Posted by martinparry on May 18, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance, Grants, Loans, SME News | 
Do you or your clients need funding for their business? Business Link West Midlands “Finance for Business Consultancy” grants are now available to help with applications for the following activities (a) Work on grant applications such as GBI or GRD (b) Assistance with the development of a business plan as part of a fund raising project. (c) Charges levied by business finance consultancies in support of their work on fund raising projects. The average contribution to consultancy fees £2,500 ex vat (50% of project cost). If you would like to know more email martin.parry@mgba.co.uk
Sc: www.mgba.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 May 17, 2010 under Banks, Business Planning, Finance, Loans, SME News |
According to Midlands Business Insider, a key indicator of the strength of the regional economy has revealed that the number of businesses insolvencies in the Midlands has dropped. Nottingham-based research company Experian’s latest insolvency index shows a year-on-year fall in the number of businesses going under in April. The East Midlands was the UK region showing most improvement, with an insolvency rate of 0.11 per cent in April 2010 compared to 0.15 per cent in April 2009. Some 116 companies went under in the East Midlands in April compared to 166 the previous year. In the West Midlands there were 194 insolvencies in April compared to 253 12 months earlier. But Rolf Hickmann, managing director of pH, an Experian company, warned that it continues to be vital for businesses to understand the circumstances of those they are doing business with and the risks to which they could expose their company. “It is easier for the smallest businesses, with just one or two employees, to make adjustments to their operations and pull in the reins when times are challenging. For the largest business, there is the flexibility that comes with economies of scale. Mid-sized businesses do not typically have the luxury of either of these benefits,” he said.
Sc: Midlands Business Insider and http://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 May 12, 2010 under Business Planning, SME News, Strategic Planning |
Last month EnterQuest carried out its latest subscriber survey of small business owners to identify the issues that are causing the most concern in the year ahead, irrespective of which party will form a new government. We also asked for views about business owners’ own abilities and weaknesses, where they might require support, and who they preferred to turn to for help and advice.
Survey participants were mainly service-based enterprises with between one and nine employees in a wide range of sectors and professions ranging from design, consultancy, tourism, cleaning, training, crafts, security, advertising, childcare, IT, complementary therapy, catering and retail.
The headline results reveal that business owners are most concerned about tax, business rates, red tape and business costs – with 80% of respondents saying they were quite concerned or very concerned about each of those particular issues. Respondents were least concerned about finding skilled/qualified staff and IT/technology issues. The weakest reported skill was in sales and marketing, with one in three business owners saying they were quite weak or very weak in this area.
For more details about this survey, click here
Sc: Cobweb Infornation for Business 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 May 5, 2010 under Business Planning, Marketing, Sales, SME News, Social Networking |
UKBA regional operator MGBA, based in the Midlands opened it’s summer marketing season with the first of a series of Food For Thought Dnners. This one, hosted by Hogarths Hotel, in Dorridge, was a great night. Twelve regional business leaders from around the region debated some of the key issues facing business leaders at the present. “Excellent, I would definitely come again” said Barron Laight of Academe Properties.
The next Food For Thought Dinner is to take place in Leamington Spa on 27th May. If you would like to know more email martin.parry@mgba.co.uk
Sc: MGBA
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 March 31, 2010 under Business Planning, Finance, Marketing, Operations, SME News, Social Networking |
The UKBA group in the Midlands(MGBA) are launching a season of
The Board Room
dinners for business leaders in the region. The events will offer an opportunity for entrepeneurs to get together in relaxed civilised surrounding and thrash out problems and issues that affect them all. The first dinner will take place at Hogarth’s Hotel and Restaurant on 27th April 2010.
Invitations are being sent out over the next few days and MGBA are looking forward to hosting a fascinating evening of debate, discussion and hopefully, some answers to the challenging questions and issues before the business community today.
Any business owners and leaders who would like to join MGBA on the night or would like details of future events email martin.parry@mgba.co.uk
Sc: MGBA, Midlands Group Business Advisors
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 March 15, 2010 under Business Planning, Operations, SME News |
The final plans for changing the way new electricity generation is connected to the UK’s power grid were published for consultation today by Energy and Climate Change Minister David Kidney.
The plans, called Connect and Manage, will clear the way for renewable energy projects such as wind farms to connect to the grid in time to meet the 2020 renewable energy targets.
David Kidney said: “Access to the electricity grid has been one of the key barriers to the generation of renewable energy in this country. There is currently around 78 gigawatts of prospective new generation capacity – some 160 projects – that are waiting to be connected to the grid, including over 19 gigawatts from renewable sources.
Connect and Manage will enable new generators to connect to the electricity transmission network and start generating as soon as their local connection has been built, without having to wait for wider network reinforcement to be completed.
National Grid then manages the increased constraints on the network as more generation is connected before the completion of wider reinforcement work. Under the proposals, these additional constraint costs are socialised equally across all generators and suppliers in a way that supports new generators.
Sc: DECC
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 February 23, 2010 under Business Planning, Finance, Tax |
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is no longer permitting small firms to submit paper returns for employee pay records. It has issued a reminder to businesses that all PAYE returns must be filed online, even if the firm has less than 50 staff. There is free filing software available for small businesses from Location Bank@net Empresas HMRC or other suppliers.
To read more on this story go to:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=257&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=411117&SubjectId=36
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 admin on February 22, 2010 under Business Planning |
In December 2009 Cobweb carried out its latest survey of UK business advisers to find out their opinions on whether business support policy and delivery should be driven locally, regionally or centrally (ie nationally).
The survey was carried out among subscribers to Cobweb’s BAD News service and 254 individual business advisers participated. Respondents were located across the whole of the UK and were working for (or with) a range of support agencies including regional Business Links, local enterprise agencies, local councils, Chambers of Commerce, RDAs, charities and trade associations, as well as independent business advisers and consultants.
The headline results reveal that only 11% of respondents believe that support policy, strategy and delivery should be driven centrally, with over 80% saying policy should be decided and driven without any central Government influence or control. Almost half of survey respondents were of the opinion that business support should be entirely locally driven, as far from the centre as possible.
Download full report: http://www.cobwebinfo.com/servlet/file/pdf006_complete.pdf?ITEM_ENT_ID=13363&COLLSPEC_ENT_ID=439
Read more: http://www.cobwebinfo.com/site/article_detail/item13346/
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
