Latest News
Call for wider Manchester congestion charge vote
Greater Manchester's Chamber of Commerce is calling on local authorities to offer more business owners the opportunity to vote on the city's proposed congestion charge, it has been reported.
BPF: Lower rent bad news for small firms
Experts are saying the recent drop in rent on shops is not good news for retail businesses as it will result in lesser availability of premises.
Do not rely on virtual offices, association warns
Although virtual offices can be useful for keeping a business going after a disaster, it can be difficult to rely on them for the long term, an industry expert warns.
Better health and safety info could save £300m, BERR says
Improving the health and safety information available to small firms could save them £300 million in total, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) claims.
Boris promises support for London's small shops
London mayor Boris Johnson has pledged to help the capital's small shops by ensuring more affordable small premises are available in new developments.
Firms urged to set up volunteering schemes
Volunteering England has launched a campaign to encourage SMEs to give more to charities by setting up employer supported volunteering (ESV) schemes.
IRM: Virtual offices getting more accepted
Consumers are increasingly accepting of businesses running from virtual offices rather than bricks and mortar buildings, according to the Institute of Risk Management (IRM).
'Underinsurance leaves firms open to claims'
Many small businesses are underinsured - meaning that they could potentially face legal claims amounting to more than £3 billion, according to research.
Energy efficiency could save £2.5bn, says think-tank
British businesses could save £2.5 billion in costs if they implemented energy-efficiency savings, new research from the Carbon Trust shows.
BCC: High-speed rail not enough
Having a high-speed rail network is not enough to solve the business disadvantages caused by a 'crumbling transport infrastructure', according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
Environment Agency launches green campaign
The Environment Agency claims that greater compliance with environmental regulation could save millions of pounds for small businesses.
Employees urged to make small changes for the environment
Small business can become more energy efficient by making 'very simple' changes, an expert claims.
FPB says economy unsustainable for small businesses
There is a 'toxic combination' of problems facing small firms in the UK, according to the Forum of Private Businesses (FPB).
CBI: 'Working time directive opt-out advantage for UK'
The UK is given a competitive advantage by Britain's option to allow workers' to opt-out of the European working time directive, it is reported.
CBI: 'Working time directive opt-out advantage for UK'
Under rules in the UK, employees are given the choice to work more than the 48 hours dictated in other European Union countries.