destruction of documents Archives

It’s been very wet this winter, as it was last year. More rain seems to be a part of life now. Which means water damage to homes and businesses across the UK is becoming more common.

So we thought we’d provide some top tips on how to avoid flood damage to your vital business records.

Keep your paper files stored on the top shelf. Paper is most susceptible to water damage so you could make sure all your valuable documents are on the top shelves, or indeed on top of filing cabinets. Of course this means you’ll need ladders or only employ tall people.

Always take the penthouse. If you are moving office make sure it’s on the top floor. Pay the premium, get the views and smirk when the ground floor tenants get washed out.

Go paperless. Paper is old fashioned anyway. Scan any documents you have or get a great supplier to do it for you. Make sure everything is digitised and keep the data in the ‘cloud’, but not the ‘rain cloud’ obviously! Sorry, bad joke but couldn’t help it. It also means you could have a virtual, flood proof, office on a nice warm beach somewhere.

Sandbag the office – permanently. This one also means that if we are invaded you’ll be ready to repel the invaders from your bunker.

Just don’t worry about it. Keep some wellies handy and use a flood as an excuse to stay at home with your feet up.

OK, so the last one is ridiculous for any business. However, you’d be surprised how many clients we have seen who just thought it wouldn’t happen to them. Also it may not be the rain that caused the water damage but a leaking pipe or the fire-fighters response to a fire in the office above. Whatever disaster may befall you ask yourself how you will recover your valuable paper records?

If you need help with dry and secure document storage or document scanning give us a call – we are very good at both!

Not only have we had a lovely summer but all the signs are pointing towards growth in the UK economy. It’s about time!

How to choose a document scanning company by Scan Film or Store

Most businesses we know have been working under a policy of ‘making the most of what they have’. They have been squeezing every efficiency out of their current resources and cutting back to make budgets balance (much like our esteemed Chancellor). They have often maintained the status quo for fear of ‘upsetting the apple cart’. But as every good business person knows when you want growth you need to plan for it and look at change.

These changes don’t have to be big but you do need to ask yourself some key questions. Such as where will your new employees sit and do your systems and processes support the growth you are planning. So here are three things to think about and tips to get ready for growth…

Don’t waste valuable office space storing things you don’t use regularly. If you don’t need that document or file every month then why not scan it, send the hardcopy off site to storage, or even destroy it. Then you can get rid of those filing cabinets, and put a desk in their place for your new recruit(s).
Digitise everything so you can work remotely. Make sure all your documents are in digital format so you can access them anywhere. This will mean quicker access to key information and allow you to employ people to work from home or even abroad – maybe fuelling your worldwide expansion?
Have a really good clear out. Spend the time to get rid of things you don’t need. Maybe get in an objective outsider to help you do this. But just going through the process of clearing things out will get you, and your teams, into the positive mind-set required to drive new growth.

The last point is probably the most important. Getting you and your teams mind-set right is vital and it’s amazing how tidying things up, destroying what you don’t need or at least sending stuff off to storage so it’s not in your face every day can lighten your mood.

Top tips on surviving a flood

3 tips on preparing for renewed business growth