Independent retailers from across the UK could unite under a single website and delivery system, if a government-backed pilot project to revive Britain’s high streets succeeds.
Category: News Wire
Daily feed of the best news affecting your small and medium sized business SME / SMB from media and websites in Britain and across the world
‘Get some backbone’ Osborne urged as CBI and BCC slash growth forecasts
Business has called on ministers “to get some political backbone and show some leadership”, as the two largest industry lobby groups – the CBI and BCC – slashed their growth forecasts for the year, rounded on the Government for failing to kick-start the economy, and warned the Chancellor that he may miss his deficit reduction goals.
If only John Lewis ran the banks. Oh, and the NHS, trains, Inland Revenue…
Given public disaffection with the banks, and the widespread trust we place in John Lewis, Max Davidson has a suggestion
SFO launches investigation into Barclays payments to Qatar
The Serious Fraud office has launched an investigation into Barclays 2008 fundraising, amid concerns at some of the fees paid by the bank in connection with the deal, reports The Telegraph.
Holt Review calls for apprenticeship reform for SMEs
The apprenticeship system needs to be overhauled to resolve the “cluelessness” small companies have about taking on trainees, a Government report has found.
Sir Richard Branson urges David Cameron to intervene in West Coast rail deal
Sir Richard Branson has urged David Cameron to “get some sense” into the Department for Transport’s decision to hand the West Coast rail franchise to FirstGroup, as he vowed to fight it “until there’s no longer a fight to be had”.
Germany and France agree to work together on solution to eurozone crisis
Finance ministers announce working group to integrate policies as German business confidence falls to lowest level since 2010
Creating a business bank is the bold move needed for growth
As the denizens of Whitehall and Westminster continue to puzzle over Britain’s rocky growth trajectory, they would do well to listen to the rising chorus coming from businesses across the land.
Apple shares at record high after Samsung court win
Shares in Apple have hit a record high in the wake of its court victory over rival Samsung, which saw the South Korean company ordered to pay $1.05bn (£655m) for copying patents.
HMRC to ‘visit’ up to 90 tax advisers
HM Revenue & Customs, in what is perhaps its latest attempt to clamp down on tax avoidance, has announced plans to visit around 80 or 90 tax agents whose client tax filing or tax payment it deems to have fallen “outside the range it would normally expect to see”.
Apple and Samsung get South Korea bans
A South Korean court has ruled that Apple and Samsung both infringed each other’s patents on mobile devices.
Labour MP accuses Government of hiding scale of RBS Libor fines
RBS faces bigger Libor-rigging fines than Barclays, according to Labour MP John Mann.
UK recession may not be as deep as feared
Britain’s recession might not be as deep as feared after better-than-expected construction and industrial production figures suggest that official GDP figures for the second quarter will be revised up on Friday.
Merkel and Hollande in extension talks
The leaders of Germany and France are set to hold talks in Berlin on whether to give Greece more time to make the cuts required by its debt bailout
Social enterprises in trademark row with Salesforce
Salesforce is embroiled in a row with businesses over its attempt to trademark the term “social enterprise”.
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