Findings from a business social networking site, BT Tradespace, have uncovered findings that show small businesses in Scotland are the second-worst hit by the economic slowdown in the UK, rising costs and poor cash flow being the obviously damaging causes. BT Tradespace revealed that 30 per cent of small and medium businesses in Scotland were [...]

The European Union yesterday called on Member States to participate in a major review of the accounting directives for small to medium-sized businesses to help reduce the administrative burden on them.

SMEs are reminded that licensing out a product can be an extremely effective way of capitalising on mature products. As SMEs search for ways to survive the slowdown, it is being sold as a method of creating an easy roll of income for small manufacturers. According to Julian Nolan, intellectual property expert, this strategy allows [...]

Employees of SMEs are reportedly the most happy and satisfied in the UK.  According to the Trades Union Congress, one in four employees of larger firms feel debilitated by low morale.  However, for the small business workforce, satisfaction levels were significantly higher. The survey questioned 2,500 employees from both larger businesses and SMEs.  YouGov discovered [...]

New research reveals that small businesses are suffering at the hands of larger companies.  Late payments are said to be affecting 88% of SMEs, with 72% of those surveyed reporting delayed settlements as posing a serious threat to the sustainable life of their business. Finance director of the Forum of Private Business (FPB), Nick Palin, [...]

According to new research from BT Business and Cisco, over half of private sector businesses believe that SME suppliers are less competitive than their larger counterparts. The research found that 57 percent of larger company’s don’t feel that SMEs are capable of providing round the clock support, and 52 percent say they are unable to [...]

According to the Forum of Private Business (FPB), small businesses should protect themselves against the effects of the credit crunch. They should be prepared for job losses, actions from employees and delays in payment from customers. A KPMG business confidence survey found that up to 53 percent if firms are planning to reduce staff levels. [...]