Tough new rules, first introduced by the Cabinet Office in November 2018, have come into force this month. The new rules mean that all government suppliers must pay 95% of their invoices within 60 days or run the risk of being excluded from the opportunity to bid for lucrative, taxpayer-funded government contracts. Federation of Small […]
There are many reasons why SMEs fail to recover money they are owed; a lack of time, a lack of the skills and expertise needed to successfully recover the debt, embarrassment at approaching clients for the money and a genuine fear of alienating their clients and losing out on possible future work. These are all understandable reasons but not having money you are owed for goods or services you have provided puts your business in danger.
Once again, fears around the uncertainty of the date and form Brexit will take has led to risk aversion amongst clients who are waiting to see what direction both Brexit and the economy will take.
UK firms not ready Figures seen by Newsnight suggest that many UK businesses are woefully unprepared for a no-deal Brexit. In February HMRC launched a scheme aimed at easing imports if the UK left the customs union and single market suddenly. The Transitional Simplified Procedures scheme (TSP) has been designed to help UK businesses import […]
Trouble for Philip Greens Empire Arcadia The troubled Arcadia Group is in the news at the moment as Philip Green attempts to make a deal to save the fashion empire. Arcadia, which owns high street retail brands including Top Shop, Wallis, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge and Burton is trying to agree a Company Voluntary Arrangement […]
Some of the largest companies in the UK made a loss this year with Kier, Keller and Laing O’Rourke all reporting an annual loss.
Unfortunately, the situation for many SMEs is that late payment of invoices can be the difference between staying in business or going under. Cash flow is the number one cause for businesses to fail and repeatedly late payment is a contributing factor to this.
Energy Regulator Ofgem under pressure after third energy supplier in three months goes bust. Energy regulator Ofgem is facing renewed calls to toughen up on start-up energy suppliers as the number of failed energy groups reaches three in less than three months. Ofgem sought to encourage more competition in the energy market and intentionally lowered […]
Building a strong workforce and ensuring continuity in your service or product is key for any business and one of the best ways to guarantee that service doesn’t suffer is to use a reliable temp agency. 20% of companies now report that they are using temp agencies; their expertise and experience allows them to spot quality candidates and weed out the unreliable to provide you with the flexibility that is necessary in order to run your business effectively. The agency will do the work of screening the candidates and ensuring only those who can fulfil the role are sent.