News Articles

By Josh Hall The row over backdated business rates looks set to be reopened, thanks to a letter from new Home Secretary Alan Johnson. The letter, addressed to a constituent, promises that Mr Johnson is seeking to “reopen” the debate...

By Josh Hall The speed at which the UK manufacturing sector is shrinking appears to be slowing, according to a new survey released yesterday. The figures, published by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), point to an easing...

By Josh Hall The government is establishing a new post to deal with customer complaints and take action against businesses failing to comply with consumer protection laws. The Consumer Advocate will be able to take on group complaints and will...

By Josh Hall The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned that any imminent recovery in the UK economy could be an artificial product of the government’s quantitative easing programme, and that sustainable growth may be elusive. Speaking at Politeia,...

By Josh Hall A Conservative government would reconsider IR35, with a view to either scrapping or amending the legislation. In an interview with ContractorCalculator, shadow corporate governance minister Jonathan Djanogly said: “We fully understand that self-employed people have concerns that...

By Josh Hall The British government must reduce its budget deficit by more than it intends if it is to avoid significant problems in future years, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The OECD, an influential...

By Josh Hall The UK economy shrunk by 2.4 per cent during the first quarter of 2009, according to new figures released today. The survey, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), suggests that the economy suffered its worst...

By Josh Hall A lawyer for Barclays has warned law lords that free current account banking would be in jeopardy in the event that the banks lose the overdraft charges case. Jonathan Sumption QC, who is representing Barclays in their...

By Josh Hall The United States Federal Reserve has said that the pace of the recession is "slowing" in the US, as it kept interest rates unchanged. But it said that the American economy would continue to be weak for...

By Josh Hall Bank of England governor Mervyn King and Chancellor Alastair Darling have given contradictory statements regarding the future of the British banking industry, and steps that will be taken to avoid a repeat of the current financial crisis....

By Josh Hall The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said he believes the worst of the global downturn is yet to come, sparking a flurry of concern on world markets. Dominique Straus-Kahn, managing director of the IMF,...

By Josh Hall The number of businesses blaming supply chain instability for lower profits has doubled in the last five years, according to new figures. The latest Risk Insight, from Zurich Financial Group, suggests that an increasing number of businesses...

By Josh Hall The cost of living for the average British family has plummeted by over 10 per cent during the last 12 months, according to new figures released yesterday. The results of a survey, conducted for the Telegraph, have...

By Josh Hall April saw a surprise increase in UK industrial output, according to official figures. This represents the first such increase since February 2008. Some analysts suggest that this could represent the 'green shoots' of recovery. Most had been...

By Josh Hall The cost of goods leaving factories fell for the first time in seven years during May, raising fears of deflation. According to new figures released today by the Office for National Statistics, output prices suffered a total...

By Josh Hall Consumer electronics magnate and star of reality business series The Apprentice, Sir Alan Sugar has been appointed to as the government’s new ‘enterprise tsar’ in today’s reshuffle. Sugar gave his support to the beleaguered Prime Minister, insisting...

By Josh Hall Home workers who use BT for their internet access are finding their download speeds ‘throttled’. Customers on BT’s entry-level package have complained that they are having their speeds cut to below 1 Mbps, even though they signed...

By Josh Hall Women in the workplace “have more equality than they can ever deal with”, according to controversial Marks and Spencer chairman Stuart Rose. In an interview with the Observer yesterday, Mr Rose said “there are really no glass...

By Josh Hall The government’s efforts to reduce the regulatory burden on UK businesses have enjoyed some success, according to the OECD. Pointing to the UK as “one of the OECD leaders” in cutting red tape, the Organisation’s report also...

By Josh Hall The government’s controversial car scrappage scheme has increased car orders by more than 35,000 since its announcement in April, according to figures released today. The government, who published the figures, claim those cars would not have been...

By Josh Hall Oil prices have broken $63 per barrel, reaching their highest mark for six months. Saudi Arabia, one of the most prolific oil producing nations, said that Opec members would not need to consider plans to cut production,...

By Josh Hall Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley are all to be rebranded by their parent company, Spanish group Santander. Customers of each of the three affected banks will be able to use any Santander branch by...

By Josh Hall House prices will fall by up to 30 per cent from the peaks, but will begin to pick up by the end of 2009, according to new figures released yesterday. The survey, published by Rics, says that...

By Josh Hall Consumer household spending in the UK dropped by 1.2 per cent during the first quarter of the year – the biggest such fall since 1980. The fall in spending is probably connected to the concurrent reduction in...

By Josh Hall The UK’s hitherto perfect credit score was yesterday downgraded by rating agency Standard & Poor. The rating was downgraded from “AAA with a stable outlook” to “AAA with a negative outlook” amidst concern about the UK’s public...

By Josh Hall Consumer inflation fell again in April, with job concerns continuing to restrict consumer demand. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) dropped 0.6 per cent to 2.3 per cent – a higher than expected monthly decline. Meanwhile, the Retail...

By Josh Hall Google has eased its rules on the use of trademarks on its Adwords service, in a move that will allow advertisers to include other parties’ trademarks in their ad text. The new rules, rolled out today in...

By Josh Hall Retail sales increased sharply in April, according to a new survey released today. The figures, published by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), show that like-for-like sales increased by 4.6 per cent from the same month in the...

By Josh Hall The National Minimum Wage will increase to £5.80 per hour from £5.73 from October. This is despite calls from business organisations for a freeze on the minimum wage during the recession. The Low Pay Commission (LPC), which...

By Josh Hall The government’s car scrappage scheme, aimed at giving car retailers and manufacturers a much needed boost, is proving unpopular with the public. A new survey published by motor industry publication Parker’s, suggests that 81 per cent of...

By Josh Hall The UK jobs market will continue to shrink during the next quarter, according to new figures released today. The survey, carried out by the Institute of Personnel and Development, suggests that while the prospects for the private...

By Josh Hall Bars and restaurants will be forced to pay staff at least the minimum wage, regardless of tips or gratuities, as a result of a High Court decision yesterday. HM Revenue and Customs pursued a test case through...

By Josh Hall Agency workers will receive equal employment rights after 12 weeks on the job, it has been announced today. In a move that will affect tens of thousands of workers and employers, agency workers, commonly known as ‘temps’,...

By Josh Hall The market for buy to let mortgages is now 95 per cent smaller than it was two years ago. According to Money Supermarket, there are now just 212 buy to let mortgage offerings on the market, down...

By Josh Hall Consumer confidence rose in April at the fastest rate for two years, according to new figures released today. The Nationwide consumer confidence index jumped by eight points to 50, while the expectations index rose by a massive...

By Josh Hall The first prosecution is under new corporate manslaughter legislation is due to be heard, amid speculation regarding interpretation of the new laws. Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings Ltd, of Gloucestershire, faces prosecution after the accidental death of a junior...

By Josh Hall The UK will retain its opt-out from the European Working Time Directive, despite attempts by the European Parliament to remove it. The Working Time Directive limits the number of hours individuals are permitted to work to 48...

By Josh Hall Almost 100 per cent of small business owners expect that Wednesday’s Budget will have little or no positive effect on the UK’s economic situation, according to new research published today by Simply Business. More than a quarter...

By Josh Hall The UK economy contracted by 1.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2009, according to new figures released today. The figures, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show a worse than expected decline. When...

By Josh Hall HM Revenue and Customs is to name and shame those who underpay their tax by more than £25,000 according to new proposals released today. Chancellor Alistair Darling announced in the Budget that loopholes would be closed and...

By Josh Hall There was a 40 per cent year-on-year rise in home sales in March, according to new figures released today by HM Revenue and Customs. There is traditionally a small jump in sales during this time of year,...

By Josh Hall A recovery in the UK economy may already have started, according to an incoming member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). David Miles, currently chief UK economist at Morgan Stanley, is set to join...

By Josh Hall One million homeowners are now in negative equity – and another one million have insufficient equity to move, according to new research published today. A survey by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) found that housing turnover...

By Josh Hall The forthcoming Budget will include a new scheme offering guarantees for businesses that have been refused credit insurance, according to the Financial Times. There are concerns that some smaller, ‘medium-risk’ companies are having difficulty securing credit insurance,...

By Josh Hall A freeze on the minimum wage is being “seriously considered” after pressure from business organisations. The Low Pay Commission, which advises the government on the minimum wage, is said to be looking closely at the proposals, which...

By Josh Hall Treasury Minister Stephen Timms today predicted that the recession, in its technical sense, will be over by the end of 2009. When asked whether the Treasury’s Pre Budget Report forecasts, which stated that UK economic growth would...

By Josh Hall The Prime Minister today suggested that the forthcoming Budget would provide a roadmap for recovery through an expansion of ‘green’ industry. Speaking to the Independent, Gordon Brown tried to play down talk of a rift between the...

By Josh Hall In the latest round of startlingly contradictory figures, consumer confidence dropped in March while optimism rose. The survey, published by Nationwide, says consumer confidence dropped on their index from 43 to 41. Anything below 50 is a...

By Josh Hall The number of manufacturing companies collapsing will increase by as much as 52 per cent in 2009, according to new figures released today. The survey, published by accountants BDO Stoy Hayward (who, as previously reported, last week...

By Josh Hall In the last few minutes, Alastair Darling has announced that the proposed 5 per cent hike in business rates is to be staggered over the next two years. Firms will see a 2 per cent rise in...

By Josh Hall The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revised down its growth figures for the UK economy. In their new figures, published today, the ONS stated that the economy shrank by 1.6 per cent in the final three...

By Josh Hall The Square Mile is bracing itself for a week of disruption, as protesters prepare to shut down the city. A broad range of groups have pledged to participate in protests around London from tomorrow, culminating in two...

By Josh Hall The Retail Prices Index (RPI), one of two measures of inflation, fell from 0.1 per cent to 0 per cent in January, in what some are calling the start of deflation. RPI, which includes the cost of...

By Josh Hall The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has called on the government to boost corporate confidence in the forthcoming Budget, but has stressed that a further large-scale stimulus package would be unaffordable. The CBI has asked the government...

By Josh Hall One in every 56 businesses will collapse this year, according to a new survey published today. The figures, published by accountants BDO Stoy Hayward, suggest that the recession will increase the failure rate amongst businesses by 59...

By Josh Hall The Migration Advisory Committee is considering whether to prevent non-EU residents coming to the UK to do some construction jobs. Professor David Metcalfe, of the Committee, said that it was looking into the number of non-EU citizens...

By Josh Hall Each job vacancy in the UK is being applied for by an average of 10 people, according to new figures released today. The survey, published by the Trades Union Congress, suggests that competition for vacancies is higher...

By Josh Hall One in ten firms is freezing staff pay in order to try to stave off the effects of the recession, according to figures released today. The survey, published by the Incomes Data Service (IDS), suggested that overall...

50% of managers still discriminate against women between 26 and 35 at interviews according to research by a recruitment scoring site, hirescores.com. The survey of 416 British business managers found that the main purpetrators are SMEs with less than 50...

By Josh Hall UK manufacturing output has fallen for the eleventh consecutive month, according to new figures released today. The survey, published by the Office for National Statistics, suggests that output was 12.8 per cent lower in January than in...

By Josh Hall Precipitous falls in bank shares have caused a sterling slump, with the currency dropping back to its lows of six weeks ago. The pound is now around the $1.377 mark, down 3 cents. It also slipped against...

By Josh Hall The total world economy will shrink in 2009 for the first time since the Second World War, according to new figures released by the World Bank. The Bank’s figures suggest that global industrial output could be 10...

By Josh Hall UK unemployment will reach 10 per cent of the population by the third quarter of 2010, according to new figures released today. The survey, published by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), pointed to worsening economic indicators,...

By Josh Hall The worst of the swingeing cuts in the British jobs market could be over by Easter, according to new figures release today. The research, published by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), said that the...

By Josh Hall Complaints that the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is too soft on Data Protection offenders may come to a swift end, as the Commissioner today shut down a company found to be in serious breach of the Data...

By Josh Hall The government yesterday began a drive to provide women with better information about the support available to them during the downturn. Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, launched the drive with a Downing Street event at...

By Josh Hall UK employment agencies are reporting the fastest fall in new vacancies since records began, according to new figures published today. The survey, released by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), seems to show that older, more experienced...

By Josh Hall It has emerged that a central element of the government’s package of measures to help small businesses has been delayed. The Working Capital Scheme was supposed to guarantee bank lending to small businesses, in order to offer...

By Josh Hall UK firms are becoming more optimistic about the economic outlook, according to new figures released today. The survey, by BDO Stoy Hayward, surveyed 11,000 businesses and showed a rise in confidence with regard to the short- and...

By Josh Hall MPs are calling for rate relief to be automatically granted to those businesses that are eligible. An Early Day Motion (EDM), tabled by Peter Luff MP, notes that “business rate relief is not taken up by over...

News from Calculated Risks Ltd Businesses should be aware that there are changes to health and safety policy coming into play from 6th April: Following regulations that came into force in 2005 for the storage and manufacture of explosives, there...

By Josh Hall The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has today published guidance aimed at helping businesses avoid becoming victims of online scams. The OFT Scambusters Team has put together the advice, which gives details of the most common scams,...

By Josh Hall Train fares will be automatically cut if inflation falls into negative territory, despite pleas from rail companies. The prices of so-called ‘regulated fares’, which include season tickets and some off-peak journeys, are linked to the rate of...

By Josh Hall The government will miss its targets for apprenticeships, according to the Tories. As previously reported by Simply Business, the government has set a target of 130,000 apprenticeships to be completed every year by 2010-11. Government ministers maintain...

By Josh Hall The government is being called on to provide financial support for the manufacturing industry similar to that given to troubled banks. The Work Foundation, a think tank aiming to “improve the quality of working life and increase...

By Josh Hall Online crime and fraud costs each small business almost £800 a year on average, according to a report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). 54 per cent of small businesses said they have been the victim...

By Josh Hall British business is being damaged by the country’s “unreliable and congested transport network”, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The CBI report into the state of Britain’s transport system suggests that the road network is...

By Josh Hall As previously reported by Simply Business, an online scam aiming to steal victims’ personal details has claimed thousands of victims – the majority of which are small businesses. The scammers send emails, purporting to be from HM...

By Josh Hall Businesses and consumers have been using the Airmiles system for years – each purchase made on a credit card or chargecard is rewarded, with the rewards transferrable into airline credits. However, the company that runs the Airmiles...

By Josh Hall The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) yesterday predicted the government will be forced to borrow £100bn more during the recession than it previously thought. The CBI’s November forecasts predicted a contraction in the economy of 1.7 per...

By Josh Hall Bank of England Governor Mervyn King is currently giving a press conference to launch the Bank’s quarterly forecast. The forecast warns that the economy is currently shrinking at a rate of 4 per cent, and that Britain...

By Josh Hall Official UK unemployment reached 1.97 million in December, the highest level since 1997, according to figures published today. The rate for international comparison of unemployment reached 6.3 per cent, higher than at any point since 1998. Many...

By Josh Hall A new poll published today by the Times reveals that economic confidence may have “bottomed out”, and is on the rise again. The survey, conducted by Populus over the weekend, reports the end of the ‘Brown Bounce’,...

By Josh Hall The number of businesses going bust in England and Wales skyrocketed by over 200 per cent in the last quarter of 2008. The number of corporate insolvencies, including administrations and receiverships, reached 2,428 in the final three...

By Josh Hall One in three businesses are planning to cut jobs in the first quarter of 2009, according to the latest Labour Market Outlook (LMO) survey. The closely followed figures, published by the Chartered Institute for Personnel Development (CIPD)...

By Josh Hall The Bank of England today announced a further 0.5 per cent cut in interest rates, bringing them to another historic low. The Bank has been under significant pressure to refrain from further cuts, with savers complaining that...

By Josh Hall HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) today published a draft consultation document outlining “the rights and responsibilities of individuals and businesses.” The proposed HMRC Charter will outline the role of the organisation and a minimum standard of service...

By Josh Hall The Bank of England is on the brink of another half-point interest rate cut, according to reports this afternoon. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), the rate-setting body, will make its monthly announcement at midday tomorrow. It...

By Josh Hall New figures published by Simply Business today reveal that nearly a quarter of a million British small businesses consider themselves to be at risk. The Simply Business Insight study polled around 550 businesses with fewer than 20...

By Josh Hall Alastair Darling yesterday announced that the possibility of taxpayers buying up so-called ‘toxic assets’ from British banks is still very much on the table. The ‘bad bank’ arrangement would be in addition to the existing asset insurance...

By Josh Hall Icelandic retail giant Baugur, which owns House of Fraser, Hamleys, and the Iceland food chain, has sought protection from its creditors – the Icelandic equivalent of falling into administration. Landsbanki, Baugur’s main banking partner, walked away from...

By Josh Hall The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee begins its rate-setting meeting today, with its decision announced tomorrow. However, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), an influential think-tank, has claimed that further cuts would be...

By Josh Hall Two thirds of all self assessment taxpayers filed their returns online this year, according to figures released by HM Revenue and Customs. Six million taxpayers used the option to file their return online this year, an increase...

By Josh Hall While many people enjoyed a day in the snow yesterday, businesses are counting the cost of the disruption. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) estimates that the cost to business is at least £1.2 billion, although it...

By Josh Hall Good news for the digital and communications industries today, as the government announced plans for a massive ‘digital push’. The industries, which make a combined contribution of around £50bn to the UK economy every year, are seen...

By Josh Hall A devastating report by the International Monetary Fund, amongst the world’s pre-eminent financial institutions, yesterday stated that the recession will hit Britain hardest of all developed economies. The IMF predicted that the British economy will shrink by...

By Josh Hall Sterling saw a third consecutive day of strengthening today, as the dollar was driven down by concerns over US handling of the credit crisis. The US Federal Reserve will emerge from its two-day policy meeting today, possible...

By Josh Hall A new Asset Purchase Facility will see the Treasury and Bank of England inject £50bn directly into the economy this week. All parties are concerned that monetary measures such as repeated interest cuts have thus far been...

By Josh Hall The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has reported a massive rise in calls to its legal advice line, with many more small business owners seeking advice on redundancies. The legal advice service saw an increase in call...

By Josh Hall Liverpool, the current European capital of culture, has been placed on “red alert” alongside Belfast and Hull, as a think-tank proclaimed them to be the most vulnerable to the effects of recession. The report, published by research...

by Josh Hall Advertising and travel spends will be the first to face the chop as small businesses rein in their spending, according to a new YouGov poll. Almost 40 per cent of small business will make cuts in these...

by Josh Hall Employers will have a legal responsibility to publicise vacancies for skilled workers through the Jobcentre Plus network, before advertising them abroad. The plans, announced by the Home Office, are designed to ensure that UK citizens are given...

by Josh Hall HM Revenue and Customs faces increasing embarrassment as it continues to struggle with a glitch on its online self assessment site. Those who file their self assessments online prior to 30th December are permitted to pay their...

by Josh Hall The European Court of Justice today judged that employees who take long-term sick leave still accrue holiday, and are entitled to take it when they return to work. Judges in the landmark case, which has previously been...

by Josh Hall Shops, pubs, restaurants and other businesses may be forced to accept Scottish bank notes under a new bill being drafted by MPs. The private member’s bill, drafted by Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell, proposes that businesses which...

by Josh Hall Sterling has fallen sharply for the second morning in a row, driven down by speculation about national debt. The pound currently sits around $1.38 as the markets express their fear about the rapidly ballooning debt pledged by...

by Josh Hall Schadenfreude is an ugly emotion – but when so many viable small businesses are suffering, it is tempting to revel, if only momentarily, in the difficulties of the rich. Theo Paphitis and Deborah Meaden, two of the...

by Josh Hall The downturn looks set to continue for builders, as it was revealed today that submissions of planning applications to local authorities have fallen by as much as 60 per cent. The figures, released by the Planning Officers...

by Josh Hall Royal Bank of Scotland is expected to report massive losses, including £20bn of write-downs, in what looks set to be the biggest losses in British corporate history. RBS’s pre-write-down deficit is between £7bn and £8bn, while its...

by Josh Hall The government has again stepped in to provide the banks with a massive insurance plan. The scheme, which will see the taxpayer underwriting banks’ losses on certain ‘toxic’ assets, is intended to free up the credit markets...

by Josh Hall Over 20,000 businesses have been allowed to take advantage of the government’s new tax deferral scheme. The scheme, announced in the Pre Budget Report, aims to allow qualifying businesses to defer corporation tax and other tax liabilities...

by Josh Hall Figures released today suggest that graduates will be having a tougher time than ever finding a job. The survey of 100 firms, conducted by High Fliers Research, suggests that there are fewer graduate level jobs available than...

by Josh Hall The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) today made a landmark ruling against a business found to be making misleading claims about their visitor statistics. Contractor UK, a portal site for IT contractors, was found to be unable to...

by Josh Hall As previously reported, the government today confirmed their plans to guarantee as much as £20bn of loans to small businesses. The Treasury will act as a guarantor for loans, thereby insuring against the risk of default. The...

by Josh Hall New figures released today show that, despite generally poor retail performance, some key products are seeing massive sales rises. The survey, published by Nielsen research, showed that sales of baked beans were up 22.6% last month when...

by Josh Hall New figures released today have pointed to a more aggressive contraction in the economy than previously thought. The latest instalment of the regular survey, by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC), contained the worst figures since the...

by Josh Hall Government ministers are today considering a scheme to guarantee £20 billion worth of lending to small businesses. The proposals, which would extend the existing Small Business Loan Guarantee Scheme, would see the Treasury acting as guarantor for...

by Josh Hall Embattled British retailers have benefited from an influx of eurozone tourists, as the falling pound offers exchange rate bargains. The record lows seen over the Christmas period, in tandem with huge January sales that look set to...

by Josh Hall Courts will have greater powers to deal with company directors who breach safety laws, as a result of new health and safety legislation coming into force this Friday. The new Health and Safety Offences Act will increase...

by Josh Hall Firms that recruit those unemployed for six months or more are to be given “golden hellos” of up to £2,500, according to new plans to be announced today. The government’s ‘job summit’, starting this morning, is expected...

by Josh Hall The Bank of England has cut interest rates by 50 basis points to 1.5%, the lowest level in the Bank’s 315 year history. The rate cut comes in response to increasingly poor economic indicators, and a general...

by Josh Hall Thousands of self-assessment tax payers, including many small business owners, have been caught out by a ‘tax refund’ fraud. The scam, which has relieved many of their bank details, comes in the form of an email purporting...

by Josh Hall Workers concerned about the possibility of redundancy are putting in record amounts of unpaid overtime, according to the TUC. According to the figures released today, the average worker is putting in seven hours per week of unpaid...

by Josh Hall The difficulties facing restauranters, particularly in London, was starkly illustrated today as one of the city’s most popular upmarket chains asked for a suspension in trading of its shares. FishWorks, founded ten years ago and with a...

by Josh Hall British car dealers and manufacturers are having a particularly tough time, with figures today revealing that new car registrations suffered an 11.3% drop last year. Many retailers have made job cuts as orders dry up. To compound...

by Josh Hall The British service industry continued to contract in December, according to figures published today by CIPS/Markit. The survey, which is a closely followed indicator of the strength of the real economy, showed that activity within the sector...

by Josh Hall The pound strengthened against the euro yesterday, opening at 92.13 pence this morning. This recovery, the single biggest daily rise in nine years, came in response to new economic indicators suggesting that the eurozone would be more...

by Josh Hall 38% of small businesses are not expecting to continue trading through 2009, according to a Financial Mail survey published today. The stresses of the downturn have destroyed the viability of many small firms, with consumer spending down...

by Josh Hall Activity in the construction industry is slowing at the fastest rate since records began 11 years ago. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) index, which tracks activity in the sector, fell to 29.3 in December,...

by Josh Hall Laying off staff must be a “last resort” for businesses looking to cut costs, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) said today. The CIPD, which has 133,000 members nationwide, pointed to the costs associated with...

by Josh Hall In a rare piece of good news for tradesmen, the AA confirmed yesterday that petrol prices in the UK have fallen to their lowest levels for three years. The motoring organisation stated that unleaded petrol was being...

by Josh Hall Unless something truly remarkable happens in the next two hours, the FTSE 100 will close today’s shortened trading down around 32 per cent on the year – the worst twelve months in its history. Trading closes early...

by Josh Hall The British economy contracted by 0.6% between July and September, according to Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures published today. This is a faster rate than estimated, with previous figures predicting a contraction of 0.5%. The ONS...

by Josh Hall Luxury tea and coffee retailer Whittard looks set to become the latest high street name to call in administrators, after creditor Landsbanki cut its funding. The chain, owned by Icelandic retail giant Baugur, has endured a long...

by Josh Hall High street retailers are discounting at record rates in an effort to combat the credit crunch’s effects on Christmas sales. Research published today by retail network Patonz illustrates the scale of the discounts, with almost 50% of...

by Josh Hall A new survey today suggested that even Christmas won’t offer retailers any slack in an increasingly fraught trading environment. The survey, published by social networking site MakeFriendsOnline, suggested that 50% of consumers will be spending less this...

News from CRL, Calculated Risks Ltd. ~ 3 Brits die each year testing if a 9v battery works on their tongue; ~ 31 Brits have died since 1996 by watering their Christmas tree while the Christmas lights were plugged in;...

by Josh Hall Barclays said this morning that it will be increasing the volume of its small business lending by 10% next year. The bank is already lending around £15billion to the small business sector, and will increase this amount...

by Josh Hall Zavvi, the entertainment retailer, has entered into a loan arrangement with its previous master Virgin Group, it emerged yesterday. The entertainment chain, which was known as Virgin Megastores prior to a management buy-out last year, has been...

by Josh Hall The Treasury yesterday signalled that the option of quantitative easing – potentially printing more money – is being actively considered. Quantitative easing would be undertaken by the Bank of England, which controls the printing presses. However, this...

by Josh Hall Sterling’s position was further weakened yesterday, as it hit a record low against a standard basket of currencies including the euro. A difficult day’s trading, which saw the pound fall to 1.14 euros at one point, was...

by Josh Hall Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns, the UK’s two largest pub landlords, have seen one in sixteen of their publicans throw in the towel over the last twelve months, MPs were told yesterday. The scale of the failures...

by Josh Hall The government looks set to begin a crackdown on the humble take-away, as the first council in Britain gets ready to impose limits on the fast food trade. Waltham Forest in Essex will prevent takeaways opening within...

by Josh Hall Cigarette sales are to be driven “under the counter”, according to plans to be set out today by the government. Health Secretary Alan Johnson will reportedly announce that the open display of tobacco products will be banned...

by Josh Hall The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) published new figures today, suggesting that 40% of small businesses would consider closing their operations if credit conditions were to tighten further. The figures, drawn from a survey of over 5,000...

by Josh Hall Today will be the most profitable day in British e-commerce history, according to predictions. The second Monday in December is traditionally the busiest shopping day, but the internet retailers’ trade body, IMRG, estimates that this year’s will...

by Josh Hall In a rare bit of good news for small business, HSBC this weekend announced that £1bn of new lending will be made available to UK SMEs. The fund will form part of a total $5bn credit facility...

by Josh Hall The annual Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award celebrates the achievements of women in the business world. Recognising that women are under-represented in the entrepreneurial and management sectors, the award seeks to honour one woman each year who...

by Josh Hall Twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and – gasp –...

by Josh Hall The government yesterday announced new measures to combat the problems associated with binge drinking, as part of the Queen’s Speech. The Speech, which outlines the government’s intentions for the forthcoming legislative session, included details of the Crime...

by Josh Hall The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) yesterday announced that they expect to see 75,000 repossessions in 2009 – the highest level since 1991. The trade body, whose members are responsible for 98% of all residential mortgage lending...

The government today set out their plans for the forthcoming legislative session, with the pomp of the annual Queen’s Speech offering welcome respite from the pall of gloom that has descended on Westminster. The programme itself is almost unprecedentedly small,...

by Josh Hall The Bank of England is expected to cut interest rates tomorrow. However, the willingness of mortgage lenders to pass these cuts on to customers has been called into question. There is some confusion regarding whether or not...

by Josh Hall Halifax Bank of Scotland today announced a package of measures to help its small business customer base. HBOS have made the announcement in tandem with Lloyds TSB, with whom they are in the process of merging. Lloyds...

by Josh Hall The right to flexible working arrangements will be extended to parents with older children, despite the pleas of business leaders. Business Secretary Peter Mandelson had promised to review the timetable for the introduction of the new arrangements,...

by Josh Hall Drinks monolith Diageo, the world’s largest spirit, wine and beer company, was voted Britain’s Most Admired Company yesterday. The Management Today survey named the drinks giant as the firm to which UK managers looked up. Diageo’s recent...

by Josh Hall The owner of a Blackpool bar lost his licence today, after refusing to ban smoking on the premises. Hamish Howitt, ex-licensee at Del-boy’s Sports Bar, Blackpool, had been convicted of failing to prevent smoking on the premises...

by Josh Hall The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) today claimed that £418 million had been saved by business across the country as a result of new tools to help firms deal with employment law. Complying with...

by Josh Hall The government today announced that £30million is to be made available to SMEs operating in the technology sector. This money will form part of the Enterprise Capital Funds (ECFs), bidding for the third round of which was...

The government today announced the establishment, ahead of schedule, of the Home and Communities Agency (HCA) and Tenant Services Authority (TSA). The HCA will now take on responsibility for “regenerating communities and delivering affordable homes”, while the TSA will act...

by Josh Hall The government announced a new drive today, aimed at increasing the rate of recruitment for apprentices. The Learning and Skills Council will administer a new £10 million fund, to be made available over the next three years...

by Josh Hall The VAT cut announced in the Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report officially begins today. The purpose of the 2.5% reduction, from 17.5% to 15%, is to stimulate the British economy by encouraging consumer spending. However, administering the cut is...

Businesses can establish a continual dialogue with clients, press and contacts via blogging, one social media network has claimed. According to the Social Media Portal (SMP), brands and companies should strive to have multiple people managing the blog. This ensures...

Business confidence in the UK reached a record low during October as the outlook for the economy became increasingly pessimistic, according to a new survey. Findings from Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets Business Barometer revealed that 14 per cent of respondents...

The job market is to become increasingly competitive due to the current financial crisis, one recruitment expert has claimed. According to Adecco, a temporary staff provider, it does not necessarily mean that companies are avoiding employing people. However, the company...

The election of Barack Obama to US president will create a "feelgood factor" but it is his economic policy which will affect the economic markets, one business expert has claimed. According to the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR),...

Making people redundant should be the last resort for businesses during the credit crunch, one management professional has claimed. According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), many businesses have held off on making redundancies by hoarding labour...

Ensuring employees feel valued in the workplace can have a positive effect on the performance of their company, one business expert has said. According to Michael C Fina, a global recognition firm, more needs to be done to raise awareness...

A YouGov survey has revealed that over half of British citizens are confident that the economy will start to recover by the end of 2009. The research was commissioned to find out how the British public is spending its money...

Starting a small-to-medium sized business enterprise (SME) saves up to 120 hours per week in travelling to and from work, new research has shown. Findings from a study by Abbey revealed that the average entrepreneur commutes five hours and 25...

Businesses can retain employees and motivate them by using reward schemes to recognise their contribution to the workplace, one work recognition provider has claimed. According to employee reward firm Michael C Fina, schemes to recognise the work of a staff...

Research by Arena BLM has revealed that despite the recession consumers with reasonable security of employment who don’t need to move house will have more disposable income than they had several months ago, thanks to recent interest rate falls, even...

Both staff and businesses can benefit from allowing access to social networking websites in the workplace, one communications supplier has claimed. According to Orange Business UK, letting workers use websites such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace can create challenges relating...

The Bank of England has made an unexpected move and reduced interest rates by 1.5% - the biggest cut since 1981. Now at 3%, there may be some hope for small businesses, landlords and home owners that there will be...

The use of efficient online advertising can help a small-to-medium business enterprise boost its standing, one marketing agency has claimed. According to dotMailer, an online advertising company, SMEs can use social media accessed via the internet to allow businesses to...

Small-to-medium business enterprises (SMEs) are seeing "tough times" economically, one financial expert has claimed. According to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), if UK banks do not begin to re-lend and release money to SMEs and interest rates are cut,...

Well managed companies will succeed in the current economic climate, one business expert has claimed. According to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), there is too much doom and gloom around but the onset of recession does test management skills....

Women are being paid less than men for work which requires similar skills, one equality campaigner has claimed. According to the Fawcett Society, there a number of reasons behind the pay gap including women having the unequal burden of child...

A recent survey from market research company Shape the Future has revealed that 70% of businesses have no idea what their customers really think about the service they receive. The research shows that while 70.3% claim to measure customer satisfaction,...

A recent survey by Opinion Research has suggested that Britons intend to spend an average of £376 this Christmas - down on £393 last year. However we need to get extra work to find the cash, according to Peopleperhour.com. The...

Female bosses work an average three hours longer per week than their male counterparts, according to new research. The results of a study by Abbey showed that on average men work a 39.5 hour week while women work for 42.5...

Many small-to-medium business enterprises (SMEs) are replacing travel with technology, one transport expert has stated. According to the Business Travel magazine, firms are looking to tighten their travel policy for employees as the effects of the credit crunch begin to...

The new Labour Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, has come forward with new proposals to help small businesses through the credit crunch and looming recession. Speaking to the BBC, Mandelson said: "We want to help smaller businesses to plan for the...

Workers are increasingly likely to bring a packed lunch to work due to the effects of the credit crunch, one food expert has claimed. According to the British Dietetic Association (BDA), a lunch brought in from home is going to...

Blogs have developed into a way for businesses to talk with their customer-base, according to a social networking expert. The Social Media Portal (SMP) stated that initially blogs were online diaries and journals for individuals but have grown into a...

The design of a website is central to the reputation of a small business and how it is perceived, one web-development agency has claimed. According to on-IDLE, businesses need to try and marry the style of how they look online...

Businesses should encourage staff to prevent stress rather than trying to treat it when they have already been affected, one corporate 'wellbeing' expert has said. According to the On Site Massage Company, specialist in work-based stress relief, employers are beginning...

The internet can be a "legal minefield" for small-to-medium business enterprises (SMEs), one business support group has claimed. According to the Forum for Private Business (FPB), many SMEs may not be fully aware of what they need to do to...

The current economic climate does not mean that companies should reduce their advertising budget, an expert has said. Chris Lake, editor in chief at E-consultancy.com has said that online advertising is best for those looking to enter the advertising world,...

Using email to settle disputes can make them worse despite the tool being an effective way to communicate, one IT expert has claimed. According to Impact Factory, a communications training company, emails can add to problems in the office as...

Workers in the UK are increasingly prioritising their jobs over health due to anxiety brought on by the credit crunch, one healthcare expert has advised. According to Dr Serene Foster, an immunologist and registered medical herbalist speaking on behalf of...

Small-to-medium business enterprises should find Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software is cheaper than having a fixed phone line in place, one technology expert has claimed. According to Technology Means Business (TMB), VoIP is cheaper technology compared with some of...

A business needs intelligence throughout an organisation if it is to survive the economic downturn, according to one IT firm. Microsoft has claimed that business intelligence solutions can be implemented at a cost which is "significantly lower" than it was...

Many small-to-medium business enterprises (SMEs) are looking to expand overseas to take advantage of new markets, one professional body has claimed. According to the Institute of Chartered Accountants, many businesses are still focused on growth despite the impact of the...

Women are more willing to take risks when setting up their own company, one business expert has claimed. According to the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs, more women want to take a chance and establish themselves as entrepreneurs as opposed...

Many small-to-medium business enterprises (SMEs) are scared of Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP technology), one IT expert has claimed. According to Technology Means Business (TMB), companies are fearful of this new technology as they do not know how it works, how much...

92% of employers would change at least one member of staff if they had the chance according to a survey by Skillzbase.com. In the survey of over 870 UK bosses, 92% of employers would change at least one member of...

Many small-to-medium business enterprises (SMEs) are being pursued by energy providers after having their meters miscalculated, according to one business advisor. The Forum of Private Business (FSB) has claimed that SMEs are being left alone to defend themselves from these...

If small businesses ensure their direct marketing campaigns are aimed at the right people, they can reduce their marketing spend while getting better results, one statistical consultancy group has suggested. According to DataTalk Research, businesses are not going to spend...

Many small-to-medium business enterprises (SMEs) are unaware of peer to peer training as its benefits have not been widely publicised, one training expert has claimed. According to Business Link, there are a number of businesses operating which would benefit from...

Business Link today urged businesses concerned about the credit crunch, or just wanting to grow, to consider whether they are making best use of the web. Hina Joshi, Business Link adviser, says: “During the credit crunch, businesses should be looking...

Although many businesses are doing "all right" at adopting environmentally-friendly measures there is still more they could be doing, one advisory service has claimed. NetRegs, a government-run organisation, said small-to-medium business enterprises (SMEs) could do their bit for the environment...

Training should not be seen as an extra cost but as an investment, one business expert has claimed. According to the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), when economic conditions become tough and budgets are reduced it is often training...

Traditional retirements are becoming increasingly rare as people look to work longer, one pensions expert has claimed. According to Aegon, the whole attitude towards retirement has changed during the last few years. Mark Locke, a spokesperson for the firm, said:...

An increasing number of business travellers are opting for budget airlines over standard carriers thanks to the credit crunch. A survey by Barclaycard found that out of the 64% of business travellers who flew internationally, British Airways - though coming...

Workers should leave technology such as laptops and blackberries at home while on holiday, one consumer financial services provider has claimed. According to MORE TH>N, people in Briton love work and they work more than any other nation in the...

Small businesses do not protect themselves in case their website goes down as they overlook how significant an online presence can be, one system management has claimed. According to Symantec, businesses should ensure a second site is available on standby...

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) can help a firm win more customers, one business expert has claimed. According to Microsoft Dynamics CRM, the high level of 'customermisation' and the ease of installation can help a business to source new opportunities and...

Small-to-medium business enterprises (SMEs) are being neglected by the government's fuel poverty package, one advisory body has claimed. According to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), smaller firms are not seen as important enough to be included in the government's...

The diverse nature of business in the UK is helping to make the nation "richer", one financial education expert has claimed. According to the Cass Business School and the Natwest Bank, who undertook research on what it means to be...

Small-to-medium sized business can do their bit for the developing world and help the environment at the same time using their IT equipment, according to one business technology expert. IT Pro claims that recycling computers can be one method of...

Small Businesses should keep a legal eye on their home-based employees, according to legal firm Glovers. The legal issues that businesses must consider include amending employment contracts and insurance provisions and setting up a formal home working policy and manual....

The average working week for a small-to-medium enterprise (SME) is becoming longer, having increased by nearly three hours compared with this time last year, new research shows. Findings from a study by the Bank of Scotland revealed that the 1.4...

A survey has revealed that fewer workers are temping than ever before thanks to the downturn in the economy. Job-hopping is no longer a secure way of working, even for the most dedicated temps. Recruitment scoring agency Hire Scores conducted...

The government has announced a crackdown on rogue employers with the setting up of a single telephone helpline number for employees to report abuses in such areas as working time, minimum wage and holiday entitlement. They say this will help...

News from Calculated Risks Limited The new minimum wage rates effective from October 2008 have been announced. The rates will be increased to: £5.73 per hour (up from £5.52) for adult workers 22+ £4.77 per hour (up from £4.60) for...

News from Calculated Risks Limited After some improvements were made to maternity benefits last October there is still some confusion over the situation concerning pension contributions that employers need to be aware of. Those employees whose babies were due on...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed a rise in the number of individuals unemployed in the...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A leading UK energy supplier has issued a warning to consumers that they must prepare themselves for the...

News for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. SME Recruitment consultants are losing 4% of their turnover on bad back office practices according to back office solutions specialists...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Companies in Norway and the UK spend the most on web advertising per person in Europe, according to...

News for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has announced that it will commit to a long-term plan to help start-ups become...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The Eurozone's economic performance over the first quarter of 2008 has been better than expected, new data has...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) has stressed the importance of purchasing and procurement within a...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The UK government has announced plans to extend the right of employees to request flexible working arrangements, it...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Entrepreneurial talent is not being nurtured in the nation's schools and colleges, a study has revealed. Conducted for...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The value of sterling has been negatively affected by the publication of the Bank of England's latest quarterly...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. In partnership with KPMG, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), has released data showing a weakening...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. There has been a record increase in the prices being charged by product manufacturers in Britain, the Financial...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Small businesses in the UK should consider implementing customer loyalty schemes, it has been claimed. Kerry Kyriacou, a...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. There is still a lot of discrimination in the workplace in businesses across the UK despite legislation designed...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. If all information is given to the provider, home-based workers should be covered by employer liability insurance, the...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Proposals for a new amendment to the energy bill that could have made it more cost-effective for homeowners...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. With voting on who will be elected the mayor of London set to close today, the Confederation of...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) responded today to new research from Travelodge into the claiming of business...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has been angered by government moves to increase the national minimum wage...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. With the mayoral elections for London looming, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has urged the successful candidate...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Entrepreneurs worried about the onset of an economic downturn have been advised to think outside, inside and even...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Many workers in all sectors of industry are failing to understand that their pensions may not be enough...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Despite more businesses and tradesmen becoming concerned with the effects of climate change, not enough companies are putting...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The development of the internet and other technologies means that small businesses do not have to be based...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Small businesses around the UK have a vital role to play in the country's fight against climate change...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Getting a strong online presence early in the lifetime of a business can provide it with a real...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Local councils could do a lot more to help small businesses in their area of control survive and...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A pressure group which supports the needs of small businesses has called for more financial help from the...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The winners of the Queen's Awards for Enterprise have been named. Recognising outstanding achievement among businesses in the...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. More small to medium-sized enterprises need to report crimes committed against them, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Employees who choose to work from home tend to get an "improved" balance between their work and their...

News for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Credit referencing agency Graydon UK today called upon the Government to do more to support small businesses in protecting their...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. One way to cut the overheads of starting a new business is to utilise an online marketing policy,...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Bringing in flexible working arrangements that allow staff to work from home could be as beneficial to employers...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Multinational firm IBM has reported a significant increase in profits. The company has confirmed that, in spite of...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The price of oil has neared a new high during trading in Asia, it has emerged. According to...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed a fall in the country's unemployment levels. According to...

News for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A PR agency has taken the unprecedented move of offering free public relations advice to small and growing businesses. 10...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning in relation to work conducted with dangerous...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has issued a new call to make action against business-targeted crime a...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has called for the adoption of a new approach on the issue...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed the introduction of regulations governing workplace noise within the entertainment...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) has confirmed details of the growth of internet advertising. According to the findings...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. There is a significant chance that interest rates will be cut when the Bank of England's monetary policy...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to businesses in Scotland. The organisation has called...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A new survey has uncovered the business impact of slow-moving tradesmen. Sponsored by property maintenance firm Aspect Maintenance,...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Information technology firm Google has announced a number of job cuts. Representing the first time the company has...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Most employers prefer not to look up potential employees on social networking sites such as Facebook, it has...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A representative from the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (ISMM) has confirmed that direct marketing remains an...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A new report by Lehman Brothers has noted the possibility of the UK entering into a recession. According...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A number of UK adults are planning on reducing their outgoings over the forthcoming year, it has been...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The findings of a new survey have highlighted the impact of nomophobia in Britain. A poll by the...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned of forthcoming job cuts within the UK's financial services sector....

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A new survey by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has identified a gender divide among the UK's apprenticeships....

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The UK's Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned that given the increase in the number of new...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A new publication has been prepared by the Institute of Credit Management (ICM), offering survival advice to businesses....

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The worldwide price of oil fell during trading today. In East Asian markets the cost of oil slid...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A recent study commissioned by the Financial Times has highlighted failings by the current candidates for London's mayoral...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. US communications company Motorola has confirmed plans too separate its mobile phone operations from the rest of the...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Forthcoming legislation governing corporate manslaughter and corporate homicide is causing problems for those involved in the field of...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Business confidence across Germany rose unexpectedly over the course of March, a new survey has found. Data released...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The price of oil yesterday (March 24th) dropped to almost $100 (£50.39) a barrel. On the back of...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has announced gloomy predictions for the future growth of the UK economy....

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has sought to raise awareness of the issue of work-related stress. Highlighted...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Hambleton District Council has joined forces with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in an effort to dispel...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has issued a warning to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The UK's Conservative party has announced new proposals to increase the current allowances for parent leave. Benefitting new...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Company insurance holders and other businesses in the UK should encourage innovation, it has been suggested. Speaking to...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The credit crunch could lead to fewer start-ups being established this year, it has been suggested. According to...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Tax should be viewed as a sign of success, small business owners have been told. John de Groot,...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Small firms who want to set up their own website have a variety of choices, according to an...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Small business owners have a variety of things they need to consider when they start operating: business finance,...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Small business owners could be among those deterred from offering certain types of pension schemes as a result...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The voice of small businesses in the UK is well represented at government level, according to the managing...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Apart from changing their small business insurance as a firm expands, company owners also need to consider that...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Workplace pension schemes are a "core part" of the package that employers offer to staff, according to the...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has urged chancellor Alistair Darling to be cautious...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Small firms have been offered practical help in assessing their Management Information (MI) for the Treating Customers Fairly...

News for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. New research suggests that while many small businesses set up a website initially, they fail to keep it up-to-date and...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The price of oil hit a new high during trading yesterday (March 5th). As a consequence of new...

Research commissioned by the International Stress Management Association (ISMA) and the Royal Sun Alliance has revealed that 70% of adults experience stress at work, and 49% of those have been stressed in the last 12 months. The findings mean that...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Businesses looking to employ graduates as a means of plugging their skills gaps have been advised to be...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Small businesses and tradesmen need to consider the demands of jobs in their industry when deciding for how...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The attractiveness of London as a destination for overseas business has been eroded, it has been claimed. A...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. US president George Bush has announced that the country's economy is not moving towards a recession. Speaking during...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The price of oil has increased again during early morning (February 29th) trading. With the opening of some...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Oil prices reached a new high during trading yesterday (February 27th). The market price of US sweet crude...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. UK-based senior-level executives are not taking advantage of the marketing potential of social networking sites such as Facebook...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The decision by chancellor Alistair Darling to impose new tax restrictions upon non-domiciled residents within the UK has...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Research firm comScore has reported a fall in the click rate of Google's advertisements in the US. With...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The UK's Learning and Skills Council (LSC) believes that apprentices can be beneficial to businesses. Speaking on behalf...

News by Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A survey conducted by a UK managed hosting company, NetBenefit, reveals that over 80% of consumers are concerned over the...

News by Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The Federation for Small Business (FSB) has spoken out over the increase in fuel duty expected in the forthcoming budget...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The Fairtrade Foundation has reported a significant increase in the sale of Fairtrade-branded produce. According to data released...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Internet firm Google has been rated as the UK's leading brand in research by company Superbrands. In the...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Details of a forthcoming health and safety seminar for advisors to businesses have been announced by the Health...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A number of councils in the south-east have signed up to participate in a Health and Safety Executive...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has issued a warning relating to a European Union (EU) investigation into low-cost...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. The National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA) has issued a warning to businesses considering reducing their budgets for...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. A majority of the UK's managers work for more than their contracted number of hours, it has been...

News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages. Britain's Ministry of Justice has reported a fall in the number of company closures. The department, created after...