Business News Articles

Outsourcing deals fail on strategy
Outsourcing deals tend to meet cost targets but fail to meet strategic objectives, according to a report by IT services consultancy Deloitte. According to the survey, 89% of companies reported at least a 25% return on their investment. But the report also claims many companies are disappointed with providers' overall ability to achieve continuous process and technology developments.... more

Government warned on small firms
A leading accountancy body has warned the government not to ignore small businesses when it formulates enterprise policy. ACCA has sent a letter to ministers at the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) pointing out that small businesses are the "real creators of employment, wealth and economic growth in the UK". ... more

Warning over sex assault cases
Employers should brace themselves for a rise in sexual assault claims after a recent ruling by the House of Lords, a legal expert has warned. Brian Rogers, operations director at Manchester law firm Lewis Hymanson Small, believes the decision to allow courts to decide if cases older than six years can go ahead. ... more

Winding-up orders down in 2007
The number of companies applying to be wound up fell by 3% in 2007, according to figures released by the Ministry of Justice. A total of 11,791 ceased trading due to insolvency or other problems in England and Wales last year but many analysts expect that to rise as the credit crunch bites in 2008. ... more

Northern Rock enters state hands
The government has announced plans to nationalise the stricken bank Northern Rock after rejecting two offers to keep the institution in private hands. Chancellor Alistair Darling made the decision to nationalise the bank after deciding that the private sector offers – including one from Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin group – did not represent the best value for taxpayers. ... more

Unemployment and earnings fall
Unemployment in the UK fell by 61,000 in the last quarter of 2007 with the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance also falling. The Office for National Statistics revealed that total unemployment fell to 1.61m with the number claiming jobseeker’s allowance reducing by 10,800 to 794,600. ... more

BCC hosts travel plan seminars
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is running a series of seminars to increase companies' awareness of developing travel plans that can help reduce carbon emissions. The organisation is working in association with the Department for Transport's National Business Travel Network to deliver six events across the UK that will promote the need for businesses to develop sustainable travel plans. ... more

Call for business continuity unit
A business continuity show is urging the government to set up a designated department to coordinate planning for disasters. Business Continuity Expo, with backing from the Business Continuity Institute, has set up a petition on the 10 Downing Street website to urge the prime minister to set up “a designated lead department within central government to coordinate, initiate and oversee busines... more

Inflation and retail sales up
UK inflation rose from 2.1% to 2.2% in January with rising transport costs mostly to blame, figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed. The retail price index, which includes mortgage payments, also rose, from 4.0% to 4.1%. ... more

Insolvencies expected to rise
The number of companies going out of business fell by 7% in 2007 compared to the previous year, according to figures released by Deloitte. But the organisation believes the impact of the credit crunch is only just beginning to filter through to companies and expects the number of insolvencies to rise in 2008. ... more