Legal changes for 2010
With the coming of a new year, business owners need to consider how 2010′s legislative changes are going to affect their businesses. Planning ahead will make it easier to implement any necessary changes – and may prevent costly mistakes.
Inevitably, the economic climate has affected what we should expect in 2010. Chief among these is the return to the 17.5 per cent VAT rate from 1 January. In 2008, it was lowered to 15 per cent in a bid to kick start the economy.
Read more: http://businessmatters.hsbc.co.uk/go.asp?/.website.bmcontainer/bHKC001/&page=bm201001.4
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Why is cloud suitable for my business?
Web-based service on demand that’s cheap, scalable and reliable: what’s not to like?
Cloud services make effective mobile working possible. Communication is quick and hassle-free: no matter where you are, once you can access the internet you can access your files. Offering everything from data storage, spreadsheets and word processing, to presentations, conferencing and hosting, the cloud does everything an office, an office server and an office computer can do. On the go.
Businesses opt for the cloud to facilitate flexible working: so if you are a business spread across a number of physical locations and you need access to given services that can’t be locked down to a single server in your office, cloud is for you.
There are lots of other advantages of the cloud, as well.
Read more: http://www.startups.co.uk/6678842908460848140/why-is-cloud-suitable-for-my-business.html
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Effective project management
Every business owner has to juggle a number of projects at any one time. But while resources are tight during the downturn, it’s particularly important you make the best use of your time. We explain how to manage projects more effectively.
“Project management is all about successfully achieving objectives by planning and organising resources, and much of it is common sense,” says Adrian Dooley, spokesman for the Association of Project Management (APM).
“Often, the perception is that project management is only about major developments – like the Olympics, for example – but actually, the principles can be distilled right down to the smallest scale,” he explains.
In small firms, project management can help achieve specific goals, such as introducing a new product or service, moving to new offices, starting a new marketing campaign or creating a website.
Read more: http://businessmatters.hsbc.co.uk/go.asp?/.website.bmcontainer/bHKC001/&page=bm201001.2
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Cheques to go by 2018
The banks must find a simple alternative to cheques in order to make their elimination easy and manageable for businesses, it has been claimed.
The UK Payments Council announced today that cheques in the UK would be phased out by October 2018. The board said the use of them was in ‘terminal decline’.
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) said while it understood many business owners may have serious concerns over the decision, it was not opposed, in principle, to phasing out cheques.
However, the business group said a suitable alternative must be found before the 2018 date.
Read more: http://www.startups.co.uk/6678842907445519817/cheques-to-go-by-2018.html
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Merry Christmas
Wishing all our readers a very Merry Christmas.
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The principles of the Data Protection Act in detail
This Guide explains the purpose and effect of each principle, and gives practical examples to illustrate how the principles apply in practice.
By answering many frequently asked questions about data protection, the Guide will prove a useful source of practical advice to those who have day-to-day responsibility for data protection.
Download the guide here: http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/the_guide_to_data_protection.pdf
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Some businesses missing out on best communications deals
Telecommunications services are becoming more important to UK businesses, new Ofcom research revealed today, with communicating on the move vital for many firms.
Ofcom’s first comprehensive research into how UK businesses use telecoms services explores take-up, use of services and views about landline, mobile and internet services.
Businesses spent 13.9billion on telecoms services in 2008, accounting for 45 per cent of total retail telecoms turnover. For businesses with five employees or more, the mean annual spend on telecoms services per year is 14,600 which is 19 times more than the average household.
The mix of services being used by business is changing over time, with mobile, internet and data services becoming increasingly important. More than 85 per cent of businesses were satisfied with the range of products and services available across all telecoms markets.
The research shows how businesses are an important part of the telecoms market and telecoms services are playing an increasingly key role in the success of UK businesses.
However the research also shows that they could be getting more from their communications service.
The research highlights three main areas of concern amongst businesses using telecoms services:
- Some dissatisfaction with customer service and broadband speeds;
- Difficulties in negotiating a better deal and switching providers; and
- Problems with mobile not-spots in certain areas of the UK.
Read more here: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2009/12/nr_20091209
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Firms at risk of litigation
Accountancy firm BDO has warned small business owners that cost-cutting measures to reduce staff overheads have increased the risk of companies being drawn into litigation.
Research by BDO has revealed that 50% of firms have sought to reduce their costs by increasing their use of subcontractors and freelancers and outsourcing activities such as support services or relocating facilities.
“The speed and extent of the recession has forced many to make tough choices and to find innovative ways to cut costs and manage their business,” said Gervase MacGregor of BDO.
“It is evident from some of the disputes that we have been instructed upon that businesses often expose themselves to enormous commercial risks which can result in disputes and litigation.”
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Envirowise Business Thrift Shift Report – December 2009
A new report from Envirowise on how the recession has impacted on business resource efficiency trends in the UK.
Download report here: http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/uk/Press-Office/Press-Releases/Envirowise-Business-Thrift-Shift-Report–November-2009.html
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Key measure of inflation rises to 1.9%
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) – a key measure of inflation – has risen to 1.9%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This is an increase on October’s figure of 1.5% and means that November’s rate is the highest since May this year. The inflation rate is forecast to rise further next year when the VAT discount ends.
CPI is the measure of the average price of consumer goods and services purchased by households.
The Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation measure, which includes mortgage interest payments, increased to 0.3% from a rate of -0.8% in October – the first time the RPI index has been positive since January this year. The rise in inflation was largely driven by higher petrol prices.
“By far the largest upward pressure affecting the change in the CPI annual rate came from transport,” said the ONS.
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