smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

A promising venture

Previously, we’ve looked at the reasons why many describe the...
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Guides & Tips

There are now dozens of sites dedicated to exploiting the pressure on companies to cut their costs and carbon emissions.

Is there a small business niche for electric vehicles?

SmallBusiness.co.uk sheds light on electric vehicles for company car fleets and alternative car technology.

Fit for purpose

SmallBusiness.co.uk looks at three companies for whom employee health is a key concern.

Top Tax Tips for Family Businesses

Find out how family businesses can reduce their tax burden with some sound forward thinking.

Under pressure

Stress can undermine productivity and erode employee wellbeing. Read our guide on how to beat anxiety and depression in the workplace.

Healthy business

Promoting health at work can have huge benefits both for staff and companies looking to save money. Here entrepreneurs tell us how they have created a culture of wellbeing.

What benefits do staff want?

 Oval Financial Services’ Debby Hannaford explores how focus groups and surveys can be used to gain constructive and positive feedback about employee benefits packages

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’.

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.

Regular Small Business newsletters
Access to all our experts in the Q & A forum
Post comments on articles

Staff benefits Questions & Answers

Register or login to ask a question to our panel of experts...

Entrepreneurship

Ed Percival, Shirlaws Binfield

Advice for employers

Peter Done, Peninsula

Human Resources

Cecily Lalloo, Embrace HR

8 posts

Latest questions answered

Q: Do I need to pay employee for travelling time? Q: Staff and Christmas bonuses Q: State benefits for first time business Q: Employee satisfaction surveys Q: Employers paying for prescription spectacles Q: Benefits Q: Company vehicle for private use?

FREE Legal, Financial, Accountancy & HR Help

Aska Professional understands the challenges faced by small businesses. That’s why we provide instant access to professional advice and legal templates. FREE access to Solicitors, Accountants, Financial Advisors & HR Specialists. Ask our experts a question and get a personal response within 60 minutes. Sign up now to ask a question - FREE.

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.

Misco Offers for small businesses

At Misco, we understand the constraints faced by small businesses. This is why, we’ve built a team of specialists readily available to share with you their expertise and work with you to find tailored IT solutions fitted to your business requirements. View our offers or call our team of experts today on freephone 0808 181 7582 or by email smallbiz@misco.co.uk.

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 »

A promising venture

Small Business Finance 06/02/2012

Rory Earley, CEO of Capital for Enterprise, explores how small businesses should approach venture capital. Have your say »

Winning new business in 2012

Guest Blogger 02/02/2012

Shaun Thompson, CEO of Sandler Training, explains how growth is possible in frugal times. Have your say »

Staff benefits Resource Centre

Flexible Skills Bank

Tap in to this pool of professionals looking for flexible, or ad hoc work to fit in with their family commitments.

Support employee share ownership

Join ifs ProShare, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes employee share ownership through liaison with members.

Flexible benefit schemes

This site offers flexible benefit schemes, from receiving discounts on shopping to making savings on childcare costs and bicycle purchases.

Your staff and holidays

This section of Business Link features information about the amount of holiday your staff are entitled to.

Team building exercise

Teambuildingismurder.co.uk present teambuilding events based on one of the ultimate team exercises: the investigation of a murder.

Find corporate activities

Treatme.net corporate specialises in organising 'tailor made' corporate activities for groups of all sizes.

Get the latest HR information

Employee Benefits provides the latest HR information, such as news, trends and research at the click of a mouse.

Information about Pensions

This governement site provides information about pensions and related topics.

More Staff benefits Resources

Other Employing Staff Resources

Polls

Video

Selling on eBay

Ebay trader Chris Dawson gives his tips to selling through the trading website.

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.