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Guides & Tips

Holiday and new employees

When you employ new staff, you may wonder how soon they can begin to take holiday. SmallBusines.co.uk clears the issue up.

Holidays for the self-employed

Holiday entitlement for sole traders and the self-employed can be a tricky business. In the intance of a self-employed decorator who has worked for the same company for nearly two years, Peter Done explains why it's such a complicated issue.

Coping with summer holidays

Any line manager will tell you that the balancing of work to cover for holidays is difficult, as the majority of holidays fall during the summer months.

Don't Miss

Modern graduates face a highly competitive job market

First-class employees

Attracting the best graduate to your company is easier if you show an understanding of their journey from higher education to workplace.

Seven ways to beat stress

Michael Jackson, chairman of leading technology venture capitalist Elderstreet Investments, gives SmallBusiness.co.uk his tips for dealing with stress.

Making staff cuts doesn't mean you have to give people the axe.

Reducing salary

There are other ways of reducing your staffing budget without having to take the axe to your workforce.

Employing Staff News

Apprentices are liable to switch off if not given a wide range of tasks

Apprentices lack inspiration

Young apprentices are dropping out of training because employers are not providing a sufficiently-rounded programme to inspire their interest, a prominent manufacturer warns.

Apprentices lack inspiration

Young apprentices are dropping out of training because employers are not providing a sufficiently-rounded programme to inspire their interest, a prominent manufacturer warns.

Latest apprenticeship fund unveiled

A new £6 million round of government funding has been allocated to support thousands of degree-level higher apprenticeships.

Duvet day for 400,000

‘National Sickie Day’ will cost UK businesses more than £34 million, a business support specialist predicts.

Nameless CVs for fairer hiring

Businesses should encourage all job applicants to send in CVs that do not identify their name or ethnic background, says an employment law specialist.

TUC rallies against tribunal fees

Introducing fees to take claims to employment tribunals could be a huge barrier to equality at work, says the Trades Union Congress.

Jobs market to remain unstable in 2012

Unemployment has hit a 17-year high of 8.4 per cent, finds data.

Higher education not developing work skills

A fifth of UK employers believe school leavers make better employees than university graduates.

Forum supports education-level skills boost

The Forum of Private Business has welcomed government plans to improve how IT is taught in UK schools to better prepare young people for work.

Workers 'underused and demotivated' by lack of support

The underuse of skills in the UK is resulting in lost productivity both for businesses and the economy as a whole, argues a think tank.

Youth employment scheme backed by lobbying group

The Confederation of British Industry has formally backed the government's £1 billion Youth Contract programme aimed at ensuring ‘every young person in the UK is in education or employment’.

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FT Guide to Personal Tax

The FT Guide to Personal Tax is published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and John Bloxham, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as over 230 tax-saving tips.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

The FT Guide to Business Start Up 2012, published by Pearson Education, is written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc. This unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

What Investment

What Investment is the leading and longest-established investment magazine in the UK.

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Holiday entitlement Questions & Answers

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Entrepreneurship

Ed Percival, Shirlaws Binfield

Advice for employers

Peter Done, Peninsula

Human Resources

Cecily Lalloo, Embrace HR

33 posts

Latest questions answered

Q: Is employee entitled to holiday pay? Q: Bank holiday payments to part-time staff Q: Annual leave for part-timers Q: Employee holidays Q: Holiday pay and "normal hours" Q: Working Time Regulations Q: Long term sick leave

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Bupa for Businesses

We understand that all businesses are different. To help you choose the right healthcare package for you and your employees, call us today on 08457 66 11 15 or alternatively find out more here.

Compare Insurance quotes for Employers Liability

Employers’ Liability insurance covers you and your business against claims from employees injured at work or taken ill as a result of working for you. Compare Insurance quotes for Employers Liability to ensure your business can cover claims without compromising its financial stability.

Blogs

Apprenticeship dreams

Ben Lobel 07/02/2012

So, another government incentive has been dangled in front of small businesses in the form of a fresh £6 million fund for hiring apprentices. Have your say »