How to Collaborate
If you’re looking to grow your business, expand your reach post Treaty or simply try something new, collaboration can be one of the most effective ways to do it. The key is approaching it with a bit of structure. And resisting the urge to say yes to everything just because someone seemed nice over a coffee… Here’s how to do it well.
1: Start with the gaps
Before you look for a partner, be clear on what your business actually needs. It could be more visibility, access to a different audience, new expertise or a way to strengthen your offer. The clearer you are, the easier it becomes to spot the right opportunity when you’re speaking to people at events. You’re not just making small talk. You’re listening for something, a sign of overlap. Networking works best when you know what you’re listening for.
2: Use networking events properly
In Gibraltar, there’s ALWAYS stuff going on and this is one of your biggest advantages. From running clubs, to group art classes to formal networking, you’ll find people from different sectors in the same room, often open to ideas, and occasionally willing to talk about something other than property prices.
Don’t limit yourself to your own industry – spread your wings. Some of the most effective collaborations come from unexpected pairings. A local business teaming up with a complementary service to run a joint workshop. A brand partnering with a content creator to grow their online presence and reach new audiences. The businesses you meet at a GFSB event might not look like obvious partners at first glance, but shared values and complementary strengths often matter more than being in the same sector.
3: Turn a conversation into a plan
A good conversation is only the starting point. At some point, someone has to send the follow-up email – don’t let things drift. If something clicks, do it quickly. Keep the first idea simple and clear: what are you doing together, who is responsible for what, and what are you trying to achieve? In a small, close-knit market, momentum matters. Clarity helps things move. Vague enthusiasm doesn’t.
4: Agree the basics early
Even among people who know each other well, it’s important to set expectations. Especially among people who know each other well, actually. If time, money or reputation are involved, put the key points in writing. It doesn’t need to be a 40-page contract. Just clear enough that both sides understand their role and nobody ends up surprised three months in. Good collaborations are built on trust. Clear agreements support that.
5: Launch it properly
When you bring a collaboration to life, make sure people know about it. All that effort deserves more than a single Instagram post at 11pm on a Tuesday. Coordinate how you communicate it. Share it across both audiences. Think about how you create visibility, whether that’s through social media, an event or a joint campaign. Word travels quickly here. A well-executed collaboration can reach further than you expect.
6: Plan Ahead
GFSB events give you access to the people, ideas and opportunities already around you. The key is recognising when there’s a fit and knowing how to take it forward.
SHARE THIS
OTHER
After teaching in schools for 18 years I decided to take the plunge and embark on a self-employed life. Driven by my passion for teaching children with special educational needs I set out to discover alternative ways to make education accessible to all. My vision was to have the individual in mind, with their own strengths and challenges, and with that came the birth of ‘edYOUcation Clare Francis’; bringing the YOU into learning.
Whether you’re building a business from the ground up or hoping to grow an existing operation, having a strong business development strategy is the foundation of success. But real, sustainable growth doesn’t come from chasing the next big thing, it comes from getting the essentials right. So, what are the fundamentals you can’t afford to ignore? In my view, this starts with something I call the “Holy Trinity” of small business marketing...
Starting and running a small business is rewarding but comes with its fair share of challenges. The path of entrepreneurship is often characterised by immense dedication, long hours, and tough decisions. As a small business owner, you're not just responsible for the operations and growth of your company and team, but also for your own wellbeing.
Thrive Editor's Letter |
Editor’s Welcome
Welcome to the fifth edition of Thrive magazine. Too often the narrative around business focuses on success and, in my view, we forget to talk about failure. That’s why we lead this edition with EPIC FAILS by Katie Buller—because understanding what doesn’t work is just as important as what does.
We all have bad days, right? In business, that can mean we don’t bring our A-game to work and perhaps our service slips. Maybe a dish takes too long to reach a table or a staff member sounds distracted at the till. This could lead to negative Google Reviews or on ‘that’ Facebook group that […]
Building a personal brand isn't just about showcasing your professional accomplishments; it's about weaving your unique narrative, passions, and values into a cohesive identity that resonates with others. Here's how you can bring your personal brand to life, with practical examples to guide you at every step.
With its largely service-based economy, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Gibraltar didn't have to deal with the problem of toxic waste, perhaps more commonly seen in countries reliant on manufacturing, mining and even agriculture. However, every gaming company, insurance firm, fintech organisation, retailer, restaurant, and literally every other business on the Rock is potentially responsible for producing a particularly nasty waste byproduct - e-waste.
Over the past 18 years, I've had the privilege of working with a diverse range of businesses and industries, gaining insights into the challenges they face in implementing effective diversity and inclusion strategies. Often, DEI&B is viewed as a 'nice to have' rather than an essential component of business success. With this in mind, I'm excited to share valuable insights and practical steps to help you create environments where everyone can thrive. You've probably heard of DEI&B, but what do these letters really mean, and why do they matter for you and your organisation? Diversity includes differences like race, gender, age, neurodiversity, disability, LGBTQ+, culture, and more; Equity ensures equal opportunities for all; Inclusion values everyone's contributions; and Belonging means individuals feel accepted and integral to the organisation.
Whether you’re an ebook tapper or traditional page turner, there are thousands of books that can make you better at business. Áine Panter, Head of the School of Business at the University of Gibraltar has curated a list of must-reads that will inspire, inform, and equip you for success.
Over the past few years, I’ve noticed the same logo cropping up more and more often. On coffee cups. On consultancy websites. In email signatures and pitch decks. The familiar B Corp badge, quietly signalling that a business is trying to do things differently. With our horizons widening post-treaty, could this globally-relevant badge could become a way of promoting your CSR values to an international market?
When it comes to ideation in business, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Every business, team, and leader has their own way of generating and refining ideas. Whether it’s through structured brainstorming sessions, casual conversations, or solo reflection, the goal is to unlock creativity and find solutions. We’ve asked four GFSB members to share how they approach ideation in their fields. As you read, think about how you generate ideas and remember that sometimes, the best results come from trying something new.
When you’ve been running your own business for a while, you know what works, and it’s easy to rely on the skills that got you to where you are. Chances are, you’re comfortable doing things in a certain way, and your team knows what to expect from your leadership style.
We’ve said it before and it’s only getting louder: AI is reshaping how businesses work. From chatbots and smart analytics to automated content and decision-making tools, AI is helping smaller firms punch well above their weight. But with that power comes responsibility. As AI use grows, so do the risks around data privacy, and under GDPR, getting it wrong can mean serious fines and lasting reputational damage.
Artificial Intelligence promises unprecedented opportunities for small business owners in Gibraltar. As the digital landscape faces constant evolution, understanding AI becomes not just beneficial but essential for businesses aiming to thrive in 2024. In this article, we aim to demystify the complexities surrounding AI, offering an approachable guide to its fundamentals, history, and practical applications for businesses, providing you with the knowledge to embrace this technology confidently.
Thrive catches up with Nick Pitaluga TEP, Managing Director of Gibraltar Trust & Corporate Services Limited - “GTCS”. From starting out as a messenger to leading his firm through a major merger, Nick talks about the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone and offers inspiration for anyone carving their own niche.
If, like me, you spend more time than you should doom scrolling LinkedIn, you could be tempted into thinking no-one fails. LinkedIn has become a hyperbolic haven and a place to scream and shout about success. But what about failures - why aren’t we talking about them? In business, failure is inevitable. I mean it. Whether it's a product flop, a marketing misstep, or a company on the brink of collapse, every entrepreneur will face moments that test them. Yet, history has shown that these failures can often be the starting point for something extraordinary.
The Treaty between the EU and the UK over Gibraltar is finally giving us some clarity, and yet, it also reminds us just how much sits outside our control. The finer details will take months to surface. Political tides may shift. Promises will be tested by practicalities. Every day, we face issues beyond our reach: new legislation, competitor actions, market trends, customer behaviour, staff turnover, illness, family responsibilities, global events. All of it lives in what Stephen Covey calls the Circle of Concern - things we care about, but cannot directly change. The more we fixate on them, the more frustration can grow.
We recently provided a large local organisation with their uniforms. Once the order was delivered, I felt compelled to send them guidelines on how to take care of their uniform. Spending money on clothes and footwear is not a guarantee on making the right impression, either to yourself, nor anyone else- it’s attention to detail that seals the deal.
Love is big business. According to official statistics, 1,745 weddings took place in Gibraltar in 2021 followed by another 1,761 weddings in 2022 and a further 1640 in 2023. That’s around 33 weddings each week or 6 every single day. With an estimated population of around 33,000, it’s safe to say that, no, we aren’t all marrying each other, but that Gibraltar is a very popular place for many people to come and say ‘I do’. In fact, in all three years, non-residents outnumbered residents by an average of 90% to 10%. The stats point to a healthy wedding sector, one that our Minister for Tourism, Christian Santos is keen to develop. In an interview with the Gibraltar Chronicle he recently said he wanted; “Gibraltar to be the Las Vegas of Europe” when it comes to weddings. Unlike Vegas, we don’t have Elvis. But we do have John. Music legend John Lennon famously married Yoko Ono here in 1969 and put the Rock on the map for ‘Fast Track’ weddings. If music’s not your thing, acting legend Sean Connery (AKA James Bond) also tied the knot here (twice)!
Imposter syndrome is a psychological behaviour where individuals, including many high achievers, struggle with persistent feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, or the fear of being exposed as a fraud. Despite their achievements, those experiencing imposter syndrome believe they are undeserving of their success or worry that they've misled others into overestimating their abilities.