At BizVision, we're delighted to announce our new brand FreeLearn and with it comes a collection of online learning and skills hubs giving every business total free membership with access to 100's of learning videos and resources. Here's the FreeLearn launch news.

Free online learning for all businesses

"FreeLearn Leadership and FreeLearn Sales Training are now live," says Malcolm Gallagher of BizVision, " And launching on the 23rd August will be FreeLearn Supplier Training," he added

Mr Gallagher went on to say that FreeLearn will help thousands of small businesses who cannot afford to take time out from work for training and struggle to pay seminar fees.

"With public sector funding cuts, many businesses now find they have to pay for workshops that used to be free, or there just aren't any around, " continued Malcolm Gallagher, "with FreeLearn, which is online learning, all businesses can learn as they want, anytime, anywhere", he said.

FreeLearn Leadership focuses on developing entrepreneurial leadership skills whilst FreeLearn sales Training has videos in the three zones of Find, Winning and Keeping customers. FreeLearn Suppliers Training is aiming to be the flagship of the FreeLearn collection as it will have nearly 100 videos and resources to help SMEs bid for a win public and private sector contracts and encourage them to go global and export.

FreeLearn skills hubs are open to anyone. Each hub requires a separate  but free, membership sign-up. For details go to FREELEARN - free membership

I know it turns people off as possibly being "fluffy" but knowing your business strategy is vital if you want to win contracts. Quite simply to-day's buyer wants to know that his or hgers suppliers (vendors) and themselves are travelling in the same direction. Be prepared in a contract interview to answer the question of "what's the strategy of your business?"

Start your strategy seeking off with a SWOT analysis. OK you may have done this but have you asked deep, probing questions. Here's 3 for your Strengths and Weaknesses:

1. What do we do outstandingly well or badly?
2. What are our special abilities or disabilities?
3. What are our advantages and disadvantages compared with direct competitors?

More to come in future posts or pick up a free SWOT pack at my site  http://bizvision.co.uk/power_downloads

This week will likely see another round of rash cost slashing as people and businesses react to the Budget. But the question you need to ask, or consider, is one that hangs over every cost-cutting phase and that is are you cutting enough or even too much? You need to aim for the right level of expenses or overheads. Those expenses should be for only three purposes. If you question your expnses or map them against these 3 purposes then you should be on the "right overhead" track.

In our SpotLearn Business Performance Academy we've been looking carefully at how nthese three purposes can give you a gauge or guide in cost cutting

The three purposes are:
1. Expenses that you have to incur as a result of your companies activities. These include payroll, accounting and so on. Question if those expenses are inflated by comparing them     against your leanest competitor
2. Expenses that increase your effectiveness and efficiency. Draw the line where the improvement in effectiveness doesn't pay for itself
3. Expenses that lay the basis for profitable growth. Question the level of anticipated growth.

So don't just knee-jerk react to cost slashing. Use the "three purposes" as your gauge.

A positive view!

Kim and I were out for our usual Sunday morning walk with Harvey, BizVision's Chief Security Officer (well if MP's can claim all that on expenses why can't we claim for Harvey!!??)

Anyways, we turned the corner in the walk beside the river here in Northumberland and there was this fabulous view. Views like that make you feel good don't they?

So what's your positive view? Anywhere that inspires you and takes you away from the depressing news in the media?