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Female-led businesses are predicting a £12 billion increase in turnover within the next five years, an investigation has discovered. Research by the business advice chamber Everywoman revealed that 88% of businesses run by women are forecasting future...
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The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has called for small business rate relief to feature in the chancellor's pre-budget statement. Specifically, the institute believes that the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) should extend its 'Time to Pay' scheme -...
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Britain's small businesses have demanded that a tax cut make up part of the coming pre-budget report. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has stated that by increasing business costs on the back of a weakening trading climate, companies and jobs will be put...
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Small firms are demanding a £1 billion rescue package to be part of the chancellor's coming pre-budget statement. A recent announcement by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) stated that small enterprises need a 'survival fund' to help them through...
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Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) have won more than £3.5 billion in Olympic Games contracts so far, it has been revealed. Figures released by the Olympic Delivery Authority have shown that the majority of the work for the Games has been procured to...
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The vast majority of small businesses believe that the government is not doing enough to help them through the financial crisis. According to a study the business portal cmypitch.com, 77% of small enterprises think the government should be doing more to ease...
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Small businesses are increasingly placing their trust in accountants rather than bank managers when it comes to financial advice. An investigation by the Forum for Private Business (FPB) and credit agency Graydon UK has found that 70% of small firms would...
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The government has called on banks to pass on the new base rate, while admitting it cannot force them to do so. The Bank of England's monetary policy committee yesterday (6 November) announced a reduction of 1.5%, leaving the base rate at 3%; it's lowest in...
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The Bank of England's base rate reduction could lead to the re-energising of the mortgage markets, according to one industry group. An official from the Building Societies Association (BSA) believes that the monetary policy committee's decision to cut the...
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Small businesses are being urged to claim cash rebates on the back of a recent change in legislation. Market watcher KPMG has identified that more small firms will now be able to claim a research and development (R and D) tax rebate following the regulatory...
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The Bank of England has unveiled a 1.5% interest rate cut in a bid to derail the oncoming recession. In a shock move, the Bank's monetary policy committee (MPC) today (6 November) announced a reduction in the lending rate to 3.0%. Prior to the decision,...
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Small businesses are becoming confused by the appearance of providers offering 'virtualisation' services, according to IT experts. Researchers at IT Lab believe that a large number of small firms are being sucked into contracts which claim to save them money...
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The number of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) going insolvent could hit 42% by the end of next year, according to experts. An investigation by R3 - the trade body for insolvency - revealed that company bankruptcies are set to surge on the back of the...
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A reduction in the Bank of England lending rate of 1% would help millions of small businesses against recession, it has been claimed. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) believes that the monetary policy committee (MPC) should cut the lending by a full...
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Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) need to be aware of new rules regarding foreign workers coming into play this week. That's according to the think tank Tenon Forum, which claims that the number of SMEs employing migrant workers doubled over the past two...
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Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) would be better served by nurturing existing talent, a new report has claimed. An investigation by the Cranfield School of Management, commissioned by learndirect Business, revealed SMEs could save substantial funds by not...
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The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has expressed concerns over the European Investment Bank's (EIB) £4 billion rescue package.
While welcoming the scheme, the FSB is anxious that not enough of the money will reach the small...
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The government has announced £4 billion in support for small businesses by way of the EU.
Chancellor Alistair Darling revealed that the funds would come in the form of a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) over the next...
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Chancellor Alistair Darling has hinted that the government may reduce taxes to help lower income families.
According to the Evening Standard , the Chancellor made the suggestion in an interview with GMTV this morning (30 October), in the...
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Web 2.0 platforms such as Facebook can have positive effects on the UK's small business sector, according to new research.
An investigation by the think tank Demos - commissioned by telecoms group Orange - found that online social...
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The government should reduce the tax burden on lower income families, according to the Liberal Democrats.
Nick Clegg, the leader of the centre-left party, has claimed that funds could be raised for a cut by closing off tax loopholes which...
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The Conservative Party has urged the government to procure more public contracts to small businesses. Earlier this week, the shadow chancellor George Osborne had warned Labour to "pull its finger out" on procurement, suggesting that a quarter of...
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Currency market fluctuations are costing small businesses £900 million in revenues every year, according to foreign exchange experts.
An investigation by World First has discovered that volatile currency markets this year brought on...
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The shadow chancellor George Osborne has condemned the government's current policy over procuring contracts. In a statement published today (28 October) on the party website, Mr Osborne demanded that Labour make it easier for small businesses to secure...
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The number of homes in the UK being repossessed in the UK has surged by more than 70%, according to the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Data released by the FSA today (28 October) revealed that over the last year, repossession totals have increased by...
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A high-profile representative of the business community has challenged the government over its Small Business Forum proposal. The first Forum is due to be held at the Bank of England in the next three weeks, and will allow banking executives to discuss...
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The small business sector will soon have the opportunity to discuss monetary issues with the banking industry face-to-face. The resurrected Bank of England's Small Business Forum will begin again within the next three weeks - the first since Mervyn King took...
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Small businesses in the UK waste almost £70 million on bad recruitment every year, according to new research. An investigation by jobsite.co.uk discovered that 22 per cent, or 55,000, new staff members leave their post within six months. The sector...
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The government has pledged to pay its small business suppliers "as soon as possible", as part of its proposals to help the sector. Secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory reform, Peter Mandelson announced in parliament earlier...
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The deepening of the economic crisis into next year could see small businesses impose total travel bans. That's according to one industry expert, who claims that while smaller enterprises are cutting down on their travel expenses, a blanket ban would be a...
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The government has received strong support following the announcement of a £350 million skills fund for the small business sector. Support for the scheme has been announced by the Federation of Small Business (FSB), which believes that Lord Mandelson's...
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The £350 million skills fund for the small business sector is not enough, according to an expert on company finance. With the credit crunch continuing to bite small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and the prospect of recession adding to the sector's woes,...
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The small business sector has been told today (21 October) that it will receive a skills training boost of £350 million. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with 250 employees or less will be eligible for the fund, although it does not apply to public...
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Two more mortgage brokers have been fined by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for miss-selling advice. The brokers William John Evans and Gary Howes have been handed penalties of £30,000 a piece for a number of failings at their firm, Abbey...
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Independent financial advisors have been left fuming over an admission of overcharging by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), ifaonline.co.uk reported. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, the head of the FSA, Lord Turner said that the...
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A fine of nearly £35,000 has been levied on a mortgage broker which failed to provide suitable advice, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has announced. Doncaster-based broker Orchid was hit with the penalty after offering invalid advice over a two...
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The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has warned small businesses that they are responsible for adopting sustainable practises. A spokeswoman for the Association has stated that environmental responsibility is not just the arena of larger...
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Up-to-date credit checks are essential for surviving economic turbulence, an expert has warned. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) sounded the warning to the UK's small to medium enterprises (SMEs) earlier this week. A...
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The credit crunch is not as much of a barrier to business as tax and regulation changes, according to the Forum for Private Business (FPB). According to the latest FPB quarterly survey of small to medium enterprises (SMEs), over half of firms saw tax as a...
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Government legislation which only became active this month has added further downward pressure on the UK's small to medium enterprises (SMEs), according to the Forum for Private Business (FPB).
The Small Companies Act 2006, which came...
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More government contracts for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) would boost the economy, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
Research published today (14 October) by the FSB revealed that 75% of small firms believe the...
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The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) new chief executive, it was announced today.
Both Chancellor Alistair Darling and the current chairman of the department, Mike Clasper, have welcomed Lesley...
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The UK has fallen down the rankings for Europe's best tax environment, according to recent statistics.
The European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association's (EVCA) latest report found that the UK was now fourth in the rankings -...
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The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has responded to a set of banking bail-out terms published this morning (13 October).
A statement by the Treasury regarding today's £37 billion equity injection into Lloyds, HBOS and Royal Bank...
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Small businesses and individuals who plan to submit a paper self-assessment tax return have until 31 October.
This year marks the first time HM Revenue and Customs have utilised two deadlines for returns, with the second one, for online...
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Homeowners are being encouraged to make sure that their liability insurance adequately covers them.
The advice comes from comparethemarket.com in the wake of a couple being sued by a midwife after she injured herself in their home....
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The number of homeowners requesting mortgage debt advice has surged by more than 50%, the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has revealed.
In the quarter leading up to the end of September 2009, mortgage arrears enquiries rose by 51% over the...
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The UK's small business sector would benefit from less tax changes and regulation, an industry figurehead has claimed.
A representative of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has said that as well as...
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The Bank of England's pre-emptive rate cut has been welcomed by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
The Bank's monetary policy committee (MPC) made the decision yesterday (8 October) as part of a co-ordinated rate reduction of...
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It is vital that the UK's small business sector benefits from Chancellor Darling's banking rescue package.
That's the message from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which believes that if small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are to...
