Edward Relf takes part in our latest Tomorrow's Leaders post, looking at the leaders of the hottest start-up companies. Relf is the co-founder and CEO of Laundrapp, the Uber of laundry!

Looking to take the next step at work with a promotion? Adopt these tips to make sure you become the ideal candidate!

This month, our newest edition of Business Success sees us chatting with Georg Hansbauer from Testbirds, a company which aims to take the quality of digital products to the next level.

With summer upon us, we wanted to offer some quick tips on how you can keep cool in the office.

Our Tomorrow's Leaders blog series takes a look at the pioneering world of business start-ups. This month we spotlight Tai Alegbe and his wine sourcing company BAACCO.

No matter what level you work at, giving feedback on other people's performance can be a daunting idea. Read this tips so you can stay supportive and constructive when you deliver feedback.

We asked our customers if their children know what they do at work, with some hilarious results!

In the newest edition of our Business Success series, we spoke to Amir Salehi, founder of Tradesmen Brighton.

Here are some tips applicable for both employees and employers on how to deal with office politics.

Find out about our very special blogger crafting event, where thirty bloggers learned the art of calligraphy, block printing and origami.

Our newest edition of Tomorrow's Leaders sees us chatting with Scoot Woodley from Tutora, a company helping to match school students with tutors.

Our newest Fast Track article looks at how hobbies can help you train your skills even when you're not at work. From volunteering your time to learning a new language, learn how you can change the way you work.

Different situations at work call for a range of attire. Perhaps you have a conference in the afternoon, but feel more creative in a t-shirt and jeans for your morning brainstorm.

We surveyed office workers around the UK to find out how they feel about the clothes they wear to work. From the rules they have to follow to the pressures they feel from others, we took a look at what informs our fashion choices in the workplace.

Creating beautiful art with everyday objects.

Creating a positive work environment is instrumental in fostering yours and your team's success, but it can often be overlooked. Take on board our office hacks to ensure that you maintain that can-do atmosphere at work, and don't fall foul of common workplace difficulties.

What to do when the floor suddenly becomes lava and other advice.

At Viking, we've put together a handy guide to help you plan for, and successfully get through, a Skype interview. With a range of tips on how to get your video lighting right, what not to wear (regardless of how much you think they can see), and how to avoid embarrassing interruptions, we've collected some top advice from our interviewers at Viking to give you the best chance of nailing that opportunity of a lifetime.

You've got a tight deadline, documents are scattered all over your desk, and a colleague has just asked if you have "a spare five minutes" to help them with something. Suddenly, you hear yourself making an excuse to get out of doing the work - one little white lie is no big deal after all... 

Most of us have told a lie at some point in our working lives, but why do we feel the need to? We surveyed office workers to find out.

In this month's Tomorrow's Leaders article, we are joined by Timothy Armoo from Fanbytes, who set up business with his friend, Ambrose Cook. Fanbytes have helped social media strategies for businesses including Nickelodeon, GoPro, and Adidas.

In this month's Fast Track article, we discuss networking and how you can get the best out of careers event. We have listed a number of practical tips so that you can land yourself your dream job via networking.

In this month's Business Success article, we feature Paola Diana who is founder of AMORE, a new and exclusive match-making business. Paola gives an insight into her entrepreneurial career and provides advice for new business owners.

This week in our Office Hacks series, we take a look at how to energise your workforce and generate a productive workplace culture. We have put together a number of top tips to help your office become more motivated and productive.

This month in our Tomorrow's Leaders series, we are joined by Dave George from BIKMO who specialise in insurance for cyclists. Since the UK Grande Departe during 2014's Tour de France, cycling has boomed in popularity across the UK, with expensive cycling equipment taking a significant incline. BIKMO have won multiple awards for their innovative approach to cycling and customer service.

This week we decided to surprise our staff with their very own Game of Thrones inspired games room, as a way of saying thank you for all of their hard work.

Here at Viking Direct, we are celebrating the unsung heroes of office life.To celebrate the hard work of those who keep our offices across the UK and Ireland running smoothly, here at Viking Direct are running a competition especially for office managers.

When it comes to working in another country, one of the trickiest parts can be knowing exactly how to interact with your colleagues, business partners or clients, as it's quite common for there to be differences in cultural and business conventions. We've put together a guide to help you stay on top of things.

This month's Business Success article features Daniel Caplan from New i.d, who discusses how he set up his successful interior design business and his advice for today's entrepreneurs.

This month we are joined by Rachel Verghis who set up mobile accessory company, Goo.ey, a manufacturer of hands-free reusable phone covers, which allow users to stick their phones on to smooth or glossy surfaces. Rachel has already had considerable success in using her bank of contacts in the art and fashion industry. She has worked with influencers including Kelly Hoppen, Henry Holland and Ai Weiwei.

Every so often we end up with waste printer paper. We normally send it off to be recycled. However, we decided that we wanted to re-use it, so we had a giant paper fight in the office, instead.

This month we are joined by Charlie Mullins from Pimlico Plumbers. Charlie left school aged 15 with no qualifications and started the business in 1979 from the basement of an estate agent in Pimlico. The business has gone from strength-to-strength and is now worth over £100 million. Charlie has featured on TV shows including Channel 4's 'The Secret Millionaire' and BBC's 'Posh Plumbers'.

This week in our Office Hacks series we discuss how small businesses can adopt simple marketing strategies. More often than not, start-ups have small marketing budgets. As a result, many business owners have to streamline their long-term strategies with limited resources. We know this can often seem like a daunting prospect, so we've put together a number of easy methods of getting the word out about your business.

This month we are joined by Joshua Cook from Zeven Media who starred on BBC's Dragons' Den alongside his brother Hyrum. The duo specialise in digital photo booths and secured a £50,000 investment from Deborah Meaden in 2014.

This month's Fast Track article focuses on employees who are new to the working world and are set to take part in their first client meeting or sales pitch. Meetings with current or potential clients can often be nerve-racking for the first time. Fear not, we have a number of tips so you know what to expect and to ensure that you can deliver your presentation successfully.

This month we are joined by Neil Westwood from Magic Whiteboard who featured on BBC's Dragons' Den in December 2008. Founders, Neil and Laura Westwood saw success on the show after Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis invested £100,000 for a 40% stake. More recently, the founders bought back the shares and now own 100% of the company.

Returning to work after Christmas and New Year can be a bit of a struggle. To help beat the January blues in the Viking office, we decided to ask our team to decorate their desks with fun and creative things. However, we were totally unprepared for what they did: not content with simply bringing in small decorations, our creative team decided to build a giant castle - right in the middle of the office.

As a business owner, one of your main New Year's resolutions may be to tighten those purse strings and decrease any potential unnecessary business costs. Until you look at your bills at the start of the year it can be surprising how much energy consumption costs.

Former banker-turned entrepreneur, Rupa Ganatra, joins us this month for our Business Success series. As co-founder of online male-grooming business Yes Sir!, Rupa turned her attention to the digital industry, in which she is now founder of the major business conference event, Millennial 20/20. Viking spoke to Rupa about her latest venture.

It's just under two weeks until the end of 2015, and many graduates will be thinking ahead to the New Year and what 2016 will hold for them. If you are searching for a fresh start, here's our top career tips for the New Year!

This month we are joined by Jules Quinn from The TeaShed who has shared her insights into successfully managing her own tea business. Launched in May 2011, The TeaShed has gone from strength to strength (no pun intended!) and has featured on Startups.co.uk top 100 entrepreneurs of 2014.

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. It's a time to catch up with your family and friends, while truly relaxing and enjoying the holiday season. However, each year, managers across the nation face one of their toughest challenges in making sure that as many people as possible get the time off they need.

Last month our Fast Track series looked at how you can make a great impression on the first day at your new job. This month we have taken a look at how you can implement a better life-work balance so you can enjoy down-time away from the office.

With only a few sleeps left until Christmas, it's time to get into the festive spirit and think about how you're going to decorate your desk at work.

At Viking, we're very competitive and we take office decorating very seriously, with everyone trying their hand at a variety of exciting craft projects to try and beat the rest of the office - and Christmas is no exception.

As a result, we've seen some fabulous ways of decorating a desk for Christmas, but we think you guys might be able to show us a thing or two and that's why, this year, we've decided to create our #ChristmasCraftChallenge so you can show off your creative skills.

Already a big fan of Christmas, entrepreneur Sarah Greenwell was looking for a magical family tradition that could grow with her children over the years. Finding very little already out there, Sarah set about creating her own tradition; the idea grew and this Christmas that tradition is going to be shared in the homes of families all over the country through Elf for Christmas. We chatted to Sarah to find out more.

Sickness season is upon us. Cold and flu viruses lurk in every corner of the office, as our colleagues cough and splutter through the day. Sometimes getting ill can't be avoided, but there are precautions you can take to avoid succumbing to the yearly sniffles. We decided to do a little experiment to grow some bacterial cultures and show what some of the weird and wonderful bugs that surround us every day actually look like when given the chance to grow undisturbed.

Mathew Cockroft from Pure Pet Foods joins us this week to share his insights into successfully managing an online pet store, which has seen their award-winning products launched in Pets At Home. Along with business partner Daniel Eha, Mathew featured on Dragon's Den, where their pitch was considered by Duncan Bannatyne to be "one of the best pitches in over 10 years of the show".

Here at Viking we can't wait for the new series of AMC's The Walking Dead. Since we're such big fans of the show, we started our very own office zombie sweepstake last season to see which character would come out on top in the fight against the undead horde. We've decided to share our game this year so you can play along with your own friends, family and co-workers.

Do you take your lunch 'al desko' or head to the local cafeteria or supermarket? Are you struggling to get to three o'clock before your stomach starts to rumble? Are you feeling wiped out by a stodgy meal? We all do it differently, and it can be easy to get stuck on the same old track, week in, week out. Why not check out our six top lunchtime tips and see if you can make a change for the better?

Atlas Magazine began as a hobby for two students alongside their studies, but by graduation time the fashion magazine had turned into something much bigger. So, with the help of a Kickstarter campaign, co-founders Olivia and Megan decided to take Atlas to the next level and build a career from it. We caught up with Olivia to find out more about her journey from student to magazine editor.

Last month we were looking at how to get the most out of your CV when applying for your first big job. To follow on from that, this month we'll cross our fingers and hope that you bagged an interview - and now need advice on how to ace it.

John Readman, CEO of Ride25, joins us this week to share his insights into successfully managing a business and the journey he's travelled - and continues to travel. John's passion is cycling, and his aim is to help people change their life through this pursuit, raising money for charitable causes along the way.

When you're trying to knuckle down and get some work done, there's often no end to the number of distractions that can break your workflow: tea round duties, office gossip - and that's before you've even opened your inbox.

Emails might seem like they've made office life easier but they can be a major cause of stress due to the sheer number of messages we receive and the demands within them. Learning how to organise and manage this daily influx is an important step in creating a stress-free work environment but making sure you don't miss anything can be a daunting task. Read on for our top hacks for streamlining your email.

Frustrated with referencing university essays as a student, Tom Hatton stumbled upon a brilliant idea. RefME launched in 2014 as a referencing tool. It scans and automatically creates references without students needing to trawl through bibliographies, publishers and dates. Last year, RefME was named The Guardian's startup of the year, and this year it bagged Best British Mobile Startup at the Mobile World Congress. Tom Hatton talked to us about his university experience and tips for success.

Recently we let a small team loose in the office with a big stack of post-it notes and an imagination brimming with anticipation for the upcoming Star Wars film.

It's that time of year again: results are out and graduates are looking to the future. It may be that you've already got an idea of where you'd like to apply to work, but you may also be actively hunting for employment. Whatever your situation is, there are a few things that are worth keeping in mind to maximise your chances of making that all-important good first impressio.

Do you feel you're trying to squeeze in more tasks than there are minutes in the day? Follow our six tips to reduce your stress levels and resume your work in a calmer, happier environment.

Hayley Short joins us this month from The Pet Deli, a contemporary online pet food store with a passion for providing natural foods and treats for our beloved animals. Hayley started the company with her partner, Lewie, and their husky, Maya, and was kind enough to share her knowledge of starting a business and following a passion.

Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions. - Dalai Lama Over the next two months, Viking will be spreading the ultimate happiness by sending out S.O.S joy boosters. The mission is #EmergencyHappiness, and has one powerful aim... to cheer up a whole lot of folk that are in need of a smile.

In the digital world, there is money to be made in more ways than ever before. For some, blogging has become a more lucrative hobby, with brand collaborations, events and endorsements making for a glamorous affair.

It can be easy for your desk to get out of hand, but did you know the same things clogging up space can also be used to make your life easier? Simple pieces of stationery and everyday objects can help you keep things in order, clean and tidy. Let's get creative with these office hacks designed to make your life easier...

We've all sat in meetings before and struggled to stay focused. Other times you may have felt that you weren't quite captivating your fellow meeting goers. Well, there are a few things you can keep in mind to help you and your team get the most from your meetings. Read on for our top tips...

This month we're talking to Ross Moran, Managing Director of Tiger Sheds, a company manufacturing high-end garden buildings such as sheds and log cabins. Starting life as a single machine outfit in the corner of a timber mill, Ross has helped take the company forwards into a hugely successful enterprise. Here he shares some of the knowledge that has helped him, and Tiger Sheds, get to where they are today.

Sitting on a drab chair in a grey office with a flickering computer screen is not the stuff of an Olympic medalist. Nobody wants to be indoors all day. But there are some super smart tricks out there that can help you feel revitalised. So, get ready to shake up your daily slog with our health kick tips!

Maximise the impact of your presentations with our five top tips

Some people find delivering a presentation daunting. Others relish the opportunity to present to an audience but can fall short on getting the most of their floor time. Mastering presentations is undoubtedly a learning curve and requires practice, but taking a few key points into consideration can put you well on the way to becoming a more engaging speaker.

Get the most out of your trusty notepad with our seven top tips

If you're anything like the rest of the nation's office workers, then if you're not scrambling around your desk for a biro, you'll be ripping off notepad pages and writing down notes that you'll almost definitely never find again. Here are our quick hacks that will turn your notebook from a hindrance into a perfect little desk assistant.

James Bond: From HR with Love

James Bond has a licence to kill. He's on Her Majesty's Secret Service. He'll live and let die. But does he fill in all of his expense claim forms on time? Does he pay attention to Health and Safety regulations? We've got a feeling he'd actually be a royal pain for the HR department at MI6. We take a look at the true cost of 007's antics.

This month we're talking to entrepreneur Dominic Nowell-Barnes, who entered into the world of business as a teenager. By 25, his flooring business, Poshflooring.co.uk, had turned over £4 million. He tells us about his highlights and organisation know-how.

Printing Personal Items At Work? Set Up an Honesty Box!

We all do it. Whether it's a gig ticket or your holiday photos, from time to time you print off something that you probably shouldn't at work. We asked 1,500 office workers to reveal what they're secretly printing and how often they're doing it.

It's Official: The Most Annoying Office Habits

In the close confines of an office, finding fault with your colleagues can be unavoidable. There you are, collating the figures for Jane, when something keeps breaking your concentration. That's right - it's Dave. Again. He's humming Bond Themes. AGAIN.

Whether you use it to print homework, holiday snaps or work documents, every home should own a printer. But how do you know which one to choose? Read on to discover our top tips...

3 office activities that will earn you over £11,000 a year

Imagine an office where you're encouraged to sip a coffee, surf the net and stroll around for a chat. What you probably don't realise, is that you already can! We take a look at how long we're spending on breaks in the UK and what they mean for your productivity.

It's that time of year again! National Stationery Week is finally upon us and this year, the event is celebrating the written word.

Running from 27^th April - 3^rd May 2015, the event is encouraging all stationery lovers to pick up their pens and send letters and cards instead of emails. To help you celebrate, we've put together a comprehensive rundown of everything you'll need....

If you're wondering why office chit-chat has turned from friendly banter to plots of deception, thievery and betrayal, it's because Game of Thrones has once again returned to our living rooms for its fifth season.

Game of Thrones returns to our screens next Monday (13th April), and here at Viking we're pretty excited about it. There's nothing better than getting together the next day to chat about who we think should sit the Iron Throne and what twists and turns lie ahead.

You haven't got long left until Easter, so it's time to get creative with the kids. Follow our top decorating tips below and ensure they have the best eggs in town!

Are you looking for some entertaining but simple pranks to pick up a slow day in the office?

For April Fools' shenanigans, our team of tricksters have made it their mission to share some of their favourite printable pranks for your entertainment.

The following pranks will well and truly be the gifts that keep on giving. After all, April Fools' is only around for one day, whilst our prank pack will wind up your colleagues day in, day out.

IMPORTANT: Before selecting your prank pack, please be aware that these pranks are intended for the use of mischievous colleagues only.

Spring is just around the corner, which means it's time to grab the cleaning equipment and get your home or office sparkling again.

Thanks to the power of technology, spring cleaning can be easier and more fun than ever before. Here's our top four cleaning apps for iPhone and iPad:

Accidentaly printed out too many sheets? Wasted some paper, or simply need a do-over? Don't throw that paper away just yet - recycle it!

There are many advantages to working at home, but the associated bills can be a significant downside. Heating your office and powering your computer 9-5 means it's not unusual to see household bills double after becoming a home worker.

Are you tired of losing important items on your desk? Is your messiness making you a laughing stock of the office? If you answered yes, it?s time to change! Take a look at our top tips below and start your office spring clean today.

Research from Mintel shows that over half of British consumers have a tablet computer in their homes. But should you ditch your laptop just yet? We weigh up the pros and cons of each gadget below...

It's hard to remember a time without Fairtrade. For years now, the foundation has been a household name, with many of us purchasing Fairtrade goods on a regular basis. If you still don't have that Fairtrade feeling, here's everything you need to know about the ground-breaking movement...

If you struggle when it comes to selecting the perfect gift, Valentine's Day can come around all too quickly! No sooner have you sorted your beloved's Christmas presents, than it's time to rack your brains for a romantic gesture that will impress.

Forget flowers and chocolates: this year it's time to get personal. Check out our gift guide below and you'll have your beau's heart aflutter in no time!

While we may not have had a white Christmas, it seems we're set for a blue January. So you and your workmates can battle the blues, we've put together this handy guide to see you through the most hated of all winter months.

If you received any unwanted gifts this Christmas, don?t leave them to collect dust. One man?s trash is another man?s treasure, so find a new home or purpose for your present. As well as preventing wastage, you?ll save space and potentially make money! Learn how below...

Each year, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) plays hosts to thousands of exhibitors who are ready to share their ground-breaking gadgets with the world.

The 2015 show was an undisputed success, spawning some incredible tech. Here's our rundown of the gadgets that impressed us most...

Today, many of us depend on apps like Google Calendar to keep us organised. However, there are a lot of benefits to using a physical rather than digital diary to organise your affairs. You can more easily record information while you're on the phone, won't forget about appointments because of a flat phone battery, and look more professional when taking down notes in meetings.

Use our buying guide to find the perfect diary for 2015.

Do you have an exam coming up in January? Worried about fitting in revision around the festivities? Use our study tips to ensure you make the most of the Christmas holidays and properly prepare yourself for university assessments.

One of the most important decisions when buying a smartphone is which operating system (OS) you would like. This software impacts everything from the interface to the performance, so you should compare the different features carefully before making a purchase.

Whether you're sending gifts to overseas relatives or popping a greetings card in the post for a distant friend, check out our Christmas delivery guide and ensure your parcels and envelopes reach their destination in time for December 25th.

Do you know someone who's potty about pens, nutty about notepads or crazy for calligraphy? Check out our list of Christmas gifts for stationery lovers, and put a smile on their face this December 25th.

Posting products, marketing materials and other communications can be expensive, but there are ways to slash your business's mail-room budget without making compromises. Check out our guide to cutting the cost of postage below.

If your office frequently has guests, a reception area is a valuable addition. It will allow you to create a good first impression and maintain high levels of professionalism throughout any visit. See our guide for tips on creating an efficient and effective reception area below.

Many aspects of US culture have migrated to the UK. We Brits love burgers, proms and American TV, and there's another trend that's taken hold in recent years: Black Friday.

Are you and the kids gearing up to trick and treat this October 31st? Check out our Halloween craft projects and your family can have fun making everything from spooky decorations to creepy costumes without spending a fortune.

More than four-in-five large UK businesses experienced a data breach in 2013. Read on for handy hints and tips for staying secure online.

Want to get the lowdown on the September 9th Apple event? Find everything you need to know about the newly unveiled iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch below.

Heading off to university in a few weeks? Start your shopping now to miss the rush, and ensure you don't forget anything on moving day.

You can employ a designer and printing company to create your business stationery, but there are big savings to be made with a little DIY. We've got plenty of tips that will help you create professional-looking letterheads, compliment slips and business cards from the office.

There are hundreds of inexpensive and even free tools at your SME's disposal in application stores. Kitting out your company smartphone or tablet with apps can be a great way to save time and money, work more efficiently, and boost professionalism.

What works best for your small business depends on your industry and a host of other factors, but the list below should help you get started with work-friendly apps.

Use the checklist below to take the stress out of back-to-school shopping, and kit your kids out with everything they need for their September start date.

Social media can help your business form a better relationship with customers, reach new audiences and increase conversion rates. Eurostat research showed that 42 per cent of enterprises with at least ten staff members used social media in 2013.

Do your snaps typically linger on your camera's SD card or computer's hard drive? Check out our guide to taking better photographs, and you'll be taking frame- and album-worthy shots in no time.

Many office workers have come to expect free tea and coffee 9-5, but should your business foot the beverage bill? Read about the pros and cons, and join the debate in the comments section below.

Homeworkers are usually well disciplined in keeping home and work separate, but the task can be near impossible when the kids are on school holidays. Pupils have six weeks of summer freedom ahead, but how are you going to look after them without your work suffering? Read our guide to striking the right balance for your family below.

Estimates indicate that 80 per cent of Brits have a desk job, according to the NHS. This type of work environment might seem risk-free compared to the likes of a building site, but it has been linked to a variety of health problems. If you spend long hours staring at a computer screen, or you have staff that do, read our guide to creating an ergonomic workspace below, and make the office a more comfortable place to be.

A well-designed office can improve productivity and boost employee satisfaction. That?s something the companies below obviously take extremely seriously. Check out the five coolest offices in the world, according to Viking, and try not to get too jealous.

At a job interview, it's not just the way you answer questions that counts. Aesthetics and etiquette both influence the way a potential employer perceives you, and hence your chances of landing the role. If you've got the experience and skills, we've got the finishing touches that will help you make a good impression and gain a competitive edge over other candidates. Read our top tips below:

Genericide occurs when usage of a specific brand name rather than the generic product name becomes widespread: one manufacturer's product becomes synonymous with the product group as a whole. This often occurs because pioneering products firmly establish their name in consumers' minds before the generic name has chance. In other cases, a branded product dominates a particular market so much that people prefer to use its name universally. The world of stationery is one rife with genericide. Innovation and marketing too effective for its own good mean many product categories are characterised by one brand name. Check out our list below, and see if you knew that these stationery names were trademarked.

What do you use sticky notes for in your office? To remind yourself of work deadlines, or to leave messages for a colleague? These stationery essentials obviously have many practical uses, but there are also plenty of ways to have fun with sticky notes. Liven up your workplace with the creative activities below.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, is the annual event that plays host to some of the biggest announcements in the world of video games.

As the 2014 press conference was the first since the release of the Xbox One and PS4, next-gen console owners were eager to hear what Sony and Microsoft had in store.

As well as new video game releases, there were plenty of franchise additions that are sure to satisfy long-time fans. Check out the titles we can't wait to play below.