Previous Newsletter Articles

May 2008

• Chancellor unveils plans for business-Government forum
• Small firms gain free access to public sector contracts
• ‘Restore postal services' for small firms, urges FPB
• Personal tax allowance to increase by £600
• Bank keeps interest rates on hold
• Consumer law reforms ‘to reduce regulatory burden'
• Government to extend flexible working rights
• Agency workers deal ‘disastrous' for small firms, claims FSB
• Plans to phase out cheques put on hold
• Treasury urged to scrap fuel tax increase
• Faster banking payment service is launched
• Financial complaints reach new high

Apr 2008

• Chancellor unveils concessionary tax deal
• Commission calls for supermarket ‘shake-up’
• Court backs OFT over ‘unfair’ bank charges
• Business group seeks to raise profile of corporation tax debate
• Consumers ‘swap credit cards for cash’
• Small business profits ‘hit by rogue sales tactics’
• Business welcomes interest rate cut
• Profit warnings hit new high
• Pensions provide only ‘modest’ income
• Businesses to pay ‘extra £4bn’ in tax, claims CBI
• New code to ‘reduce red tape’
• Small firms ‘failing to plan’ for the unexpected
• ‘Tough’ new credit rules come into force
• Businesses advised to prepare for Corporate Manslaughter Act
• UK retailers ‘failing to comply’ with online selling regulations
• Get ready for new regulations, businesses warned

Mar 2008

• Policing illegal workers ‘not a job for small business owners’
• 2008 Budget will ‘hit small businesses hard’, warns FPB
• New service to enable same-day cash transfers
• Darling poised for ‘green Budget'
• Tax ‘revamp' needed to help economy prosper, argues CBI
• Minimum Wage set to rise in October
• 2008 Budget: Darling's design for a ‘greener' future
• 2008 Budget Report: the political reaction
• 2008 Budget Report: the business reaction
• 2008 Budget Report: Darling downgrades economic growth forecasts
• Business welcomes Enterprise White Paper
• UK credit card losses pushed up by overseas fraud
• Businesses should ‘do more' to reduce employee absence

Feb 2008

• Extra funding to help early resolution of workplace disputes
• Darling fixes date for 2008 Budget
• Businesses failing to protect consumer data
• FSB in final plea ahead of 2008 Budget
• British businesses feel the pinch of ‘bureaucratic burden'
• Cheque use in rapid rate of decline

Jan 2008

• Small businesses ‘hit hardest' by rising fuel costs
• Britons struggling to manage their finances this New Year
• Small firms urged to evaluate energy bills
• Submit tax returns early to avoid potential ‘ chaos'
• Businesses in ‘complete confusion' over capital gains uncertainty
• Government unveils plans to increase HMRC powers
• Businesses call on Chancellor to abolish fuel tax increase
• Government urged to reconsider new rules on ‘income shifting'
• New website to help UK businesses compete for Olympic contracts
• Darling confirms capital gains tax reforms
• Businesses to receive apprenticeship boost
• Online tax return filing ‘safe and secure' insists HMRC

Dec 2007

• New patent rules to ‘benefit businesses'
• Businesses ‘undervalue' computer skills, says Microsoft
• Government unveils pension ‘rescue' package

Nov 2007

• Government to review flexible working
• Darling defends strength of UK economy
• FSB ‘disappointed' with Competition Commission report
• Online spending reaches record high
• HIPs blamed for ‘decline' in homes for sale
• Report shows gender pay gap is ‘widening'
• 25 million records lost in data security breach
• Business groups welcome new training scheme
• FPB welcomes delay to Companies Act
• New rules to guarantee cheque payment
• HIPs to be required for all properties
• Businesses face ‘severe' penalties for illegal workers

Oct 2007

• Increase in minimum wage comes into force
• New rules to guarantee savings
• Consumer confidence on the rise
• Darling pledges to maintain ‘economic stability’
• 2007 Pre-Budget Report: the political reaction
• 2007 Pre-Budget Report: the business reaction
• The Pre-Budget Report and your business
• Business groups ‘left reeling' by tax reforms
• Darling faces criticism over spending commitment to flood defences
• Credit crisis deepens as one million pay mortgage on card
• Government to review pension schemes
• Business groups united against supplementary business rates
• ‘Insufficient' support on employment law for small businesses

Sep 2007

• SME banking controls 'set to be lifted'
• Think tank calls for November bank holiday
• One in four people 'have no savings'
• Business group calls for payment of e-filing incentives
• Minimum wage laws see first criminal prosecution
• 'Touch and pay' card hits the High Street
• Small firms 'hit by credit crisis'
• Tour operators lose Air Passenger Duty case
• HIPS come into force for three-bedroom homes
• Pre-Budget Report 'could target gas guzzlers'
• New single penalty regime for incorrect tax returns
• Small businesses urged to claim rate relief
• Inheritance tax to hit '135 more homes a day'
• Brown pledges a Britain 'of all the talents'
• Taxman homes in on offshore accounts

Aug 2007

• HMRC threatens to close 'loophole' following Arctic Systems decision
• Pensions Bill 2007 receives Royal Assent
• Home Information Packs launched
• Pre-Budget Report to take place in October
• MPs lend support to supplementary business rates
• Revenue to target 100,000 offshore account holders
• Business group calls for action on small business issues
• Business fraud 'sees 42% increase'
• Pensions go back into the black
• Revenue withdraws VAT recovery on home computers
• HIPs extended to three-bedroom houses
• Same-day banking system 'suffers delays'

Jul 2007

• Brown's new Government 'must put small firms first'
• Business responds to new EU treaty
• Workplace smoking ban extends to whole of UK
• Speed cameras net Treasury £15 million surplus
• Brown to revamp DTI
• E-waste recycling laws come into effect
• HMRC plans to take unpaid tax directly from bank accounts
• ‘Inexcusable’ number of companies breaking data protection rules
• Insurance companies consider flood claims
• Government releases guidance on new holiday entitlement
• Small business wins landmark family tax case
• Credit card debt 'could last for 30 years'

Jun 2007

• Savings ‘best buy' tables come under fire
• Home info packs to be delayed
• Internet shopping sales reach £100bn
• Landmark tax case returns to the courtroom
• Mental illness 'is second greatest cause' of absenteeism
• Banks 'must do more' to locate owners of dormant accounts
• Workers plan to postpone retirement beyond 65
• FSB warns that postal strike must be averted
• Offshore account holders 'must declare their accounts'
• Cap set for Personal Accounts pension scheme
• DTI outlines plans to extend holiday entitlement
• Consumers and businesses 'could get more' from the internet

May 2007

• Small business banking comes under fire
• Workers warned over 'pensions poverty'
• Home Information Packs 'raise significant opposition'
• Business group calls for £17bn tax cut
• Firms 'unaware' of R&D tax relief
• New record for insolvencies
• CBI creates new Tax Task Force
• Interest rate rise 'threatens economic growth'
• New legislation to crack down on illegal working
• Small businesses 'could face surprise tax raids'
• Government outlines 'road pricing' plans
• Business welcomes planning shake-up

Apr 2007

• Business group issues warning on 'Red Tape Friday'
• Workplace absence 'costs £13.4bn a year'
• Spring sunshine boosts retail sales
• HMRC announces 'tax amnesty' for offshore income
• Inflation rise sparks interest rate fears
• 'Broadband Britain' faces new challenges
• Report expresses concerns over Budget measures
• Business group calls for official recognition of workplace training
• Employers 'should help workers' to quit smoking

Mar 2007

• 2007 Budget 'must be Chancellor's best'
• Business red tape burden 'exceeds £55bn'
• New guidance for employers on age laws
• CBI calls for corporation tax cut
• Small business welcomes Companies Act plans
• National Minimum Wage to rise again
• UK economy 'reaches a fork in the road'
• Government unveils new 'carbon budgets'
• Skilled jobs 'could disappear', warns business group
• A Budget for business?
• Business reacts to Budget measures
• Budget 2007: The political response
• Raising the education leaving age 'is not enough'
• The Budget Debate: business winners and losers
• What's in the nation's shopping basket?

Feb 2007

• Business leaders call for 'radical action' on tax
• SMEs told to plan for the unexpected
• Business calls on Government to close '£17bn transport gap'
• VAT scheme extended for SMEs
• Business rejects call for 'flexible working for all'
• Employers urged to 'take the skills pledge'
• Business group issues warning over supermarket inquiry
• Rise in air tax takes effect
• Chancellor confirms plans to raise school-leaving age
• Small business group issues insurance warning
• Lone parents benefits come under scrutiny
• New trade laws 'could damage UK business'
• Promotion prospects are top priority for employees
• Christmas provides welcome sales boost
• Self assessment figures 'hit new record'

Jan 2007

• Small business presents New Year Resolutions
• Workers 'contribute £23bn' in unpaid overtime
• Union threatens self assessment strike action
• Political changes means business uncertainty
• Business reacts to new minimum wage fines
• Climate change 'offers key business opportunities'
• Job applicants ‘making basic errors'
• Inflation hits 10-year high
• Child Trust Fund aims to tackle mothers' 'greatest money worry'
• School leaving age set to rise to 18
• Holiday entitlements set to rise