Stay informed with the latest UK self-employed news, small-business policy changes, tax updates and freelancer market trends.
Figures revealed today by Business Link, at an event attended leading entrepreneurs and Business Link ambassadors: Karen Darby (Call Britannia), John Bird (Big Issue), Imran Hakim (iTeddy), John Cowell (Cowell Co), and Claire Young (former Apprentice finalist) show that businesses believe they save time, increase their sales and raise profits as a direct result of using the Business Link service.
Small business owners are putting work before their health, according to new research published today. The figures reveal that one in four (26%) small business chiefs have missed, cancelled or put off a health appointment in the last year due to work commitments.
The chancellor is providing more help to small businesses by extending the availability of the enterprise finance guarantee scheme by six months to September 2010. Under the terms of the scheme, introduced in March, the government offers to guarantee 75% of loans to small firms with turnover of £25m or less.
Employees around the country really want to let loose this holiday season following the economic difficulties of the last 18 months – but nearly one in three won’t have the opportunity, as many smaller businesses plan to forgo the annual Christmas party this year.
Business groups including the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) have sounded a warning amid mounting expectations that Alistair Darling is contemplating a new 60pc to 70pc tax rate for those earning more than £500,000, as well as a windfall tax on banking bonuses.
UK VAT-registered SMEs are missing out on 1/4 of potential VAT reclaims due to sloppy expense practices, according to new research. Professor Stephen Roper, Centre for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, Warwick Business School, estimates that this equates to £1.18bn in lost fuel VAT reclaim potential.
A fundraising challenge to raise £6 million for charity in a single working week has been launched by one of the UK’s leading not for profit organisations.
The Big Give has created a matched fund – generated through a combination of trustees, major donors and the charitable Reed Foundation – which will be available from Monday 7 to Friday 11 December to attract £3 million of donations via its website, www.thebiggive.org.uk.
The recession has become the catalyst for a new era in business, according to a report by the CBI. The study by the employers’ group identifies four key areas of UK business where new ways of working could develop because of the downturn.
British businesses which have been devastated by the recent floods and are members of the Federation of Small Business (FSB) can apply for interest-free loans of up to £5,000 to help them through the crisis.
UK business cautiously group UK200 welcomed some of the government’s proposals to stabilise the financial system, announced in today’s Queen’s Speech – although it said more information was needed on how the measures would work in practice before a final judgement could be made on how effective they would be.
Last night, Minister for London, Tessa Jowell, called on London’s business leaders to help the capitals young people into work and to ensure they make the most of the Government support available to firms during the recession. Her call to action came as 1070 jobs for young people in London were announced as part of the Future Jobs Fund (FJF), with eight organizations in the capital to provide new posts.
Over 1200 business leaders and guests including keynote speaker Alistair Darling, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, were at the Orange-sponsored National Business Awards, to celebrate the success of the UK’s most innovative, ethical and resilient businesses in 2009 at the Grosvenor House Hotel last night (Nov10th).
The Apprentice star admitted he felt “frustrated” and considered his own position after facing calls for his resignation from small business leaders following his comments that struggling businesses were “moaners” living in “Disney World”.
A survey conducted at the end of last week shows that almost half of small businesses have maintained their profitability over the past year.
Lord Sugar needs “a taste of his own medicine” and should be fired as the Government’s “enterprise champion”, according to a company which advises hundreds of businesses every week as “his comments echo those of Marie Antionette.”
