The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
As part of its strategy of reducing its passengers carbon footprint easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, has unveiled plans for a revolutionary zero emissions hydrogen fuel system for its aircraft which could save around 50,000 tonnes of fuel and the associated CO2 emissions per year.
Eight new projects have been awarded £20 million in funding to research and develop enhanced communication between vehicles and roadside infrastructure or urban information systems, including new ‘talking car technologies’, Business Secretary Sajid Javid has announced during a visit to the autonomous vehicles test bed in Nuneaton.
Confidence among UK businesses has declined further as companies react to weaker global economic data. Although still positive, the latest ICAEW/Grant Thornton UK Business Confidence Monitor reveals slower growth leading to a reduction in tax receipts for Treasury and a potential headache for the Chancellor ahead of next month’s Budget.
New research has found that stress and mental ill health remain one of the major causes of long-term absence for businesses – but this is an improvement on a year ago.
The Rail Supply Group (RSG) has today launched its strategy to build growth in the UK rail industry and support exports.
A cross-party group of MPs will this week challenge the government on why a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) inquiry into banking culture has been dropped.
Visit Britain, recognising the importance of Chinese tourists to the economy, have recently launched the ‘Great names for Great Britain’ campaign.
BT has announced a “standout quarter” after seeing a 24% rise in pre-tax profits to £862m in the three months to the end of December.
30 of the UK’s up-and-coming start-up businesses are to receive mentoring from a group of the country’s most successful entrepreneurs, including LOVEFiLM’s Simon Calver and Zoopla’s Alex Chesterman, as part of new Tech City initiative Upscale.
Production of the iconic Land Rover Defender is coming to an end today after almost 68 years on sale and with more than two million examples built.
Sponsors step in to fund five small business trade missions set to be run by the small business network this year
Leaving the European Union could drive down the pound and push up interest rates as Britain’s sky-high current account deficit leaves the country at the mercy of the “kindness of strangers”, Mark Carney has warned.
Over half of the UKs self-employed admit to worrying about personal finances, however it is not deterring the number of people opting to start their own business as numbers continue to reach record levels.
The British-built, Jaguar XE has bagged a brace of awards at the recent SME Car of the Year Awards, winning: Best Large SME Company Car, Best Director’s SME Company Car plus the Business Car Manager SME Company Car of the Year.
Staff absences are now costing businesses more than £500 per worker, but employers are still not doing enough to protect their employees’ wellbeing.
