SMEs boost cash flow by dipping into owners’ personal wealth
New research suggests that the personal finances, and private lives, of a lot of small business owners are suffering because of the rising costs associated with running their own company.
recession
Umbrella company contractors – is your client going to close this year?
New research from Aviva shows that around 10% of small firms in the UK are worried they might have to close this year if trading conditions do not improve.
Sluggish growth and rising costs prevents SMEs expanding
Last week’s GDP figures from the Office for National statistics confirmed growth of just 0.2% in the second quarter of this year.
Can we achieve fiscal sustainability without raising taxes?
The Office for Budget Responsibility says that tougher austerity measures and higher taxes are needed if Britain is to achieve long term fiscal sustainability.
EU is relying on small businesses to drive recovery
The small business sector is crucial to EU growth, according to Helena Walsh, the Brussels regional director for Cicero Consulting.
Financial services temps get more than permanent counterparts
Marks Sattin, the accountancy and financial services recruiter, has released details of its research into salaries in the professions.
Do you have enough savings to cope with a drop in income?
Umbrella company contractors may be about to witness the biggest drop in household incomes for 30 years, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Marginal GDP rise takes us back to where we were 6 months ago
Figures released last Wednesday showed a 0.5% increase in GDP in the first quarter of 2011. This balanced out the drop of 0.5% in the final quarter of last year, which was blamed on the abnormal weather we saw in December.
Are umbrella companies at a high risk of insolvency?
The chances of companies collapsing are increasing by the month, according to a new study from RSM Tenon.
New-borns to pay more tax to fund ‘baby boomers’ pensions
Low-income households and the elderly have been badly hit by the recession, according to research conducted by the BBC and the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
IT contractors have many reasons for optimism
Confidence amongst IT contractors working in financial services has increased dramatically over the last year as banks carry on ploughing money into IT investment, new research shows.
Many IT professionals are not loyal to their employers
59% of IT professionals and umbrella company contractors are not loyal to their employment, according to a recent survey from The IT Job Board.
Encouraging private sector growth becomes a priority
On Monday, George Osborne and Vince Cable announced a fundamental review of the steps all areas of Government are taking to promote the best conditions to encourage growth in the private sector.
Everybody should be insured against future financial hardship
Freelancers and other self-employed people are being urged to invest in a financial safety net to protect their families in case they cannot work.
Things look to be improving for IT contractors
IT contractors might be interested to read that Gartner predicts enterprise IT spending looks as if it will grow next year.
Are new government measures enough to support SMEs?
Earlier this week Mark Prisk spoke to the Summit for Small Business and explained how the government intends to help the five million SMEs, which includes umbrella companies, in Britain grow now that the recession is behind us.