The economic risks looming for small firms – Investec Comment August 31, 2015 Last week’s sharp sell-off in equity markets, apparently sparked by fears over the health of the Chinese economy, dramatically highlighted the risks to the global economic outlook. But the UK is still likely to enjoy moderate growth for at least the next two years. The CBI last week upgraded its UK forecasts for 2015 and [...]
Jeremy Corbyn for business? Here’s what the Labour leader hopeful’s pledging – corporation tax clampdown, support for small business and entrepreneurs August 16, 2015 Labour leader hopeful Jeremy Corbyn has unveiled plans to freeze rates for small businesses, clamp down on corporate tax avoidance and invest in skilled workers amid a raft of policies designed to show his commitment to business as the leadership race hots up. “The current government seems to think being 'pro-business' means giving a green light [...]
Your work-life balance is getting seriously out of hand: A million small business owners can’t afford to take a single day off work this summer August 12, 2015 Heard the one about work-life balance? You know, how you get to spend time with your friends and family and enjoy the summer while it lasts? Probably not if you're a small business owner or sole trader. A major new study of more than one million people found that a fifth of Britain's entrepreneurs [...]
Small businesses growing amid underwhelming export figures August 2, 2015 Small-and medium-sized manufacturers saw growth in the three months to July, despite a dramatic fall in export prices, according to a new survey out today. According to the latest Confederation of British Industry (CBI) SME trends survey, companies reported steady growth in domestic orders, a rise in output in line with expectations and a slight [...]
Small business welcomes late payment tsar as Anna Soubry dubs disputes “unacceptable” July 26, 2015 Business groups have come out in support of the latest government proposals for a new small business tsar tasked with addressing payment disputes. The department of business, innovation and skills said yesterday that a new, yet to-be-named small business commissioner would tackle unfair practices by leading a “culture change in how small businesses resolve disputes [...]
Smaller hedge funds do better during periods of financial crisis July 19, 2015 Hedge funds managing smaller pools of cash outpace their larger peers during times of financial crisis, an academic study shows. The report by Cass Business School reveals that small hedge funds left big hedge funds for dust in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. They were also found to have outperformed large funds between [...]
Small firms sceptical of new dispute service as they face later payment July 12, 2015 The average delay in receiving payments faced by small businesses has risen to 72 days, according to new research published today by the Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA). It is a day longer than a year ago and 11 days longer than at the peak of the recession. “Despite the economic recovery gathering pace, payment [...]
July Budget 2015: George Osborne pledges lowest corporation tax in G20 but new bank tax hits UK small lenders July 8, 2015 Chancellor pledges lowest corporation tax in the G20 – but casts punitive net over the UK’s small lenders Chancellor George Osborne ushered in a new tax regime for British banks yesterday, dialling down the controversial bank levy while introducing a new corporation tax surcharge for the entire lending industry. In a summer Budget that the [...]
July Budget 2015: Living wage bill hurts retailers and small firms July 8, 2015 Retail and hospitality industry insiders warned yesterday that their sectors face a huge rise in labour costs after a Tory pledge to introduce a minimum wage of £9 for over-25s by 2020. From April next year, businesses will be required to pay £7.20 per hour to workers over the age of 25, rising to [...]
DWP makes fresh pension push with Theo Paphitis advertising campaign to get small business auto-enrolling workers July 6, 2015 The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is relaunching its pensions advertising campaign starring Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Theo Paphitis in a new push to get small companies auto-enrolling staff in workplace pensions. The campaign will rework the previous creative used in 2012 when a £3.5m campaign first launched, as the government seeks to target businesses employing [...]