Economic Growth To Reach Pre-Recession Peak By Summer
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has predicted that the UK economy will exceed its pre-recession peak in the second quarter of this year, two years ahead of previous estimates. Continue reading
Upfront Payments Of Tax Bills Proposed
Controversial proposals by the Treasury to clear a backlog of 65,000 tax avoidance cases dating back to 2004 by seeking upfront payments have been slammed by tax advisors, who say the measures would be retrospective and “completely contrary to natural justice”. Continue reading
Five Years On, The Rate Remains The Same
It is five years since the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) lowered UK interest rates to 0.5 per cent, where they have stayed ever since, and yesterday’s (March 6) decision was to keep them there for another month. Continue reading
SMEs Urged To Join Swaps Compensation Scheme
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has urged around 1,900 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that were mis-sold interest rate hedging products, or ‘swaps’ by banks to join its compensation scheme, as it revealed that only £482m has been paid out of the nearly £4bn set aside to compensate firms.Continue reading
Business Owners Confident About Growth
A new report shows that 75 per cent of businesses have seen growth in the last three years, with over a third saying that they are offering new products and services.Continue reading
Manufacturing Grows Faster Than Expected
New figures show that UK manufacturing grew faster than expected in February, driven by a strengthening domestic market, an increase in new product launches and investment in new machinery. Added to this, employment in the sector expanded at its fastest pace in almost three years over the month.Continue reading
Budget Must Help Growing SMEs
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has called on the Chancellor, George Osborne, to support growing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) ahead of the Budget later this month. Continue reading
House Price Rise At Four-Year High
House prices rose by 0.6 per cent in February, a 9.4 per cent increase year-on-year, taking the annual rate of growth to the highest level in almost four years.Continue reading
Minimum Wage Pay Rise Proposal
The independent Low Pay Commission (LPC) has recommended that the national minimum wage (NMW) be increased from £6.31 to £6.50 an hour for adults, a rise of 3 per cent.Continue reading
International Festival For Business
At the 100-day countdown to the start of the International Festival for Business 2014 (IFB2014) being held in Liverpool for 50 days from June 5, CBI Director-General John Cridland said that the festival was part of a “national mission” to double the UK’s exports to £1trn by 2020.Continue reading
Can we help? Talk to our expert team