News Articles

Mortgage lending experienced a slight fall last month, new figures from the Bank of England reveal. A rise of £9.2 billion was seen on net lending for dwellings during July, which was lower than the figure for June and the...

If you're starting out on a new business venture it may feel like you're out there on your own, but experts advise that there is much support and advice available if you know where to look. Dr Tracey Marr, director...

Networking is invaluable for smaller businesses with growth in mind, an expert has suggested. A spokesperson for the British Chamber of Commerce said that engaging with other firms in person can have many benefits as it is "another way of...

Compliance with the UK's health and safety standards can be difficult to achieve for small and medium-sized businesses in construction. According to comments made by Christopher Epps, a representative for the National House Building Council (NHBC), SMEs within the construction...

UK-based businesses would rather purchase office space in place of renting, it has been reported. According to comments made by Matt Hardman, a representative from the Forum of Private Business (FPB), although there is a preference to purchase, this trend...

July property prices grew at the lowest rate since June 2006, new figures suggest. According to data released by the Land Registry, across England and Wales the cost of housing increased at a rate of just 0.1 per cent last...

Renting a buy-to-let property to students is said to be the most profitable form of rental investment in the current market, according to a leading broker. The average annual yield from a student property is 6.59%, whereas an average buy-to-let...

An analysis of more than 45,000 properties advertised on a lettings website have shown that rental prices are remaining stable, despite landlords being hit with rising interest rates. There has been a very slight increase of just 0.6% since Q2...

Commercial property investors who borrowed hundreds of millions of pounds during the period of low interest rates and fast price growth are now worried about meeting payments and the threat of negative equity. Although the demand for commercial property has...

Mastercard has scrapped plans to introduce a new fee policy on debit card transactions for retailers. UK retailers currently pay a fixed fee on all debit card transactions regardless of the amount paid. The new scheme would have introduced a...

Many of Britain's small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have poor internet skills, it has been claimed. According to comments made by Peter Clayton, chief executive of the Association of Professional Recruitment Consultants (APRC), SMEs usually possess poor web skills, particularly...

Australia has loosened it’s immigration policy in order to attract more skilled workers to move there from Britain. Australia runs a points-based system for deciding who gets a visa, and from 1st September, new immigration rules will offer an additional...

Franchising is usually associated with fast food outlets, but clothing and department stores are now proving that it is the fastest way to expand into new markets. In the past few months several big name UK stores have announced rapid...

Total gross mortgage lending improved last month, it has been claimed. According to the results of data released by the British Bankers' Association (BBA), total gross mortgage lending for July was 12 per cent higher than gross lending figures for...

Businesses could be paying over the odds on their insurance premiums because they haven’t kept a proper record of the company assets. According to Real Asset Management, less than 40 per cent of assets on record can be easily identified...

Of the total amount of corporation tax paid in 2005/06 by the 700 largest UK businesses, 2 thirds was contributed by the banking, insurance, oil and gas industries. The alcohol, tobacco, car and real estate industries contributed only a few...

Women in the Birmingham and Solihull area have been given the opportunity to get on-the-job experience and train for a new career as a skilled tradesman. The Family Housing Association and the Learning and Skills Council have teamed up to...

Toy shops around the UK may find themselves short on some of the most popular toys when the Christmas shopping season arrives. Over 90 percent of toys are currently manufactured in Asia. Problems arose after toy giant Mattel was forced...

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should beware of using credit cards, it has been claimed. According to comments made by Adam Wayland, editor of smallbusiness.co.uk, when using credit cards, SMEs should be aware of the possibility of getting themselves into...

A number of drivers have been involved in motoring accidents as a result of being distracted by insects. According to the results of a study by esure.com, in any one year, insects have been involved in or the cause of...

According to comments made by David Thorp, director of research and information at the Chartered Institute of Marketing, using the internet for advertising purposes can offer an SME access to a potential market on a global scale. "For SMEs, an...

Mortgage intermediaries have a lack of confidence in the government's future housing-market policy, it has emerged. According to the results of a study of its members, the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) found that 53 per cent confirmed a lack...

A significant number of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK shun trading on the internet because of fears over fraud, it has been revealed. According to comments made by a representative from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB),...

SMEs may find offering flexible working solutions difficult, but experts say it would help to retain staff and promote loyalty. According to Sharon Charity, the press and communications officer for the Daycare Trust, small firms may find it difficult to...

The string of recent interest rate rises has finally begun affecting house prices, most significantly in regional areas of the UK. According to the results of data released by the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), 71 per cent of...

According to a survey by Convenience Store publication of their readers, 8 out of 10 independent retailers say their store plays an active role in supporting the local community. 98% of retailers that responded to the survey also said that...

Tenant demand for commercial property space remains very strong in London, although in other parts of the UK it has begun to fall. A 2nd quarter survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors showed that industrial properties, such as...

The Federation of Small Businesses has expressed concern about a recent move by The Competition Commission to lift the restrictions on banks that limit the price of account charges for small businesses. The price restrictions meant that four of the...

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK are disproportionately burdened by regulatory requirements when compared with their larger counterparts, it has been claimed. According to comments made by Alexander Ehmann, a representative from the Institute of Directors, SMEs are...

Health and safety should be a high priority for the UK's small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). According to Ray Allger, a representative from the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), the management of health and safety issues within the workplace is...

Business motorists could be missing a more competitive quote by not shopping around, it has been claimed. According to research conducted by Sainsbury's Bank, when purchasing motor insurance, one out of every five motorists obtained a single insurance quotation. "Only...

Employees who take sick leave due to stress related illness have a big financial impact on their employer's business. According to comments made by Ray Allger, a representative from the UK-based Health and Safety Commission, SMEs may face a significant...

Increasing levels of business regulation are putting British firms at a disadvantage, it has been claimed. According to comments made by a representative from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), increasing levels of regulation are economically disadvantaging UK businesses when...

Mortgage lending last month reached a new record level, data has revealed. According to data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), total gross mortgage lending reached a total of £34.4 billion. However, this figure is one per cent...

Employers are increasingly making use of social networking websites during the recruitment process, it has been claimed. According to Anne Fairweather, head of public policy at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), although social networking website users should show caution...

A number of sub-prime mortgage lenders have modified their lending criteria following recent market turbulence in the US, it has emerged. According to reports, a number of UK lenders have implemented a decision to raise interest rates, while others have...

A number of lenders are willing to offer buy-to-let mortgages for properties let by students, new research has revealed. According to data released by Moneyfacts.co.uk, there are more than 40 lenders in the UK willing to consider such an arrangement....

A recent report by the Institute of Directors has identified 5 problems that hold small businesses back from developing. The top 5 issues were: • Late payment • Lack of business finance • National insurance contributions • Business rates •...

Investments in small British companies are declining rather than picking up pace as expected. According to Venture Index, in the 12 months to March 2007, 330 deals were completed worth £54 million, however the three month period following it saw...

Plumbers with the JIB Plumbing Mechanical Engineering Services can look forward to a 9% pay increase over 2008/2009 thanks to plumbers’ union Unite. The deal is worth 4.5% in 2008 followed by 4.5% or the retail price index figure (whichever...

Around 4,000 people a week are applying to leave the UK to live and work abroad, according to a foreign visa consultancy. Visa applications have risen by 80 percent in the last seven months. Ten years ago just 300 people...

Four in ten building contractors have to turn work away because of a lack of skilled labour, according to new research by the National Specialist Contractors Council. Despite a rise in the demand, contractors are finding it hard to meet...

The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors has advised plumbers to take a common sense approach to the new smoking laws when dealing with customers. Members have been warned about the potential health problems that can come about from passive...

According to a Trade Survey Report from the Construction Products Association and the Construction confederation, the construction industry has increased output again in the second quarter of 2007, up on the same period in 2006. Building contractors have reported strong...

The archetypal family business is under-represented in modern society, it has been claimed. According to comments made by Martin Stepek, a representative from the Scottish Family Business Association (SFBA), although underrepresented, family businesses offer a number of benefits over other...

When creating a new business, entrepreneurs should be more aware of their target audience, it has been suggested. According to Tanya Hine, president of the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE), when starting a business the entrepreneur should ensure they...

New investors prefer buy-to-let over financial markets for investment, new data has revealed. According to the results of a study by the Mortgage Trust, of the new landlords polled, 32 per cent cited the ability to exert control over their...

Pubs around the UK benefited from a welcome boost to trade over the first footballing weekends of the new season. Many pubs took a hit in profits over the summer, due to the bad weather, smoking ban and with no...

The Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) has issued a warning against the use of illegal software by businesses. According to comments made by Clair Darke, group marketing manager for FAST, although illegal software will be of a comparable quality to...

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with an internet presence should be aware of web-orientated copyright issues, it has been claimed. According to Matt Hardman of the Forum of Private Business, SMEs should be aware of their presence online, as they...

Britain's small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should adopt a spend-to-save approach to IT security, it has been claimed. According to Andrea Simmons, consultant security forum manager for the British Computer Society (BCS), IT security spending should be viewed as an...

The performance of the UK's buy-to-let mortgage market continues to show strength, new data has revealed. According to figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), borrowing within the buy-to-let mortgage sector now represents ten per cent of the...

The number of first-time buyers borrowing money for a new home fell in June 2007. According to figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), the number of first-time buyers taking loans in June fell to 35,600, compared with...

Small and medium sized manufacturing businesses are seeing their domestic orders rise at the highest rate for a decade, despite the rising interest rates and a prevalent late payment culture. According to the Confederation of British Industry, 7% more manufacturing...

For 10 years the Labour government has been promising to successfully tackle the late payment culture that has become endemic in the business community. But according to research fro the Forum of Private Business, late payments are still cited by...

First-time homebuyers are more likely to seek the opinions of friends and family members when searching for mortgage advice, new research has revealed. According to the results of data produced by Abbey, although 13 per cent of those buying their...

The summer holiday season has meant that August 11th was Britain's "emptiest day", recent research has found, and this may have an impact on the retail and leisure industry in the UK. According to the results of a study by...

86% of Britain's small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) benefit from a broadband internet connection, it has been reported. According to Brett Marino, business manager of IT firm Small Business Computing, a broadband internet connection can benefit an SME through the...

Differentiating themselves from the major supermarkets by providing separate services is the way forward for convenience stores, a trade body has claimed. Unfair buying prices between large and small businesses can be tackled by offering services which the larger shops...

Getting the correct business insurance is essential for home-based firms, a small business expert claimed today. With increased use of technology by home-based companies, it is becoming increasingly important to make sure that small business insurance policies cover all technical...

Self-employed tradesmen are being urged to take out cover for loss of earnings due to illness. Income protection plans, which many see as wasted money, are vital to self-employed workers such as tradesmen in case serious illness or injury prevents...

Prejudice against older employees in the workplace has not been dissipated by recent regulatory changes, it has been claimed. According to Philip Walker, co-founder and chairman of the Campaign Against Age Discrimination in Employment (CAADE), rather than legislation both employers...

Reports are suggesting that interest rates are expected to increase to six per cent before the end of the year. According to banks, a rise in interest rates to six per cent before the end of the year is considered...

UK-based firms may discover advantages in developing overseas operations, it has been claimed. According to Matt Hardman of the Forum of Private Business (FPB), maintaining an overseas presence can reduce overall operating costs. Indeed, for manufacturing, countries such as China...

The UK's Association of British Insurers (ABI) has announced details of a forthcoming conference on climate change. Taking place on September 13th, the forthcoming conference will cover a number of issues relating to the effects of climate change on the...

Small retail businesses in the UK should carry public liability insurance, it has been claimed. According to Shane Brennan, a representative from the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), although the issue of claims against small retail businesses is not a...

Interest in the buy-to-let mortgage market from consumers and advisers continues to be strong, it has been revealed. According to findings released by Standard Life Bank, in addition to strong interest from consumers, 48 per cent of independent financial advisers...

A job satisfaction league has shown that hairdressers are the happiest with their jobs, coming second only to corporate managers. The study indicates that being able to show creativity at work and being an integral part of a team contribute...

The UK is allowing women to undergo skin treatments that may not have been properly approved, according to a dermatologist. According to consumer group Which?, 400,000 people undergo this type of non-surgical cosmetic procedure in the UK every year. Most...

The climate change bill offers a "unique opportunity" to tackle the negative consequences associated with climate change, according to Jane Milne - Head of Property at the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Ms Milne said the bill could "ensure sustained,...

Rain and other wet weather conditions are bringing building work to a halt, according to one industry expert. Chris Pateman, managing director of the Building Merchants Federation (BMF), said that poor weather disproportionately affects the new house building side of...

Levels of entrepreneurial activity have remained static since Labour took office in 1997, according to new research. A study carried out by the University of Sheffield's management school found that start-up rates have dropped over the last ten years and...

A Manchester couple are capitalising on the large community of Muslims in the city by launching a business aimed at those who cannot drink alcohol. Christine and John Humphries have set up an online shop selling and delivering alcohol-free products...

32% of businesses say that late payments are the most frustrating problem they have to deal with, according to new research by UK Business Forums. Dan Martin, chairman of UK Business Forums, said: “Despite achieving much success, it is clear...