companies house made easy

staff parking "stealth tax"

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has spoken out against a proposed Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) which will charge businesses for providing staff parking spaces.

one in one out with red tape

The Business Secretary, Vince Cable has announced plans to implement a 'one in, one out' system for regulation, to ensure that small businesses aren't burdened with higher costs for compliance.

an end to fixed retirement age

The government plans to scrap the fixed retirement age of 65 from October 2011.

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Small businesses are moving away from using just one bank due to the credit crunch and the difficulties in accessing finance from high street banks.

“Multi-banking” has increased by 14% in the last 3 years, and one in 3 small companies are using more than one bank, according to research by Continental Research and Santander Corporate Banking.

More than 50% of “multi-banking” companies were doing so to avoid further risk after the recession and the bank bailouts, and 44% were benefiting from better interest rates and service options as a result.

“Businesses have traditionally had one banking partner which has acted as depositor, creditor and guarantor," stated Steve Pateman, head of Santander Corporate Banking.

“However, we are increasingly finding that this role has changed and become more fragmented as the overall level of service offered by many banks has become less flexible in meeting the needs of their corporate and commercial customers.”