Small Business, Big Risks: How to Avoid the Top 6 Costly Mistakes

Develop and manage project timelines using scheduling software.

Identify scheduling conflicts and propose solutions.

Communicate schedule updates to the project team and management.

Monitor resource availability and task dependencies.

Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Primavera, or equivalent tools.

Strong analytical and planning skills.

Ability to handle complex scheduling for multi-phase projects.

Schedule meetings, prepare project reports, and maintain project files.

Track project milestones and deadlines.

Coordinate communication between project stakeholders.

Assist in resource allocation and budgeting tasks.

Excellent attention to detail and organisation.

Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite and project management platforms.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Help develop risk registers and maintain risk documentation.

Assist in tracking mitigation plans and reporting potential risks.

Support risk assessment workshops and stakeholder discussions.

Analyse risk trends and prepare risk management reports.

Good analytical and problem-solving skills.

Familiarity with project risk management software.

Strong organisational and reporting abilities.

Assist in developing change management strategies and plans.

Coordinate training, communications, and stakeholder engagement activities.

Track adoption rates and feedback related to the change process.

Support risk mitigation and resistance management efforts.

Strong communication, planning, and facilitation skills.

Familiarity with change management frameworks (e.g., ADKAR).

Ability to work with cross-functional teams.

Assist in creating project plans, schedules, and documentation.

Monitor project progress and update stakeholders regularly.

Coordinate team meetings and follow up on action items.

Support risk assessment and issue resolution processes.

Strong organisational and multitasking abilities.

Proficiency in project management tools like Monday.com, Asana, or MS Project.

Good communication and problem-solving skills.

Respond to sales inquiries and follow up with potential customers.

Conduct virtual product demos and consultations.

Manage the sales pipeline using CRM software.

Collaborate with marketing and support teams to improve conversions.

Strong verbal communication and digital sales skills.

Ability to build rapport and trust remotely.

Experience with online sales platforms and tools.

Greet and assist customers with inquiries.

Recommend products based on customer needs.

Manage POS transactions and stock levels.

Handle returns and resolve complaints professionally.

Strong customer service and communication skills.

Basic knowledge of retail operations and merchandising.

Ability to work in a fast-paced, target-oriented environment.

Serve as the main point of contact for assigned clients.

Understand client needs and offer tailored solutions.

Ensure timely delivery of products/services.

Identify upselling or cross-selling opportunities.

Strong relationship management and problem-solving skills.

Ability to handle multiple accounts simultaneously.

Knowledge of B2B or B2C sales practices.

Qualify inbound and outbound leads for the sales team.

Schedule meetings and demos for senior sales staff.

Research prospects and tailor outreach for engagement.

Maintain CRM with accurate lead data.

Strong interpersonal and research skills.

Comfortable with cold outreach and objection handling.

Familiarity with HubSpot, Salesforce, or similar tools.

Identify and pursue potential customers through calls, emails, and networking.

Deliver compelling product or service presentations.

Negotiate terms and close sales deals.

Maintain relationships with existing clients and upsell when possible.

Excellent communication and persuasion skills.

Strong understanding of customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

Target-driven and motivated by performance metrics.

Assist with the preparation of VAT returns and corporate tax computations.

Maintain tax records and ensure deadlines are met.

Liaise with clients or departments to gather tax-related data.

Help respond to HMRC queries or audits.

Basic understanding of UK tax laws and compliance.

Good numeracy and organisational skills.

Familiarity with TaxCalc, CCH, or IRIS software.

Prepare reports on revenue, expenses, and profitability.

Analyse past financial performance and assist in forecasting.

Create charts and models to support business decisions.

Work with the finance team on budgeting and variance analysis.

Strong Excel, data visualisation, and analytical skills.

Understanding of financial statements and ratios.

Familiarity with Power BI, Tableau, or similar tools is a plus.

Process and verify purchase orders, invoices, and payments.

Reconcile accounts payable transactions and resolve discrepancies.

Maintain accurate financial records and supplier files.

Assist in month-end closing and reporting.

Good understanding of accounting systems and payable processes.

Experience with software like Sage or Xero.

High attention to detail and time management.

Collect and analyse financial data, market trends, and company performance.

Prepare investment reports and presentations.

Monitor financial news and assist in risk assessments.

Support the development of investment models.

Strong analytical and research skills.

Proficiency in Excel and financial modelling tools.

Knowledge of stock markets, bonds, and investment vehicles.

Process invoices, payments, and expenses.

Assist in maintaining accurate financial records and ledgers.

Reconcile bank statements and support month-end reporting.

Help with budget tracking and forecasting.

Basic accounting knowledge and attention to detail.

Proficiency in tools like Xero, Sage, or QuickBooks.

Strong Excel and numerical skills.

Design, develop, and maintain BI dashboards and reports.

Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and business metrics.

Conduct in-depth data analysis to support operational and strategic decisions.

Train stakeholders on BI tools and reporting systems.

Expertise in Power BI, Tableau, or Looker.

Strong SQL and data visualisation skills.

Ability to translate business needs into data solutions.

Develop and manage data pipelines and ETL processes.

Build data architectures for efficient storage and retrieval.

Ensure data integrity, security, and availability.

Collaborate with data scientists and analysts to meet data needs.

Proficiency in Python, SQL, Apache Spark, Hadoop, and cloud platforms.

Strong problem-solving and data modelling skills.

Experience with large-scale databases and real-time data processing.

Collect, clean, and structure data for analysis.

Produce dashboards, visualisations, and performance reports.

Identify trends and insights that inform strategic decisions.

Collaborate with teams to address data gaps and reporting needs.

Proficiency in Excel, SQL, and visualisation tools like Tableau or Power BI.

Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

Ability to communicate data insights to non-technical stakeholders.

Assist in gathering business requirements and conducting data analysis.

Prepare reports and support decision-making processes.

Help document workflows and operational procedures.

Liaise with internal teams to support project goals.

Strong proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and basic data tools.

Good analytical and problem-solving skills.

Strong communication and stakeholder coordination abilities.

Build machine learning models and predictive algorithms.

Extract, clean, and analyse big datasets from various sources.

Present data-driven recommendations using visualisation tools.

Collaborate with stakeholders to solve business challenges using data.

Proficiency in Python, R, SQL, and machine learning libraries.

Strong knowledge of data mining and statistical analysis.

Experience with visualisation tools like Power BI, Tableau, or Google Data Studio.

Coordinate job postings across platforms and schedule interviews.

Maintain candidate databases and provide timely updates to hiring managers.

Support employer branding initiatives and recruitment campaigns.

Assist in onboarding and candidate experience management.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Proficiency in applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Organised with a focus on candidate experience.

Monitor and enforce compliance with employment laws and HR policies.

Conduct audits of HR processes and records.

Assist in policy development and employee handbook updates.

Train staff on HR compliance and ethical practices.

Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR compliance standards.

Attention to detail and documentation skills.

Experience with HRIS and policy documentation tools.

Assist in planning and organising fundraising events or digital campaigns.

Communicate with donors and stakeholders for outreach and reporting.

Maintain fundraising databases and monitor donor trends.

Help prepare grant proposals, sponsorship decks, and reports.

Strong communication and writing skills.

Organisational ability and attention to detail.

Familiarity with fundraising tools like JustGiving or GoFundMe.

Assist in posting job ads, screening CVs, and scheduling interviews.

Support onboarding processes and employee file management.

Help organise HR events, training, and internal communications.

Maintain HR documents and update internal databases.

Good organisational and communication skills.

Basic knowledge of HR functions and systems.

Eagerness to learn and contribute to team objectives.

Assist in recruitment, onboarding, and training processes.

Maintain employee records and ensure policy compliance.

Support employee engagement, grievance handling, and performance reviews.

Coordinate with departments for staffing and organisational needs.

Strong understanding of UK employment law and HR practices.

Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

Proficiency in HR software like Zoho People, BambooHR, or SAP.

Collect and analyse market, competitor, and customer data.

Identify industry trends, gaps, and potential growth areas.

Prepare reports to support sales and marketing strategies.

Work with business development teams to validate lead quality and market entry strategies.

Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

Proficiency in research tools and data analysis software.

Ability to present research findings clearly and concisely.

Act as a dedicated point of contact for assigned clients.

Ensure timely resolution of client issues and concerns.

Identify opportunities to offer additional services or products.

Regularly update clients on company offerings and industry trends.

Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills.

Strong understanding of customer relationship management.

Ability to manage multiple client accounts efficiently.

Research target markets to create and manage prospect lists.

Use email, LinkedIn, and outbound calls for initial outreach.

Qualify leads before passing them to the sales team.

Track lead generation efforts using CRM tools.

Strong communication and prospecting skills.

Experience in using lead generation platforms and tools.

Data-driven and highly organised.

Identify, contact, and pursue new sales leads.

Deliver persuasive sales presentations and proposals.

Maintain long-term relationships with clients and partners.

Achieve monthly and quarterly sales targets.

Strong negotiation, sales, and networking skills.

Confidence in cold calling and lead conversion.

Familiarity with CRM systems and sales reporting.

Conduct market research to identify potential clients and emerging trends.

Assist in preparing pitches, presentations, and proposals.

Support the sales process and maintain customer databases.

Coordinate with internal teams to meet client needs.

Strong communication and research abilities.

Proficiency in CRM tools like Salesforce or HubSpot.

Good organisational and follow-up skills.

Supervise administrative staff and coordinate office activities.

Manage office budgets, supplies, and vendor relationships.

Implement office policies and procedures to improve efficiency.

Organise meetings, events, and internal communications.

Strong leadership, organisational, and problem-solving skills.

Excellent written and verbal communication.

Experience with office management tools and software.

Organise meetings, manage calendars, and prepare necessary documentation.

Handle phone calls, emails, and inquiries efficiently.

Maintain filing systems and process office-related paperwork.

Provide day-to-day administrative support to various departments.

Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and communication platforms.

Good interpersonal and customer service abilities.

Monitor and improve daily operational processes.

Schedule meetings, manage documentation, and support project timelines.

Liaise between internal teams to ensure smooth communication.

Assist with reporting, logistics, and resource allocation.

Strong organisational and multitasking abilities.

Excellent communication and time management skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management tools.

Respond to customer emails, chats, and phone inquiries in a timely manner.

Assist with resolving basic customer issues and escalate complex cases to senior staff.

Document customer interactions and update support databases.

Support the team in monitoring customer feedback and suggesting improvements.

Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Basic proficiency in CRM software and customer support platforms.

Ability to handle customer queries professionally and empathetically.

Install, configure, and maintain database systems like MySQL, Oracle, or SQL Server.

Monitor database performance and implement security protocols.

Back up, restore, and ensure data recovery procedures are in place.

Collaborate with developers and IT teams to support data-driven projects.

Proficiency in database management systems and SQL.

Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.

Knowledge of data security, backup, and recovery processes.

Assist in managing SEO, PPC, social media, email marketing, and website content strategies.

Monitor and analyse campaign performance to recommend improvements.

Coordinate with creative, content, and external digital agencies.

Stay up-to-date with digital trends and competitor activities to support decision-making.

Strong organisational and multitasking abilities.

Proficiency in digital marketing tools like Google Ads, Google Analytics, and CRM platforms.

Strong communication and reporting skills.

Develop and conduct training sessions on influencer outreach, campaign planning, and performance tracking.

Guide organisations on selecting the right influencers aligned with their brand values.

Provide frameworks for building long-term influencer relationships.

Evaluate training effectiveness and update materials to reflect current trends.

In-depth knowledge of influencer marketing platforms and social trends.

Strong presentation, training, and stakeholder management skills.

Experience with campaign measurement tools and social media analytics.

Collect and analyse data from campaigns, customer feedback, and market trends.

repare reports and dashboards using tools like Google Analytics, Excel, or Power BI.

Provide actionable recommendations to optimise marketing strategies and ROI.

Work closely with digital, content, and sales teams to align data-driven strategies.

Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities.

Proficiency in data analysis tools and platforms like Google Analytics, Tableau, or SQL.

Excellent communication skills to present findings clearly to stakeholders.

Plan, create, and schedule engaging content across social platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X (Twitter).

Monitor social media trends, community feedback, and competitor activities.

Manage paid social campaigns to drive traffic and conversions.

Track performance metrics and prepare social media reports.

Strong knowledge of social media platforms, algorithms, and tools like Hootsuite or Buffer.

Creativity, visual storytelling, and audience engagement expertise.

Ability to analyse data and adjust strategies accordingly.