Latest Business News

SMEs still not catching on to social networking

By John Walker on July 1, 2010

Some interesting results from a survey by Insurantz.com showing Small businesses are still not catching on to social networking.

Just 16% of UK SMEs embrace sites like Facebook or Twitter as essential tools for business
56% of businesses put off by lack of understanding
65% have yet to see any benefit from social networking
Leisure and tourism industry most avid users

01 July, 2010 - A majority of small business owners and managers struggle to see the relevance of social networking sites to their business according to a nationwide survey conducted by specialist insurance provider, Insurantz.com.

According to the research of more than 1,000 small business owners across the UK, more than half (56%) are put off experimenting with social media because they either do not understand the technology or are yet to be convinced by its benefits. Of those who had used social media to promote their business, 65% had yet to see any genuine returns.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the research points to a generation gap, with younger small business owners are far more likely to use social media to market their company than their older counterparts. Nearly a quarter of SME owners aged 18-21 see social media as an essential tool for any modern business, whereas fewer than one in ten over 40’s share the same opinion.

Meanwhile, certain businesses are much more likely to use social media as a way to promote themselves. Leisure and tourism business owners emerge as the keenest digital users with more than a third (37%) seeing social networking as essential.

On the other hand, the food and restaurant industry are surprisingly resistant to social networking according the research with 61% questioning the benefits of digital media as an essential communications channel.

James Pickering, managing director for Insurantz.com, said:

Millions of people visit social networking sites each day at work or at home and yet just 16% of small businesses see digital media as an essential means of marketing their products and services. Our research revealed that SME owners under 30 are the most likely to embrace this type of customer engagement so don’t be surprised if online social marketing becomes increasingly important to the modern small business.

News Source: bisslancaster.com

Posted in Brands, Critical Infrastructure, Customer Support, Distribution Channels, Equipment & Operational Resources, Fashion, Trends and Memes, Ideas and Innovation, Information Technology, Internet Services, Market Research, Marketing, Marketing Facilities, Product Research and Development, Recruitment, Reputation, Sales, Surveys, Technology, Telecommunications Services, UK | Leave a response

VAT rises to 20% - Emergency, Post-Election, Budget - June 22nd 2010

By John Walker on June 22, 2010

Chancellor George Osborne announced today that the standard rate of VAT will rise to 20% from 4th January next year (2011).

This is one of his measures for accelerating the reduction of the nation’s deficit.

Other measures included:

2 year pay freeze for public sector workers earning over £21,000.
reducing tax credits for families earning over £40,000.
and what he described as ‘a tough decision’: child benefit frozen for next 3 years .
introduction of maximum limits on housing benefit to prevent

Corporation Tax Rates lowered in stages from 28% to 24% over 3 years - giving the lowest rate in G20 to attract foreign investment
Small companies’ corporation tax cut to 20% in 2011
Cancel some back dated business rate bills
Cancelled tax relief for the video games industry
Manufacturing as a whole will pay less tax.

From January 2011 introduction of a bank levy to generate over £2 billion pounds in annual revenues
5 year plan to reform corporation tax system
Start-ups outside London exempt from up to £5,000 of national insurance payments for some employees

He hopes that the measures in this budget will make payments on interest £3 billion lower by the end of the year.

Further info on VAT

How to Add VAT to a Price

Do I need To Charge VAT?

Further Info on Previous Budget

Posted in Forecasts, Taxation, UK, UK Budget | Leave a response

IR35 looks set for the scrapheap

By John Walker on May 20, 2010

PCG (the professional association supporting freelancers, contractors and consultants) was established to fight the introduction of IR35, so today’s announcement that it is to be replaced will be welcomed by freelance workers throughout the UK.

It is a triumph for common sense over political dogma.

In the Coalition’s full programme for Government, published today (20th May) the Government declares it will:

“Review IR35 as part of a wholesale review of all small business taxation, and seek to replace it with simpler measures that prevent tax avoidance but do not place undue administrative burdens or uncertainty on the self employed, or restrict labour market flexibility.”

The commitment appears as the fourth of 20 priorities for improving the UK’s ability to do business.

John Brazier, Managing Director of PCG said:

“We are delighted that the new Coalition Government made this commitment to review IR35 as a priority only days after taking power.

“For the last 10 years PCG has campaigned for honesty and fairness when dealing with the UK’s 1.4 million contractors and freelance workers. With the end of the iniquitous IR35 we have the opportunity to achieve fairness.

“PCG has led the way in seeking the abolition of IR35 on behalf of our members. It has caused great heartache to many people. The cost in distress has been high, but the revenue for HMRC has been minimal.

“Just look at the figures; they show that of the circa 1,500 IR35 cases PCG was involved with, HMRC has proved additional tax was owed in around 10.

“Despite repeated Freedom of Information Act requests and Parliamentary Questions the Revenue refused to indicate the cost of operating IR35. As I said PCG believes IR35 brought in a minuscule sum, if any, for the Revenue.”

Chris Bryce, Chairman of PCG said:

“Over the last few months the PCG team has had a series of meetings with the Conservative and the Liberal Democrat shadow front bench teams. We are delighted our message was heard and action taken.

“We applaud today’s decision and we will continue to work closely with the Coalition Government to ensure freelance workers are treated with fairness.

“The PCG voice will still be heard working with and advising Government where and when we are needed on behalf of PCG’s 20,000 members.

“Freelancing is a growing and valuable part of the UK economy. We are delighted that at last we have a Government that appreciates this.”

Posted in Freelancers, Politics & Legislation, Professional and Business Services, Regulation, Regulatory Compliance, Taxation, UK | Leave a response

David Cameron is appointed as UK Prime Minister

By John Walker on May 11, 2010

At around 8.40pm today David Cameron, leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, stood on the steps of Number 10 Downing Street and said:

Her Majesty the Queen has asked me to form a new government and I have accepted.

He went on to say,

In terms of the future, our country has a hung parliament where no party has an overall majority and we have some deep and pressing problems, a huge deficit, deep social problems and a political system in need of reform. For those reasons, I aim to form a proper and full coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. I believe that is the right way to provide this country with the strong, the stable, the good and decent government that I think we need so badly.

Nick Clegg and I are both political leaders who want to put aside party differences and work hard for the common good and for the national interest. I believe that is the best way to get the strong government that we need, decisive government that we need today.

He then went on to outline his belief in the importance of individual responsibility coupled with a duty for both government and society to support the frail and less fortunate

…and I want to help try and build a more responsible society here in Britain. One where we don’t just ask “What are my entitlements?” but “What are my responsibilities?”. One where we don’t just ask “What am I owed?” but, more, “What can I give?”…and a guide for that society, that; “those who can, should. And that those who can’t, we will always help”.

…above all, it will be a government that is built on some clear values; values of freedom, values of fairness and values of responsibility.

I want us to build an economy that rewards work. I want us to build a society with stronger families and stronger communities and I want a political system that people can trust and look up to once again.

Posted in Deals and Agreements, Politics & Legislation, Public Sector, UK | Leave a response

Gordon Brown sets Labour leadership contest in motion

By John Walker on May 10, 2010

At just after 5pm today ( May 10, 2010), Gordon Brown announced that he would be willing to step down from the post of Labour leader staying no longer than is needed to set political reform in motion and assure economic growth. He stood on the steps of 10 Downing Street and said:

If it becomes clear that the national interest, which is stable and principled government, can be best served by forming a coalition between the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, then I believe I should discharge that duty to form that government which would, in my view, command a majority in the House of Commons, in the Queen’s Speech and any other confidence votes.

But, I have no desire to stay in my position longer than is needed to ensure the path to economic growth is assured, and the process of political reform, we have agreed, moves forward quickly.

The reason that we have a hung parliament is that no single party and no single leader was able to win the full support of the country. As leader of my party, I must accept that that is a judgement on me.

I therefore intend to ask the labour Party to set in train the processes needed for its own leadership election. I would hope that it would be completed in time for the new leader to be in post by the time of the Labour Party conference.

I will play no part in that contest. I will back no individual candidate.

See the full press announcement on the Labour Party’s web site.

Posted in Deals and Agreements, Politics & Legislation, Public Sector, UK | Tagged Gordon Brown | 1 Response

2010 May 6th UK Election Results in Hung Parliament

By John Walker on May 7, 2010

The final seat, contested in yesterday’s general election, returned its result just before 5pm today.

The resulting number of seats won, as collated by the BBC, are distributed as follows:

Conservative: 306
Labour: 258
Liberal Democrats: 57
Democratic Unionist Party: 8
Scottish National Party: 6
Sinn Fein: 5
Plaid Cymru: 3
Social Democratic and Labour Party: 3
Green Party: 1
Alliance Party: 1
Independent (Sylvia Hermon): 1

The Conservatives have won the most seats in the House of Commons. However, they do not have more seats than all the other parties put together. This means that no party has won an absolute majority. In other words, its a hung parliament.

So, Gordon Brown still holds the keys to Number 10 Downing Street but will be ‘living out of his suitcase’ until the main party leaders can decide the form of the next UK Government.

649 out of a total of 650 seats have been declared. The seat for Thirsk and Matlon remains to be decided on 27th May. Its election was postponed due to the death of one of the candidates.

Based On Data Sourced From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/

Posted in Political and Economic Philosophies, Politics & Legislation, UK | Leave a response

New observations of volcanic dust

By John Walker on April 20, 2010

Met Office scientists have been working with the Universities of Reading and Hertfordshire to gather comprehensive data about the potential danger to aircraft from the volcanic plume that has been emitted from the recent eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland.

The volcanic dust was measured using newly-developed probes that attach to meteorological balloons that can be used for measuring volcanic dust.

The weather balloon and probe was launched at 9 am on Monday morning and clearly showed a 600 m thick layer of dust at a height of 4km. The layer was found to contain highly abrasive dust particles, at concentrations of a third of a milligram of dust in each cubic metre. While the amount sounds small, a typical jet engine would ingest some 60 billion of these particles every second.

Graphic showing the concentration of volcanic ash above Stranraer, Scotland at 9am on Monday 19th April. It shows the concentration of volcanic ash particles per cubic metre at a range of heights above the ground. The large peak shows a concentration of volcanic ash 600 metres thick at a height of 4km.

News Source: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=413106&SubjectId=2 Image source: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/imagelibrary/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=28&MediaDetailsID=1803&SubjectId=35

Posted in Business Continuity Planning, Critical Infrastructure, Customer Support, Environmental Issues, Equipment & Operational Resources, Europe, Scotland, Surveys, Transport and Distribution, UK | Tagged Eyjafjallajökull volcano | Leave a response

Deal reached with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) on surplus pandemic vaccine

By John Walker on April 6, 2010

The Department of Health and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) today announced that they have reached an agreement on the Department’s outstanding orders of swine flu vaccine resulting in significant savings for the Government.
The final settlement was mutually agreed as representing fair value for the UK Government and the manufacturer and means savings of around a third of the original value of the total orders with GSK.

As part of measures taken to protect the UK population from swine flu, the Government ordered sufficient vaccine to protect the entire population if needed. As evidence about the swine flu virus developed, experts advised that vaccinating the entire population would no longer be necessary.

In light of this advice, the Department entered negotiations to reduce the orders for the Pandemrix vaccine produced by GSK. The Government also cancelled the contract with Baxter for swine flu vaccine on 28 February 2010.

Under the agreement announced today, the UK order with GSK has been capped at 34.8 million doses, including those already received. This represents stock that the manufacturer had produced for the UK, and could not reasonably retract. There will be no cancellation fee.

Vaccine that hasn’t been used will be kept as a strategic reserve in case the virus causes a third wave of illness. The Government will also continue to immunise remaining patients in priority groups, such as pregnant women, who remain at risk from the virus. The Government intends to donate 3.8 million doses of vaccine to the World Health Organization to boost immunity in Africa before the rainy season.

In addition to limiting the H1N1 vaccine to be delivered, the Department will receive other GSK products. These products will be H5N1 bird flu vaccine and courses of the antiviral Relenza to replace the amount used during the swine flu outbreak.

Swine flu has reached its lowest level in the UK since the pandemic began but it is essential to remain vigilant and prepared in case it re-emerges in the UK. In addition, a bird flu pandemic remains just as likely as before the current pandemic and it is prudent that the UK maintains a stockpile of vaccine that is licensed and ready to use. The Department will purchase H5NI ‘bird flu’ vaccine and courses of the antiviral Relenza as part of the agreement.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham, said:

This deal means the UK will save approximately one third of the original value of the orders with GSK. I am pleased we have reached an agreement that is good value for the taxpayer and means that the Department has retained a strategic stockpile to protect the UK population without incurring a cancellation fee. This both protects the public purse and ensures the UK remains at the forefront of pandemic preparedness worldwide.

The probability of a bird flu pandemic, which is likely to be more severe than swine flu, has not diminished.

This agreement means we are ready if a bird flu pandemic occured, and allows us to maintain our status as one of the most prepared countries in the world.

News Source: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=412973&SubjectId=2

Posted in Cosmetics, Medicinal and Chemical Products Wholesale, Deals and Agreements, Health Services, Pharmaceuticals, Health and Beauty Products Retail, Public Spending and State Aid, UK | Leave a response

Lets go to it. Prime Minister Gordon Brown Announces UK General Election on May 6th 2010

By John Walker on April 6, 2010

Gordon Brown has returned from his visit to Buckingham Palace where he asked the Queen to dissolve parliament on 12 April ahead of the General Election to be held on May 6th.

Posted in Notable Dates, Politics & Legislation | Leave a response

Could the Ice Jacket replace the Ice Cube?

By Robert Steadman on April 2, 2010

Form and function have seamlessly merged in the development and introduction of an utterly new and unique Barwares device, the Ice Jacket.

A bottle encased in ice

Designed to conveniently and attractively encase a manufacturer’s bottle of spirits in ice for service and presentation, the Ice Jacket — developed and introduced by The Ice Jacket accommodates a wide range of manufacturers’ 750 ml bottles, — from vodkas, tequilas, and aquavits, to emerging spirit varieties such as Sochus, Piscos and Cachaças. Retail consumers at all levels will now be able to enjoy the benefits associated with the Ice Jacket-ing of their favorite spirits.

While numerous products designed to chill a beverage once it has been poured are available in today’s marketplace, only the Ice Jacket is designed to continuously cool a bottle of spirits once it has been removed from the freezer. Eliminating the need for flavor-altering ice cubes in the preparation of shots, shooters, neat drinks and martinis, the Ice Jacket extends the visual bond between logo and customer to the table itself, by a distiller’s trademark becoming functional ice sculpture. Protected by broad patent rights, Ice Jacket Inc. is able to support its Spirits Industry clients through the development and introduction of custom designed and branded products intended to feature a specific trademark.

Already embraced by luxury retailers such as Frontgate and Solutions, spirits brand owners, importers and distributors are certain to pursue exclusive relationships in support of their marks. No longer bound by inelegant ice buckets hiding the trademark, their bottle — in its Ice Jacket — delivers the trademark onto the bar or table where it is certain to serve as conversation piece and subject of attention while increasing consumption.

More than solely serving as an effective tool enhancing a beverage’s presentation and palatability, the Ice Jacket will drive both on and off-premise sales

When recently asked why the Ice Jacket has been so successful, company president and Ice Jacket inventor, Davis Wolf, stated “Simple to use, fun to decorate, and highly functional; the Ice Jacket is an idea whose time has come.”

Spirits importers, luxury brand owners and retailers are encouraged to contact:
Ice Jacket, Inc. is set to revolutionize spirits’ promotion, presentation and preparation.

Robert Steadman
Tell Me First (Ice Jacket, Inc.)
www.tell-me-first.com
+357 97 623 491

Naples, Florida, April 1, 2010

Posted in Accommodation, Bars, Catering, Fashion, Trends and Memes, Ideas and Innovation, Party Planning, Product Launches, Worldwide | Leave a response