companies house made easy

free training for business mentors

The Get Mentoring website has been launched to encourage more entrepreneurs to become mentors for small businesses.

project merlin fails SMEs

Britain's 5 biggest banks have missed Project Merlin's 2011 lending targets for small firms by over £1billion.

surge in scrappage companies as metal prices soar

Companies House records show a huge increase in scrappage companies in 2011, but the rising price of metals is not just a boost for legitimate businesses as metal theft becomes more and more common.

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In the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, George Osborne has announced a programme of credit easing to underwrite loans to SMEs.

However, interest rates have risen sharply creating a bad environment for small businesses trying to get access to finance.

Other funding initiatives for SMEs include:
• £250 million for energy intensive firms
• £500 million for science based industries
• Business rate relief extended to April 2013

• £1 billion for business finance partnerships for medium sized companies