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The New Use of Technology in the Jobs Market

The new use of technology in the jobs market in recent months has seen seismic changes both for recruiters and candidates alike. Technology is now an essential part of both attracting, hiring as well as on-boarding new candidates. The use of remote meeting tools, such as Microsoft 365 Teams, has almost completely taken over the interview process. Since the start of 2020 remote meeting solutions were rarely used, with companies still preferring face to face meetings. Now however, this seismic shift, known as Covid-19, has overturned that. Almost 70% of all interviews now take place via digital means.

More Technology changes

I remember in the past you would be at a big disadvantage if you did not drive or have a car to get to work. These days, most Job specs will require you to work from home for at least some of the week. I wonder how long it will take before you will see requirements like “highspeed internet” and a “quiet office space at home” making it onto the job specs.

Attenti executive recruitment

Attenti executive recruitment is a long standing customer of Saint IT. We built a technology solution for Attenti, and provide ongoing support, which has enabled them to effectively reach their executive client base and importantly match them up with candidates. Using technology to match potential candidates with senior executive vacancies is at the core of what Attenti is able to offer. We are proud to be able to support this excellent SME.

Saint IT since our inception in 2016, specialises in providing IT Solutions for the small and medium enterprise. Saint IT supports businesses with work-anywhere-solutions through our partnership with Microsoft 365, NSN and others. Take a look at how we are supporting SMEs, not for profit and charity organisations by improving the use of digital technology in their businesses to first drive efficiencies and secondly increase productivity.

Saint IT offers the SME’s across the UK services for:

Managed IT Services
IT Consultancy
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Microsoft 365 solutions and support
Web design and hosting
Multi and hybrid cloud computing
Hardware provisioning
Network and telephony systems and support
Remote working and bring your own device (BYOD)
Business continuity services
Requirements management and system design
Project planning and delivery

Check us out on Linkedin: https://lnkd.in/dVBf55d

Saint IT MS 365 Services

0800 009 3064 /3065

https://attenti.co.uk

5 Tips For Your Small Business Home Office

5 Tips For Your Small Business Home Office

Many small business owners will spend between 10 to 14 hours a day sitting at their desk. Working all day in their home office, often all the attention is focused on growing the business, generating new sales, finding new customers, promoting products or services. All of these things are crucially important but it’s all to easy to neglect your own welfare. You must take time and spend money to look after your physical and mental health. Here are 5 tips for your small business home office, in no particular order. These will help you maintain your busy schedule and long hours stuck in your office whilst staying healthy and happy.

Why you should take your Home Office environment serious?

Maybe you previously worked for a large organisation? Maybe you didn’t need to look after your wellbeing so much because someone else was looking out for you. Did you ever get that email from HR, saying they’re coming round to do a “Workstation Assessment”? you probably thought, “I don’t have time for this”, but you went along with it anyway and before you realised, a new keyboard arrived on your desk, or a different chair suddenly appeared. All because your Workstation Assessment uncovered the fact you needed an ergonomic keyboard or lumber adjustment chair which was more suited to prevent that backache you sometimes get or prevent that RSI in your right hand.

Well, now you are your own boss and nobody else is going to look after you or your health. So take some time and consider your office environment, because now, more then ever, you can ill-afford to take time off work for health reasons.

Tip 1 – Spend some money

It seems obvious but spend a bit of money on good quality equipment!

All to often small business owners are trying to save money and minimise what they spend, but the result is they work in a damp basement office with poor ventilation or they are sitting on kitchen chairs for hours on end, or maybe they’re working on that 10 year old laptop with poor screen resolution because ” it still does the job”. Start with a decent quality desk chair which has more levers and buttons then a jumbo Jet to make sure you can get your sitting position just right. Forget popping into a high street store and pick up a nice looking, but utterly inadequate home study chair.

Steelcase Lets B Hi-Back
Task Chair with New Black Leather

Go to the professionals and let them advise you on what a good quality chair looks like. We bought our chair from https://www.2ndhnd.com/ A great company that offer refurbished office chairs. We did some research and we opted for a Steelcase Lets B Hi-Back Task Chair with New Black Leather for £149. It has all the adjustments I need to sit properly, its comfortable and looks great too.

Tip 2 – Don’t stare at your tiny 13″ laptop screen all day

Lightweight compact laptops are great… for resting on your lap…. whilst working on the train or in a hotel room. They are not designed for staring at for 12 hours a day whilst sitting in your office! that’s why they’re called “Laptops”. But you don’t need to spend a fortune on buying a new Desktop Computer. Just get a good quality additional screen (or even a 3rd screen). Make sure it is as least 24″ with a minimum resolution of 1920×1080. We bought this basic DELL E2416H Screen, for less then £120. Its a few years old now but its clear, sharp image and screen size means I’m never straining to read anything on the display.

You can set up your windows environment so that you can extend your desktop to this second screen (hit Windows+ P on your keyboard). Now you can utilise all the available space for the hundreds of windows you have open at any one time (if you’re anything like me). Just check what connection you have on your laptop to make sure you buy a screen with a compatible connector. (I.e. HDMI, DVI, VGA or DisplayPort) adapters do exist from one type to another but they’re not always that great!

^{We’re using a laptop stand to bring the laptop up to correct height as well.}

Tip 3 – Have some good quality entertainment available.

Newsflash! You are your own boss now! You want to watch a bit of TV whilst you’re doing some light admin work? Maybe you fancy blasting your favourite tune on Radio 1? Nobody is going to stop you. Remember you will probably be in this same position in another 10 hours from now. So if you can’t take a break let the break come to you right at your desk. We bought this Panasonic TX-24J330B HD Ready TV with Freeview HD , Black for £149. Now I’m in my happy place watching the Netherlands work their way to the finals in the Euro 2020/2021 whilst I’m working. Although to be honest I might have to move over to the lounge for the big screen for that.

And when I’m not watching the footy? The screen comes with a HDMI port so I can make great use it for my 3rd screen when I’m doing development work and just need another screen to lay things side by side.

Tip 4 – Posture is Everything!

So a good chair is king but without the ability to set your screens at the correct height your posture is still going to suffer and you run the risk of a trip to the GP to get some medication for that chronic back ache again! We bought these highly versatile HUANUO Dual Monitor Stand for 13 to 27 inch Screens, Gas Spring Monitor Arm for Curved Flat Screens, Monitor Mount Support VESA 75/100 mm for just £41.66.

They come as single or double arms and can work well with different sizes and makes of screens. Our workstation looks cool and with all the screens neatly aligned next to each other despite them being slightly different sizes and they are all at the correct eye level to spare my back and neck. In addition because I’m also utilising the laptop as a screen We’re using a laptop stand to bring the laptop up to correct height as well. Here’s a great example of a stylish but cost effective laptop stand https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07P6X63SD/.

And by the way another important benefit of getting a laptop stand and 2nd screen is so that you can stop using that tiny laptop keyboard and mouse pad and get a proper full size keyboard shaped exactly to your hand positions if you need and as a proper mouse. the choices are endless, just try a few and see which are most comfortable for you. RSI is no joke and once you start having problems they’re not always easy to cure.

^{We bought these highly versatile HUANUO Dual Monitor Stand for 13 to 27 inch Screens, Gas Spring Monitor Arm for Curved Flat Screens, Monitor Mount Support VESA 75/100 mm for just £41.66.}

Tip 5 – Make your life simple

So now you’ve got a few gadgets to make your day more enjoyable and keep you in the tip top shape that you are. There is a few things we added to our home office station to finish it off. We now have multiple screens, radio , TV and a Boom Mic for our virtual conferences I needed a simple method of managing all these audio devices. So we bought this very simple Premium 12 Input 2 Bus Mixer with XENYX Mic Preamps/Compressors/British EQs/24 Bit Multi FX Processor and USB/Audio Interface https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008O51872/ for only £72.50.

Now, if the phone rings and the TV is on or the radio in on, there is no mad rush to grab the mouse and mute my audio or find the remote to turn the TV Off, just a quick slide of the main mix slider and everything goes quiet. If we’re in a Teams meeting with a client we can adjust the sound quality, the microphone levels and even the EQ without ever needing to touch the PC.

I know this is a bit overkill for some people. But the point is this; invest in your Home Office so that your time spent in there, which is extensive, keeps you fit and healthy and is enjoyable and fun. We could go on about all the other gadgets we have brought into our home office. From the books on the desk, which I can pick up and read without ever leaving my desk. Or the foot stool under the desk which helps with my posture again. Or even my special VDU varifocal glasses, (bet you didn’t even know they existed? – But ask your Optician). The list goes just goes on and on.

But Don’t forget…

No matter how nice your Home office is now, its important to make sure you do take time away too. Get some fresh air, go for a walk, have your lunch in the garden. Maybe meet a friend for a coffee. A change of scenery does you a world of good.

If you’ve enjoyed this article “5 tips for your small business home office” then leave us a comment below. If you need any help in finding the right equipment for you then just drop us an email at enquiries@saint-it.co.co.uk Our helpful sales team will be only too pleased to assist you.

Here are 5 tips for your small business home office.
If you’ve decided to revisit and improve your Home office too then send us a pic and leave us a comment below.
We might even send you a prize for the best Home Office kit-out we have found!
If you need any help in finding the right equipment for you then just drop us an email at enquiries@saint-it.co.co.uk Our helpful sales team will be only too pleased to assist you.

Are you googled out yet?

In a world of Fake News, online shopping and Social Media can you really trust your search engine?

Do they really give you honest answers to your searches?

How do you know if your top search answer really is the best one?

Is the information you searched for genuine or is it sponsored by someone standing to make a lot of money?

The truth is you cant be sure entirely, so you should never completely trust any search engine. Don’t assume they will give you honest, unbiased, information without hidden agenda’s. But maybe you are all worn down by it and googled out? Maybe you don’t care anymore?

What can you do

We recommend that you start making changes to counter this kind of browser espionage and start implementing your own counter measures.

The first thing to do is to change your Search engine. Find a search engine which Does not track your movements.

Secondly find a search engine that does not present you with search answers from its own Subsidiaries or partners to try and trap you in their web of profit making.

We recommend you change your search engine to DuckDuckGo on all your devices They don’t track you and they won’t present their own interests to you but give unbiased answers

Here is a great article that explains in more details by Gabriel Weinberg, CEO & Founder of DuckDuckgo.

And yes we did start this article by saying don’t trust anyone entirely but in our experience, DuckDuckGo lives up to its pledges.

https://www.quora.com/Why-should-I-use-DuckDuckGo-instead-of-Google

Come to The Live and Let Live in Colchester

The live and Let Live

Come to the Live and Let Live in Colchester. they are one of our valued customers. Geraldine and the team are cooking up a storm in the kitchen complemented by your tipple of choice. If real ale is your thing then this is the place for you.

Fancy a Tipple?

Saint IT provides IT solutions for the hospitality sector. We have unique customer marketing skills which means we create and re-launch websites that attract customers and help your business succeed. Pubs have had a tough year so why not just “eat out to help out” and come to the Live And Let Live? You don’t need a government scheme for that…

We recommend paying them a visit:

Saint IT offers the SME’s across the UK services for:

Managed IT Services
IT Consultancy
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Microsoft 365 solutions and support
Web design and hosting
Multi and hybrid cloud computing
Hardware provisioning
Network and telephony systems and support
Remote working and bring your own device (BYOD)
Business continuity services
Requirements management and system design
Project planning and delivery

https://saint-it.co.uk/
https://lnkd.in/du6y5wM The Live and Let Live

#smallbusinesswebsite

#smallbussiness

#hospitalitytechnology

We are a proud supporter of local charities and NFP organisations in Colchester

Beaconhouse Ministries

Colchester Cap Debt Centre

Saint IT Support the Government Scheme to plan for growth

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/build-back-better-our-plan-for-growth

5 Things You Need For A Great Website

5 things you need for a great website

A great website is comprised of a combination of back-end and front-end functionality which ties in together to create the masterpiece that your potential clients and existing customers will be drawn to and see the beauty of the work you have to offer.

In order to make a website work to the desired level of functionality and also to provide the unique experience intended for the target audience, it is worth defining your needs and requirements prior to requesting a web development service.

If we want quality to be delivered to us, first we must define what we class as quality and create a brief of the various elements in our website that will serve to create the desired impact you need.

Whilst we can not define everything that you might require, we can definitely help you and prompt you to think about how to present your business in ways that that will appeal to your potential customers so together we can build a brief for the design and development team. This scoping stage is very much a collaboration between you and us. This is how the best websites are created…

Here is a list of 5 things you to consider:

1. Content

We encourage you to create the content first-hand. No one knows better than you what your business should convey to the world, so designing the content puts a lot of the power back in your hands. We encourage you to assimilate the content in ways that it can be arranged in your desired web layout. Work with us and we will help you wherever image enhancement and logo design is concerned. We can proof read your content and help you make suitable edits, where needed.

To convey your message to the world, your website’s content (i.e. the written word and the multimedia) need to be up to your desired standards.

Content reaches the hearts and minds of your readers. It provides you a chance to connect with them on a relatable and human level. Conversation is the one thing all of your audience have in common, so utilise that to your advantage.B¦

2. User engagement

User engagement is crucial to SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and helps your marketing efforts to be fruitful and beneficial in the long run. Have you ever had a website, 100% perfect and beautiful,

but no one is there to read it, to see it and to pass on the link to another, creating a chain reaction? So content is great, and it is the foundation for any basic or outstanding website, but in order to fulfil one’s reason for creating it in the first place, user engagement is vital. How can we know that the right people are coming across your content? Marketing is a broad term but in today’s world social media is being used to create user engagement, linking back to your website, getting people involved in sharing your content, first hand, and creating unrestricted conversations about the content, products and services you provide. When people are given the opportunity to make a difference, they most likely will. Allow us to help you launch your website with the world waiting on your doorstep to avail your products and services. At this time we are integrating

3. Clutter free website design that is tailor-made and packs a punch

At Saint IT Ltd, we don’t cut corners. You can trust our tailor-made website designs to promote your business and its services and products, beyond what you may have experienced before.

Before this company came together, we figured how impactful a website and its contents can be. The way the end user experiences what you present to them- does it make them feel comfortable and is it inviting?

Web design is more than pretty presentation, it is a way of streamlining the necessary components, reducing clutter, creating interactive yet uncomplicated ways of approaching what you have to offer. At SaintIT, we can do that for you.

Of course, as you build a website to be more and more accessible, inviting, and aesthetically pleasing, you can rest assured that the end user will engage with it in meaningful ways, and for longer durations, which certainly ranks you higher on relevant search engine results.

Book an appointment now and we will do a free Website check on your existing website…

Free Website Quotation

Book an Appointment with Us

We are here to help.

4. Fast hosting, solid domains, with maintenance and security included.

In order to have an effective website, it must be easily accessible to all users. For this reason, good hosting is just essential. The web server that a good hosting provider will give you, should first and foremost be fast, include ample storage, and capabilities for easy maintenance. It needs to be secure, offer free SSL options and include regular updates for your specific website(s). These are all aspects We will take care of for you, so you can get on with running your business.

We will also help you choose the best domain name for your business. This is important so that you can be easily found on the web. We also provide various solutions for Email addresses that match your domain so you can maintain a consistent and professional Brand.

5. Optimal functionality and automation

Automation is an element of nature. Everything cannot be micromanaged or manually updated and relinked repeatedly, however websites can now be built with so many integrations and amazing software, that much of our work extends beyond so much more then just a website. Examples are all-in-one social media integrations, which sends one new post to any social media platforms you require it to, or ever popular cloud storage, making your files accessible from various devices. The list is endless when it comes to automation from CRM integration, which can be set triggers to send relevant marketing emails, to client surveys or low stock confirmations. So much can be accomplished, in your efforts to streamline your work.

Functionality, in this way, becomes a key element of any website. Users need quick, easy navigation, as well as a wow-factor. Your customers need answers for their questions asap. They need a reason to stay, so maintaining functionality and omitting any errors or issues and off course the host of Analytics tools that help monitor your website traffic and performance can all serve to increase your business success and website’s credibility. Don’t expect miracles overnight, its a marathon not a sprint but so worth it in the end…

5 Things You Need For A Great Website

5 things you need for a great website

Here is a list of 5 things you to consider:

1. Content

To convey your message to the world, your website’s content (i.e. the written word and the multimedia) need to be up to your desired standards.

2. User engagement

User engagement is crucial to SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and helps your marketing efforts to be fruitful and beneficial in the long run. Have you ever had a website, 100% perfect and beautiful,

3. Clutter free website design that is tailor-made and packs a punch

At Saint IT Ltd, we don’t cut corners. You can trust our tailor-made website designs to promote your business and its services and products, beyond what you may have experienced before.

Book an appointment now and we will do a free Website check on your existing website…

Free Website Quotation

Book an Appointment with Us

We are here to help.

4. Fast hosting, solid domains, with maintenance and security included.

5. Optimal functionality and automation

5 Things You Need For A Great Website

5 things you need for a great website

Here is a list of 5 things you to consider:

1. Content

To convey your message to the world, your website’s content (i.e. the written word and the multimedia) need to be up to your desired standards.

2. User engagement

User engagement is crucial to SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and helps your marketing efforts to be fruitful and beneficial in the long run. Have you ever had a website, 100% perfect and beautiful,

3. Clutter free website design that is tailor-made and packs a punch

At Saint IT Ltd, we don’t cut corners. You can trust our tailor-made website designs to promote your business and its services and products, beyond what you may have experienced before.

Book an appointment now and we will do a free Website check on your existing website…

Free Website Quotation

Book an Appointment with Us

We are here to help.

4. Fast hosting, solid domains, with maintenance and security included.

5. Optimal functionality and automation

Turn Ideas Into Reality

The Last 2 years has seen a record number of new small business start ups. In fact 770,000 new businesses appeared in 2020 in the UK. Whilst large enterprises struggled to stay afloat during the pandemic, many people decided this was the time to turn their ideas into reality and start their own businesses.

The female workforce was hit particularly hard with a reported 1.8 times more women losing their jobs compared to men. Etsy has seen a huge increase in new online businesses buying and selling goods A reported 81% of sellers identify as females on the platform.

Turn Your Ideas Into Reality with Saint IT

Saint IT has been around a bit longer then that but we are still passionate about helping small businesses achieve their goals. We literally want to help you turn your ideas into reality! Maybe your dream is big or maybe your dream is just to make a comfortable living, doing what you enjoy. We are here for you. and we LOVE what we do too.

Just listen to one of our youngest clients

“Saint IT Ltd helped make my website dreams come true!!! With lots of help and support from Maarten, Saint IT Ltd created an extremely professional looking and highly functional online store for my crafting passion! They work to a deadline amazingly well and even launched it on a Sunday on personal request! Absolutely could not recommend them enough!!!”
Kraftsbykiah.co.uk

2020 named ‘Year of the Start-up’ with record 770,000 UK businesses created

According to a report by Smallbusiness.co.uk There were 305,608 online and mail order businesses created in 2020 compared to 13,615 in 2019. Buying and selling property was the third most popular source of new businesses created, growing by 40 per cent compared to 2019. The number of takeaway shops created increased by 33 per cent in 2020 compared to 2019.

We think it’s amazing that despite the huge challenges of the last 2 years that so many of you dared to dream. with many of us suffering great loss and hardships yet the entrepreneurial spirit keeps people dreaming and turning their ideas into reality!

reference: https://smallbusiness.co.uk/2020-named-year-of-the-start-up-as-record-770000-uk-businesses-created-2552978/

#2020NamedYearOf TheStart-up

#TurnDreamsintoreality

#TurnIdeasintoreality

#Smallbusinesses

#YearOfTheStartup

You Need A Business Winning Idea To Be Successful

We are helping SMEs, sole traders, charities and not for profit organisations across the UK “Fly ahead of the rest” with business winning ideas on websites, IT solution and IT services. It takes a business winning idea to be successful every day. Saint IT bring creativity, passion and inspiration to every project. We help you get the most out of your websites and IT Services. We design, build and maintain business winning websites. Our work stretches across organisations from all sectors including construction, legal services, manufacturing, medical, dental, hospitality, science / research and retail. Every day new ideas in design, functionality and productivity helps us bring success to SME organisations.

Not sure what you need?

So you’re struggling for a business winning idea or you’re not sure how to make it fly? Why not book a no obligation chat. We are here to help, just follow the link to our website below and register a slot or drop us a message!

You have a business winning idea but need a partner to get it off the ground?

We have a flexible scalable model which means we can design your business winning ideas and bring them into reality or we can make your fully fledged designs get off the ground. Simply complete our RFQ form online and we’ll provide a quote within 24hrs.

Complete our RFQ form here

Saint IT book a time: book appointment

0800 009 3064 / 3065

enquiries@saint-it.co.uk

Fly Ahead with Saint IT | Business Winning Websites

Saint IT Support the Government Scheme to plan for growth

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/build-back-better-our-plan-for-growth

Is your IT helping your business?

If Information Technology (IT) is not helping your business grow and succeed Saint IT can help. We offer a range of IT services designed for Small and Medium businesses at prices to suit your budget. Call or message us today to see the difference we can make. 0800 009 3064

https://saint-it.co.uk #stainesuponthames #sunburyonthames #feltham #kingstononthames