Business News Articles

Rail strike from April 6-9
Small and medium-sized business owners have been warned that rail workers have announced a four-day strike beginning on April the 6th. Thousands of members of the unions RMT and TSSA will walk out just after Easter from April 6 to the 9th in protest of proposed job losses. Network Rail is facing budget cuts of 20% and so is looking to reduce costs by cutting staff. Unions say these job losse... more

Business investment drops 4.3%
Business investment declined 4.3% in the final quarter of last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. This fall means that for the whole of 2009 business investment dropped a record 23.5%, the steepest year-on-year decline since 1967. "In the face of weak demand and severe financial pressures, businesses have had little choice but to cut investment and stocks," said David Ker... more

Retail sales rise 2.1%
UK retail sales rose 2.1% in February from January, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics. The rise in sales was expected as figures in January were subdued due to poor weather and VAT reverting back to 17.5%. Compared with February last year sales were up 3.5%. "Better than expected retail sales, though partly explained as a rebound from the weather-related slump ... more

NI rise 'could cost 57,000 jobs'
Business leaders have warned that the Budget's increase in National Insurance Contributions could cost 57,000 jobs. The Budget did not reverse the 1% increase that will be implemented from April 2011. However, other measures such as the £2.5bn growth fund for small and medium-sized businesses and an extra 15% of government contracts - worth £15bn - being awarded to SMEs have been welcomed.... more

British Gas staff vote to strike
British Gas employees have voted to strike over alleged bullying and changes to their terms and conditions. The GMB trade union said that its members supported strikes by 82%, and industrial action short of a strike by 90% in a high turnout of the 8,000 workers balloted. British Gas has been given a week by the GMB to respond before the union decides on its next move and potentially announce... more

BA: next strike won't affect Gatwick
British Airways have said that Gatwick and London City Airport will not be affected by the next planned strike action from March 27-30. BA have said that it has increased its flights from the two airports and that the numbers of cabin crew that wish to work as normal has risen. The union Unite recently staged a three-day strike from March 20th until Monday March 22nd. The strike affected fli... more

Inflation falls to 3%
UK inflation fell to 3% in February from the previous month's 3.5%, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics. The drop in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) - the measure of the average price of consumer goods and services purchased by households - was sharper than economists had predicted. The Retail Price Index - which includes mortgage interest payments - remained ... more

Company insolvencies decline 15%
The number of companies declared insolvent declined last month, according to data released by Experian. A total of 1,834 firms went out of business last month, a decline of 15% from February's figures. London saw the highest rate of insolvencies while Wales saw the fewest number of companies going out of business. "Small businesses have far more flexibility than any other business type, It i... more

Small firms: Budget won’t effect us
Only a fifth of small business owners believe that this week's Budget will have a significant impact on their firms, according to new research from the Forum of Private Business (FPB). The FPB found that only 22% are factoring the budget in their plans for 2010 and even fewer small business owners believe the general election will have an effect on their plans, at just 19%. The survey reveal... more

Staff motivated by training
Less than a third of employees are motivated to perform well in their job by money, according to data released by the National Training Awards and YouGov. The biggest motivator for 43% of staff surveyed was having a passion for their job or firm where they work. Seven out of ten workers said that an employer's commitment to staff training and learning is important in helping them feel valued and ... more