Companies are always on the lookout for ways to incentivise and reward their staff, and perks are a way to do it. The problem for small companies at least, is that interesting and innovative perks take time, money and imagination to organise. It’s often not worthwhile if you just have a handful of employees. That’s where ‘AnyPerk’ comes in.

Businesses can subscribe to the company on a monthly basis, paying from as little as $7.50 per employee per month, for a midsize business. ‘AnyPerk’ gives workers access to over 850 pre-negotiated deals, offering up to 50 percent discounts across a huge range of products and services. There are entertainment deals such as 40 percent off at cinemas, special rates at small and large restaurant chains and travel, fitness and clothing discounts. Employers can create a customised set of offers which best suit their brand and working culture and they can monitor and manage the perk uptake.

This looks like a business model  that could be copied here in the UK. Who will be first to do it.

Website: www.anyperk.com

Two issues you face when you’re considering opening  a new restaurant are how do you know if there‘s a market for it and where will you get the money to get started. ‘Equity Eats’ is a US based initiative that attempts to solve both problems at once by enabling entrepreneurs to raise finance from their prospective customers.

‘Equity Eats’ enables entrepreneurs to raise funds for their venture by crowdfunding the start-up capital in exchange for future equity. Investors are primarily local community members, meaning their support in itself supports the viability of the concept.

Two things to think about:

1. Could you copy this idea in the UK?

2. Are there other local businesses which could be financed by the community in this way?

www.equityeats.com

When I come into the office on a Monday morning, its always colder than when I left on Friday despite heating being left on over the weekend. The reason is that the computers, printers and other devices that are used during a working day generate heat. It’s this sort of  bi-product heat that forms the basis of a green initiative from the Netherlands. Nerdalize is using the heat produced from computer servers to warm the homes they are installed in.

Data-centres filled with servers need cooling installations to handle the excess heat produced. Nerdalize offers an eco-friendly solution by placing individual servers in people’s homes where the heat can be useful, rather than a problem.

Homeowners can lease servers and the company pay for the electricity they use. Businesses can then buy the computing power they need from Nerdalize, saving between 30 and 55 percent on costs. The same energy is effectively used twice, creating a win-win situation.

I wouldn’t pretend that it’s easy, but I’m sure something like this could work in the UK too. Something for a very ambitious entrepreneur.

www.nerdalize.com