small business news

SMEs concentrate on marketing to make money

Small businesses are concentrating their time and efforts into sales and marketing strategies to offset difficult trading conditions.

economically inactive mask true jobless figures

Unemployment has fallen to 7.8% during the three months to January, but the number of people in work fell by 54,000 during the quarter according to official statistics.

30% more risk without a website

Small businesses that do not trade online are 30% more likely to fail than SMEs with a web presence, according to a new report.

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Lord Sugar’s first speech not so sweet

november 2009

Small Business champion Lord Alan Sugar has caused upset amongst SMEs with his first speech to the House of Lords.

In his speech, Lord Sugar spoke out against entrepreneurs, stating that “Government and banks can’t just write out blank cheques to anyone who thinks they have a good idea”.

This comes shortly after his criticisms of SMEs that "have lived in the unrealistic Disney World in the way banks dished out money".

Organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Forum for Private Business (FPB) have previously voiced their concerns over the appointment of Lord Sugar to the House of Lords as an enterprise tsar, as many feel it was a populist move, and not designed to further the interests of small businesses.

Lord Sugar’s recent remarks certainly indicate that he has little sympathy with the argument that SMEs are struggling because of a lack of available credit.

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