Category: Business

SMEs recognise the benefits of employing workers over 65 but many are not yet ready to meet the needs of an ageing workforce, a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has found. The vast majority (86%) of SMEs questioned acknowledge the benefits of an age diverse workforce but only 25% have … Continued

Four out of 5 SME loan applications were approved in 2014, compared with 71% in 2013, according to research by venture capital firm Albion Ventures. Despite these improvements, just 1 in 10 SMEs applied for finance during the past 12 months, down from 17% in the year before. The survey of 450 firms revealed a … Continued

The Financial Reporting Council has released a much anticipated consultation document detailing the future direction for micro-entity accounts following the publication of the government’s outline plan for implementing the EU accounting directive. Wrting for Accounting Web, Steve Collings takes a closer look at the propsals for the Financial Reporting Standard for Micro-Entitites (FRSME). The most … Continued

The Consultative Committee of Accounting Bodies (CCAB) has published a new version of the statement of recommended practice for limited liability partnerships. The LLP SORP, as it is known by those who use it, has been going through the exposure and consultation process on amendments that were made necessary by the move to the new … Continued

Luck does not play a big role in a firm’s success according to nearly three quarters of small business owners, research by software provider Sage has found. In a survey of more than 1,000 UK small business owners, just 28% of respondents felt that luck had a bearing on their success. Effective planning – particularly … Continued

Developed by Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), working with local partners, The New Markets Programme is a new way for local businesses to access high value, commercial business advice, tailored to your business needs and chosen by you. Eligible businesses can receive a 35% contribution to the cost of commercial advice that supports … Continued

New rules have been unveiled that will see companies forced to declare who their beneficial owners are. The Government has indicated that it will legislate where necessary as soon as Parliamentary time allows.  Shareholders with more than a 25% stake in a company registered in the UK will have to supply Companies House with personal … Continued

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published an amended version of the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (FRSSE) for use by micro-entities which want to take advantage of new regulations allowing them to prepare simplified financial statements. Micro-entities are the UK’s smallest companies. They are now able to use the FRSSE when choosing to … Continued

From the 30th June 2014 all employees with 26 weeks service at the time of the application will have the right to request flexible working. Under the Children and Families Act the existing statutory procedure is to be replaced by a duty to deal with flexible working requests in a reasonable manner.  Employers will have … Continued

A number of changes to employment rules and regulations came into force with the start of the new financial year on 6 April. The changes affect many areas of employment law, from employment tribunals and discrimination, to everyday areas such as auto-enrolment and maternity pay. Key changes: Statutory maternity and paternity pay have increased from … Continued