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UK/Ireland Small Business News Round-up - 26/09/2008

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:

United stand in support for small businesses: The Lancashire Evening Post has thrown its support behind the Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) national Keep Trade Local campaign which is backing small businesses throughout the country.
Lenovo debuts small-business servers worldwide: Lenovo is to enter the global server market for the first time, with the launch of its ThinkServer range of servers.
Mail misery continues with soaring costs and more branches closing: Royal Mail’s decision to introduce a flat rate for fewer weekday collections, as part of its shake-up of the postal network, has left small businesses paying more for what many believe to be a reduced service. Until April 2008, business-owners could choose to take advantage of morning collections for an annual fee of £280. Now, there is just one collection per day, which is priced at £450. The price hike comes as businesses are bracing themselves for the impact of a cost-cutting exercise in which a total of 2,500 local Post Office branches are to close.
Small business interest defies economic down-turn: INVESTOR interest in successful small businesses in Worcestershire is holding firm despite the credit crunch.
Entrepreneurs getting sleepless nights over downturn worries: New research suggests that one in six small business owners suffer sleepless nights as a result of stress - roughly 750,000 people in total.
Firms are held to ransom by late payments: Small businesses are being hit hard by customers who delay paying their bills for as long as possible
One business just isn’t enough: Many small business owners are involved with three businesses at once but more than half are considering selling up
It’s good to start up in a downturn: Setting up a business in an economic downturn may seem like an unnecessary gamble, but it could offer real rewards for those prepared to take the plunge
City helps young entrepreneurs get on the ball: MANCHESTER City Football Club has kicked off the government’s new initiative to help budding entrepreneurs turn their `business dreams into reality’.

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

This entry was posted on Friday, September 26th, 2008 at 12:30 pm and is filed under SME News Round-up. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.