Gear Up to Grow with Natalie Hughes: Expert in Finance

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought on new challenges in terms of our work-life balance. NatWest Business Growth Enabler Natalie Hughes discusses some of these issues and what we can learn from them.

Natalie Hughes - Business Growth Enabler at Natwest

Covid-19 has changed many of our workplaces. Many of us have been asked to work from home including myself to support our customers with funding needs and support through the pandemic. But the addition of home-schooling, childcare or care for an elderly relative as well as time for general housework as and our day to day  work commitments has left many of us feeling rundown or lacking time for essential self-care.

We  are constantly juggling priorities, often finding there is not enough time in the day to get through everything. A recent article in the Guardian revealed six out of ten women are finding it hard to stay positive lockdown.

All of these factors have forced us to adapt and think more like entrepreneurs by rising to these challenges and looking opportunities from them.

For example, business owners will tell you good time management skills and flexibility are necessary skills and vital lo long-term success. And the Covid-19 pandemic has made this skillset an even greater necessity for businesses owners and the general population alike. 

We have perhaps pushed back in the workplace on things that don’t require immediate attention, or we have become better at time management by knowing we only have so much time to complete tasks each day. And with many of our usual face to face meetings being cancelled, we have become more reliant on video conferencing or the old-fashioned telephone. It’s likely many of will continue with our virtual meeting ways of working as we come out of lockdown.

For those that own businesses, it’s absolutely essential you listen to the advice from Government in terms of what will be required from you as re-open. If you are unsure, seek out support from your local business network, LEP or chamber which will also be following the guidelines. If you need to chat through your business plans, speak to your bank manager or accountant who can provide guidance.

NatWest are offering a variety of funding solutions to support our customers including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), six-month Capital Repayment holidays and the banks has waived overdraft fees with limits of up to £5000. The CBILS programme offers loans via banks to small businesses with turnover of up to £45m. And small businesses customers  can  also apply for a 100% state-backed loan worth up to £50,000, with no interest charged or repayments needed in the first 12 months as part of the Government’s Bounce Back loan programme contact your main bank for further details.

As we come out lockdown, make sure you spend time reflecting on what you have learned. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced us all to be adaptable and resilient in a variety of ways, and it will be important to use these new skills as bounce back better post-pandemic.

Looking for help to grow or adapt your business? For more information about the support available through The Women’s Organisation to help you and your business, please contact us via e-mail at hello@thewo.org.uk if you're based in the Liverpool City Region.