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Jun 03 2008

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The FSB offers advice and support and various business services to small and medium-sized companies in the UK.

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News

Tax return scam warning

Just weeks before the deadline for filing tax returns, fraudsters are targeting individuals with scam emails.

Firms' gender pay gap figures to be revealed

Companies may be forced to publish figures on the pay difference between male and female employees, in changes to the government's equality bill.

Poor health and safety could see firms go under

Health and safety could make or break a company, as one expert warns firms which play at it will find it hard to survive the current climate.

Entrepreneurs adding a day to their working week

Entrepreneurs are adding eight hours to their working week in a bid to counter the effects of the recession, new research shows.

Lack of credit 'could lead to 1930's-level recession'

The lack of credit is the biggest concern facing businesses in 2009 and could lead to the recession reaching levels seen in the 1930s, one expert asserts.

Businesses should conduct health checks

Firms should conduct a company MOT to ensure they are maximising cashflow, marketing and business opportunities and are able to survive the current tough conditions.

Rate cut should be 1%

The monetary policy committee should cut rates to one per cent this Thursday but this alone will be inadequate and should be backed up with other, far-reaching policies, one organisation states.

SMEs lacking pension schemes

The vast majority of SMEs do not offer workplace pension schemes, according to a survey by advisory body the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA).

Firms 'should consider long-term cost of redundancies'

Firms should consider the ultimate cost of redundancies and use them as a last resort to cut outgoings, after it was revealed it comes at a price of over £16,000 per employee.

No minimum wage increase, urges business group

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to recommend a zero per cent increase on the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

SMEs hit by manufacturing slump

Small businesses involved in manufacturing are being hit hard as the sector experiences its deepest downturn for 17 years.

Guides & Tips

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) can mean staff are being properly utilised

How to get more from your customers

No matter what your business, when it comes to sales the customer is king. Having a good Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system in place can help you increase turnover today as well as spot where tomorrow’s sales might come from.

Rising Star: Sara Murray

Founder of insurance comparison website Confused.com, Sara Murray set up GPS tracking device company Buddi which is due to hit a turnover of £4 million

Redundancy is not the only option

Many SMEs will have to control staffing costs over the coming months. Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with Simon Kite, a partner at chartered accountants Saffery Champness, to offer some tips on how to cut costs and avoid the redundancy route

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FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. 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.

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.