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SMEs To Benefit From Credit Union Changes

15.01.12

Legislation allowing credit unions to lend to small businesses is hoped to help with the tight credit conditions for SMEs that have been harming them since the ‘Credit Crunch’ of 2008.

 

Recovery Requires Confidence and Adapting To Opportunities

31.12.11

Consumer confidence and lean, agile small businesses are the keys to economic revival, says Will Davies, co-founder of property management firm aspect.co.uk. He suggests that small businesses must “adapt to the market and make the most of the opportunities that are out there.”

 

Direct Marketing Emails Reaching More Consumers

15.11.11

Better targeting techniques by businesses have raised consumer interest in email marketing, research by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has highlighted.

 

Small Businesses Find Employee Skills Lacking

25.10.11

A survey of 6,000 businesses by the British Chamber of Commerce has revealed that 45% of respondents claim that it is very or quite difficult to find the right employees for a position.

 

Small Business Shift In Coming Decade

12.09.11

The “2020 Vision – the Future of Business” report by Bibby Financial Services has predicted a “seismic shift” as entrepreneurs and the self-employed take over the business world and the number of UK start-ups will rise by 20% over the next decade.

 

UK ‘Unbearably Expensive’ For SMEs

15.08.11

According to a study of 750 small firms by business saving advisors Make It Cheaper and the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR), 47% of respondents have had to inject their own personal cash into their company this year.

 

Small Businesses Unaware Of Bribery Act and Its Effects

04.07.11

A recent study conducted by the business software company Sage UK has found that almost three quarters of small and medium businesses questioned were unaware of what the Bribery Act consisted of, or the ways in which it might affect their day-to-day business practice.

 

Former Armed Forces Members Encouraged Into Entrepreneurship

28.06.11

As thousands of staff are expected to leave the armed forces, enterprise charity Heropreneurs and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) have called for improved enterprise training to persuade ex-military individuals to start their own businesses.

 

Students Seek Education For Workplace Skills

16.05.11

A recent survey conducted by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the National Union of Students (NUS) has revealed that many students believe that universities should be providing a better understanding and learning opportunity based around workplace skills and competencies.

 

Public Holiday For Royal Wedding: Employer Policy

09.04.11

Friday 29 April will see a bank holiday take place in honour of the Royal Wedding. However, the bank holiday is only optional for employers, and as such they are being encouraged to ensure that they make it clear to their employees whether or not they are having the day off to avoid uncertainties.

 

Entrepreneurial Start-ups Encouraged By Business TV

15.03.11

A recent study has revealed that TV shows such as Dragons’ Den and The Secret Millionaire are both causing non-business owners to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit, but to also see business owners in a more positive light.

 

Small Businesses Promised £76 Billion In Loans By Banks

09.02.11

Following talks between the government and banking system, 2011 is to be the year that sees large banks promising small and medium businesses access to £76 billion in new loans.

 

SMEs Believe UK Employment Law Too Complex

21.01.11

A recent survey has showed how 94% of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) believe that UK employment law is currently too complex and problematic.

 

Survey Indicates SME Profit Fears In 2011

19.01.11

Increased pressure on profit margins and the New Year VAT rise have been identified as the main concerns for small businesses in 2011.

 

Government To Phase Out Default Retirement Age In 2011

17.01.11

The gradual removal of the Default Retirement Age (DRA) rules will start at the beginning of the new financial year and will be completed by 1 October 2011.

 

3 Reasons Why Delegating Is Not Always Best

13.01.11

According to the Harvard Business Review, delegating tasks is an effective technique, but there are instances when a manager should not just pass on a project or task.

 

'Web in Feb' Workshops and Events For Small Businesses

11.01.11

The Business & IP Centre of the British Library is holding a series of events and workshops during February which will look at the various aspects of developing an online presence for small companies.

 

Small Businesses Absorbing Recent VAT Rise

07.01.11

According to research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), almost half of UK small businesses have been forced to absorb the costs of the recent VAT increase from 17.5% to 20% in order to remain competitive.

 

Government Support For New Entrepreneurs

04.01.11

PM David Cameron has revealed plans to support the creation of 40,000 new enterprises over the next two years through the provision of loans and grants to start-up companies.

 

Small Businesses Vulnerable During The Big Freeze

22.12.10

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called on both the public and private sector to support SMEs over the Christmas and New Year period, where adverse weather and economic conditions are putting them under extra pressure.

 

New Jobs In Small Business To Be Created From VAT Changes

17.12.10

Up to 35,000 work opportunities could be created through small companies if the threshold of VAT was increased, according to research carried out by the Centre For Economics and Business Research for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

 

Micro-Lending To Small Businesses On Government Agenda

14.12.10

Small businesses in the UK could get better access to funding with the government indicating its support for micro-lending to such companies.

 

Small Businesses Optimistic For 2011

10.12.10

Orange, the telecom provider, has conducted a study that has found that three quarters of small businesses are optimistic for the outlook in 2011.

 

Gender Pay Inequality Decreased In 2010

06.12.10

Though there still remains a significant gender pay gap in the UK, latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that it has narrowed by 2% to 10.2%.

 

Move Towards ‘Cashless Society’ As Debit Cards Favoured

02.12.10

For the first time ever, the number of debit card transactions has overtaken cash payments over the summer trading period. Use of debit cards has also soared as an extra 1.6 million purchases are made each day compared to last year.

 

Women’s Natural Abilities Essential In World Of Business

30.11.10

UK business leaders have called for improved support and mentoring for female entrepreneurs in order to help economic recovery.

 

Small Businesses Advised To Prepare For ‘Big Freeze’

26.11.10

Following the Met Office’s warning of heavy snow at the end of November, small businesses have been advised to put contingency plans in place now for disruption from bad weather during the Winter months.

 

Freelancers Applauded By PM

23.11.10

Britain’s freelance community has been praised today by David Cameron for its massive contribution to the nation’s economy.

 

Retail Sales Recover Whilst Borrowing Hits Record For October

18.11.10

After two months of falls, retail sales recovered in October though government borrowing hit another record high for the month, reinforcing the need for government austerity measures.

 

UK Businesses Suffering Financial Problems

16.11.10

Latest research has shown that over 123,000 UK businesses, with combined debts of almost £58bn, are experiencing significant or critical financial problems.

 

Small Businesses Could Lose Out Due To Latest Pension Rules

12.11.10

The FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) has reacted to plans to automatically register employees to workplace pensions, warning that it will cost small companies at least £2,550 per annum.   

 

‘Quarter Of Employees Seeking New Work’ Survey Warns Employers

09.11.10

A new survey organised by the Home Learning College has suggested that over a quarter of those currently in employment are searching for new work and not informing their present employer, with more than a third in total looking into new job opportunities.     

 

Lord Young Is New Government Small Business Advisor

05.11.10

Lord Young will be the new enterprise leader and title holder of Enterprise Champion, replacing Lord Sugar of BBC TV show The Apprentice.

 

Small Businesses Suspicious Of Homeworking

03.11.10

Nearly a quarter of small business owners surveyed in a new YouGov survey said that they allowed all of their employees to work from home all of the time, though 11% still believed that their staff would be less productive at home.

 

Concerns Over Business Rates Remain Despite Government Urging Local Growth

29.10.10

New measures were announced by the government yesterday which set out to encourage growth of local businesses, and thus boost the economic conditions in communities.

 

PM Reveals New Business Growth Strategies

26.10.10

New strategies proposed by the government, including increased access to finance and reduced bureaucracy, could see a fresh approach to helping new companies grow.

 

Businesses Could Suffer Millions in Costs Due to New Coins

22.10.10

Plans to launch new five and ten pence coins have been revealed by the government, but could cost companies millions of pounds as a result.

 

Spending Review Supported by Small Businesses

21.10.10

The Comprehensive Spending Review has revealed government plans to enforce £81 billion worth of spending cuts. Publicised today, it has received support from small businesses from across the UK.

 

Economic Experts Confirm Positive Outlook For UK In 2011

20.10.10

Ernst & Young ITEM Club, the economic forecasting body, has issued a more encouraging report on the state of the UK economy.

 

UK Recession Has Seen Increase In New Start-ups

18.10.10

A new report has claimed that 204,361 new businesses have opened over the first six months of 2010, helping to boost Britain’s recovery from the economic downturn.

 

Significance Of Social Media Doubted By Small Businesses

14.10.10

Despite over half of Britain’s small and medium scale businesses now exploiting networking sites for enterprise purposes, more than half of those questioned in a recent study believe in the effectiveness of social media.

 

Employees of Small Businesses Take Action to Help Combat Effects of Recession

12.10.10

The price comparison service, Make It Cheaper, having performed some research have found that 45% of employees in small-scale companies have agreed to work fewer hours in the mind that it could help the businesses survive the effects of the recession.

 

Handling Of Calls Incorrectly Monitored By SMEs

07.10.10

A survey organised by YouGov, on behalf of NewVoiceMedia, suggested that SMEs are neglecting to make sure that incoming telephone calls are dealt with in the correct manner. 

 

Appeal for New Laws Follows Strikes by Tube Workers

05.10.10

London’s transport system has been crippled following a 24-hour strike by employees of the tube, causing many journeys to become either much more time-consuming, or impossible to complete at all.  

 

Latest Rules For The Workplace Implemented Today

01.10.10

Significant changes concerning recruitment and treatment of employees have come into force today, in the shape of The Equality Act.  

 

Number of Entrepreneurs Opening Limited Companies Multiplies in UK

29.09.10

A 100% increase over the previous five years has been seen in the number of new business owners establishing limited companies.

 

New Bank To Focus On Small Business Lending

27.09.10

Small businesses are to benefit from a recent project from a group of City financiers, who plan to open a new bank that lends solely to those of small scale enterprises.

 

Franchises Are Safest Option For New Entrepreneurs

24.09.10

A recent report has reasoned that franchising is the safest business option for new entrepreneurs, claiming that 90% of new franchises thrive on set up.

 

FPB Calls For 10-Day Payment Target To Remain

22.09.10

Although the new European standard of 30 days for payment terms to businesses has now been introduced, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) has called for the public sector to keep the previous standard of 10 days to help small businesses.

 

UK Small Business Enterprise Soars

20.09.10

In the last 5 years, the number of entrepreneurs starting up small businesses in the UK has increased by 117%, creating an overall 41% increase in the total number of companies in the UK.

 

UK Business No Longer Dependent On Royal Mail

16.09.10

With recent news that the Royal Mail is to be privatised, a report has revealed that only 23% of companies still see traditional mail as important to their business. 

 

Small Businesses: 'Fail To Plan, Plan To Fail'

14.09.10

New research indicates that 68% of small businesses do not have a formal business plan written down 'on paper', seemingly abandoning conventional practice and wisdom. 

 

Higher Standards For Business Education Demanded By European Entrepreneurs

10.09.10

Research has suggested that education in entrepreneurship is believed, by two thirds of European business owners, to be in need of development.

 

Majority Of Small Companies Accept Excuses For Delayed Payments

08.09.10

Small businesses have been shown more likely to suffer from issues of cash flow, after a survey revealed that 75% of them are more willing to allow late payments from customers and clients when an excuse is given.

 

Small Businesses Call For Less Red Tape

06.09.10

The Coalition Government has received fresh calls from small businesses to reduce the amount of regulation in relation to employment and health and safety laws.

 

National Insurance Holiday For Start-ups To Begin

03.09.10

Next week will see the commencement of the one-year National Insurance holiday for business start-ups, though there are concerns that many of the most deprived areas of the UK will be excluded from the scheme.

 

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