business
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UK desperately needs to rebalance economy
The protracted General Election campaign created uncertainty that led to businesses holding fire on their investment and growth plans, according to the latest ICAEW/Grant Thornton UK Business Confidence Monitor (BCM). Business confidence is flat this quarter, as the survey suggests turnover and profit growth over the next 12 months will be weaker than the past year. Key findings for Q2 2015: The BCM Confidence Index stands at +16.2, down marginally from +16.8 – showing that outlook has ...
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Business rates up for review
HM Treasury has launched a wide-ranging review of national business rates, examining the structure of the current system which is paid annually on 1.8 million properties in England. It will look at how businesses use property, what the UK can learn from other countries about local business taxes, and how the system could be modernised to reflect changes in the value of property. The review is set to report back by Budget 2016.
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Essential supplies guaranteed during business rescue
Under proposals laid in Parliament this week, essential suppliers of IT, water, gas, electricity and communications services will be prevented from cutting off supply or charging premium rates while insolvency practitioners seek a viable solution to rescue a business. However, suppliers will be guaranteed payment ahead of others owed money for services supplied during the rescue period and can ask for guarantees of payment from the insolvency practitioner. Commenting on the news, Giles Frampton, R3 president, says: ...
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UK business confidence most upbeat
UK business confidence remains the most upbeat among the world’s major economies, according to Markit Economics. Research from the financial information provider shows that 41% of manufacturing firms and 39% of service sector companies expect their staffing levels to be higher this time next year, compared to just 10% and 7% respectively that expect headcounts to fall. Capital expenditure is meanwhile anticipated to rise at 38% of goods-producing firms and at 26% of service sector companies, compared with ...
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Greater freedom to start a business from home
Entrepreneurs are to be given greater freedom to start and grow a business from home under new measures announced by the Government. Official figures show that around 70% of new businesses start off in the home and ministers want to make it much easier for people thinking of starting a home business to do so with the law on their side. The measures include: New legislation to make it easier for people to run a business from a ...
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UK business confidence hits 20 year high
A new report from Lloyds claims that business confidence in the UK has reached its strongest level since January 1994 on the back of rising expectations for orders, sales and profits in the next six months. Companies are now more optimistic about the economy than they have been at any point since January 2007 and are signalling that they intend to boost staff numbers, suggesting that employment could rise in 2014. Investment intentions have climbed to their ...
