sent them these engaging packages. Each package included a personalised letter, a video brochure, and a motorised ball that brought the package to life, creating the illusion of a hamster inside. The moving boxes immediately ignited curiosity and excitement among the recipients, resulting in an impressive 20% response rate. Out of the businesses we targeted, six scheduled meetings with us, and four of them eventually became valuable clients. These four clients entrusted Wallbreaker with a range of video projects, including TV adverts, promotional videos, recruitment videos, and even a documentary. Our 'hamster-in-a-box' experiment proved to be an invaluable learning experience. It provided us with valuable insights into effective follow-up strategies after mail delivery. This campaign served as a powerful reminder that direct mail has the ability to create a tangible touch-point with potential clients. By physically sending content through the post, direct mail stands out amidst the digital clutter. When executed innovatively and thoughtfully, it has the potential to capture attention, generate leads, and, most importantly, infuse a sense of fun into business communications. Based on these results, I firmly believe that direct mail offers a unique opportunity to connect with clients on a deeper level. It allows for a more personal and memorable interaction, setting us apart from the digital noise. By leveraging the power of direct mail, we can create lasting impressions and build stronger relationships with our target audience. In conclusion, despite the prevalence of digital marketing strategies, direct mail continues to be a valuable tool in our arsenal. It enables us to break through the cutter, make a genuine impact, and drive meaningful business outcomes. So, if you're looking to add a touch of creativity and excitement to your marketing efforts, consider incorporating direct mail into your strategy. Embrace the power of physical connection and watch as your business thrives in this ever-evolving landscape. Connect with Ash Wilks of Wallbreaker on LinkedIn Photography: Headshot Toby

Toby Lee A.K.A. Headshot Toby Until 2022, I'd never been part of the business or corporate environment and so I find I see things a little differently... with an eye for casting. My journey began in the entertainment industry, where I worked as an actor in London. I had bought a camera to make short films, but instead, I started my own business. I helped other actors bring out their true potential b y providing t h e m with cinematic and authentic portfolio photos. I view my role now working with business professionals with the same eye for casting, always exploring how a person can be represented in various ways i n just a head and shoulders photo. For actors, my photos help them get auditions for significant roles that they have been waiting for. For business professionals, a headshot can boost the profile of their job application to make a significant career move. Knowing Your Role Because were all actors in a strange way, we all have different roles to play in our lives. One moment we may be fulfilling our duties as a parent, and in the next, we could be leading an important team meeting. So when it comes to capturing a photo that best represents us, it's important to consider exactly what were trying to say, who our audience is, and how we want to be portrayed. Not every actor is suited to play the role of an evil villain, and photos of them looking menacing might not get them the right auditions. Instead, we focus on the parts they could play with authenticity. Similarly, when working with my business clients I must first establish their primary goals and motivations for needing new photos as we all have different reasons and motivators for seeking professional photos. Establishing this provides us with an external focus preventing the build u p of anxiety when in front of the camera. Knowing Yourself It can be difficult to invest in self-promotion because our self-image and our reflection can often differ greatly. It's much easier to decide were not worth it. But as individuals, it's challenging to see ourselves the way others see us. Therefore, I must create a representation that is both authentic and recognisable. By adjusting the camera's position and directing the client through different poses, we can create a range of impressions. For example, taking photos from a higher camera angle can often make individuals appear more confident and approachable. It can be a pleasant surprise for clients to see photos of themselves from angles and sides they haven't seen before and find they like it! Our Inner Child There is so much we can learn from kids about feeling confident and free in front of the camera. Now, you’re probably thinking about terrible toddlers with arms folded refusing to smile, and this can often be the case. But I am speaking more about the playful child actors I've worked with in the studio, who are fearless. In their world, there are no consequences t o having their photo taken. They smile, make silly faces, and get lost in thought, making engaging photos. As adults, we limit ourselves. Our fear of consequences stops u s from being in the moment because were always thinking about the what if. What if I don't like the photo? What if I don't look pretty? What if I'm smiling too much? Portraits that capture your personality. My photos have helped many individuals in their careers, from getting through auditio ns to landing their dream jobs. But on a deeper level, I see how my approach encourages individuals to follow their dreams. What can start as a photoshoot to support a business idea  can blossom into a fully-fledged company, or the daunting thought of changing careers can become a reality. I am here to support you every step of the way. Find out more about Headshot Toby Photography: Headshot Toby & Nicholas Dawkes Photography

Visual Print & Design - Commercial Printers in Lincoln In today's eco-conscious landscape, businesses are increasingly challenged to integrate sustainable practices into their operations. Here's some practical advice for businesses looking to start their sustainability journey, specifically focusing on eco-friendly printed materials and promotional items. Sustainable paper choices Regarding printed materials like business cards, flyers, and leaflets, the choice of paper stock can significantly impact your environmental footprint. Opting for eco-friendly and sustainably sourced paper demonstrates a commitment to responsible sourcing and reduces the demand for new raw materials. This small switch reduces your environmental impact and aligns your brand with eco-conscious values. Eco-conscious merchandise: A natural approach Promotional merchandise plays a crucial role in brand visibility; fortunately, numerous sustainable alternatives are now available. Consider incorporating cotton, cork, and bamboo base materials into your range of promotional merchandise. These materials not only give your products a natural appearance but are also renewable and/or biodegradable, reducing your environmental impact. Whether it's cotton tote bags, cork wireless chargers, or bamboo pens, your marketing materials remain effective, whilst being friendlier to the environment. A selection of the sustainable merchandise products available at Visual Print, Lincoln Repurposed and recycled items Exploring repurposed or recycled materials for promotional items can be both innovative and environmentally friendly. By breathing new life into existing materials, businesses can contribute to waste reduction while maintaining cost-effectiveness. Whether it's repurposed fabric for tote bags or recycled plastic for pens, these choices underscore your dedication to sustainability. A meaningful shift Taking small steps towards sustainability in your printed materials and promotional items can benefit your brand. By making mindful choices, businesses can contribute to a greener future while fostering a positive image among their stakeholders. Embracing sustainability isn't just a trend; it's a meaningful commitment that resonates with the values of a socially and environmentally conscious audience. Click here to connect with Visual Print & Design Photography: Headshot Toby