Barclays has announced a further £88 million is available to lend to SMEs through the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG), which was introduced during the downturn to help more businesses get finance. The scheme enables Barclays to lend to viable businesses that, because they cannot offer sufficient security to meet normal commercial lending, would not otherwise be able to get the finance for their business to survive and grow.

Barclays has worked closely with Government on the scheme,...

Rob

Does the idea of getting your finances in order because of taxation issues fill you with dread? If you are like many other small business owners, then I’m sure it does!

Let’s admit it, many entrepreneurs hate paperwork but where tax is concern it is on area you cannot avoid. So what is the solution? One way out is to use the services of a professional tax advisor, or someone who is prepared to take this burden on. Of course this does cost money so you may want to think about the...

Rob

At the end of 2009 UK businesses had significantly improved the time it takes them to settle their bills, according to the latest Late Payment Index from Experian, the global information services company.

During December 2009, businesses were paying their late bills an average of 20.88 days after agreed terms - an improvement of over two and a half days from 23.54 days in December 2008.

It was only until August 2009 that UK businesses turned their payment performance...

Rob

The 2000s were a decade of fraud, according to KPMG Forensic's Fraud Barometer, reaching a peak in 2009 when a record £1.3bn of cases came to court.

This is the highest figure since KPMG began compiling data back in 1987. Taken together, the 2000s saw a major uplift in serious fraud cases compared to the 1990s - some 1750 cases of serious fraud (where the charges are at a value of £100,000 or more) came to court, compared to only 700 cases in the 1990s.

Over £7bn...

Rob

2010, expected to be a year of recovery, will present a different set of challenges for businesses in the UK. As the economic outlook improves, business leaders will need to shift their mindset from surviving the downturn to how to take advantage of the opportunities that will lie ahead. The ICAEW has published a new guide setting out seven strategies that will help businesses manage and succeed in the next twelve months.

‘From Survival to Sustainability’ is a guide to help directors...

Rob