SME Business News

The recession has raised concerns about commercial models, supply chains and finance that will reshape business behaviour well into the next decade, the CBI has commented.
Launching its report “The Shape of Business - The Next 10 Years”, the UK’s leading business organisation said that the recession and credit crunch had become the catalysts for a [...]

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John Wright, FSB National Chairman  comments:
“As the country goes to the polls next year, unemployment and public debt will still be high. An incoming government – of whatever hue – will be placed in an awkward position; it will be forced to make some tough decisions to steer a steady course through very choppy waters [...]

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An increase in the state pension, announced in the 2009 Pre-Budget Report, will not apply to all areas of the pension system, it has been revealed.
Chancellor Alistair Darling announced that the basic state pension would increase by 2.5% in April, bringing the full basic rate to £97.65 a week.
However, a number of additional pension-related benefits [...]

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1 January: Due date for payment of corporation tax for period ended 31 March 2009.
14 January: Due date for income tax for the CT61 quarter to 31 December 2009.
19/22 January: Quarter 3 2009/10 PAYE remittance due.
31 January: First self assessment payment on account for 2009/10.
Capital gains tax payment for 2008/09.
Balancing payment – 2008/09 income tax/Class [...]

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Interest rates are unlikely to go back up until 2011, a leading economist has predicted.
Alan Clarke, UK economist at BNP Paribas, said he believes it will be some time before interest rates increase again because the current economic environment is not conducive to such a move.
He added: “There won’t be any interest rate hikes throughout [...]

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Despite high-profile insurance and financial marketing campaigns promoting their benefits, new research suggests comparison sites aren’t giving users good enough service for financial products.
Which? Money discovered that the average customer score for such websites was lower for than any other financial sector surveyed. No site scored more than 50 per cent.
James Daley, Editor of Which? [...]

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SME Invoice Finance has seen its invoice finance video commissioned specially for YouTube reach an impressive 1,000 hits.
Invoice finance, including invoice discounting and factoring, is a proven way to grow your business. This funny, Alan Partridge style Fast Finance Guide from SME Invoice Finance introduces business owners to invoice discounting and factoring to improve cash [...]

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Nearly a quarter of small business owners put their work commitments before their health according to a survey carried out by Continental Research, on behalf of Abbey and Alliance & Leicester business banking.
Of the 300 small business owners reviewed companies with the most employees had the biggest problem getting to the Doctor. 41% of small [...]

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Small businesses have collectively saved almost £3 billion a year in a drive by the government to cut back on red tape.
The British government’s target is to cut administrative work for small businesses to 25% by May 2010 in an attempt to save at least £3.3 billion. In addition to this they have recently announced [...]

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The FPB has welcomed some of the small business-friendly measures outlined by the Chancellor, including the extension to the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme, the freeze on corporation tax for small firms and the extension of the Time to Pay scheme. However, the FPB is arguing that the support package announced by Mr Darling will [...]

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