Business News Articles

Deadline for 16-17 year olds to enter Enterprise Academy approaching
Applicants for the pilot scheme of the Peter Jones run National Enterprise Academy have until November the 10th to complete and send in their applications. The Dragon and serial entrepreneur is looking for teenagers aged 16-17 who are interested in setting up their own businesses and are prepared to take risks and try something new. The scheme will accept 35 applicants and will be run in Buc... more

Sharp fall in pension funds
The value of defined pension contributions has fallen by nearly a third in the past 12 months due to the financial chaos on the stock markets. According to research by pensions consultancy Aon, the value of funds has dropped from £552bn to £395bn over the last year. ... more

New Blackberry phone aimed at small business
A new touchscreen BlackBerry has recently been launched that is challenge other smart phones due to its high-speed internet access and intuitive touchscreen that can be used like a keyboard. Research in Motion's BlackBerry phones have often been viewed as a reliable companion of office workers and travelling salesman who mainly use it check to the internet and reply to e-mails on the go. The... more

Call to scrap empty office tax
Some of the UK’s leading companies are backing calls by the British Property Federation (BPF) to abolish the tax on empty business premises. The BPF argues the tax encourages companies to destroy premises rather than keep them empty and has warned it could force both small and larger firms out of business. ... more

SMEs against extension to flexible working
A poll by YouGov on behalf of Alliance & Leicester has revealed that SME owners and managers are in favour of the Governments decision to halt extensions to flexible working hours. The poll sampled over 800 hundred SME owners and found that 38% of small business owners believed they would find it difficult to offer the extended flexible working right if the legislation was passed. Over three... more

New online showcase for innovative business products
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Sarah Beeny to launch new property website
Property developer and television presenter Sarah Beeny has announced plans to launch a new property website in September. The site, www.completingchains.com, aims to create virtual chains of people who have a solid interest in particular properties and only lack a first-time buyer. Those in the chain take off a small percentage off their asking price, making it more likely a first-time buye... more

Company car use ‘set to grow’
Businesses could soon return to providing employees with company cars due to fears of litigation and concerns over the image staff portray in their own vehicles, an HR firm has claimed. Many firms have switched away from such schemes, preferring instead to offer “cash for cars”, where they give employees an allowance to use their own vehicles for work purposes. ... more

Official franchise workshops held in London and Birmingham
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IBM top choice for SMEs
IBM is the top choice for SMEs for computing systems, servers, desktops, laptops and management software, a survey by analyst house Yankee Group has revealed. SMEs revealed that they valued IBM's innovation, competitive pricing, Express products and user-friendly Web site.... more