Members’ Area

From receiving expert help and guidance to benchmarking your business’ performance, the Members’ Area is a gateway to resources, services and support specifically developed for those working in the field of design.

Some sections are exclusively accessible to DBA members, connecting you to the extensive range of benefits your membership provides.

DBA membership extends to everyone working within your business – all members of your team can register for their own password – ensuring the whole team benefits.

Main Content

Resources

Essential guidance, templates, insight and tools to support you on all aspects of the business of design. From contracts to client opinion, legal updates to exporting support, our resources give you instant access to expert advice and tools to help solve a wide range of business challenges.

If you can’t find the information you’re after please email membership@dba.org.uk or call 020 7251 9229 and we’ll look to source or signpost you to guidance to match your needs. 

Members only

Fees, Utilisation and Recovery Rates: Getting the mix right in your business

By Adam Fennelow, Head of Services, DBA
The way hourly charge out rates, utilisation and recovery rates work together is key to the profitability of your business. The DBA's Adam Fennelow shares advice on how to balance them correctly.

Business skills, Financial

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Are you the kid or the adult in the cereal aisle?

By David C. Baker
In running your design business you can't afford to make short-term decisions that have bad long-term implications. Consistently asking these five questions will keep you focused on the bigger picture, says David C. Baker.

Business skills, New business & client relations

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Members only

Writing a Health & Safety Policy

It is a legal requirement for companies with five or more employees to have a written Health & Safety Policy. Even if your business has less than 5 employees you may still want to consider writing a policy. A health and safety policy sets out your general approach, objectives and the arrangements you have put in place for managing health and safety in your business. It is a unique document that says who does what, when and how.

Business skills, HR

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Members only

Helplines – Legal, HR and employment, and R&D tax credits

DBA members have access to extensive support from a range of DBA helplines and partner businesses covering Legal advice, HR and employment advice, Insurance cover (from office contents to Professional Indemnity) and R&D tax credits.

Financial, HR, Legal

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Members only

Discounts to third party events

When there is a conference or seminar by another organisation that we feel would be of interest to our members we try to secure a DBA Member discount. If you are interested in one that is not listed on our discounts page please flag it to us so we can approach the organisers.

Maximise membership

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Adapting to a changing world

By Nick Gray, Founder, Mr Gray Branding
Nokia made rubber boots before entering the world of mobile phones. Shell started life as an importer of shells before diversifying into...

Business skills, New business & client relations, Strategy development

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Is your agency good value for money?

By Jonathan Kirk, Founder, Up to the Light
Deciding whether a design agency is good value for money can be tricky, as all sorts of factors come into play. These are concerned with the quality of the client/agency relationship, not just the financial aspects. DBA Expert Jonathan Kirk explains.

Business skills, New business & client relations, Strategy development

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How much could R&D tax credits be worth to your business?

By Design Business Association
Fellow DBA members have received funding for their businesses through R&D tax incentives, could you?   Research and...

Advice for clients, Financial, Maximise membership

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Members only

Significant changes to employment law coming into effect April 2019

By Croner
In April 2019, significant changes to employment law came into effect – how do they impact your business?   This article...

HR, Legal

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Pension changes 2019: Need-to-know

By Croner
Handy guidance on the pension auto enrolment scheme and details on the new minimum contribution levels coming into effect in April 2019.

Financial, HR, Legal

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