Posted by martinparry on June 23, 2010 under Business Planning, HR, SME News | 
The coming months are set to be a crucial time for the education and training landscape. As the new government finds its feet, the initial signs are very encouraging and indicate a continuing commitment to the value of apprenticeships in the workplace.
In May the CBI/EDI Education and Skills Survey was published which asked over 600 UK employers to give their priorities for the new government. Ensuring young people are equipped with the employability skills they need to succeed in the workplace was top of the wish list for 70% of those polled. The survey also showed continuing enthusiasm among employers for providing apprenticeships, with 54% currently offering them and another 14% hoping to get involved in the coming months. Despite all the upheaval of the past 18 months, employers still know a good thing when they see it.
Under current economic conditions, employers need to ensure they have a steady stream of skilled employees to help them meet the demands of their customers; apprenticeships can play a vital role in sustaining this flow. Investment in apprenticeships not only increases the skills base of a company, it has a direct impact on the bottom line. According to statistics published by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), 80% of apprentice employers said they noticed a significant increase in productivity when employing apprentices.
EDI works in partnership with employers, further education colleges and private training providers to award a wide range of vocational qualifications, including apprenticeships. We’re committed to maintaining the highest standards for these vocational qualifications to ensure they offer a robust alternative to more traditional academic routes.
This year we’re once again sponsoring the Apprentice of the Year category at the National Apprenticeship Awards, our way of celebrating the valuable contribution of apprentices from across the country and the commitment of the organisations that employ them.
With over 190 different apprenticeship programmes now available, there is scope for employers of all types and size to get involved. As well as programmes in the traditional trades of carpentry and plumbing, apprenticeships are now offered in new areas such as creative and cultural, information technology and retail.
In terms of the training apprentices receive, I would argue that the mixture of practical experience and theoretical knowledge required by all apprentices to complete their qualification is exactly what modern businesses need in order to meet the challenges of tomorrow. While it is important to learn the theory of something it is also essential that this learning can be applied practically. We are in danger of restricting the potential of those who learn better in a more practical setting. Apprenticeships are not the easy way out for people with poor academic records. They are challenging programmes that present a different route to success for individuals looking to reach their potential in the world of work.
I would challenge the 32% of employers we surveyed who don’t yet have an apprentice on board, or aren’t yet contemplating hiring one, to find out what they’re missing. And I can vouch for the benefits; EDI has three apprentices and is currently recruiting more.
If you want to learn more about hiring an apprentice for your business go to www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
Sc: Chris Bolton, Director of External Relations, EDI
Sc: www.ediplc.com/news www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 22, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance |
According to Cath Everett in MyCustomer.com RBS/NatWest is attempting to burnish its tarnished image in the wake of the government bail out by launching a 14-point Customer Charter guaranteeing minimum service levels.
The organisation is keen to transform itself into the UK’s ‘most helpful bank’ and devised the 14-point Charter based on feedback from more than 30,000 customers. It also plans to publish details of how it is measuring up against its own standards every six months in an independent audit undertaken by Deloitte.
Brian Hartzer, the bank’s chief executive, said: “We had a searing experience as a business and are thankful we were rescued. We have since taken stock of how we do things. There’s a lot we do well for customers, but we can do more and we want to change.”
Although such change would not happen overnight, the Customer Charter showed that the organisation was “on the case” and would be held to account for the progress it had made, he added.
Sc: www.mycustomer.com www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 20, 2010 under Business Planning, Finance, SME News, Start Ups |
New businesses set up by graduate entrepreneurs are giving the economy a significant boost, it has been claimed.
The statement came from the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) which has just published the results of a study into the impact of its graduate programmes.
The organisation, which was set up six years ago, currently supports 3,550 graduate businesses, works with 90 universities and has received £2.25m in funding from organisations such as Barclays, Microsoft and HSBC.
“Over 80% of new, growth companies are set up by graduates,” said Ian Robertson, chief executive of NCGE.
“At this critical time for our economy we need to improve the environment for wealth creation and build a closer, more productive relationship between business and universities.”
Jonathan Lloyd started Falling Pixel while studying at Portsmouth University in 2006 and has taken part in the NCGE’s Flying Start programme. His turnover has doubled year-on-year since launch and he’s predicting the same growth for the year ahead.
Lloyd received a £1,000 grant and visited the USA as part of a fellowship programme where he met with Google’s chief executive Eric Schmidt.
He said: “I first found out about NCGE’s Flying Start Programme when I went along to a rally they were organising in Reading. There I got some fantastic start-up advice and help on developing a business plan to help get me going.”
For more information on the NCGE visit www.ngce.com
Sc: www.startups.co.uk www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 18, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance |
A quarter of all small businesses are unhappy with the support offered by their high street bank, a new report suggests.
The research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) found over a million small business owners have expressed dissatisfaction with their bank over the past year.
The level of unhappiness with bank service directly corresponds to the number of different bank managers business owners have to deal with, the report found.
Over a quarter of those who have dealt with two bank managers over the past year expressed dissatisfaction but the figure increased to 52% for those who had dealt with three bank managers and 70% for five.
Some 26% of respondents said a good relationship with their bank manager was one of the most important factors for choosing a bank. Other factors cited were the convenience of the branch location and the competitiveness of the account package, both cited by nearly a third of respondents.
The FSB is now calling for a Post Bank, which utilises the Post Office network, to be established. The lobby group believes this would provide a ‘local and trusted’ option for small business owners as well as increasing competition in the sector.
Sc: www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 16, 2010 under Business Planning, Fleet Vehicles, SME News |
Paul Barker wrting in Business Car warns that fleets are increasingly concerned about the viability of electric vehicles, with three-quarters of large businesses worried about the number of recharging points, according to research from leasing and fuel management expert Arval.
Arval head of market analysis and BusinessCar blogger Mike Waters said the industry is uncomfortable with the lack of clear direction from the Government. “The market is asking for clarity in terms of the coalition position in this crucial area both now and over the longer term,” said Waters. “There are potentially worrying parallels to the LPG debate in the 1990s; there was a lot of positive noise made about the technology, but no infrastructure was ever fully supported in the UK, unlike in Europe.”
Among larger fleets, only 30% of those surveyed had plans to add EVs, compared with 61% opting for hybrids, and for SME operations only 12% are considering EVs compared with 26% looking at hybrids.
More information: http://www.businesscar.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=6148&c=2&theme=0
Sc: http://www.businesscar.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 15, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance, Loans, SME News, Tax |
| Indicator |
Value |
Change on week |
Change on month |
Change on year |
| |
|
|
|
|
| FTSE 100 |
5103.44 |
+ 11.37 |
- 283.96 |
+ 664.84 |
| £ against US |
1.44 |
- 0.01 |
- 0.08 |
- 0.15 |
| £ against € |
1.20 |
+ 0.03 |
+ 0.03 |
+ 0.06 |
| UK inflation |
3.7% |
none |
+ 0.3% |
+ 1.4% |
| UK interest rates |
0.5% |
none |
none |
none |
* Figures are as at midday on 7 June 2010
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 14, 2010 under Business Planning, Finance |
Both the construction and manufacturing industries grew during May, according to the latest Markit/Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Purchasing Managers’ Index. Employment in the construction sector grew for the first time in two years, as well as activity in the civil engineering sector. The manufacturing industry saw an increase in new UK and export orders. However, some experts warn that public sector spending cuts could jeopardise the growth.
For more on this story go to:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/7798501/ UK-construction-sector-grows-in-May-but-cuts-loom.html
And: http://www.cips.org/aboutcips/news/details.aspx?id=292
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 13, 2010 under Business Planning, Marketing, SME News, Sales, Social Networking |
| Social networking is not a new phenomenon. It has been used as a business marketing tool to develop tighter customer relationships and spread brand awareness but it also has the ability to directly impact on a company’s profits. In June of last year Dell announced $3 million in revenue from using Twitter. This success was not immediate and 18 months after launching on twitter the revenue stood at $1 million. Once their following was established the revenue continued to build more quickly. It is not only large companies that are using this medium successfully. Many smaller businesses have found great success marketing in this environment where the main investment is that of time rather than cash.
There are now so many websites that give you the option to become a Fan of their Facebook page. So how could this work for you? The way these tools are used is going to vary massively by your business area and the clients you work with. The key to success seems to be providing value and interest to the clients you interact with. Offering exclusive discounts, valuable information, details of up coming events, photos, videos etc. Links to these sites can be promoted on email footers, in store, on websites or business cards. |
|
| Many companies are now using Facebook, Twitter, My Space, You Tube or other business focused websites such as Linked In as marketing tools. Do you know if your competitors are marketing in this way already? Do your clients use social networking as part of their marketing approach? In today’s business world there are relatively few opportunities for free marketing. Social networking sites are an area where this opportunity still currently exists and where some companies have found great success. It could be well worth investigating!
Sc: www.wallacestein.co.uk
Sc: www.ukba.co.uk |
|
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on under Business Planning, Finance, SME News, Start Ups, Tax |
The Government has hinted that it may be about to climb down over its proposed increase to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) from 18% to 40%. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith told the BBC that no definite plan had been decided. He said Chancellor George Osborne had discussed exemptions so as not to “harm entrepreneurs”. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg added a few days later that homeowners may be protected by exempting financial gains made as a result of inflation. To read more on this story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8713538.stm And: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1283427/Clegg-hints-capital-gains-tax- climbdown-insists-options-discussed.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 11, 2010 under Business Planning, Operations, SME News |
Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced he will review the “deluge of new regulations” that is stifling UK enterprises. Mr Cable said he would examine a range of regulations, brought in by the previous Government, including the Agency Workers’ Directive and the right for fathers to claim up to six months of the mother’s maternity leave. Mr Cable also announced he would set up the Reducing Regulation Committee, which will be dedicated to enforcing a new approach to bringing in laws and regulations.
To read more on this story go to: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=413620&SubjectId=2
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 10, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance, SME News, Tax |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne is keen to push ahead with plans for the introduction of a bank tax in the UK despite plans for an International Banking Tax being scrapped at the recent G20 meeting in South Korea. The UK is unlikely to be alone in these plans as the USA, Germany and many other parts of debt-ridden Europe see the introduction of a banking tax as a mechanism for raising revenue for budget deficits. More detail of these plans will be outlined by Mr Osborne in the Budget on 22nd June. There are some concerns that a levy on banks may raise the cost of borrowing for some consumers. The levy on the banks may ultimately be paid for by the borrowers. There is also potential for an impact on inflation in the short term. On a global scale, the G20 want a blueprint for changes to global banking rules by the end of this year although implementation may be delayed. Rules surrounding capital and liquidity may be an alternative to a banking tax but plans for banks to have increased cash reserves by 2012 could lead to further bank lending cuts as the banks would need to raise fresh capital in a short amount of time. From our personal experience small businesses are currently finding it pretty tough to obtain the funds they need from banks. Hopefully a solution will be found that will avoid the need for an additional tightening on lending and the consumer ultimately paying the price.
Sc: www.wallacestein.com
Sc: www.ukba.co.uk |
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on under SME News, Start Ups |
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called for greater communication between local authorities and small businesses, claiming that small firms need a stronger voice with their councils. FSB Welsh policy chairwoman Janet Jones said the FSB believes councils could improve their relationships with the local business community.
To read more on this story go to: http://www.fsb.org.uk/data/news.asp?loc=wales&rec=6313
sc: www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 9, 2010 under SME News, Sales |
UK retailers could see sales soar because of the World Cup, according to a report by shopping comparison website Kelkoo. The report, which was commissioned by the Centre for Retail Research, suggests that the biggest rise in spending would be on food and drink, followed by TV and electricals and then sportswear. Online spending is also set to increase, according to the report.
For more on this story go to:
http://www.kelkoo.co.uk/co_17494-kelkoo-press-release-
world-cup-to-give-uk-retailers-a-billion-pound-boost.html
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 4, 2010 under Banks, Finance, Grants, Loans |
The Welsh Assembly Government has announced a £3.5 million funding boost for small and medium-sized businesses in North Wales. The money will be used to develop the ‘Skills for the Workforce’ programme, which help employees acquire new skills.
To read more on this story go to:
http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/businessandeconomy/2010/100524cashboost/?lang=en
Compiled By www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on under Finance |
Interest rates before the end of the year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has predicted. The think tank said that higher rates are inevitable because of higher inflation.
For more on this story go to:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/uk-to-raise-
interest-rates-before-end-of-2010-warns-oecd-1983839.html
Compiled by www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 3, 2010 under Finance, HR |
HMRC has published advisory fuel rates for company cars to apply from 1 June 2010. For one month from the date of the change, employers are permitted to use either the previous or new rates.
To read more on this story go to:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cars/advisory_fuel_current.htm
Compiled by: www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 2, 2010 under HR |
Companies must be forced by the Government to include employee information on their annual reports, HR industry representatives have urged. The measure should be included as part of the Operating and Financial Review (OFR), which is a written account of how a company is being run. The OFR should include details covering directors’ social and environmental duties in annual reports. However, the requirement for employee information has not been confirmed. The requirement was first proposed by the Labour Government, and the new Government has announced its commitment to implementing the mandatory OFR.
For more on this story go to:
http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2010/05/27/
55741/ofrs-must-include-people-information-says-hr.html
Compiled by www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on June 1, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance, Marketing, Operations, SME News, Sales, Tax |
Two pieces of good news for business at last. Firstly, UK gross domestic product (GDP) has been revised upwards for the first quarter of 2010, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The economy grew by 0.3% compared to the previous quarter, which has been revised upwards from the original estimate of 0.2%. The growth in the economy has been driven by the manufacturing industry. High industrial output boosted the economic growth, but some economists warn that Government spending cuts and the eurozone debt crisis could affect sustained growth.
Secondly, the level of business investment in the UK rose by 6% during the first quarter of 2010 compared to the previous quarter, according to figures from ONS. However, the level of business investment is still 11% lower compared to the same period a year ago. The rise in business investment is due to increased capital spending by private sector, non-manufacturing industries.
To read more on this story go to:
http://www.statistics.gov
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/oie0510.pdf
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/
manufacturing-pushes-up-economic-growth-1982837.html
compiled by www.ukba.co.uk www.mgba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by martinparry on May 26, 2010 under Business Planning, Finance, Grants, Loans, Resources, SME News, Start Ups, Strategic Planning |
According to an article in Regen.net The Treasury has announced that England’s regional development agencies will have to save £270 million in the current financial year through “ending lower value spending”.
Setting out how the coalition government intends to save £6.2 billion in 2010/11, chief secretary to the Treasury David Laws said that RDAs will “have to cut back on spending which has the lowest economic impact”.
A document published by the Treasury following the announcement said that the budget for the RDAs would have to provide £270 million of savings in 2010/11 “from ending lower value spending”.
Laws said: “Tough decisions are being made … Quangos across government will have to make major savings in their budgets.”
A spokeswoman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that no decisions had been made yet on how the cuts would be spread across England’s nine RDAs.
But speaking in Warrington last week, new business secretary Vince Cable picked out the South-East England Development Agency (Seeda) and the East of England Development Agency (Eeda) as examples of RDAs whose existence is hard to justify.
Cable was quoted by the Financial Times as saying: “It is very difficult to see the justification for RDAs in the South-East and East, prosperous regions with a large private sector.
“There are areas like the North-West, Yorkshire and the West Midlands, where there are really serious structural problems and there seems to be a broad agreement with local businesses that the RDAs are doing a good job.”
Sc: www.regen.net Sc: www.ukba.co.uk
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
Posted by paulgreen on under Business Planning |
Doug Richard is not a fan of iron-clad business plans that owners and management teams follow to the bitter end.
Why? Because business plans are most often written before a company is successful, and often before it is in business. They are written in hopeful ignorance and are based on best guesses. Business plans serve a useful purpose once a business is making money and raising revenue, but they have a very limited usefulness, if any at all, before a business is up to speed.
If you are just starting your business, or have a business that seems to be less than wildly successful, start your business planning as follows:
- Identify your customers and their needs.
- Identify the products and/or services you will provide to meet these needs.
- Identify how people will learn about your products and services.
- Identify how and where they will pay you for your products and services.
- Identify who will help you to achieve these objectives.
Read full article: http://www.businesszone.co.uk/blogs/doug-richard/doug-richard-blogs/you-do-not-need-business-plan-start-business
Free Resources
Marketing-Simply – A Guide to Marketing for SMEs –
Business Plan Template – Cashflow Template – Start Up Guide
Guide To Strategic Planning – Small Business Guide
www.ukba.co.uk
