The International Festival for Business (IFB2014) launches today, offering in partnership with UKTI and the Department of Business Skills and Innovation, more than 1,000 live business opportunities with an estimated value of over £1.7bn.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
UK SMEs confident of growth
The majority of the UK’s small and mid-sized firms are optimistic about their financial prospects for the year ahead, and looking to new markets both at home and overseas for growth finds new research by BSI, the business standards company.
Employment in services hits 17-year high
The dominant services sector expanded faster than expected last month as hiring matched a 17-year high
Queen announces introduction of Small Business Bill to help UKs SMEs
The Queen’s Speech today highlighted the introduction of the ‘Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill’, a piece of legislation that is, for the first time, specifically designed to address the needs of UKs small businesses.
Coalition’s ‘bold’ finale unveiled
Pensions took centre stage in an 11 bill programme, with changes to annuities and workplace schemes.
Vodafone to shut Silicon Valley tech incubator and boost London hub
Company tapping into UK skills as London xone hub takes on responsibility for developing mobile technologies
UK’s self-employed are working longer and earning more
The UK’s growing economy is directly affecting the UK’s self-employed workforce, who today confirmed a growth in availability of work and contract rates, based on new research from Crunch Accounting.
Don’t Waste Window of Opportunity to Reform EU
As voters across the Continent give all European leaders cause to reflect on the EU’s agenda for the years ahead, the CBI set out the business vision for a reformed EU focussing on boosting jobs and raising living standards. It urged all politicians not to waste the opportunity for change.
New £56million growth fund for SMEs across Greater Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country
Businesses across Greater Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country have an opportunity to access finance to grow and create jobs as part of a £56million Mezzanine Fund.
Workplace Optimism Grows
Consumer confidence has reached its highest level in almost seven years as economic optimism among British workers increases, new figures from YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research suggest.
Anxiety, depression & banks behaving as ‘SME slaughterhouses’
Owners and directors of small and medium sized businesses are still being caused problems, including stress-related health issues, through the late payment of invoices despite the economic upturn, a survey by the International Association of Book-keepers (IAB) has found.
Future High Street Forum finds that good leadership leads to great high streets
The Future High Street Forum has published a report that identifies local leadership as the ‘recipe for success’ on the high street.
Project Innovate: Helping Firms Meet the Technological and Regulatory Challenge
Innovative firms, particularly smaller start-ups, will be offered the chance to work with the FCA whilst the develop new technologies and approaches to ensure they are compliant with regulations from the moment they go live said FCA chief-executive Martin Wheatley
Latest SME Finance Monitor Shows Recovery on Course
Despite positive signs of the economic recovery continuing to gather momentum
Apple buy Dr Dre’s Beats for $3bn
Deal for Beats’ music streaming service and headphones arm is Apple’s largest ever.
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