The government is keen to see SMEs grow and to help this happen it has launched some new initiatives. It has also been announced that the New Enterprise Allowance scheme is to be extended in the hope of creating up to 40,000 new companies by 2013.
The coalition has decided to overhaul the Business Link website and create a Business Startup Hub so that companies can register online. A tax dashboard will be added to the site to help new firms set up tax matters, clearer and better information will be published on the site and public procurement notices will be posted online.
More than 40,000 business mentors will be also be available to give advice to people starting up their own business.
The business and enterprise minister, Mark Prisk, said it was extremely important to encourage the enterprise culture and in order for firms to succeed they need easy access to advice, information and mentoring.
Meanwhile umbrella company contractors who hope to obtain new placements this year will be interested to learn that the latest Job Index report from reed.co.uk shows a year-on-year increase in demand for jobs. Demand last month was 4% up on the corresponding month of 2009 despite demand in the public sector decreasing to less than half its December 2009 figure.
The MD of reed.co.uk, Martin Warnes, said there is cause for cautious optimism about job prospects this year. Increased private sector demand has more than offset the decrease in public sector vacancies so far. The jobs market avoided a double-dip last year and new job demand continues to be led by the private sector.
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Image: Red cross by Ulf Klose
