Business News for Business Decision Makers
Compensation culture costs small businesses
The governments determination to halt the growth of a compensation culture has been welcomed by the FSB.The FSB has been calling for action for the last two years and is pleased that in speech today Lord Falconer, the Constitutional Affairs Secretary, committed the Government to combating the problem of frivolous claims.
http://www.fsb.org.uk/news.asp?REC=2185 
SMEs at risk from fuel price hikes
Small business are feeling the pinch of energy price hikes, according to a new report. The study, by Energyhelpline.com, revealed that one in five SMEs believed energy prices were now at an extortionate level and feared further hikes could put them out of business.
http://www.businesseurope.com/newsfeed/document?id=BEP1_News_0000069861
UK workforce set to give employers a nightmare
The UKs workforce is set to give employers a headache next year with 42 per cent planning to change jobs, a survey has revealed. The survey, by website totaljobs.com, reveals that almost a quarter of those planning to leave their jobs next year cited career advancement as their main reason, leaving bosses with an employment nightmare.
http://www.startups.co.uk/Yafa8ENojdegVw.html
An action plan & small business and procurement
Public bodies must start to think small first when it comes to putting their services out to tender. Otherwise small businesses will continue to miss out on vital multi-billion pound markets, the FSB said today. In the UK the public sector spends around ?117billion on products and services. In England local authority expenditure alone is ?42billion.
http://www.fsb.co.uk/news.asp?REC=2207
Businesses get helping hand over family tax
Family run businesses worried over the implications of a recent test case involving the section 660a tax clause have been offered advice by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
http://www.startups.co.uk/YWZIZUNoyMzKtA.html
Is your website being found?
With thousands of search engines, portals, directories and destination sites, where do you start? This is where pay-per-click advertising comes into play. Pay-per-click advertising can give you access to a vast targeted distribution network, so you dont need to go to each individual website to strike separate deals. You only need to deal with one pay-per-click provider.
http://www.smallbusiness.co.uk/news/front-page/article/3505
Businesses determined to succeed despite lack of support
UK entrepreneurs are undeterred by the lack of support they receive by the government, a new survey reveals. The report, by financial advisor Axa, shows that, despite nearly half of small business respondents being unconvinced about the level of support provided by the government, 48 per cent are still ambitious about their business prospects.
http://startups.co.uk/YRQknqJoS63Ijg.html
Entrepreneurs give thumbs up to the UK
Small business owners have backed the UK as a good place to do business. A study by Bibby Financial Services found an overwhelming 90% of entrepreneurs agreed the UK has various strengths which makes it an attractive location to run their business.
http://old.chamberonline.co.uk/cmn/viewdoc.jsp?cat=all&docid=BEP1_News_0000069859
Small firms suffer rise in employee stress
Small businesses are not doing enough to prevent stress and work-related injuries suffered by staff, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has claimed. According to new research by the union organization, worry, repetitive strain injury (RSI), and back strains were the three most common problems in UK workplaces. The TUC said that employers are failing to protect their employees from ill health and injuries.
http://www.startups.co.uk/YQtI3KU.html
ACAS publishes stress guidance
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) has published a new booklet focusing on good practice when handling stress in the workplace. 'Stress at Work' contains examples and information about what business owners should be doing when dealing with staff who claim they are suffering from stress. It also contains guidance on dealing with stress-related employment tribunals.
To get the booklet, go to:
http://www.acas.org.uk/publications/b18.html
UK firms fall down on innovation
Businesses risk falling behind unless they invest more money and time coming up with new ideas, a new report by the Design Council (DC) suggests. Research involving 1,500 businesses for the report shows that only a third had introduced a new product or service in the last three years.
http://www.businesseurope.com/newsfeed/document?id=BEP1_News_0000069874
Griffiths welcomes improved business start-up figures
Small Business Minister Nigel Griffiths today welcomed new figures that show the highest number of business VAT registrations since records began in 1994. New statistics from the DTI's Small Business Service outline the number of businesses which registered and de-registered for VAT in 2003. They show an 8 per cent increase in the number of firms registering, bringing the overall number of registered businesses at the start of 2004 to 1.8 million.
This means there has now been an increase in the number of registered enterprises each year for the past nine years, from 1995 onwards.
http://www.sbs.gov.uk/default.php?page=/press/news172.php
130,000 Women go solo
Over 130,000 women became their own bosses over the past year helping to generate ?130 billion for British business, Industry Minister Jacqui Smith revealed today. Although around 26 per cent of all self-employed people are women, they are still the largest under represented group in terms of business enterprise. A new toolkit for business advisors, The Case for Women's Enterprise, is released today to tackle this and help boost the number of female entrepreneurs in the UK.
http://www.sbs.gov.uk/default.php?page=/press/news174.php
Businesses need inspiring leaders
The Department of Trade and Industry's Best Practice unit has released new research, in partnership with the Chartered Management Institute, indicating that fewer than 40% of businesses have inspiring managers and directors who foster results and respect among their teams. The DTI has published a booklet, 'Inspiring Leadership', which looks at examples of best practice in leadership and explains how businesses can practically apply the advice.
To find out more about the research, go to:
http://www.managers.org.uk/institute/news_1.asp?category=1&news=2562&id=183&id=9&admin=1
New industrial policy to boost British business
"UK will be the best place in the world for science" states Patricia Hewitt. Science, innovation and technology will be the key to Britain's future industrial success the Prime Minister and Patricia Hewitt will say today as the Government publishes the DTI 5-year programme.
The programme maps out 'a new industrial policy' with a clear ambition to make Britain the most attractive place in the world for scientific research.
'Creating Wealth from Knowledge' states that Britain is winning in the global knowledge economy, but we need to do more to meet the challenge of rising economies such as China and India. We need greater exploitation of science and technology and a step-change in innovation in our economy, and our workplaces.
http://www.sbs.gov.uk/default.php?page=/press/news177.php
Study shows UK businesses embracing E-Commerce
Mike O'Brien, the E-Commerce Minister, today announced that the latest International Benchmarking Study shows that UK businesses are now amongst the most sophisticated users of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the world, certainly competing with the G7 and Australia, Ireland, South Korea and Sweden.
http://www.sbs.gov.uk/default.php?page=/press/news173.php
Online retailing to rocket in 2005
Online businesses in the UK are forecasting that revenues will grow by 36 per cent next year, according to new figures. The figures, released by Media group Cybersource International, also show that twenty million shoppers will have spent ?17 billion online this year, leading the group to project that by 2009, 25 per cent of shopping will be conducted over the web.
http://www.startups.co.uk/Yd5ZKrQ.html
Gloom descends on manufacturers
New figures show that the manufacturing industry remains stuck in a rut and that the hoped-for recovery in the sector is disappearing fast. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) data shows that output, demand and input prices are all weighing against businesses in the embattled sector.
http://www.startups.co.uk/YT_t5WY.html
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