Business Services
UK businesses forget to invoice clients for work worth £3.7billion
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the UK are failing to invoice their clients for up to £3.7billion a year, according to recent research. Even though businesses are battling through a difficult economic climate, 20% admit they have forgotten to invoice for work on at least one occasion. Of the 450 SMEs surveyed, 6% admitted
Company fails to prevent competition from former employees
A pharmaceutical company has failed to prevent two former employees setting up their own firm and competing for business from one of its main customers, the NHS. The issue arose when the company considered selling adrenaline pens but then decided not to go ahead. Two of its employees thought there was a market for the
Councils handed £4m to tackle rogue landlords
Councils have been given £4m to help tackle the problem of rogue landlords. The funds will be used to target landlords that force their tenants to live in squalid or overcrowded properties, and to penalise those that do not keep their properties maintained to the necessary standards. Housing Minister Kris Hopkins said: “The majority of
Employers face higher fines for underpaying workers
The government is set to increase fines for employers who fail to pay their employees the National Minimum Wage (NMW). Currently businesses can be ordered to reimburse workers who have received less than the minimum wage. They can also be fined 50% of the total amount of underpayment for all their employees, up to a
PM to scrap 3,000 regulations to ‘boost small businesses’
Mr Cameron said that many firms have been bogged down by minor regulations and legislation, preventing them from using their time and money more efficiently to expand. The Prime Minister was speaking at a Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) conference. He said: “”We need to be a country that celebrates enterprise and backs risk takers.”
Businesses to have more say over how they are regulated
Businesses that are unhappy with the way their sector is regulated can now contact regulators and government ministers to push for changes. Business Minister Michael Fallon says he wants to give companies a greater say in how their sector is run. The original Focus on Enforcement initiative had some success in improving the system but
Machins Employment Breakfast Seminar Tuesday 11th February
Settlement Agreements and Protected Conversations – Tuesday 11th 7.45-9.30am, Putteridgebury Conference Centre, Hitchin Road, Luton Ending the employment relationship is never easy. The Government’s introduction of new laws on settlement agreements and pre-termination discussions is to make it easier to end the employment relationship consensually (and amicably) by allowing businesses and employees to have a
Many small businesses ‘using pay day loans to survive’
One in six businesses are turning to pay day loans as an emergency measure to stay afloat. One in four businesses need additional funding to grow yet say they are being starved of credit. Nearly 20% are turning to friends and family for financial support. The alarming findings are from research carried out by One