Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, has urged the government to set incentives for banks to boost the amount of lending to cash-tight small and medium sizes businesses. King has been questioned by members of the parliament’s Treasury Select Committee on the central bank’s decision to buy only gilts, rather than other assets … Read more
SME
A good business plan is a foundation for any successful business; without one, you’re starting a long journey without a roadmap. One of the main reasons businesses fail is a lack of direction and understanding in the core purpose of the business, and a lack of understanding in your target market. In order to help … Read more
We’re a few months away from the Business North West 2012 exhibition in Manchester. Taking place over the 17th and 18th April 2012, the event is one of the premier business exhibitions held in the North West during the year. Free to attend, the exhibition brings together small businesses to large corporations, including a number … Read more
A preliminary survey of the European leasing market in 2010 by Leaseurope – the trade association representing the automotive rental industry – has shown that new leasing has increased on the continent by 4.9%, raising the total new volume of leased amounts to €227 billion. This is an increase from €209 billion in 2009. Such … Read more
New business owners will be benefiting from a pilot scheme by the HMRC to offer ‘telephone education’ in order to help advise them on the requirements of filing tax for a business. In HMRC’s own words, they will be calling and offering “…to talk them through some of the main things they need to know … Read more
Barclays has stopped offering asset finance to firms with turnover of less than £5 million a year, according to The Times. Give us news, not history, some might say! The pullout from the key area of small business lending comes in the wake of promises to the government that Barclays would boost loans to small … Read more
Global IT Trade Association CompTIA have released new research showing that SMEs (small and medium size enterprises) are intending to increase spending on Information Technology products and service despite impending financial constraints. According to the report, the three biggest IT problems for SMEs include: Tight bugets IT Legacy systems Lack of skills The report reveals … Read more