Following a sharp fall in retail sales in July, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) expects August to be a bleak month for consumer spending.
 
In the recent Distributive Trades Survey, 61 percent of those who took part reported a drop in sales compared to the previous years’ July, with just 25 percent reporting an increase. [...]

 
With rising fuel, food and energy prices, more and more people are turning to the internet for cheaper deals to help make it through the credit crunch.
 
According to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, British consumers spent 38 percent more online in the first half of 2008, compared with the same period the previous year.
 
What [...]

According to recent research conducted by Credit Suisse, family owned business have been largely neglected by UK policy despite their vital contribution to the UK economy.
The UK is lagging behind the rest of Western Europe as family businesses make-up only 8% of British companies. In contrast, Germany and France have a much higher proportion [...]

Alistair Arkley, head of New Century Enterprises, says that becoming a business angel is more rewarding that simply making money.
 
Recently becoming a board member for the British Business Angels Association, Arkley explained that helping businesses to succeed is appealing because if the relationships that can be built with the small business owners they sponsor.
 
Arkley added [...]

Conservative David Cameron has promised to make things better for small businesses if he is made prime minister at the next election.
 
Speaking at a conference held by the Confederation of British Industry, the Tory leader stated the obvious and said: “It’s businesses that create jobs and people who create wealth.”
 
“We run the real risk of [...]

 
The Federation of Small Businesses believe that the majority of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) owners will be happy with the increases in the minimum wage because they are in line with inflation.
 
FSB spokesman Simon Briault says that “the FSB is in essence in favour of the minimum wage as it prevents unscrupulous employers from [...]

If you’re recruiting for the first time, it can be a daunting process. You need to make sure that you hire the right staff; people that will help your business to grow.
 
Traditionally, SME’s don’t have a dedicated human resource department, which means recruitment issues often fall to senior management who generally are far to busy [...]

 
£10 million of funding has been established which will finance loans, training and mentoring for aspiring female entrepreneurs.
 
Networking community Enterprising Women is giving its members the chance to apply loans of up to £30,000 from the fund, which has been set up in partnership with Lloyds TSB with the aim of helping women make the [...]