Phil Hobden

93.5% of mid size accountancies are following a best of breed approach to adopting new technology...

Creating a podcast for sales isn’t just a trendy move—it’s a smart, strategic one. If you’re wondering why you should dive into the world of podcasting and how to do it effectively, you’re in the right place. (I have, after all, launched numerous podcasts with tens of thousands of downloads! So, you are in safe hands…)

Let’s break it down.

Workloads are increasing, driven by growing regulatory complexity and heightened client demands. An ageing workforce is seeing more and more experienced accountants approaching retirement just as high stress, workload challenges and broken partnership models are seeing staff turnover rates increase exponentially.

In the accounting world, there's a mix of excitement and concern over Artificial Intelligence (AI). Will client data stay secure? Are robots going to make ‘human’ accountants redundant? Can advice be automated?

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in business for a while, the financial health of your enterprise relies heavily on the expertise and skils of your accountant. While it might be tempting to go for the accountant with an office down the road, basing your decision solely on proximity might not be the best move… instead, it’s worth looking for an accountant who genuinely cares and understands your business.

The one thing I’ve learned over my 20 something years in sales is that understanding the genuine challenges your clients face is the cornerstone of establishing a lasting partnership.

As sales leaders, our experience speaks volumes and the strategic decisions we make can shape the future of an organisation. With over 15 years of navigating the intricate paths of sales, particularly within the dynamic SME sector, I recognise the critical importance of assembling a high-performing team.

But ironically, the one part of a role I find the hardest is recruitment.

e are all intriguing questions. Truth be told, I have consistently adhered to a general policy of embracing nearly every opportunity that comes my way, regardless of its magnitude.

At Know-it, I am occasionally referred to as ‘the Yes man.’ You may recall the release of the film “Yes Man” in 2008, based on the book of the same name by Danny Wallace. In the movie, Jim Carrey portrayed a character who, following a bitter divorce, falls under the influence of a self-help guru urging him to… Show more

e are all intriguing questions. Truth be told, I have consistently adhered to a general policy of embracing nearly every opportunity that comes my way, regardless of its magnitude.

At Know-it, I am occasionally referred to as ‘the Yes man.’ You may recall the release of the film “Yes Man” in 2008, based on the book of the same name by Danny Wallace. In the movie, Jim Carrey portrayed a character who, following a bitter divorce, falls under the influence of a self-help guru urging him to say yes to every opportunity for a year. While the film provided a couple of hours of silliness, the idea is fascinating, and I’ve discovered that having a policy of saying yes can unlock doors to new opportunities and experiences that I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. Show less

I’ve been supporting the UK and Global Business Tech Awards for the past three years as a judge. Being part of this has given me the chance to witness the brilliance of tech entrepreneurs both in the UK and beyond, but equally, I’ve seen potentially great products and results hampered by applications that don’t make them stand out of the pack!

The ongoing surge in corporate insolvencies is a significant cause for concern among UK businesses, and this trend is expected to persist into 2024, echoing the relentless pace witnessed in 2023...

For years, I resisted the adoption of a certain globally recognised CRM. You know the one – adorned with a prominent logo and often sponsoring flashy sports events. Personally, across numerous implementations, I always found it somewhat lacking in user-friendliness, and more significantly, I struggled to harness its potential as a true CRM. In honesty, its sheer size made it unwieldy and almost unusable.

In the constant hustle for success, it's easy to get fixated on the endgame, sort of unintentionally brushing aside the rich experiences packed into the process itself. Whether you're a sales bigwig or a professional hustling in the sales game, the allure of hitting those goals can often overshadow the whole (often transformative) journey.

It may not be as sexy as the latest sales technology or AI led chat bots BUT the sales ledger remains an often-overlooked asset to your business!

At its core, the sales ledger serves as the meticulous custodian of your business transactions, recording details from client engagements, transaction values, due payment dates, and outstanding balances. In this era of advanced digital accounting, maintaining an up-to-date sales ledger has transitioned from a chore to a far more streamlined and… Show more

It may not be as sexy as the latest sales technology or AI led chat bots BUT the sales ledger remains an often-overlooked asset to your business!

At its core, the sales ledger serves as the meticulous custodian of your business transactions, recording details from client engagements, transaction values, due payment dates, and outstanding balances. In this era of advanced digital accounting, maintaining an up-to-date sales ledger has transitioned from a chore to a far more streamlined and easier process. In short – used right it can provide a comprehensive overview which is crucial for effective financial management of your business and can become the linchpin of your financial ecosystem. Show less

The sharp escalation in the number of company insolvencies presents a stark picture of the ongoing uncertain economic landscape...

Recent data from May 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, reveals a staggering 40% surge in company insolvencies across England and Wales, resulting in the closure of 2,552 businesses in the past month alone. This unsettling trend has been exacerbated by a significant 38% increase in Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidations (CVLs), leading to the shutdown of… Show more

The sharp escalation in the number of company insolvencies presents a stark picture of the ongoing uncertain economic landscape...

Recent data from May 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, reveals a staggering 40% surge in company insolvencies across England and Wales, resulting in the closure of 2,552 businesses in the past month alone. This unsettling trend has been exacerbated by a significant 38% increase in Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidations (CVLs), leading to the shutdown of 2,181 companies struggling with unsettled dues to their creditors. Show less

In a world filled with noise (especially the sales industry), it's those who dare to be bold and stand out who can truly make a difference. Mediocrity has never ignited a revolution, but boldness has consistently altered the course of history. As a sales leader, I've come to realise that this principle is equally vital for both me and my team.

Unsettled and unpaid invoices can pose formidable challenges for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

As the accounting industry continues to evolve in an era of digital transformation, it’s crucial that we look into what is impacting practices today and tomorrow...

As businesses grow and evolve, you know what's bound to happen – price adjustments! It's one of those things that businesses need to do to maintain the quality and ensure that their innovation game is strong.

Often, it’s not about the increase itself (our customers will be expecting increases) but it’s HOW we go about communicating and delivering the message. Gerald Ratner wasn't wrong when he described his own jewellery as subpar BUT the way he delivered the message was far from ideal… Show more

As businesses grow and evolve, you know what's bound to happen – price adjustments! It's one of those things that businesses need to do to maintain the quality and ensure that their innovation game is strong.

Often, it’s not about the increase itself (our customers will be expecting increases) but it’s HOW we go about communicating and delivering the message. Gerald Ratner wasn't wrong when he described his own jewellery as subpar BUT the way he delivered the message was far from ideal and had serious consequences. Show less

What sets apart the best performing salespeople and sales leaders? For me, it's their shared desire to continually improve, embrace learning, explore new ideas, and then generously share that knowledge to elevate the entire team. That's one of the reasons why I keep a collection of essential business books right next to my desk, alongside a plethora of audiobooks on my iPhone!

AI and ChatGPT have taken over the world. No not in a Terminator way (well not yet anyway) but in terms of how we work and interact with potential customers, AI is growing in prominence fast. AI is not just a tool for marketing or product... sales can use the power of AI as well to ensure that we are ahead of the curve.

I often come across numerous tips on how visitors can make the most out of trade shows or events. However, it's equally important to discuss how vendors can maximise their experience and achieve a great return on investment (ROI)... after all a good trade show can feed the sales machine for many months to come!

I was surprised (and a little shocked) to see a report from Salesforce recently that shows that Sales Reps spend JUST 28% of their working week focused on direct customer activity.

When I reflect on where I am today, it’s so far from where I started that I could have never, in reality, have predicted the journey I’ve been on in my career. I’ve had paper rounds, jobs in a local nursing home, tended bar on a ferry (even though I get sea-sick) and also worked in night clubs, all before I fell into sales.

Capitalise Head of Customer Education Phil Hobden looks at how social media, web searches and a person's digital footprint can impact the hiring process and how bad publicity really can be bad.

CBIS is dead! Long live the Recovery Loan Scheme! In April 2021 the CBILS loan scheme ended.

In March the CoronaVirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) comes to an end. The unprecedented financial support offered to UK SEM’s across both CBILS and Bounce back loans has seen over 1 million businesses supported with access to government back lending, with over £60bn lent (as of December 2020).

At Capitalise, I lead our customer-facing education journey for the thousands of accountants and business advisers we've partnered with - empowering them to support their SME clients with accessing capital.

Don’t be scared to cut your losses if it’s blatantly obvious your most precious idea is heading towards failure. This is the message from Phil Hobden, head of education at Capitalise.

Right now, business owners and employees are facing threats such as bankruptcy and redundancy.

I have around 11,000 connections on LinkedIn. It’s a reasonable network spanning across several different industries (all connected through finance and banking) and I’m still connecting with new requests each day.

The last few months have been hard. Businesses have closed their doors (some for good), the economy has been decimated and lives have been changed significantly...

Let's talk CBILS. Or the Coronavirus Business Interruption scheme as it's more formally known...

At Elite Business, we’re passionate about championing new business. Providing fresh perspectives and representing disruptive solutions, we’re interested in the startups and SMEs that are spearheading Britain forward...