News

February 19, 2010

One in five directors using credit cards to fund business

One in five business owners are being forced to use credit cards to keep their firm afloat as they cannot secure bank funding, the Institute of Directors (IoD) has found.
February 19, 2010

A fifth of workers “hate their colleagues”

A fifth of workers hate their colleagues and regularly gossip about them behind their backs, a survey by market research firm One Poll has revealed.
February 19, 2010

UK firms to receive £40m in music licence fee refunds

Businesses that play recorded music to an audience on their premises are set to receive more than £40 million in refunds after winning a court battle over excessive licence fees.
February 19, 2010

High inflation no justification for pay rises, claims CIPD

The current high rate of inflation is just a "temporary spike" and not a reason for employers to be pushed into giving pay rises they cannot afford, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has warned.
February 19, 2010

TV entrepreneurs don’t reflect reality for small firms

Celebrity entrepreneurs such as Lord Alan Sugar and Sir Richard Branson do not reflect the reality of running a business for most small firms, research from Nottingham University has found.
February 19, 2010

Flexible working keeps staff healthy, study claims

Employees who can choose their own working hours are healthier because they suffer less stress, new research has claimed.
February 19, 2010

Small firms must file PAYE online, warns HMRC

Small businesses with fewer than 50 staff can no longer file their employer annual returns on paper, instead having to file them online by 19 May or risk penalties, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has warned.
February 12, 2010

New code will help stop supermarkets “bullying” small suppliers

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has welcomed the introduction of a new code of practice designed to stop supermarkets exploiting small suppliers.
February 12, 2010

A fifth of small firms use “cloud computing”, claims Microsoft

A fifth of UK small firms are using hosted IT services – so-called “cloud computing”, research from Microsoft has found.
February 12, 2010

Pub closure rate slows as landlords diversify

Pubs are diversifying to survive the economic downturn – that’s the message from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), which found that pub closures fell by 25 per cent in the second half of 2009.
February 12, 2010

Small builders winning fewer public contracts

The number of public sector contracts won by small construction firms has dropped by 36 per cent in the last two year, research from the National Federation of Builders (NFB) has found.
February 12, 2010

eBay businesses gain victory on P&P charges

Businesses selling electronics, books and clothing accessories are now among those that can charge for postage and packaging (P&P) on eBay, following complaints from sellers that the price of the product did not always cover shipping costs.
February 12, 2010

£1bn in bank loans offered to Olympic suppliers

UK businesses hoping to benefit from the London 2012 Olympics can apply for a share of £1 billion of loan funding, following the launch of a new scheme by Lloyds Bank.
February 12, 2010

James Caan launches Entrepreneurs Business Academy

Entrepreneur James Caan is the latest Dragons’ Den investor to offer enterprise training, following the launch of his Entrepreneurs’ Business Academy (EBA).
February 12, 2010

Energy-efficiency loans extended to farmers

Farmers who want to upgrade their old equipment can now take advantage of the Carbon Trust’s energy efficiency loan scheme, which has been extended to the agricultural sector.