UK Could Achieve Number Five In Global Economic Ranking
The UK will become the world’s fifth biggest economy and the second largest in the European Union, behind Germany, by 2020, according to recent predictions. Continue reading
Service Sector Staying Strong
Although growth in the UK’s dominant service sector slowed slightly in June, overall expansion remained strong, indicating further strengthening of the economy in the first half of 2014 and pointing to a buoyant six months to come.Continue reading
Pulling A Sickie Is Sickening Business
‘Pulling a sickie’, or taking a day off work for reasons other than genuine illness, is crippling business in the UK, with up to £9bn lost a year, according to a recent study.Continue reading
SMEs Confident About International Growth
According to recent research, just over one third of small businesses plan to increase overseas sales over the next 12 months, generating an additional £15bn in export revenue for the UK. Continue reading
Cash In On The New ISA Limits
As of today (July 1), the amount that savers can put into the new form of tax-free ISAs increases to £15,000 and, in a change to the rules, they are able to use them for any combination of cash or shares.Continue reading
Interest Rates Could Rise To 5 Per Cent
According to the Bank of England’s Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy, Sir Charlie Bean, interest rates could return to the pre-recession level of 5 per cent in “the very long term”.Continue reading
Consumer Confidence At Nine-Year High
New research has revealed that UK consumer confidence in June has risen to its highest level since 2005, climbing by one point this month to +1 from 0 in May and moving into positive territory for the first time in over nine years.Continue reading
Small Business, Enterprise And Employment Bill Good For SMEs
According to Business Minister Matthew Hancock, the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill, which was introduced to Parliament this week, contains 142 clauses designed to help small firms “start, grow and thrive”.Continue reading
Housing Market Cooling Down
According to the British Bankers’ Association (BBA), the “heat is coming out of the housing market”, with mortgage approvals, which are used as an indicator of future sales, dropping on a monthly basis.Continue reading
Self-Funding On The Rise
According to a recent survey, self-funding is the most popular form of funding for small businesses, with almost 50 per cent of the firms polled either using their own money or getting help from friends and family, a sharp rise from the 26 per cent who were doing so a year ago.Continue reading
Can we help? Talk to our expert team