Latest News
Worse to come for small businesses in foot-and-mouth crisis
Trade losses look set to continue as a result of the prolonged crisis, not just for the immediate future, but over the next 12 months as well.
Postage price rises could affect direct marketing industry
As the UK postal industry undergoes wide-ranging changes this year, a potential increase in a wide range of postage rates by the Royal Mail could financially burden the direct marketing industry even further.
Social responsibility can be a money-spinner for businesses
Businesses can broaden their customer base, improve their profile, increase productivity and cut down on costs if they adopt a more caring attitude towards their local community.
Welsh high-tech start-ups get special treatment
Knowledge-driven, high-tech fledgling enterprises with the potential for rapid growth are being given easy access to good technological and research links, through a new Welsh Development Agency (WDA) initiative - Technium Centres.
Government provides know-how for beleaguered manufacturers
SMEs are to be put in touch with experts in the field of manufacturing "at the touch of a button," commented Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers on the launch of a new website dti.
Growth in UK internet users could give small business the edge
With a growing number of the UK's population using the internet, and an ever increasing number shopping online, the time has never been better for small businesses on tight marketing budgets to exploit the web.
New £50m Recovery Fund for small businesses in crisis
Up to £15,000 in grant aid and other forms of help are now available to small businesses struggling to cope with the effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis.
Marketing spend set to fall
Advertising agencies will need to target their clients very carefully over the next few months because growth in marketing expenditure is set to slow to its second lowest level in six years.
Government pledges to buy research from small high-tech firms
Under The Small Business Research Initiative, Government departments and research councils will aim to procure at least two and a half per cent of their research and development (R&D) work from small businesses - this amounts to about £50 million a year.
Culture change could boost media revenues
Media companies with a strong web presence will be cheered by the latest report which suggests that consumers - at long last - are willing to pay for information, music and other services online.
Entrepreneurs' forums to boost new technology business
Two annual international events designed to bring together entrepreneurs, support services and investors to promote the creation and development of technology-based businesses, are being hosted in Oxford and Cambridge.
Royal Mail provides insight into direct marketing
The Royal Mail has launched a new website service to assist businesses that use Direct Marketing (DM) as an integral part of the their overall marketing strategy.
DTI investigates the impact of e-commerce on businesses
Patricia Hewitt, previously E-commerce Minister but now Secretary of State for the DTI, has put her political weight behind a series of research reports that aims to assess the impact of e-commerce across a host of business sectors.
Environment agency launches self-help site
Help is finally at hand for the ranks of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are having difficulty understanding and implementing the burgeoning environmental legislation in the UK.
New set of standards for websites to be implemented
Advertising companies will no longer need to be concerned about the reliability of audience figures provided by website operators as the industry is about to adopt a set of agreed auditing standards to clear up the 'audience figures' confusion.