Business News

New government: two into one may go

Business News 12 May 2010 Alina Fisher

Well, at least the political deadlock is over and the CCC (Cameron Clegg Coalition) have announced their policies. They're going to be pre-occupied with the monster issues of banking reform…

Elections: fastest finger first

Business News 6 May 2010 Alina Fisher

There was an alternative race going on around the UK last night. This was the race to see which constituency will declare results first. Sunderland has been the winner in…

Elections: a taxing business

Business News 4 May 2010 Alina Fisher

As pre-election fever hots up among the party leaders, take a cold hard look at the future. We could be in line for 'painful' tax rises, says one influential think…

Election Special – What Labour offers small businesses

Business News 15 Apr 2010 Alina Fisher

The Labour party says they are 'championing an enterprise economy'. Let's find out how they're going to do this, and what small businesses can expect. Their manifesto reconfirmed measures aimed…

Election Special – Business prospects under the Tories

Business News 15 Apr 2010 Alina Fisher

As expected, the Conservatives want to encourage greater personal and local responsibility rather than more central government. But David Cameron seized the advantage in the publicity war by promising to…

Election special – What can the Liberals do for you?

Business News 15 Apr 2010 Alina Fisher

As we're going to see the first ever live TV debate between the leaders of the three main political parties tonight, I thought I'd do a quick run-down of how…

How to get councils to pay for pothole damage

Business News 11 Apr 2010 Alina Fisher

Tens of thousands of private motorists and commercial vehicle owners are now claiming costs for damage from local councils that have not repaired dangerous potholes. Main highways are a bumpy…

Small firms not planning for recovery

Business News 9 Apr 2010 Alina Fisher

Even though we are climbing out of the recession, the vast majority of small businesses are not implementing recovery plans, says a survey out today. Only one out of nine…

Budget smiles on SMEs

Business News / SME 25 Mar 2010 Alina Fisher

Alastair Darling's final budget seems to offer some hope to small businesses. Of course, the election will be the deciding factor, but there are some encouraging signs. Presenting the budget,…

Americans, Spokescreatures and SMEs

Business News 25 Mar 2010 Alina Fisher

There's an intriguing little article at MSNBC about which company 'spokescreatures', mascots to you and me, that Americans like most. The piece is mainly about what big businesses do, but…

Does where you’re from affect what you do?

Business News 22 Mar 2010 Alina Fisher

I found a fascinating article on the yakuza, Japanese gangsters, and one thing in particular stood out: some people join because racism in Japan can stop them getting into good…

Deadline for business rates appeal

Business News 12 Mar 2010 Alina Fisher

If you're a small business and feel you've been paying too much for your business rates, then you have until 31 March to appeal to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).…

10 ways to cut your business mobile phone bill

Business News / SME / Tips/Tricks / Top 10 15 Feb 2010 Alina Fisher

We have been looking at the services that small businesses require as essential to their everyday running and have asked some suppliers for some advice for Office Chatter visitors. You…

What are the politicians offering small businesses?

Business News 12 Feb 2010 Alina Fisher

Can political parties buy the loyalty of small businesses with some pre-election rivalry? To see what the politicos were offering I did a quick scan of the General Election 2010…

Poll says government sitting on invoices

Business News 5 Feb 2010 Alina Fisher

The government and its agencies continue to pay small businesses late, despite making a public commitment a year ago to settle bills within 10 days. The prompt payment promise was…

We’re out of the recession. Are we out of danger?

Business News 30 Jan 2010 Alina Fisher

'Why does it require two quarters of economic decline to enter a recession and only one quarter of growth to exit it?' Was Phil Orford, chief executive of the Forum…

Sign of the times

Business News 17 Dec 2009 Alina Fisher

The UK Payments Council, the trade body of the clearing banks, has decided the cheque is an anachronism in an increasingly digital age, and will be phased out by 31…

The only way is up

Business News 27 Nov 2009 Alina Fisher

There's optimism in the air, according to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW). Their latest quarterly Business Confidence Monitor shows confidence rising for the third successive…

Getting ready for VAT change

Business News 9 Nov 2009 Alina Fisher

The switch over in VAT is fast approaching – and at a very inconvenient time for many retailers. They will be gearing up for Christmas, but also have to face…

Small firms weathering the recession

Business News 13 Oct 2009 Alina Fisher

The UK's small businesses remain concerned about the economic climate, but they are also grappling with rules and regulations, says the Open University Business School. The recession appears to have…

Jobs come at a price

Business News 9 Oct 2009 Alina Fisher

Unemployment is rising, and quite naturally, people are concerned about job security. But now there's news that more people are going in to work, even though they are not well,…

The economy and corporate distress

Business News 7 Aug 2009 Alina Fisher

The UK economy could have reached a plateau in terms of 'corporate distress', according to latest data from Deloitte. The consultancy firm says that business failures for the first half…

Summer fun in the sun… with the office just a phone call away

Business News 6 Aug 2009 Alina Fisher

With summer holidays coming up, we decided to do a survey to find out how many of you lovely people will get in touch with the office when you're off…

The Credit Crunch Crisis Budget

Business News 16 Jul 2009 Inksmith

Well what an important budget! Too important not to mention. You know, the one where Oh My Darling (OMD) gives us the hard love that is needed to save us…

BA’s flying by the seat of their pants – would you work for free?

Business News 18 Jun 2009 Inksmith

The most recently published unemployment statistics indicate that in the past three months someone has lost their job every 30 seconds in the UK. That makes for pretty dismal reading…

Take a Tech Break – Google Wave and Microsoft’s Project Natal

Business News 10 Jun 2009 Inksmith

Two interesting bits of news from the tech world: Google Wave and Microsoft's Project Natal. Google Wave is the company's attempt at redefining email (which has been around for decades).…

Small businesses pay the price for Tube Strikes

Business News 9 Jun 2009 Inksmith

So once again Bob Crow has served his customary crippling blow to the London economy with the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry estimating that the RMT's decision to strike…

The Credit Crunch Crisis Budget

Business News / SME 24 May 2009 Alina Fisher

Well what an important budget! Too important not to mention. You know, the one where Oh My Darling (OMD) gives us the hard love that is needed to save us…

Does it matter that politicians have the biggest snouts?

Business News / Stationery 18 May 2009 Inksmith

Well what a kerfuffle! As if we didn’t have enough to lambast politicians about in the last few weeks we have seen the most significant rejection of the political elite…