Opinion and thought leadership from freelancers, small business experts and solo entrepreneurs shaping the UK’s independent economy.
So Manchester United have done it again. Or, rather, Sir Alex Ferguson has done it again. His team’s victory over Aston Villa, inspired by a first-half hat trick from an energised Robin van Persie, earned United its 20th league title and Fergie his 13th. It’s a record that elevates the club, and its esteemed, indefatigable 71-year-old manager yet higher in the echelons of the sport.
Proposals which will see the introduction of a ‘share for rights’ scheme is a worrying decision which sets a “ dangerous precedent”, a leading employment law expert has warned.
The announcement to extend the Bank of England’s Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) for another year is unlikely to boost business lending or business growth so says two alternative funding sources for SMEs
Traditional media has been completely transformed over the past decade as a shift towards digitalisation has created an era of smartphones, tablets & e-readers.
“It was reported today that 500 leading businesses including well known leaders such as former M&S chief Sir Stuart Rose have backed a campaign to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the EU and that senior allies of the Prime Minister are concerned that this might be the start of a movement to leave the union.
The Chancellor George Osborne will be beefing up the £80 billion ‘Funding for Lending’ scheme ( FLS) this month. Speaking to Business Matters William Chase – the founder both Tyrrells Crisps and the Chase Distillery – said banks must support proven or potential exporters.
As the UK tech sector is growing at a pace with investment, sales and government support at record levels some are sounding fears of concern that startups could be wasting thousands of pounds of early-stage funds as high priced events and support businesses spot the potentially lucrative market.
David Gauke MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury joins us to tell how the Government is striving to create a simpler, fairer and more efficient tax system; wanting to minimise the time people have to spend interacting with government so they can get on with the more important job of running their businesses.
With spring time comes new expectations, plans and desires. Claire Lister, MD of Pitman Training talks to us about the excitement of the coming year and with high growth targets for her own business in sight why she is lucky to be surrounded by positive people who can help make them happen.
Crowdfunding is being promised as a wonderfully disruptive and democratic development in seed funding, however experts are warning that is poses the potential to become another financial misselling scandal.
Britain’s young generation must be given improved access to vocational training alongside academic studies says Will Davies – a long term campaigner for a return to traditional apprenticeship schemes.
According to Bank of England Governor Mervyn King, UK banks are currently overstating their capital by somewhere in the region of £52 billion. The country’s two part nationalised banks, RBS and Lloyds, possibly account for as much as half of that figure.
Most people will be familiar with the term: ‘where there’s blame there’s a claim’. This was the rather forthright catchphrase of a personal injury company, now no longer trading.
Charles Purdy, MD of Smart Currency Exchange talks about corporate structure and the processes key to success
Whilst social & environmental responsibility and financial necessity are now aligned for many larger organisations, SMEs have been slower to recognise sustainability as a driver of bottom line business success, rather than a nice-to-have. Nathan Wimble, Commercial Director at The CarbonNeutral Company, argues that the imminent introduction of Mandatory Carbon Reporting (MCR) gives SME’s a chance to get on the front foot when it comes to managing their carbon footprint. For many companies it could be the start of a wider environmental sustainability programme that benefits their business as well as the environment.
