News from BusinessZone
The follow news articles are supplied by businesszone.co.uk. All links open in a new window.
Dragon Paphitis in bid to buy Woolworths
Theo Paphitis, one of the millionaire panellists on BBC TV series Dragons' Den, is reportedly one of several wealthy individuals considering buying stricken high street retailer Woolworths.
PBR 2008: Ministers abandon income shifting legislation - for now
The government has announced it is not to proceed with the its controversial income shifting legislation - for now.
PBR 2008: EXCLUSIVE: Details of new government SME finance scheme revealed
The Treasury's new small business finance scheme, unveiled in today's pre-budget report, is to be 75% guaranteed by the government and 25% by the banks and will come into force no later than next February, BusinessZone.co.uk can exclusively reveal.
PBR 2008: VAT cut - entrepreneurs react
Small business owners have reacted with dismay to the government's cut in VAT claiming that rather than increasing consumer spending it will actually cause an administrative nightmare.
PBR 2008: Government cuts VAT to 15%
As widely predicted before the pre-budget report, the chancellor has confirmed that the standard rate of VAT is to be cut by 2.5% to 15% in a bid to get consumers spending again.
RBS to freeze small firms' overdraft fees
The UK's second largest bank has announced a freeze on overdraft charges and a guarantee on loans for its small business customers in an attempt to help them survive the economic downturn.
Focus on late payment, Brown told
Small business lobbyists have met with Gordon Brown to hammer home the message that big companies need to pressured into paying their small suppliers promptly.
Darling 'to force banks to lend to SMEs'
The government is considering forcing banks to lend to small businesses, according to press reports.
Public demand for social enterprises on the up
Most people believe a business' social and environmental values are as or more important now than before the start of the current financial crisis, new figures reveal.
Women beat men for business growth ambitions
Female entrepreneurs have taken over their male counterparts in terms of how far they want to grow their company, new research reveals.
World unites to celebrate enterprise
Enterprise is being celebrated in more than 70 countries around the world today as the inaugural Global Entrepreneurship Week kicks off.
Owner-managers are missing out on KPIs
Management consultant Robin Tidd this week said that owner-managers were the people who most needed to understand key performance indicators (KPIs).
UK entrepreneurs join the Governator in global celebration of enterprise
What's good enough for Arnold Schwarzenegger is good enough for us, says one of Britain's biggest online communities of entrepreneurs as they join in with celebrating Enterprise Week 2008.
Don't forget the late payers, entrepreneurs tell ministers
Despite the attention being placed on how much money banks are lending to small businesses, a poll by UK Business Forums has revealed it is tackling late payment which entrepreneurs think the government should make their top priority.
Pre-budget report set for 24 November
Alistair Darling will deliver his second speech as chancellor a week on Monday, The Treasury has confirmed.
Government to monitor banks' SME lending
Ministers have announced the creation of a new panel to monitor how banks are lending to small companies.
UK firm worms its way to the top in global business awards
The founders of a gardening mail order company have scooped the top prize in a global small business awards scheme after impressing the judges with their creative use of social media.
Banks pledge to help SMEs through the bad times
The UK's high street banks have attempted to ease the tensions of the first meeting of the government's new small business finance forum by pledging to follow a list of 10 promises to help SMEs weather the economic crisis.
Darling urged to stop small firms 'bleeding to death'
As new figures show the biggest increase in business insolvencies since records began, the Liberal Democrats have called on the government to act urgently to prevent more companies going bust.
Entrepreneurs told to learn from Obama's social media strategy
Small business owners looking to better engage with their customers and increase revenue should learn from the success of new US president Barak Obama's use of social media tools, an online community expert has urged.
