UK SMEs can save £400m a year through carbon footprint reduction
UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at offices across the UK could collectively save nearly £400m per year in energy costs, and over 2.5m tonnes of C02, by reducing their carbon footprints and certifying their efforts under the Carbon Trust Standard.
The Carbon Trust Standard SME online certification is the only tool designed specifically to help small business’ certify their carbon footprint reductions. SMEs using the tool have, on average, cut their energy costs by £2,000 per year, and their carbon footprints by 13 tonnes CO2.
Read more: http://www.freeofficesearch.co.uk/OfficeSpaceNews/UK-SMEs-Can-Save-400m-Pounds-A-Year-By-Going-Green
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£450 million of Discounted Business Bank Loans for SMEs
Small businesses will be able to access an extra £450 million of discounted loans after two high street banks negotiated extra European funding.
Santander and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) have secured the funds from the European Investment Bank (EIB). RBS will be offering £300 million at 0.6% below its standard interest rate; Santander has £150 million to lend at 0.7% below its usual rate.
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Big tax changes for small businesses
Small business taxation is facing major reform with the potential merging of income tax and national insurance contributions, new approaches to taxing very small, unincorporated businesses, and a review of IR35 rules, says Francesca Lagerberg, Head of Tax at Grant Thornton.
In his 2011 budget speech, Chancellor George Osborne announced changes to the way small businesses are to be taxed. This follows the advice and recommendations proposed by the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS).
Following its initial review of the tax reliefs available in today’s tax system, the OTS’s second job was to carry out a review of small business taxation (PDF). The interim report, published on 10 March 2011, identifies those areas of the tax system that cause the most day-to-day complexity and uncertainty for small businesses, and recommends where to prioritise efforts in simplifying the regime.
The overwhelming conclusion is that major structural changes are required if the Government is to achieve a genuine and long-lasting simplification of the UK tax system.
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Small business owners rely on ‘gut instinct’ – *gulp*
Research released by T-Mobile shows that 56% of the UK’s small business owners would rely on gut instinct to make decisions about the future of their business.
The results found that 56% of small business owners believe that nothing stops them making change in their business, and 36% initiate change more in their business life than in their personal life. The majority (81%) believe themselves to be optimistic by nature. This perhaps explains their proactive attitude to initiating change in their businesses. 23%, however, describe themselves as ‘being too busy’ to make positive changes to their business and 20% admit to worrying about change.
Hmm – I wonder if this is a good thing or a bad thing?
At least, I guess, action is being taken but based on what? Is this necessarily going to achieve results?
Without making an informed choice to base a decision I am not convinced that this is going to lead to success.
My money is on having a defined plan and making decisions based on measurable targets.
What are your thoughts?
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Skillfair Consultancy Fee Rate Survey 2011
If you’ve ever wondered what your fee should be as a consultant or what you should pay for such services, you will probably be interested in the latest Skillfair survey of consultancy fee rates:
2010 was very tough year for many businesses, and consultants and advisors weren’t exempt from the downturn in economic confidence. Our 2011 fee rate survey gives us an instant look back on 2010 and an objective view of the impact on the market.
Projects Hard to Find but Rates Generally Stable
We know from talking to our members that consultants have had to work for every assignment, but we also know that quite a few have effectively left the market. The net result seems to have been that although there’s been pressure on fee rates it hasn’t been as bad as we might have expected.
The headline ‘average rate’ for this year’s survey is £504, down 4% from last year’s £523 – that’s averaged out across all sectors – when we break the figures down by sector a different picture emerges.
| Private | 578 | -1.5% |
| Public | 520 | -4.5% |
| 3rd | 413 | -5.6% |
As you might expect, public and voluntary sector rates have dropped more than hose in the private sector, which have held up remarkably well.
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How To Prevent Your Business From Failing
No one wants to fail in business; however statistics show that 1 in 3 businesses fail in the first year of business and a further 50% of the remainder don’t progress after the third year.
So what goes wrong?
Well in my opinion it is not focusing on what makes your business successful and having a plan in place that addresses where you want to go, how you are going to get there, what are the measures along the way and most importantly who’s going to do what by when.
I come across many businesses that, even if they have a plan (…and most don’t), are not regularly reviewing it to establish if the plan is on target.
Therefore I decided it might be worth while to put together a brief book that explores all the different ‘pillars’ of a business: strategy, finance, sales,marketing, operations, resources and personal issues; with a view to identifying those key areas that will ensure your business is successful.
By reading this book and consider each business advice tip, I believe that you will have the foundations, or at least the relevant things considered, that will help you in your journey.
Download 50 Essential Business Advice Tips To Prevent Your Business From Failing now.
I hope you find this document useful and I welcome your feedback.
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Top 5 Questions I Get Asked: Q5 – Why don’t you work on a no win, no fee basis?
As we are a commercial organisation we have overheads and ongoing costs, hence the need to charge for our services.
There are some cases where a no win, no fee arrangement is possible – for example when raising funding, grant applications and some legal areas. You should be wary of any organisation offering free services.
Remember there is the 60 day money back guarantee if your profits do not improve.
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Top 5 Questions I Get Asked: Q4 – How do you guarantee your services?
We are as good as our last job! We are confident in our ability to provide you with a service that will significantly impact your business, therefore, for most of the support we provide, there is no long term contract and you are able to cancel at any time.
We aim to improve your profitability within 60 days or your money back!
In addition, you may want to talk to an existing client to establish what we can do – this can be arranged by request.
Please take a look at these relevant links: Case Studies, References
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Top 5 Questions I Get Asked: Q3 – How much do you charge?
First of all our initial meeting with you is free; the intention of which is to learn more about your business, establish our credibility with you and see if there is anything that we can help you with. At that point we will agree a commercial rate with you.
Typically this is based on a daily rate appropriate to the service we are providing. Sometimes it may be a fixed fee for a given project. The cost will be no more than you will have paid for plumbing, accountancy or garage services. Our experience is that we can quickly recover our costs through the impact we make on the profitability and performance of your business.
If you would like a free, no obligation meeting with an experienced business advisor, please email us now – me@paulgreen.biz – letting us know what the issue is and how you think we can help.
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Top 5 Questions I Get Asked: Q2 – Why would I use you?
It’s the old adage of working ‘in’ a business rather than ‘on’ it. If you’re the boss, you are probably dealing with (fire fighting maybe) the daily issues that are ending up on your desk – because the buck ultimately stops with you.
By working with us, you are accessing a businessman/woman who knows what it takes to run a business, with the benefit of being able to take an unbiased, ‘helicopter view’ of your organisation and work with you ‘on’ the business. It can also be a lonely place to be and having an experienced ear to use as a sounding board will impact your business and help relieve some of the day to day pressure that you may be experiencing!
Please take a look at these relevant links: Case Studies, References
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