UK/Ireland Small Business News Round-up – 09/05/2008

Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from the United Kingdom and Ireland:

• SMEs Encouraged To Register For Public Sector Contracts: The government enterprise department will allow SMEs greater access to public contracts by registering their business withwww.supply2.gov.uk Under the latest scheme small businesses will have access to public contracts around the UK with a value of £100,000 or less.
• SME Groups Angry Over Competition Commission Outcome: Small business groups FSB and ACS are among many expressing disappointment at the outcome of the Competition Commissions inquiry into the grocery sector. The two year inquiry resulted in the Commission concluding that consumers are enjoying the benefits of competition, while totally ignoring the impact on independent retailing.
• Small business profile: An artistic way of living off scraps: Many people dream about developing a business around their hobby, although few realise that dream. Of those who do, fewer still make a go of it. But Christina Doré, 50, has done just that with her craft centre business, A Maze of Memories.
• Roger Trapp: In an ailing economy, good timing is crucial: Britain’s small business and banking communities have never had the best of relationships. Recent events will have done little to improve things.
• Go on line to boost your chances of winning public contracts: The FPB is advising small businesses to register online to improve their chances of procuring public contracts. Business-owners have been granted free access to the Government websitewww.supply2.gov.uk, but only until 31 July. The FPB believes that, if the incentive paves the way for more small businesses competing for tenders, it should be made available to them indefinitely.
• Restore postal service for small businesses, insists FPB: Following a report on the shake-up of the UK’s postal service, the FPB is urging the Government to restore the essential services that have been lost for many small businesses.
• MBA courses: An ethical dilemma for students: Several years ago, a combination of the Enron scandal and global warming shook up the business environment. Business schools started to introduce modules onto their MBA courses that looked beyond the profit motive – or, at least, recognized fresh dangers to the bottom line. Ethics began to be taken seriously.
• Adventures In Micro-Business: Unsecured loans and Saturday staff: Q. Are there any circumstances in which my business can get a bank loan without me having to guarantee the loan personally?

As always this list is not exhaustive, but I hope it will give you a little overview. — ST.

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