Small firms need bank mediator, says FSB
21-Apr-2009 By James Wilmore
Small businesses, such as pubs, need a go-between to rebuild ailing relationships with banks and revive the flagging economy, a pre-Budget poll has...
17-Apr-2009 By William Rowland
A mediator would go a long way to repairing relations be between banks and small businesses, according to trade chiefs. In a recent poll over 70% of...
01-Apr-2009 By John Harrington
The Government has agreed to reduce increases in business rates and help licensees hit by the scrapping of transitional rate relief. The 5% increase...
01-Apr-2009 By Ewan Turney
More than half of small leisure businesses (52%) are delaying paying energy bills as long as possible, a new survey has found.
16-Mar-2009 By John Harrington
Government and banks should do more to support small business, according to a new survey from the Forum for Private Business (FPB).
06-Mar-2009 By John Harrington
Local Government minister Sadiq Khan says the Government won't rule out automatic rate relief for small firms "as an option for the future
04-Mar-2009 By John Harrington
The pro-pub MP writes to the Chancellor and submits a petition urging banks to lend to pubs — 32 MPs have signed already.
Rate relief plans get major MP support
27-Feb-2009
More than a 100 MPs have backed a campaign for a new rate relief Bill to help small businesses, including pubs, by signing an early day motion which...
27-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
Over 100 MPs have thrown their support behind a campaign calling for automatic rate relief for small businesses. The MPs have signed up to an Early...
09-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is a calling on members to urge their MPs to support a private bill that would make rate relief automatic.
Cut business rates to reflect falling inflation
04-Feb-2009 By Gemma McKenna
Trade groups and MPs have urged the Government to lower business rates for small firms to reflect the expected fall in inflation.
Calls for flexibility over late tax returns
29-Jan-2009
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is calling for greater understanding for companies that miss the deadline for filing tax returns. The FSB...
Huge jump in calls to FSB helpline
26-Jan-2009
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has seen a 214 per cent increase in workers seeking advice on employment issues and redundancies. The jump...
21-Jan-2009 By John Harrington
The Government has dismissed calls for small-business rate relief to be granted automatically for English firms. A powerful alliance of trade groups,...
24-Nov-2008 By MA team
In a move labelled "staggering", Chancellor Alistair Darling has announced another increase in duty on alcohol and tobacco to off-set a cut in VAT in his Pre-Budget report.
Victory for pub in road sign battle
17-Nov-2008 By Matt Eley Matt
A couple that had been told to remove a road sign advertising their pub because it could lead to drink-driving have been granted a reprieve. In...
14-Nov-2008 By Gemma McKenna
Council bosses have called for greater powers to give business-rates "breaks" to struggling small firms. This comes in the wake of a new Local...
FSB appoints small business professor
07-Nov-2008 By Ewan Turney
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has appointed a business professor to help its members in the current challenging environment.
Banks overlooking small business
04-Nov-2008 By Ewan Turney
Small businesses are still being overlooked by banks despite promising proposals from the Government, claims the FSB.
22-Oct-2008 By Ewan Turney
Government measures set out to help small businesses have been welcomed by two trade organisations. The Government yesterday agreed plans for local...
21-Oct-2008 By John Harrington
The Conservatives have called for action to help struggling small businesses through difficult times. Deferring VAT bills for up to six months, and...
07-Oct-2008 By Ewan Turney
The Federation of Small Businesses has called for interest rates to be cut this Thursday to help small businesses fight the credit crunch.
Lights switch off at energywatch
01-Oct-2008 By Matt Eley Matt
Licensees in dispute with power companies will no longer be able to turn to energywatch. The regulator officially shuts down today and will be...
18-Sep-2008 By John Harrington
A trade leader has urged Gordon Brown to throw struggling small businesses a lifeline on business rates. In a letter to the Prime Minister,...
15-Sep-2008 By Ewan Turney
The Federation of Small Businesses has called on local councils to rethink their parking policy in a bid to help keep trade local.
22-Jul-2008 By John Harrington
The Federation of Small Business (FSB) has given its backing to the anti-pubco Fair Pint campaign.
Back to Basics: Expanding your business
17-Jun-2008
After the initial struggle of starting up, many pubs and other licensed trade businesses find themselves at a standstill and unsure of how to expand...
Brown's changes to workers' rights may 'threaten small businesses'
22-May-2008
Government plans to overhaul workers' rights could create serious staffing problems for small businesses. That's the view of trade group Forum for...
20-May-2008
The Government's proposals to grant agency workers similar employment rights as full-time staff would be "disastrous"
Flexible working hours a nightmare for small business
15-May-2008
FSB says new plans to extend flexible working hours puts small businesses in an impossible position
Thompson to stay in brewing industry
04-Apr-2008
Rupert Thompson, chief executive of Refresh UK says he is to stay on in the industry following the sale of the business to Marston's...
Tax reprieve for family-run pubs
14-Mar-2008
Small business leaders have welcomed Alistair Darling's decision to postpone legislation that could sting family firms for £200m.The proposed...
03-Mar-2008 By Ewan Turney
The Federation of Small Businesses has slammed new legislation on foreign workers that imposes unrealistic expectations and draconian fines on...
Darling climbdown
31-Jan-2008 By Joe Lutrario joe.lutrario@william-reed.co.uk
Alistair Darling has announced a further and significant climbdown on his controversial capital gains tax (CGT) reforms. Entrepreneurs will now pay a...
24-Jan-2008 By Joe Lutrario
Alistair Darling has announced a further and significant climb down on his controversial Capital Gains Tax reforms
£200m tax reprieve for small businesses
24-Jan-2008
Alistair Darling will try today to rescue Labour's business reputation with a £200 million climbdown on capital gains tax designed to help owners of...
FSB launches anti-crime campaign
18-Jan-2008
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has launched a major new national drive to increase reporting of crime against businesses. The 'Every Crime...
Trade body submits alternative capital gains tax proposals
10-Dec-2007
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has come up with a series of alternative proposals to Chancellor Alistair Darling's plans to abolish the...
Back to Basics: The right insurance
27-Nov-2007
Time and money are precious commodities for most, and for small business owners this is especially true. Running a business, particularly in its...
InBrief
15-Nov-2007
Smoke-ban court case adjourned Smoke-ban rebel Nick Hogan's court appearance for allegedly flouting the smoking ban has been adjourned until January....
Darling back-tracks
08-Nov-2007 By Joe Lutrario joe.lutrario@william-reed.co.uk
Alistair Darling has backed down on some of his changes to capital gains tax (CGT). A sum of £100,000 in tax relief will now be granted for small...
Concession on capital gains tax not enough
02-Nov-2007 By James Wilmore
Business groups are refusing to give up their campaign against the government over planned changes to capital gains tax, despite reports of a...
Protest grows on CGT moves
25-Oct-2007 By Joe Lutrario joe.lutrario@william-reed.co.uk
Opposition toward plans to end taper relief on capital gains tax (CGT) is growing rapidly. The changes would see the scrapping of the 10% tax rate...
Government plans could cut red tape
23-Aug-2007 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u
A trade group says new Government plans to monitor regulatory bodies could mean less red tape for small businesses. The proposals are included in two...
19-Jul-2007 By John Harrington
MA launches campaign to ensure fairer treatment for trade by energy brokers
Warning over 'win back' calls
18-Jun-2007 By James Wilmore
Licensees are being urged to be wary of 'win back' calls from British Gas which could leave them tied in to two contracts and facing penalty fees....
Small businesses unaware of training opportunities
27-May-2007 By Eleanor Goodman
Seven out of ten small businesses are unaware of government training initiatives, says a survey.A report found that nearly 70 per cent were unaware...
Proposed new guidance could cut red tape in the kitchen
25-Apr-2007 By Lucy Britner
Chefs and cooks could be spared unnecessary red tape in the kitchen, thanks to new European Commission proposals.
Pubs warned over fire safety laws
12-Mar-2007 By James Wilmore
Pubs are being urged to check they are complying with new safety laws to avoid a fine up to £10,000 or even jail. Since last October, the...
16-Feb-2007
Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) sends message to Ministers and MPs on the need to support these vital community resources.
