BHCC - Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce

Five years ago, Julie Stanford decided that she wanted to make a difference to the readability and design of business books.

As a specialist graphic designer, who had run her own successful business for many years, she knew that important information is often overlooked if the design is boring, or the text unreadable.

“The problem with being in business is there is so much you need to know”, says Julie, “and the sobering thing is, ignorance is no defence. You can’t just say, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know!’ when the Inland Revenue demand your corporation tax, or a disgruntled employee takes you to an employment tribunal.”

So, Julie decided to create a new style of business book, The Essential Business Guide: full-colour, plain language, easy to read and use. Now in its third edition, and published in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce, the book has sold thousands of copies and won many awards, including the much-coveted Plain English Award.

“Business owners are under pressure to know it all,” says Julie, “our Guide gives the crucial information, then points readers on to the right place when they need to know more. There are some fantastic organisations and resources out there, we do the leg-work for busy business owners.”

Fast-forward to 2009. Julie’s company, Essential Business, now has other products for start-up and existing business owners, all with the same engaging design and clear language. The Before You Begin and Start Your Business Step by Step workbooks takes you through all the steps of starting your business, and The Essential Start-up Guide is a free booklet to accompany ‘The Essential Business Guide’.

The company’s style has been so successful that Essential Business now also writes and publishes for other business support organisations, including Business Link, and Essential Business workbooks are being used in start-up training across the country.

Find out why these books are so different at the Essential Business website.

Why not listen to Julie's weekly radio show, Business as Usual every week on Radio Reverb 97.2FM?

Every week Julie is joined by Brighton & Hove business people to talk about the day-to-day challenges of running a business. There is also a weekly focus on a local business*, and highlights of the various upcoming events of interest to Brighton & Hove businesses.

If you do business in Brighton & Hove, then why not listen in.

The show is first broadcast each Tuesday morning from 7am to 8am and then repeated on Wednesday (4pm-5pm), Friday (7am-8am) and Sunday (10pm-11pm). 

*If you would like to be one of the guests on the show, or have your business featured, call us on 01273 727282 or email us at admin@essential-business.co.uk.