Autumn Statement confirmed – 4 December 2013

This year's Autumn Statement will be held on Wednesday 4 December, Chancellor George Osborne has confirmed on his Twitter account.The annual statement provides an update on the Government's plans for the economy and is released alongside the latest economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility.Previously known as the Pre-Budget Report and sometimes referred to …

Pre-Budget Report to be ‘dropped’

The government is likely to axe this year's pre-Budget Report, according to press reports. The Financial Times has suggested that the PBR will be replaced with a shorter statement to be delivered in November or December once the Office for Budget Responsibility has finalised its economic forecast. The statement may be accompanied by some consultation …

Thinking of profiting from your hobby?

  And as if to prove that the entrepreneurial spirit is far from dead, another survey recently revealed that 56% of owner-managers are considering starting a second business based on a hobby such as sports, crafts, or travel!

Are you managing for growth?

Recent research shows that owner-managers of small and medium sized businesses have doubled the amount of time they spend growing their businesses compared with six months ago. On average, SME leaders spend almost a third of their working week exclusively focused on planning and delivering growth compared with just 13% of their time six months …

Reducing the cost of business finance

Despite reports that bank lending to small businesses is still failing to meet targets, there is increased demand for credit from small businesses seeking among other things to refinance existing loans and to fund a growing amount of takeover activity. Whether your business is in either of these categories or you are seeking finance for …

Lessons from the recession – think the unthinkable

If there is one thing we have all learnt from events of the last two years it is that change happens – often without warning, and sometimes with catastrophic consequences.  We have also seen how many businesses were blindsided by events for which they were to a greater or lesser extent unprepared. True, there is …

From 6 May to 22 June

With the new Government starting its first 100 days in office, the half way milestone is the “Emergency Budget” which is scheduled for 22 June. As Government Ministers move from Opposition to Government and assume the reality of their portfolios we are evidencing some proposed changes that were not heralded during the General Election campaign. …