News
These articles were provided by small business commentator
and publisher Cobweb Information.
The Government's latest web-based initiative to support and
encourage start ups was launched by David Cameron last week.
The Business In You website has been set up by the
Department for Business (BIS) to "highlight support for
start-ups and growing businesses and encourage
entrepreneurial spirit in 2012". BAD News sought the opinion
of business professionals on the new initiative, many of
whom questioned its approach, in particular the statement
made in the strapline, "There's a business in everyone.
What's the business in you?"
There is more on this story at:
http://www.cobwebinfo.com/site/article_detail/item15728/?link_466=15728
To comment on this story go to:
http://www.cobwebinfo.com/site/article_detail/item15728/?link_466=15728#comments
_________________________________________________________________________
Quarter of business owners consider rejoining workforce
A quarter of small and medium-sized business owners are
considering re-entering the workforce as an employee,
according to research by Aviva. The study found that a third
of business owners reported that they had lost the
enthusiasm they had when they first started their business,
while a quarter said that they no longer enjoyed it. David
Bruce of Aviva suggested that this could be due to
businesses 'self funding' their activities, rather than
borrowing from banks. "This could be forcing them to focus
more on the day-to-day operations than on planning for the
future," he said.
OPINION: Read 'Nightmares and sugar-coated enterprise' at:
http://www.cobwebinfo.com/site/article_detail/item15721/
+Nightmares_and_sugar-coated_enterprise/?link_466=15721
There is more on this story at:
http://www.aviva.co.uk/media-centre/story/15675/uk-entrepreneurial-spirit-under-pressure/
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Government postpones extension of parental leave
The extension of unpaid parental leave will be postponed for
one year, the Government has confirmed, taking advantage of
the one-year grace period applying to new European
legislation. Changes under the Parental Leave Directive,
which extend unpaid parental leave from 13 weeks to 18, will
now be introduced in March 2013 instead of March 2012. Susie
Munro, of HR information firm XpertHR, argued that the
postponement was unjustified, but added that as few
employees currently take their full entitlement to unpaid
parental leave the delay is unlikely to cause a problem.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2012/01/20/58281/
increase-in-parental-leave-to-be-postponed-by-one-year.html
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BIS pilots scheme for regional mediation networks
Regional mediation networks are the latest measure to be
piloted by the Department for Business (BIS) as part of its
efforts to reform the employment tribunal process. The pilot
will take place in Cambridge and Manchester, where BIS will
fund training for employees of 24 small and medium-sized
firms in each area. These trained mediators will then
provide mediation for other organisations, in an attempt to
resolve disputes before they reach the tribunal stage.
Business minister Edward Davey said he hoped the scheme
would enable employers and employees to avoid the costly and
complex tribunal process.
There is more on this story at:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=422930&NewsAreaID=2
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Government Work Programme targets are 'too ambitious'
The Government may have set the targets for the Work
Programme too high, according the National Audit Office
(NAO). The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) aims to
get 40% of Jobseekers Allowance claimants aged over 25 back
into work, while the NAO estimates that 26% is more
realistic. The NAO has suggested that the DWP's overly
optimistic target could cause financial difficulty for some
Work Programme contractors, who are paid according to the
results they deliver, as those operating in areas of high
unemployment could struggle to meet the targets.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2012/01/work-programme-overly-optimistic-say-auditors/
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Proposals for deregulating the hospitality sector unveiled
Recommendations for the deregulation of the hospitality and
tourism sectors are to be considered by the Government. The
proposals include combining several complex food labelling
regulations into one, and simplifying fire safety
guidelines. The report also recommended that package travel
rules be simplified and travel insurance be made exempt from
regulation. Alan Parker, who chaired the panel of industry
experts that compiled the report, said that "one of the
greatest problems faced by the industry is the cumulative
effect of regulation, particularly on small businesses."
There is more on this story at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/media_releases/8806.aspx
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Market stalls for £10 is first response to Portas Review
A Government-backed scheme offering market stalls for £10
over a fortnight this summer is the first official response
to the Portas Review. The 'Love Your Local Market' campaign,
which will run from 23 June to 8 July, aims to boost market
trade and encourage new traders to take part. However, Joe
Harrison, of the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF),
said he was "hugely disappointed" by the absence of
additional funding for markets. "Joe public is not going to
walk around a facility that is run down even if the stalls
are a tenner", he said.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/9039443/
Eric-Pickles-is-having-a-laugh-says-market-traders.html
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Chancellor urged to reinstate tax break scheme
Accountants UHY Hacker Young have called on the Chancellor
to reinstate a scheme providing tax breaks for large
businesses buying minority shares in small, high-risk firms.
The Corporate Venturing Scheme (CVS), which saw £132 million
invested in almost 600 small firms over ten years, was
scrapped by the last Labour Government. However, Roy
Maugham, partner at UHY Hacker Young, believes the decision
to wind up the CVS was too hasty, and that it could now
provide a much-needed source of business funding while bank
lending remains low. Mr Maugham also suggested that the
eligibility criteria be expanded so that more firms would
benefit.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.uhy-uk.com/resources/news/last-minute-rush-for-small-business-investment-tax-breaks/
A campaign to cap the annual business rates increase at 2%,
in line with Government targets for inflation, has been
launched by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). The
current system for calculating business rates uses the
Retail Price Index (RPI) for the previous September. The ACS
argues that this is unfair, as the RPI in September 2011 was
unusually high, and would see rates increasing by 5.6% in
April 2012. The ACS is urging retailers to lobby their local
MP on the subject, saying that the proposed increase would
cost the retail sector £200 million.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.acs.org.uk/en/lobbying/business-rates/
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Facebook offers free advertisements to small businesses
Facebook has said it will offer £4.2 million worth of free
adverts to small firms in Europe. The website is giving
50,000 businesses the opportunity to claim credits worth
$100 (around £80) to use for advertising. The announcement
comes ahead of a series of roadshow events in partnership
with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) that will take
place across the UK this year. A recent report by Deloitte
revealed that Facebook has contributed £2.2 billion to the
UK economy.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.equimedia.co.uk/index.php?id=98&article=801276032
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HP pledges to use more small firms in supply chain
IT company Hewlett Packard (HP) has pledged to increase its
use of small and medium-sized firms for both Government and
private sector contracts. These firms currently represent
10% of HP's supply chain spend, but the company hopes to
raise this to 15% by subcontracting to an additional 150
small and medium-sized businesses by the end of 2013. HP
also said it plans to improve its procurement process,
extend its Business Answers scheme providing support and
advice for small businesses, and compile an approved
suppliers list of small and medium-sized firms.
There is more on this story at:
http://www8.hp.com/uk/en/hp-news/press-release.html?id=1162116
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Olympic contracts worth £50 million remain for small firms
Small and medium-sized enterprises are being urged to bid
for un-awarded contracts for the London Olympics worth £50
million. According to Chris Daniels, of London Olympics
sponsor Lloyds TSB, opportunities remain for banner signage,
security and hospitality, as well as "cottage industries"
supplying products such as costumes and flowers. Almost 70%
of all suppliers to the Games are small or medium-sized
businesses, and two thirds of these are based outside of
London.
View the remaining contracts at:
https://www.competefor.com/business/login.jsp
Town centres should be managed like businesses to improve
their performance, a new Government-commissioned review by
Mary Portas has recommended. The review claims that the
share of total retail spending in the UK that took place in
town centres fell by 7% to 42% between 2000 and 2011, while
the proportion of out-of-town and online sales increased
over the same period. The key recommendations of her report
include relaxing licensing laws to make it easier to set up
market stalls, introducing a national market day and
establishing 'Town Teams' to manage and represent the
interests of high street businesses.
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/business-sectors/docs/p/11-1434-portas-review-future-of-high-streets.pdf
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EU food storage plans could cost shops millions
New food storage rules being consulted on by the European
Commission could cost retailers millions to introduce, the
British Retail Consortium (BRC) has claimed. The proposed
measures would require chilled food to be maintained at 2
degrees Celsius when being transported or stored, while
current rules allow retailers to set their own minimum
temperatures providing they can prove that they are safe.
The BRC has called on the Government to support its
campaign, arguing that the cost of upgrading equipment and
increased energy consumption necessary to meet these
requirements would make it "harder for retailers to invest
and grow."
There is more on this story at:
http://www.brc.org.uk/brc_news_detail.asp?id=2120&kCat=&kData=1
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Welsh grant application deadline sparks concern
Small businesses in Wales may not have time to apply for the
new £15 million growth fund launched last week by the Welsh
Government, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has
warned. The Wales Economic Growth Fund allows businesses to
apply for a minimum of £100,000 funding to create and
safeguard jobs. However, the deadline for applications is 31
January, which the FSB argues disadvantages firms that are
particularly busy over the Christmas period, coping with
temporary staff and preparing for tax deadlines at the end
of January.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-16135704
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Micro firms to benefit from new accounting rules
Micro businesses could benefit from simpler financial
reporting requirements if proposals being considered by the
European Parliament go ahead. Under the proposals, eligible
micro firms would be exempt from preparing full accounts,
with some stakeholders also calling for an end to statutory
audits. In order to be eligible for the more relaxed rules,
micro firms would have to meet two out of three criteria:
generate less than €1 million turnover, have less than €0.5
million in assets, or have ten or fewer employees.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/2132506/micro-entities-escape-accounting-red-tape
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Consultation on employment tribunal fees launched
A new consultation has been launched by the Ministry of
Justice on which of two proposed charging structures will
become statutory for entering an employment tribunal claim.
The first option places no limit on potential compensation,
but claimants would pay a fee of between £150 and £250 to
make the claim and a further fee of between £250 and £1,250
if it proceeds to a hearing. In the second option, claimants
choose between paying a one off fee of between £200 and £600
and having compensation capped at £30,000, or paying an
extra charge to seek a greater pay out.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/2011/12/details-of-planned-tribunal-fees-revealed.htm
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BIS launches taskforce to look at non-bank lending
A new taskforce to investigate the "structural and
behavioural barriers" to the development of alternative
sources of business lending has been launched by the
Department for Business (BIS). BIS claims that most small
and medium-sized firms rely solely on bank loans to raise
finance, with just 10% seeking asset-based finance, and
under 5% choosing bond or mezzanine finance. Business
Secretary Vince Cable said he wants to see "as much
competition in the market as possible and for businesses to
have access to a wide range of finance sources." The
taskforce is seeking views from businesses and the deadline
for submissions is 27 January.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/enterprise-and-business-support/access-to-finance/taskforce
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B&B owner wins "groundbreaking" HMRC VAT dispute
The owner of a bed and breakfast, who is also a partner in a
farm run by her husband and son, has won an appeal against
an HMRC decision to combine the two businesses for VAT
purposes. HMRC had treated the bed and breakfast, which
generates a turnover below the threshold for VAT, as
separate to the farm business for several decades, but
during a recent inspection claimed the separation was
artificial. The owner, Danielle Forster, has now won an
appeal against the decision. Law firm CCH Fee Protection
called the ruling "groundbreaking", although HMRC has
insisted that this is an isolated case relating to a
specific set of circumstances.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/
8954491/BandB-saved-from-HMRC-tax-claim.html
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Trade group welcomes voluntary code for CCTV
The Government has halted plans to introduce a statutory
regulatory code of practice for retailers using CCTV and
Automatic Number Plate Recognition. Instead, a voluntary
code is to be introduced, following recommendations by the
Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), which argued that
statutory regulation would be "counter-productive" and would
result in unnecessary red tape for retailers. James Lowman,
chief executive of ACS, commented that "CCTV equipment has a
clear role in local shops to protect the business, retail
staff and the public."
There is more on this story at:
http://www.acs.org.uk/en/Press_Office/details/index.cfm/
obj_id/E90A6B4D-7828-4848-B3F822DBBC6FCF49
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Welsh food firms face mandatory hygiene ratings
A new consultation has been launched by the Welsh Government
on introducing a statutory hygiene rating scheme for food
businesses. The consultation highlights concerns that the
current voluntary hygiene ratings scheme run by the Food
Standards Agency (FSA) is insufficient as not everyone has
access to the Internet to view the online ratings. If
introduced, the rules would require all food businesses to
display their ratings at the front of their premises. The
ACS has argued that the current FSA scheme, adopted by all
22 Welsh local authorities, does not need to be changed and
that new regulation would "place unnecessary burdens on food
retailers".
There is more on this story:
http://www.talkingretail.com/news/independent-news/welsh-government-
to-ditch-voluntary-food-hygiene-scheme-in-favour-of-red-tape-reveals-acs
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Government failing to support growth, firms say
Over 60% of company owners and directors do not believe that
the Government is providing adequate support for economic
growth, research by Bibby Financial Services has found.
Measures that respondents said would support enterprise
included reducing VAT, scrapping the 50p income tax rate,
forcing banks to provide more finance for small firms and
investing in core industries. Edward Rimmer, chief executive
of Bibby, said that the research indicated a lack of
confidence in the Government, adding that almost a quarter
"believe it lacks knowledge of the specific needs of
business."
There is more on this story at:
http://www.smeweb.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article
&id=3267:government-approach-to-funding&catid=53:news&Itemid=89
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New guidance published on cookie law compliance
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has launched an
updated guide to help website owners prepare for the revised
Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations in advance
of 26 May when the 12-month grace period for compliance
ends. The guide contains practical examples of how
businesses can comply with the new rules on cookies, which
require them to gain consent before storing website users'
data. However, Information Commissioner Christopher Graham
said that following the May deadline there will not be "a
wave of knee-jerk formal enforcement actions taken against
those who are not yet compliant but are trying to get
there".
There is more on this story at:
http://www.ico.gov.uk/news/latest_news/2011/
must-try-harder-on-cookies-compliance-says-ico-13122011.aspx
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Half of parents plan to buy Christmas gifts online
Over half of parents with children aged nine or under plan
to buy Christmas presents from non-specialist online
retailers this year, according to a survey by ResearchBods.
The second most popular place for parents to buy toys for
their children was the supermarket, followed by specialist
toy shops. Almost a third of respondents said they would be
cutting their spend on gifts and around three quarters plan
to spend under £200 in total on gifts for their children.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/04343-over-half-of-parents-to-buy-toys-online-this-xmas
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UK tops list of Internet shoppers, research finds
Eight in ten Internet users in the UK ordered goods and
services online in 2010, a greater proportion than in any
other European country, research by Ofcom has found. The
study suggested that this has led to high levels of Internet
advertising: in the UK, 29% of the total advertising spend
in 2010 was on the Internet, which was double the global
average. Chief executive of Ofcom Ed Richards commented that
"the UK communications market is performing well with
prices, the range of services and innovation standing up
well against international benchmarks."
There is more on this story at:
http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2011/12/14/uk-consumers-are-a-nation-of-online-shoppers/
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Job posts more than double on freelance website
Temporary contracts posted on global freelance jobs website
Elance have increased by 120% to 650,000 over the past year.
Some of the most significant increases in demand were for
freelance graphic designers, software developers, Internet
marketers and content writers. In addition, the average pay
per freelancer in the UK has increased by 85% over the past
year. Fabio Rosati, chief executive of Elance, said that the
increase in demand for freelancers is due to a "structural
change in traditional employment".
There is more on this story at:
http://www.freelanceuk.com/news/3979.shtml
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'Ethical' and Fairtrade product sales increasing
Sales of fair trade and other 'ethical' products rose by 9%
to almost £47 billion between 2009 and 2010, according to
the Co-operative Group's Ethical Consumerism Report. The
Report also found that Fairtrade food sales rose by 36% to
£1 billion, although sales of organic food fell by 10% to
£1.5 billion. Paul Monaghan at the Co-operative said that
"intervention by enlightened businesses, together with
regulatory intervention is, driving ethical sales growth."
There is more on this story at:
http://www.co-operative.coop/corporate/Press/Press-releases/n/Enlightened-
businesses-force-through-change-and-ensure-ethical-sales-continue-to-grow-/
There is more on this story at:
access-to-finance/enterprise-finance-guarantee/efg-statistics
Support for rural broadband pilot projects stalls
Projects to connect rural areas with fast broadband
connections have stalled due to lack of Government support,
the Countryside Alliance has claimed. Freedom of information
requests made by the Countryside Alliance revealed that
councils of the four pilot projects in Cumbria,
Herefordshire, North Yorkshire and the Highlands and Islands
were yet receive any money from the Treasury, choose a
company to build the network or start work on the project.
Alice Barnard of the Countryside Alliance said that the
process for acquiring and introducing rural broadband
projects should be simplified to allow the communities to
grow and develop.
There is more on this story at:
Rural-broadband-getting-nowhere-says-Countryside-Alliance
Government relaunches Mutual Information Service
The Government has launched a new version of the Mutual
Information (and Triage) Service (MIS) to replace interim
arrangements introduced in 2010. The MIS provides
information for potential mutual organisations (groups of
public sector employees formed to deliver public services)
and identifies the support required for the process of
becoming a mutual, as well as signposting to sources of
further information. The consortium providing the new
service includes Social Enterprise UK, Employee Ownership
Association, Co-operatives UK, Baxi Partnership, and the
Office for Public Management.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/news/social-enterprise-partner-new-mutuals-information-service
Access the MIS at:
http://mutuals.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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Group calls for better training of ex-military staff
The training and support of ex-military personnel
rejoining the labour market should be more closely linked to
employers and their requirements, a new report by the
ForceSelect Foundation has urged. The report estimated that
75,000 people will leave the Armed Forces in the next two
years due to public spending cuts, and urged the Government
to make more training available to help them prepare for
civilian roles. The Foundation also called for
qualifications that are tailored to employer requirements,
workshops on current labour market trends and growing
industries, and mentoring from veterans on adjusting to
civilian life.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/2011/12/
call-for-employer-linked-training-for-ex-military-staff.htm
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Lord calls for compulsory trade body membership
Membership of trade bodies, such as chambers of
commerce, should be made mandatory for businesses in the UK
in order to raise standards, Lord Heseltine has said. Lord
Heseltine, head of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), argued
that compulsory membership would encourage trade bodies to
spread best practice and improve the performance of
industries, rather than pursuing headlines by criticising
Government policy on behalf of their most vocal members.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/8936686/
Business-needs-to-raise-standards-says-Lord-Heseltine.html
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More councils join Food Hygiene Rating Scheme
Five more councils have rolled out the Food
Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) in their region bringing the
total to almost 180 local authorities in England, Wales and
Northern Ireland. The FHRS rates food business hygiene
levels and is run by local authorities in partnership with
the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The FHRS website now
provides over 140,000 ratings for food businesses including
restaurants, cafés, pubs, takeaways, hotels, supermarkets
and other food shops. More local authorities are expected to
join the FHRS over coming months.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2011/dec/fhrslaunches
The FHRS website is available at:
http://www.food.gov.uk/ratings
_________________________________________________________________________
High costs put charities off seeking legal advice
Over a third of small charities are put off from seeking
legal advice due to high costs, a study by the Legal
Services Consumer Panel has revealed. The research found
that 96% of charities found solicitors' advice useful, but
many reported difficulties obtaining pro bono help and
attracting legally trained trustees. Elisabeth Davies, chair
of the Panel, said that charities are often overloaded with
information leaving them confused about their legal
responsibilities. She added that "although there are some
useful guides, information needs to be better co-ordinated
and signposted."
There is more on this story at:
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/charities-reveal-qualms-about-seeking-legal-advice
_________________________________________________________________________
Online consumers prefer small firms' websites
Small businesses are able to "outmanoeuvre" large
companies by competing online, research by Yell Group and
the University of Southampton suggests. When consumers were
asked to compare business websites without being told the
size of the firm, two thirds chose the smaller business as
their preferred supplier. In addition, 37% were unable to
distinguish between websites belonging to the large firms
and those owned by small firms. Yell claimed that websites
"blurred perceptions of company size", and that the
authenticity and simplicity of a website were some of the
most important factors for consumers when choosing a
supplier.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.yellgroup.com/english/media-pressreleases-2011-
davidbeatsgoliathonlineasconsumersfavoursmallerfirms
_________________________________________________________________________
Weak mobile sites cast retailers millions a year
Retailers that optimise their website for mobile web
access could increase their annual revenue by 12%, according
to research by technology solutions firm QuBit. The study
claimed that mobile commerce is an increasingly important
source of revenue for retailers, and revealed that the
proportion of total web traffic from mobile devices tripled
to 15% between 2010 and 2011. QuBit found that the most
common areas of weakness of mobile websites were speed,
'thumb-friendliness' and customising content according to
the user's location.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.qubitproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Mobile-Whitepaper-no-bleed-.pdf
_________________________________________________________________________
Applications for ABS law firms open from January
Applications for alternative business structures (ABS),
a new type of business structure for firms providing both
legal and non-legal services, will be accepted from 3
January, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has
announced. Following its approval as a licensing authority
last week, the SRA revealed that the first successful
applications could be announced by the end of February,
depending on their complexity. Chief executive of the SRA
Antony Townsend said that being approved as a licensing
authority means the public can be confident that an "ABS
providing reserved legal activities will be regulated
according to the same rigorous professional standards as
traditional law firms."
http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/2129455/sra-ahead-abs-licensing
_________________________________________________________________________
Shops should shape town planning, trade body says
Shop owners should become more involved in developing
local town planning, the Association of Convenience Stores
(ACS) has said. The ACS urged retailers to take advantage of
the increased power over local planning decisions given to
communities under the Localism Bill to protect town centres
and reduce the impact of out-of-town shopping centres. The
ACS also called on the Government to give communities more
influence over which shops are permitted on the high street,
allowing them to favour independent retailers.
http://www.talkingretail.com/news/independent-news/
independent-retailers-urged-to-help-shape-local-planning
_________________________________________________________________________
Cybercrime increasingly common for business
Cybercrime has increased since 2009 to become the third
most common form of financial crime in 2011, according to
research by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The research
revealed that other common forms of financial crime fell,
such as asset theft, which was down by 8% since 2009, and
account fraud, which was down by 5% over the same period.
However, William Beer, a spokesman for PwC, said that
cybercrime is a serious threat and can originate from inside
the business as well as externally. He added that businesses
should "take this threat more seriously".
http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240111628/
Cybercrime-among-top-forms-of-economic-crime-in-the-UK
_________________________________________________________________________
New programme launched for social enterprise
Social Enterprise UK and Deloitte have combined to
launch the Deloitte Social Innovation Pioneers Programme.
The Programme is designed for firms with growth potential
that have a social mission or those that have a positive
effect on society. The 50 successful bidders will receive a
support package including skills training, workshops and
networking opportunities. The application process is now
open and closes on 28 January.
http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/news/new-programme-
showcase-and-support-the-best-social-businesses-launched
_________________________________________________________________________
Local beer scheme reaches 100 pub members
The Society of Independent Brewers Association (SIBA)
Locals Scheme has reached its 100th member, SIBA has
announced. The Scheme is designed to encourage pubs to stock
locally-sourced food and drink, and provides participants
with a brass plaque, posters and listing on the SIBA
website. SIBA claims that the local beer sector is growing,
having risen by 8.8% in 2010, compared with an overall
decline in the beer market of 3.9%.
http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Venues/SIBA-Locals-pub-scheme-reaches-100-members
_________________________________________________________________________
Users of eBay m-commerce channel increase
Over a million items are uploaded to eBay via mobile
phones every week, the online auction site has revealed. It
also claimed that its improved mobile app has been
downloaded 50 million times. eBay attributed the increase to
consumers being able to use their phones to photograph items
and upload them to the online marketplace. The success of
its m-commerce channel resulted in eBay revising its
prediction for m-commerce revenues from $4 billion up to $5
billion.
http://www.nma.co.uk/news/ebay-counts-1m-mobile-uploads-a-week/3032422.article
Taxman
targets VAT cheats in latest clampdown
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has launched a new campaign
targeting firms who have not registered for VAT despite
having turnover above the £73,000 threshold. As with its
other recent 'tax amnesties', HMRC will invite these firms
to come forward with a full disclosure in order to face a
lower penalty rate of 10% of the VAT owed. They will have
until 30 September to tell HMRC they want to take part,
after which investigations will be launched, which could
lead to substantial fines or prosecutions.
Read the HMRC news release at:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=420260&SubjectId=16
_____________________________________________________________________
Fewer owner-managers see access to credit as a
threat
Just four in ten business owners and managers feel
threatened over access to credit, compared with nearly twice
that number in 2010 and 2009, according to a new survey from
accountants Baker Tilly. More respondents reported overall
optimism about their business this year, up from 50% to 59%
in 2010. However, the Bank of England's Credit Conditions
Survey for the second quarter of 2011 reveals that demand
for credit among small and medium-sized firms has grown
markedly in recent months, but availability has remained
static, and lenders expect this to remain unchanged in the
third quarter.
View the Baker Tilly survey results at:
http://www.bakertilly.co.uk/media/news/Owner-managed-businesses-may-be-turning-a-corner.aspx
Read the Bank of England's Credit Conditions report at:
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/other/monetary/creditconditionssurvey110630.pdf
_____________________________________________________________________
Small firms still suffering due to late
payments, says FSB
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has reported that
73% of businesses have been paid late in the last 12 months.
As a result, small firms with lower cash-flow buffers are
left unable to pay their suppliers on time. Despite efforts
by the Government to pay small firms within ten days, 18% of
respondents were paid late by the public sector. The FSB is
calling on the Government to ensure that all public agencies
sign up to the Prompt Payment Code so that the private
sector can play its part in strengthening the economic
recovery.
Read the FSB press release here:
http://www.fsb.org.uk/News.aspx?loc=pressroom&rec=7169
_____________________________________________________________________
Treasury unveils plans to boost high-growth
start ups
The Treasury has opened a consultation on a new set of
proposals, promised in this year's Budget, to encourage
investment in small and start-up firms with potential for
high growth. In particular, the consultation will look at a
planned scheme to encourage 'business angels' to make
early-stage investments in young, high-growth businesses. It
will also seek views on proposed reforms to simplify the
Enterprise Investment Scheme (IES) and Venture Capital
Trusts (VCTs).
The consultation document can be accessed at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_tax_advantaged_venture_capital_schemes.htm
_____________________________________________________________________
Service and construction sectors reveal drop in
confidence
Confidence levels in the construction industry fell slightly
between May and June, while in the service sector they were
at their lowest since last October, according to the latest
monthly Purchasing Managers' Index from the Chartered
Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) and Markit. CEO
David Noble warned that weakened confidence in construction
made "prospects for any future expansions in output growth
look moderate at best". However, he said the "steady and
solid new business growth" was helping the services sector
"keep its head above water".
Read the CIPS news releases at:
http://www.cips.org/en-gb/aboutcips/news/UK-construction-sector-loses-confidence-/
And:
http://www.cips.org/en-gb/aboutcips/news/Service-PMI-holds-steady-throughout-June/
_____________________________________________________________________
Third of firms unsure how Bribery Act will
affect them
Many small and medium-sized firms are still confused about
how the Bribery Act affects their operations, according to
research carried out by the software provider Sage. The Act
came into force at the beginning of July, and firms have
been advised to establish policies to ensure their
activities comply. However, while 33% of the 1,050 firms
polled said they knew about the Act, 71% did not understand
what it is or how it is likely to affect them. Sage's
Samantha Bell advised: "The key thing is to be in a position
where you can show you have taken adequate steps to prevent
acts of bribery from taking place."
There is more on this story at:
http://www.realwire.com/releases/SMEs-unprepared-for-UK-Bribery-Act
_____________________________________________________________________
Retailers closed 20 stores a day in first five
months of 2011
New figures from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and the Local
Data Company have revealed that retailers have closed 20
stores each day between January and the end of May. In
addition, PWC's insolvency figures for the second quarter of
2011 show that retail insolvencies were up 9% on 2010. The
figures follow calls from the British Retail Consortium
(BRC) for more investment to support independent retailers
by making town centres more convenient and attractive to
shoppers.
View the PWC figures at:
http://www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/News-Releases/UK-retailers-have-closed-20-stores-
a-day-on-average-in-2011-says-PwC-and-Local-Data-Company-analysis-10c0.aspx
Read the BRC news release at:
http://www.brc.org.uk/brc_news_detail.asp?id=1992&kCat=&kData=1
_____________________________________________________________________
Protecting ideas yields more growth than capital
investment
Investment in UK businesses holding intellectual property
rights (IPRs) is worth £65 billion each year, according to
new research from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).
Two new reports reveal that over the last ten years,
investment in intellectual property has led to greater
business growth than investment in fixed capital. The growth
of IPRs has been most significant in design and copyright,
which includes software, music, publishing, broadcasting and
film.
Read the IPO news release at:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=420303&SubjectId=16
_____________________________________________________________________
Private sector charged with worst data breach
record
The Information Commissioner has revealed that the private
sector holds the worst record for data security breaches in
2010/11. Private firms accounted for almost a third of the
603 data breaches reported to the Information Commissioner's
Office (ICO), yet just 19% of businesses invited to undergo
free data protection audits took up the offer. This compared
with 71% of public sector organisations. Commissioner Chris
Graham said the audits were not about "naming and shaming
those who are getting it wrong". He added: "The fact that a
company has undergone a consensual audit should count as a
badge of honour".
Read the ICO news release at:
http://www.ico.gov.uk/~/media/documents/pressreleases/
2011/ico_annual_report_201011_news_release_20110706.pdf
_____________________________________________________________________
Minister: Scottish export growth marks 'vital
stage' in recovery
Scottish enterprise minister Fergus Ewing has welcomed news
of the highest quarterly increase in manufactured exports
from Scotland since the second quarter of 2007. Manufactured
exports also saw a year-on-year rise of just over 2%.
However, Mr Ewing promised that Scottish businesses would
continue to receive extra support to help them enter new
overseas markets. "While these figures are hugely
encouraging it is clear that our recovery is at a vital
stage," he said.
Read the Scottish Government news release at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/07/06101449
_____________________________________________________________________
Social media must feed in to overall strategy,
says expert
Businesses seeking to harness the potential of social media
must ensure they integrate it with the rest of their sales
and marketing tools, a communications expert has warned. Tim
Gibbon, director of communications consultancy Elemental,
says businesses who operate their social media marketing
separately, or commission external agencies to focus on this
channel in isolation, are limiting its potential.
"Unfortunately some of these approaches tend not to be
inclusive where they are not integrated into the operations
of the business", he said.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.microsoft.com/business/en-gb/Content/pages/
news.aspx?cbcid=1002&listid=edf0edec-3902-4b4f-8b53-a0aee8decbd7
_____________________________________________________________________
Outdoor digital advertising set to grow to £1.5
billion
A new report by Kinetic predicts growth and opportunities
for out of home media. The report states that digital
screens will make up to a quarter of the total outdoor
market in the next ten years. They predict that up to 30
cities in UK will have comprehensive networks of digital
outdoor advertising. In addition, Kinetic assert that
outdoor media will become more targeted, with potential for
involving mobile devices and social media for an interactive
and direct response.
Read the full report at:
http://www.kineticww.com/home/what-are-we-thinking/moving-minds/environmenstinsight/
11-07-05/The_future_of_Out_of_Home_media_in_the_UK_to_2020.aspx
_____________________________________________________________________
Unnecessary 'use-by' dates cause headache for
food retailers
The Local Better Regulation Office has reported that
overly-cautious food producers are labelling more products
with 'use-by' dates than is required by law. The report
states that fear of prosecution means that supermarkets are
forced to carry out £110 million worth of unnecessary checks
which is passed on to customers in higher prices. Industry
standards agencies are calling for the Government to review
laws and guidance on the topic.
Read the full report at:
http://www.lbro.org.uk/docs/date-coding-report.pdf
_____________________________________________________________________
Government poll reveals extent of small firms' finance
problems
New Government research has revealed that last year more
than a third of small firms in need of loans were turned
down by their bank, compared with 14% before the financial
crisis. The Government survey of 4,500 businesses revealed
that over half had faced "difficulties" in accessing the
money they needed. However, nearly all firms did manage to
find sources of borrowing for part if not all of the sums
they needed, with just 5% failing to secure any funding at
all.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/8543121/
One-in-three-small-businesses-rejected-by-banks.html
_____________________________________________________________________
Buy-to-let landlords optimistic as rental market grows
Almost half of landlords believe now is a good time to
invest in the buy-to-let market, according to a new poll.
The survey, conducted by LSL Property Services, found that
52% of landlords had seen tenant demand increase over the
last three months, with 68% expecting further growth over
the coming year. The rise has been attributed to a fall in
the number of people buying homes for the first time, with
the majority renting privately instead. However, landlords
face obstacles in securing mortgage finance in order to
expand, with 54% claiming that it is more difficult to do
this now than a year ago.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.mortgageintroducer.com/mortgages/240346/4/
Daily_news/Landlords_positive_over_buy-to-let_prospects.htm
_____________________________________________________________________
Pubs warned to save against recall of games machine VAT refunds
Licensees who have received VAT rebates on 'Amusement with
prizes' (AWP) machines are being warned to prepare for the
money to be recalled, pending a decision by the European
Court of Justice (ECJ). Peter Coulson, legal editor of the
Publican's Morning Advertiser, has warned that a new
precedent could be set allowing HMRC to appeal VAT refunds
issued under a court ruling in 2009. The ECJ case is
scheduled for 30 June.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/
article/90737?PagingData=Po_0~Ps_10~Psd_Asc
_____________________________________________________________________
Poor data blamed for charity direct mail complaints
Fundraising bodies have been warned to improve their
management of data after research revealed that poor data
management was responsible for one sixth of all complaints
about fundraising communications. According to the
Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB), there was an increase in
the number of complaints about postal appeals in 2010,
despite a fall in the number being sent. Alistair McLean,
chief executive of the FRSB, said: "Charities and suppliers
alike must strive to source and maintain better data for
donors and potential supporters, and to make timely and
appropriate use of that data."
Read the FRSB news release at:
http://www.frsb.org.uk/english/news/59/22/Annual-Charity-Fundraising-Complaints-Top-18-000/
_____________________________________________________________________
Financial advisers say new complaints rules need review
Financial advisers could be forced to spend more time and
money under the Financial Services Authority's (FSA) new
complaints procedure, the Association of Independent
Financial Advisers (AIFA) has said. The new system will
abolish the 'two-stage' complaints handling rule, and
require firms to assign responsibility for complaints
handling to a senior individual. However, Stephen Gay,
director general of the AIFA, said financial advisers had
the best record for dealing with complaints, and should not
be treated in the same way as those parts of the sector with
the worst. He said the new rules had sparked "real concerns
about the cost and time implications for adviser firms."
There is more on this story at:
http://www.mortgageintroducer.com/ccstory/240339/5/
AIFA_urges_FSA_to_rethink_complaints_proposals.htm
_____________________________________________________________________
HMRC consults on tackling risky tax-avoidance schemes
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has launched a consultation on
plans to publish a list of high-risk tax avoidance schemes.
Under the proposals, anyone using a listed scheme would be
required to tell HMRC, and would face an additional charge
on any underpaid tax unless they paid upfront in the case of
a dispute. Currently, taxpayers using the schemes can delay
payment until HMRC has completed an investigation. David
Gauke, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said: "For too
long, wealthy taxpayers were using these schemes as a cheap
loan from Government. Our proposals would stop this
practice".
Read the HMRC news release at:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=419754&SubjectId=2
_____________________________________________________________________
New tool allows peers to comment on patent applications
A new online tool is being piloted that will allow science
and technology experts to view and comment on patent
applications before they are considered by the Intellectual
Property Office (IPO). A summary of the comments will be
passed to the IPO along with the application, and taken into
consideration as part of the patent review process. Baroness
Wilcox, who launched the new system, said it would "give the
IPO access to a wider body of knowledge when deciding
whether a patent should be granted."
Read the IPO news release at:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=419735&SubjectId=2
_____________________________________________________________________
Two thirds of bosses unaware of pension auto-enrolment
A new survey has found that 61% of employers are not aware
of plans to roll out auto-enrolment for pension schemes over
the next few years. The new system will start being
introduced from 2012, and will later become a legal
obligation for all businesses. The research, published by
Close, a provider of financial education services, also
showed that a third of those employers who did know about
the new system were not planning to provide training to help
staff understand it, with many relying on other sources of
information such as brochures.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.onrec.com/news/almost_two_thirds_of_employers_unaware_o
_____________________________________________________________________
Trading watchdog to clamp down on credit brokers
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has announced new measures
to tackle upfront charges made by credit brokers and loan
management firms. The OFT says the firms take the fees,
which typically vary between £50 and £70, despite being
unlikely to provide consumers with promised introductions to
unsecured loans. It is asking the Government to consider
banning upfront charges, which it estimates were paid by
270,000 consumers to sub-prime, unsecured credit brokers in
the last year. It has also published new guidance for credit
brokers, outlining consumers' rights to refunds of upfront
fees where no introduction to a lender is made.
Read the OFT news release at:
http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2011/62-11
_____________________________________________________________________
Red Tape Challenge in doubt as public demand more rules
Business Secretary Vince Cable has warned that the
Government's bid to lift the regulatory burden on business
could backfire as its Red Tape Challenge website draws
opposition from the public and consumer groups. Speaking to
businesses in
There is more on this story at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/
8542967/Red-tape-reforms-face-public-backlash.html
_____________________________________________________________________
New sports and recreation governance code published
A new voluntary code of governance for sports and recreation
organisations has been backed by Hugh Robertson, the
minister for sport and the Olympics. The code includes
recommendations for the size for directors' boards and the
balance of skills and experience they represent, and
measures to encourage accountability and transparency. Mr
Robertson said: "This code will help make sure that sports
have the best possible governance structures in place to
meet the challenges and opportunities of the coming year."
View the new code at:
http://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/smart-sport/voluntary-code-good-governance
Read the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) news
release at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/8174.aspx
_____________________________________________________________________
Fitness industry in good health, report finds
The fitness industry's total market value has increased by
4% since 2008 to reach £3.81 billion, according to a new
industry report from the Fitness Industry Association (FIA).
The report also found that since the beginning of the recent
recession, gym membership in the
There is more on this story at:
http://www.leisuremanagement.co.uk/detail1.cfm?page
type=detail&subject=news&codeID=261763&site=LM&dom=N
_____________________________________________________________________
Royalties payday for published artists announced
Published photographers, illustrators and other visual
artists are being urged to claim their share of £4 million
in royalties when the Design & Artists' Copyright Society
(DACS) launches its Payback campaign on 13 June. The DACS
runs a collective licensing scheme that ensures artists get
paid when their work is reproduced. It will be accepting
claims from any visual artist whose work has been used in
books or magazines published in the
Read the DACS news release at:
http://www.dacs.org.uk/index.php?m=4
_____________________________________________________________________
Solicitors mull opportunity to switch regulators
Solicitors' firms that have converted to alternative
business structures (ABSs) could decide to switch regulators
after the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) was given
approval to broaden its remit. The Legal Services Board has
given the go-ahead for the CLC to regulate ABSs in the areas
of probate, reserved activities relating to the transfer of
land, and the administration of oaths, although this could
be extended to include advocacy and litigation. Stephen
Mayson, of the Legal Services Institute, said firms may
choose to switch in order to make cost and compliance
savings.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/solicitors-facing-039
challenge039-council-licenced-conveyancers-over-abss
_____________________________________________________________________UK
RGF round one: how small businesses will benefit.
Last week Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced which organisations had been successful in their bids to secure finance from the £450 million available in the first round of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF).
Following the announcement, some members of the small
business community voiced their disapproval that grants
were awarded to major companies such as Nissan, Haribo
and General Motors, but appeared not to consider the
smaller businesses which had been amongst the 464
applications for funding.
Subsequent reports suggest that unsuccessful bids simply
did not fit the RGF eligibility criteria, and while
small businesses may have missed out on grants because
they fell short of the £1 million minimum bid threshold,
they may still benefit from the funding indirectly.
One organisation that has been awarded a particularly large grant from the first round of the RGF is the Community Development Finance Association (cdfa), a trade association which represents Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) in the UK.
CDFIs, of which approximately 10% are also represented by the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA), are made up of enterprise agencies and business support organisations that provide loans to businesses that are unable to access funding by traditional means, such as banks.
In the biggest investment in the sector to date, £30
million of the RGF finance has been awarded to the cdfa
for the social and economic development of communities
across the country. This grant was matched by two
high-street banks, bringing the fund total to £60
million. The fund will be passed on to 35 CDFIs within
the cdfa, which will lend to small businesses in
deprived communities across the country.
Bernie Morgan, chief executive of the cdfa said: "We are
delighted to be one of the successful bidders to the
RGF, which was a highly competitive process. With this
fund we can continue our work of creating jobs and
providing growth in localities which need it most. We
relish the prospect."
While the sum of the RGF remains substantially lower
than the money spent on the Regional Development
Agencies that it replaces, a move towards supporting
such a far-reaching and influential association is
surely a good one as far as local business support is
concerned. Will we see similar results in round two?
Read the Government press release on the fund
announcement.
Official costings of new regulations questioned by business groups.
The Government is underestimating how much changes to
legislation such as scrapping the default retirement age
(DRA) will cost businesses, critics have warned. The
Department for Business (BIS) estimated that preparing
for the DRA abolition would only cost the average
business £13 each - half an hour of a "senior manager's"
time. It has also emerged that the immigration cap for
skilled workers announced earlier this month had not
been properly costed. Abigail Morris, policy adviser at
the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "We don't
believe any regulations should come in if the impact
assessment figures have not been verified."
There is more on this story at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/
8443664/Abolition-of-compulsory-retirement-not-costed.html
Most small businesses unaware of cheque guarantee card phase-out
Three quarters of small firms in Britain are not aware that the cheque card guarantee scheme will be phased out from June, with more than four in ten still using cheques for everyday transactions, according to new research from WorldPay. Almost half were unaware of plans to abolish the cheque completely by 2018, although these have been called into question after it emerged that a Treasury Select Committee is to consider how the move would affect users such as small businesses, sole traders and charities. Andrew Tyrie MP, who will chair the committee, said: "A decision of this size, which affects millions of people, businesses and charities, should not be imposed on us de facto."
There is more on this story at:
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/work/small-business/article.html?in_article_id=530427&in_page_id=10
And:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/apr/14/abolition-cheques-reconsidered-payments-council
Small firms facing hefty back-dated energy bills
Thousands of small businesses are being issued with
back-dated energy bills reaching thousands of pounds,
according to Consumer Focus. The watchdog has warned
that while energy suppliers can 'back-bill' domestic
customers for just one year's usage, for businesses this
extends to six years. It says the issue accounts for 40%
of its small business complaints, and is calling for a
new voluntary code to regulate the practice. Audrey
Gallacher, head of energy at Consumer Focus, said
"energy suppliers shouldn't treat small businesses in
the same way as they would multi-national corporations."
Read the Consumer Focus news release at:
http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/news/action-needed-on-
suppliers’-shock-energy-bills-to-small-businesses
Struggling retailers opt for CVAs to avoid insolvency
The number of Company Voluntary Agreements (CVAs)
secured in the retail sector was 15% higher last year
than in 2009, according to new figures from chartered
accountants Wilkins Kennedy. The firm said the increase
bucked the trend for insolvencies in the sector, which
fell by 18% overall to 1,290 in 2010. Director Anthony
Cork commented: "The fact that landlords are
increasingly prepared to accept CVAs suggests that
recent experiences have taught them that allowing a
company to go into administration is an even bigger
risk."
Read the Wilkins Kennedy news release at:
http://www.wilkinskennedy.com/news-and-press/press-releases/
company-voluntary-arrangements-in-retail-sector-soar-15-in-the-last-year
Business support groups angry at appointment on
new LEP leadership network
Representatives from UK business support groups have
voiced their concerns after Local Government Secretary
Eric Pickles announced that the British Chambers of
Commerce (BCC) has been chosen to lead a national
network of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), which
will cost £300,000 to set up.
Organisations including the Federation of Small
Businesses (FSB), the Institute of Directors (IoD) and
the Forum of Private Business (FBP) have criticised the
Department for Communities and Local Government's (CLG)
decision to ask the BCC to lead the network of LEPs
without going through a formal consultation or
procurement process first.
Phil Orford, chief executive of the FBP said: "To
discover that Government has been holding unilateral
discussions with one business organisation to provide a
networking body for the LEPs, without competitive tender
is frankly surprising and disappointing and will raise
questions about the localism agenda and public
procurement policy."
The BCC will lead the new network which will apparently
serve as a forum for the LEPs to share best practice,
solve local issues and drive economic growth. The
network will also act as an advocate for the LEPs in
Whitehall. However, business groups are concerned that
more diverse regional and local economic issues will not
be taken into account if just one national organisation
represents millions of businesses across the whole of
the country.
John Walker, national chairman of the FSB said: "For
LEPs to be truly effective they need to represent
diverse business interests. Picking a single business
organisation to run it in this way risks isolating both
those businesses which are not a member of any
membership body and those who are members of groups that
haven't been included from LEPs."
Miles Templeman, director general of the IoD commented:
"We question seriously the need to spend £300,000 of
taxpayers' money on a body whose purpose is to lobby
national Government on behalf of LEPs. No case has been
made to [the IoD] on this arrangement."
Despite business groups being openly unimpressed with
the set up, Mr Pickles was positive about the
appointment in his announcement of the launch of the
network: "The BCC came forward with a very strong
proposal and with its existing business network across
the country it is really well placed to anchor business
at the centre of new local enterprise."
While business groups are in agreement that LEPs would
benefit from a necessary degree of national
co-ordination, they are also raising fair questions
about the Government's commitment to localism and a more
transparent public procurement policy.
New R&D funding scheme to fall short of its
predecessor
A programme allowing small firms to apply for grants to research and develop new products has been re-launched with less funding, officials have admitted. The Grant for R&D is inviting applications for grants of up to £250,000 from small and medium-sized businesses seeking to develop prototypes or research new concepts or markets. A spokesman for the Technology Strategy Board, which will administer the scheme, said its budget was yet to be finalised, but admitted: "It is inevitable that the funding levels will not be as high. That is due to the deficit, which is the Government’s priority."
There is more on this story at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/8427417/Budget-for-small-company-RandD-grants-slashed.html
Project Merlin is failing to get banks lending, small businesses say
Most small businesses have seen no change in banks' approach to lending since Project Merlin was announced earlier this year, according to a new poll conducted by HotFrog. Some 70% said better access to funding would allow them to expand, with most of those claiming that they would hire at least one extra worker. However, despite promises that £76 billion would be earmarked for small and medium-sized businesses as part of the agreement between the Government and UK's biggest banks, more than three quarters of firms in the survey said they had not seen any change two months on.
There is more on this story at:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uk-small-businesses-say-theres-no-wizardry-in-project-merlin-119237594.html
Legal advice for retailers on Royal Wedding holiday rules
Advice on how retailers should deal with staffing issues arising from the Royal Wedding public holiday later this month has been published by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). The advice piece, by the ACS's legal advisor Graham Randall, says "There is no statutory requirement that employers must allow their staff to take public holidays and unless the contract of employment or industry custom provides otherwise they are under no obligation to do so." He adds that if workers ask to take the day off on 29 April, employers should treat it like any other holiday request.
Read the Mr Randall's advice piece at:
http://www.acs.org.uk/en/Press_Office/e-bulletin/details/index.cfm/obj_id/DB48529A-D968-427B-B15DAF0E72355E91