Technical problems including email and internet failures have been voted the most stressful office issue for workers. Some 31 per cent of office staff find internet and emails breaking down the most annoying occurrence, according to a study of 800 respondents by ECigaretteDirect.co.uk. An unrealistic workload came in second with almost a fifth (18 per [...]
Archive for Small Business News
SME revenue fall a ‘blip’
Small business domestic turnover decreased by 7 per cent between Q4 2011 and Q1 2012, research finds. Export turnover for the same period is also down by 9 per cent, confirming a slow start to the year, according to a quarterly study by ABN AMRO Commercial Finance. However, year-on-year export turnover is still up 68 [...]
Apprenticeships proving effective for SMEs
Britain’s apprentices are getting promoted, improving their confidence and taking on more responsibility in the workplace, according to a report. The Apprentice Learner Survey of 5,000 apprentices reveals that almost nine in ten apprentices (89 per cent) are ‘satisfied’. One third of individuals who had finished their apprenticeship had received a promotion (32 per cent), [...]
Calls to address sickness absence
The government is being urged to reinvigorate its efforts to tackle sickness absence. Manufacturers’ organisation EEF made the call on the back of publication of the EEF/Westfield Health 2012 annual sickness absence report, which includes the UK’s largest private sector business survey of sickness absence. The overall sickness absence rate remains unchanged from 2010 (2.2 [...]
Jobs outlook promising for SMEs
The short-term jobs outlook has ‘turned positive’ for the first time in more than a year, research finds. A report of 1,000 employers by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) shows the net employment balance, which measures the difference between the proportion of employers that intend to increase total staffing levels and those [...]
Queen’s Speech ‘missed opportunity’ for business
The Queen’s speech could have delivered more for enterprise, according to business commentators. Edward Winterton, executive director of Bibby Financial Services, says that the Speech was not used by the Coalition to plan economic growth, particularly given the support for small businesses George Osborne hinted at in the Budget. He adds, ‘The review of how [...]
SMEs could be in line for tax rebate
Hundreds of thousands of UK small business owners are due a sizeable tax rebate from HMRC, according to a tax specialist. CA Tax Solutions says that any company that owns a commercial premises has a high probability of receiving a capital allowances tax windfall to the tune of thousands, or even tens of thousands of [...]
Businesses to comply with new website privacy laws
UK small businesses could face fines of up to £500,000 if they fail to meet tough new website privacy laws which come into force this month. Commercial law firm EMW warns that regulation to come into effect on 25 May will mean that visitors to company websites will have to give permission for the website [...]
FPB: Protect small operators from supermarkets
A business group has urged the government to protect small suppliers from unfair treatment by supermarkets. Ahead of tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) has appealed to the government to ensure the Groceries Code Adjudicator, set up to investigate complaints about grocery retailers with a turnover of £1 billion or more, has [...]
Wonga enters business loan market
Short-term loan provider Wonga is set to launch a business loan service, which wlll reportedly make funds available within 15 minutes of an application. The firm, which has been heavily criticised for lending to individuals at an APR of 4,214 per cent, claims business loans will be on offer at rates starting at 17 per [...]