A to Z search of keyword metadata

HIE Innse Gall Our aim is: ‘To oversee a local economy which ...

Annual pay reviews If the wages you pay are competitive and you have policies and procedures already in place relating to pay and performance appraisals, annual salary reviews will be much easier. "Individual pay ...

Non-hazardous waste disposal: your obligations Businesses generating hazardous waste are accustomed to following strict rules governing disposal. Since 31 March 2007, the Landfill Regulations 2003 (Scotland) have obliged firms to "treat" ...

Health & well being Health spas are the new black in tourism

HICEC team Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company staff and locations.

Renewable energy The renewable energy resource in the Highlands and Islands is world leading, if you are interested in locating here, we can assist your business.

Renewables

Marine Energy - Wave Harnessing Argyll's wave energy to produce Renewable power

e-business Putting the knowledge economy to best use

web builder's checklist A checklist guide for SMEs building websites

Usability Usability - the art of being easy to do business with online.

web design Web design guide for beginners

Using a Professional Developer The benefits involved in using a professional web developer

web design Web design guide for beginners

content Gain eyeballs with web site content

Promotion Promoting or marketing a web site takes place both online and off. Discover techniques to help boost your web site traffic.

content Listing of e-business content features

web site optimisation Making your site search engine-friendly

web design Web design guide for beginners

content copyright Avoiding copyright infringement with your web site content

web distractions Weapons of mass distraction. Web features you ought not to have.

web sights Casting a critical eye over your web site

How to choose a Developer Advice on choosing the right professional for your web project.

email: the elephant task Taking ownership of that email box

web sights Casting a critical eye over your web site

Promotion Promoting or marketing a web site takes place both online and off. Discover techniques to help boost your web site traffic.

Usability Usability - the art of being easy to do business with online.

content Gain eyeballs with web site content

acronyms What do they mean?

Usability Usability - the art of being easy to do business with online.

DIY content DIY web site content

Contact webmaster Tell us what you think about our web site.

refreshing pages Refreshing your web site content

web site optimisation Making your site search engine-friendly

Q&A: Website accessibility Richard Morton (RM), designer of accessible websites at QM Consulting, tells Afsheen Latif about making websites fully accessible.Where should I start?RM: Make sure your website is just as easy to ...

Web design What constitutes good web design?

usability testing usability testing and how to organise pre-launch tests

web builder's checklist A checklist guide for SMEs building websites

Online marketing An accessible website or targeted email can be effective ...

offline promotion Offline web site marketing

usability testing usability testing and how to organise pre-launch tests

I want to go on holiday but I'm worried about the effect it will have on my business... It's easy to think everything will fall apart if you're away from your business for more than a few days. But, if you take a few simple steps, things are unlikely to come to a standstill (or worse) ...

About HIE Skye & Wester Ross We are in business to expand the area's economy and to assist people here to make the best of every opportunity available to them.

Board of Directors HIE Skye and Wester Ross board members

Grow your business Most business projects assisted by HIE Skye and Wester Ross have targets relating to creating employment opportunities.

HIE Skye and Wester Ross Our mission is to develop the economy, skills and ...

In-migration 2003 Research among in-migrants to three parts of the Highlands and Islands (Arran, Wester Ross and Skye and Raasay) was undertaken in 2003.

Pool House Hotel The award-winning Pool House Hotel in Wester Ross

The Link -Training Course Directory 2007

Where to find us Location maps: Where to find SALE and HIE offices.

Culture Experience the culture of the Western Isles

Developing your skills Summary of programmes and assistance HIE Innse Gall delivers to help develop skills in the Outer Hebrides.

Economy The Western Isles economy

Five Star Hebrides Tour the 11 self catering establishments and guest houses accredited with Five Star status.

HIE Innse Gall Our aim is: ‘To oversee a local economy which ...

Innse Gall Community, in its truest sense, has been the real foundation of the culture of the Western Isles for many centuries. It is the area's most essential strength and it affects all that the people of the area do and achieve.

Job Vacancies Western Isles Enterprise (WIE) has no vacancies currently. ...

Opportunities Learn of opportunities in the Western Isles

Strengthening your community Summary of programmes and assistance that HIE Innse Gall offers under its community development remit

Western Isles The geography and economics of the Western Isles

Where we are The Western Isles, whilst only 55km of the northwest coast of Scotland and an hour’s flight from Glasgow or Edinburgh ...

Board of Directors HIE Innse Gall board members

HIE Innse Gall Our aim is: ‘To oversee a local economy which ...

Job Vacancies Western Isles Enterprise (WIE) has no vacancies currently. ...

Western Isles The geography and economics of the Western Isles

HIE Innse Gall - FOI HIE Innse Gall (HIE IG) is required to comply with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, which provides a general right of access to information held by Scottish public authorities, including that held by HIE IG, from 1 January 2005.

Local Economic Forum The Western Isles LEF

What is broadband? What is broadband?

Keeping tabs on what's on How tourism businesses can keep tabs on events in their local area

Where we are The Western Isles, whilst only 55km of the northwest coast of Scotland and an hour’s flight from Glasgow or Edinburgh ...

Whisky tips Tips and advice to make whisky tourism work for you

Whisky Whisky: a tourism business opportunity

Ackergill Tower Ackergill Tower, Glenfiddich Distillery, Aviemore Highland Resort, Blue Reef Cottages

Economy The Western Isles economy

HIE Innse Gall Our aim is: ‘To oversee a local economy which ...

Job Vacancies Western Isles Enterprise (WIE) has no vacancies currently. ...

Wireless broadband 'Last Mile' delivery of Broadband Internet access by wireless technology

Wild Scotland benefits The membership benefits for wildlife tourism operators in joining Wild Scotland

Wildlife Business opportunities in wildlife tourism

Wild Scotland benefits The membership benefits for wildlife tourism operators in joining Wild Scotland

Wildlife Business opportunities in wildlife tourism

Wild Scotland benefits The membership benefits for wildlife tourism operators in joining Wild Scotland

William Roe In his presentation, William discussed the concept of a new enlightenment for the Highlands and Islands. This reflected the opportunities and challenges in a rural area like the Highlands and Islands. Rather than try and compete against more populated urban areas, an opportunity exists for a different type of thinking.

HICEC news Latest news and views from the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company.

HICEC team Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company staff and locations.

Renewable energy The renewable energy resource in the Highlands and Islands is world leading, if you are interested in locating here, we can assist your business.

Renewables

Wind power Argyll has some of the first commercial wind farms to be constructed in Scotland.

SCHRI SCHRI provides grants and expert advice on small scale renewable projects, such as the installation of solar panels and wind turbines at community centres, schools and individual households.

Windmills Programme Are you an RAF Leaver? HIE Moray invites to take part in the Windmills Course which will help you make decisions about the future.

Case study: How I manage my seasonal business THE ISSUE: Surviving year-round when running a seasonal business THE SOLUTION: "We sell clothing and equipment for watersports such as surfing and diving. Our busiest time of year is between ...

In and out of season "Your cheques could bounce and your standing orders could be left unpaid because you have no money coming in during the quiet season," warns Mark Lister, business adviser for Business Link ...

Choosing a Broadband service As Broadband becomes available across most of Argyll in ...

Broadband High speed broadband internet connectivity for business

Broadband The Internet and global communications has a huge potential impact on the way we live and work, how we access information and how we interact.

Getting online with broadband How do I get online with broadband?

Untangling wires only Broadband providers are now offering ‘wires only’ packages, we take a look at the issues

10 ways to ...get through the summer For many firms, the longer days of summer means having to manage annual leave for employees and reduced workload for a few months. There is also the warmer weather and the problems this can bring. ...

10 ways to... advertise on a budget Don't blow your advertising budget on an expensive radio advert which goes out at 3am. Spread your risk and save money by investing in a range of low-cost advertising options Use your local press. ...

10 ways to... approach new customers Advertise somewhere new. Research publications that would appeal to your target market. Start with your local press and then consider regional and trade publications. Look for free sources of ...

10 ways to... assess if 2006 was a good year for your business With the year drawing to a close, now is a good time to look back and reflect on what your business has achieved over the past 12 months. Use these indicators to find out how 2006 was for you You ...

10 ways to... Be a more environmentally-friendly business According to research from the Carbon Trust, an average office-based business wastes £6,000 per year by leaving equipment on at weekends and bank holidays. The message is clear - being more ...

10 ways to... be an effective manager Know what is going on. Be aware of what is happening in your sector, your organisation and your team. Knowledge gives you the tools to plan ahead, use your resources effectively and make informed ...

10 ways to... deal with debt If your debts are mounting, you need to take action fast. Follow these ten steps to get back on an even keel Don't ignore the problem - deal with your debts now. If you ignore bills, invoices ...

10 ways to... Get more out of business meetings Meetings are vital tools to move a business forward, but all too often they can prove a frustrating waste of time. With simple preparation, you can increase your chances of getting the best from the ...

10 ways to... get more out of your staff in 2007 Many people can lack focus and enthusiasm when they return to work following the Christmas break. So what can you do to get more out of your employees in the year ahead? Carry out regular staff ...

10 ways to... get the most from your suppliers Making your business matter to your supplier can reduce your costs and improve the quality of goods and services you buy. Tom Whitney helps you manage your suppliers Underpin your supplier ...

10 ways to... Improve the image of your business Although you may not realise it, many people will judge your business on its looks. A scruffy or out-of-date image is likely to make people think the same about your products or services. Simple ...

10 ways to... Improve your work-life balance Many people struggle to find an optimum balance between work and home. This can be especially true of those running a small business. The results can be stress and feelings of guilt and unhappiness. ...

10 ways to... make more sales Take an objective look at your existing sales strategy. Do you have the right approach? If not, adopt a more customer-focused sales strategy and re-evaluate its success in six months. Look at what ...

10 ways to... Prepare for Christmas Whether you're gearing up for your busiest annual period or planning to shut down between Christmas and Hogmanay, there's plenty to do in the weeks to come. Planning now can prevent headaches later ...

10 ways to... Promote a new offer No matter how good your new product or service is, it won't do as well as you deserve unless you promote it properly. Try these road-tested techniques. Your key customers are the most likely to ...

10 ways to... set up a green supply chain Selecting and managing your suppliers so you receive the most environmentally friendly products and services can reduce your costs, underpin a positive PR strategy, and increase your customer base. ...

10 ways to... spring clean your business Review your business plan. Be honest - are you on track to meet your targets? Consult with peers or a business mentor and update the plan with realistic objectives for the coming year. Are you ...

10 ways to... Wrong-foot the competition Use these strategies to keep your business ahead of immediate rivals Treat your business to an image makeover. Consider rebranding - a strong brand will differentiate your business from others ...

A member of my team has handed in their notice... Staff turnover is a fact of life for any business, and even your most dedicated employee will want to move on to a fresh challenge eventually. It might be a surprise when a key member of your team ...

Age concern Following the introduction of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations, employees who have been discriminated against on grounds of age can take their complaint to an employment tribunal. Employers ...

Age discrimination at work is outlawed. The new rules affect every stage of the employment process: recruitment, terms and conditions, training, promotion, transfers, retirements and dismissals. The idea behind the regulations is that it ...

Age-discrimination pension rules now in force Employers need to be aware of the new age-discrimination legislation applicable to pension schemes, in force from 1 December. As previously reported in Legal Alert 34 and 35, the use of ...

An eye on the market Innovation is at the heart of every viable business idea, but "new" can quickly lose its gloss in a competitive marketplace. Rivals will waste no time improving on your offer, and customer ...

Annual holiday entitlement to increase Employers need to plan now for their employees' increased holiday entitlement which applies from this October. The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR - formerly ...

Annual pay reviews If the wages you pay are competitive and you have policies and procedures already in place relating to pay and performance appraisals, annual salary reviews will be much easier. "Individual pay ...

April 2009 maternity and paternity rights now delayed New rules that extend statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance and statutory adoption pay from 39 weeks to a year and that give Additional Paternity Leave and Pay to fathers are unlikely to come ...

Are you eligible for a grant? With a combined value of £50 billion, there are more than 4,500 grants available to businesses in the UK. SMEs qualify for 96 per cent of business grants. Grants are almost always awarded for a ...

Avoiding Christmas party mishaps By law, businesses can be held responsible for their employees' behaviour - even at a work event outside normal working hours. For example, if an employee behaves badly towards another worker ...

Avoiding unfair commercial practices Very few businesses set out to coerce or mislead people into buying something they don't really need, and unscrupulous, over-zealous and uninformed traders are held in check by a raft of consumer ...

Body language According to renowned expert Robert Phipps, the main problem with body language is that every intention of creating a good impression often disappears once we start talking to someone. "Most ...

Book temporary workers online Businesses that need short-term staff to cope with peaks of activity will welcome the new initiative, backed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, called 'Slivers-of-Time'. The scheme ...

Breaking up a business: how to avoid trouble There are many reasons for wanting to set up in business with other people, particularly friends and family. But it brings its own risks too, including the legal, administrative and financial ...

Business gifts and VAT The importance of looking after important customers has been known ever since people began trading. But when it comes to business gifts, what can you claim for? When it comes to VAT, what are the ...

Business links There are various ways to network, ranging from attending regional business events and sector-specific conferences, to informal social gatherings and online discussion forums. "People think of ...

Business mentoring "The most common reason to use a mentor is to gain an external perspective on how your business is being run," explains Business Link Devon and Cornwall adviser Jonathan Sharp. "If you ...

Businesses may need to act to avoid age discrimination against directors Companies may need to make special provision for directors under the new age discrimination laws that are due to come into force this October. One key element in the new Regulations is that the ...

Buying a franchise Buying a franchise gives you the opportunity to capitalise on an established brand. "Franchising is a business relationship between someone with a proven idea [the franchisor] and someone else ...

Capital allowances Businesses can claim a type of tax relief, known as capital allowances, against some business purchases and investments. In practice, claiming a capital allowance means that you set off a proportion ...

Case law: age discrimination claim on retirement fails Employers will welcome a recent tribunal decision on the way in which the age discrimination rules that came into force last October (2006) are applied to retirement. The tribunal decided that a ...

Case law: agency workers not entitled to statutory sick pay Employers are not liable to pay statutory sick pay to agency workers on contracts lasting less than three months, following a recent Court of Appeal ruling. An agency worker was engaged by an ...

Case law: anonymity of witnesses in disciplinary proceedings A recent decision offers useful guidance on the ability - or otherwise - of an employer to preserve the anonymity of an employee who provides evidence as part of a grievance ...

Case law: can an agency worker ever be an employee? Businesses that use temporary workers supplied by an agency will welcome two recent decisions heard by the Employment Appeal Tribunal. The issue raised in the first case was whether a worker ...

Case law: clarifying the criteria for patentability of inventions Businesses will welcome a recent decision of the Court of Appeal, which gives a clear indication of the principles on which patent disputes will be resolved. The Court of Appeal decision related ...

Case law: clearer definition of 'same job' on return from maternity leave A recent decision on what 'the same job' means in relation to an employee returning from maternity leave provides welcome guidance for employers. A schoolteacher, returning from maternity leave, ...

Case law: confidentiality and non-competition clauses Employers will be encouraged by a recent decision upholding a confidentiality agreement and non-competition clause contained in an employee's contract of employment. The employee left a company ...

Case law: consistency when disciplining or dismissing employees A recent legal decision has clarified that employers can ...

Case law: 'consumer' protection does not apply to bonus paid to employee Employers will welcome a recent Court of Appeal ruling, which confirms that the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (the 1977 Act) does not apply to contracts of employment. The court heard the case ...

Case law: contract of employment implied for agency worker Businesses that use agency workers or independent contractors, with a view to reducing their employment obligations, need to review the terms on which they do so, following a recent Court of Appeal ...

Case law: contracts by email A recent case has highlighted the need for businesses to be vigilant when concluding contracts by email. In this case, an email containing the offer of a personal guarantee of £25,000 was ...

Case law: defending equal-pay claims Businesses taken to employment tribunal for paying men and women unequally will find it easier to justify the difference in pay following a recent Court of Appeal case - unless the reason for ...

Case law: dismissal after secret filming of "sick" employee fair A recent case gives useful guidance on how to deal with workers suspected of malingering. Following an anonymous tip-off by a co-worker, an employee off sick with long-term back problems was ...

Case law: 'dismissal letter' guidance under statutory grievance procedure Employers should ensure that reasons for dismissal given in dismissal letters to employees are sufficiently clear and detailed, to avoid the risk of an unfair dismissal claim. The Employment ...

Case law: duty of care relating to waste Businesses that place controlled waste refuse on public land or highways for collection risk prosecution unless they comply with guidelines concerning collection times. In a recent High Court ...

Case law: dyslexia is a disability Employers must take all steps to identify, and make reasonable adjustments for, any employee with dyslexia in order to avoid disability discrimination claims. In a recent case, a police officer, ...

Case law: employee unfairly dismissed for insulting emails Businesses need to have clear procedures for dealing with complaints about email insults, in the light of a recent tribunal decision. An employment tribunal has recently held that an employee who ...

Case law: employee's contacts list may be 'company property' Businesses need to make sure that their employees cannot take a business contacts list with them if they leave to go to a new job, even if they brought part of the list with them when they ...

Case law: employees' negligence can affect employers' health and safety liability A recent court ruling may help employers who face health and safety claims when employees have not followed correct procedures. Under the health and safety legislation, employers are required 'to ...

Case law: employer cannot rely on evidence after the ruling to reverse it An employer cannot rely on evidence gathered after an Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has already ruled that a dismissal was unfair. An employee accused of poaching customers was held to have ...

Case law: employer liable for bullying and harassment at work Businesses may be held liable for bullying or harassment by their employees in the course of their work, the House of Lords ruled recently. An NHS Trust employee complained that he was being ...

Case law: employer liable for indirect racial discrimination An employer has been found liable for racial discrimination following a racist remark made by a supervisor which was overheard by another employee. Businesses must have clear policies on all ...

Case law: employer liable for injury caused by 'work equipment' Employers, especially those who occupy shared buildings, may be liable for injuries caused to their staff in common areas even in circumstances they thought were beyond their control. In a recent ...

Case law: employer liable for stress claim even where it offered counselling service Two recent cases show that employers must be fully aware of the duty of care that they owe to their employees if they are to defend stress claims successfully. In one case, heard by the Court of ...

Case law: employer pays out £800,000 in workplace bullying case Managers have received another stark reminder of the need to take their responsibilities concerning bullying and harassment at work very seriously, as one employer is forced to pay £800,000 in ...

Case law: enforcement of information and consultation obligations Businesses with more than 100 employees must take notice of the requirements of the Information and Consultation of Employee Regulations 2004. These oblige employers to inform and consult with their ...

Case law: European ruling on rest breaks Employers are under a stricter duty to ensure that workers can take the rest breaks they are entitled to under working-time legislation, following a recent decision by the European Court of ...

Case law: expired warning not relevant to dismissal When considering the dismissal of an employee, employers must be careful they do not take into account any previous warnings given to the employee that have expired. In a recent case before the ...

Case law: formal risk assessment for disabled employee not required In a recent case, a woman employed as a mobile library manager developed a degenerative knee condition, which meant that she was unable to drive the vehicle. Her employer considered the possibility ...

Case law: good news for employers on enforceability of non-competition clauses Employers will be encouraged by two recent decisions that uphold non-competition clauses in employees' contracts of employment. In one case, an ex-managing director argued that a 12-month ...

Case law: 'grossly offensive' telephone calls In a recent case, the House of Lords has ruled that 'grossly offensive' comments made over the telephone - which can include comments made to you or your employees by customers, suppliers or ...

Case law: guidance for employers on identifying a grievance Deciding when a complaint is a grievance, triggering the statutory grievance procedure introduced in 2004, is now easier, following a number of recent cases decided by the Employment Appeals ...

Case law: interim agreements Businesses should pay very careful attention to the wording they use in agreements, even interim ones. In a recent case before the Court of Appeal, Somerfield wanted maintenance contractor ...

Case law: looking 'outside the contract' to determine working relationship Businesses must pay attention to all the circumstances when engaging people to work for them as contractors, as the courts may be entitled to look beyond the signed documentation that governs the ...

Case law: meeting notes can be first step of the statutory grievance procedure A recent tribunal decision means that notes of a meeting taken by a manager can constitute an employee's 'grievance in writing', triggering a requirement for the employer to follow the statutory ...

Case law: minimal requirements for step 1 statutory grievance procedure letter Employers should be aware that the statutory grievance procedure may be validly invoked even where the employee has not formally notified his grievance, according to a recent ruling. In the case ...

Case law: monitoring of employee's communications infringes human rights Businesses must have clear policies in place to regulate any necessary monitoring of their employees' telephone, email and other communications at work, following a recent decision of the European ...

Case law: multiple comparators in equal pay claim A recent decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) allowed an employee to compare herself with more than one fellow worker ('comparator') in an equal pay claim, making it even more important ...

Case law: negotiations with employees may be admissible in discrimination disputes Employers must be careful what they say in discussions with workers relating to discrimination or victimisation claims, as statements may be admissible subsequently in court or at an employment ...

Case law: new arbitration advice for contract disputes Businesses with contracts that state disputes will be settled by arbitration will welcome a House of Lords decision that arbitration clauses should be treated as applying to any dispute in the ...

Case law: no implied term permitting employer to make payment in lieu of notice Employers can dispense with contractual notice periods, and make a payment in lieu of notice (PILON) on termination of employment only if the employee's contract specifically includes words to that ...

Case law: ownership of invention created by employee The position of employers has been strengthened by a recent decision concerning the ownership of an invention created by an employee. The employee in this case, who worked for an investment ...

Case law: part-time workers and bank holidays Employers will welcome a recent decision concerning a part-time worker's entitlement to be paid in lieu of working on bank holiday Mondays. In this case, an employee worked on Tuesdays, ...

Case law: reduced compensation on termination of agency relationship Following a recent House of Lords ruling, businesses that are principals in commercial agency contracts will pay a smaller amount of compensation than they would previously have expected when those ...

Case law: relevance of pre-contract negotiations when construing contract terms clarified Businesses must take care to define clearly the terms that they use in their contracts, in the light of a recent High Court decision. The case concerned a dispute, arising under a development ...

Case law: resignation or dismissal? Employers must state clearly in advance the purpose of meetings arranged with employees, if they are to avoid the unsatisfactory sequence of events in a recent case. An employee of the company ...

Case law: sex discrimination claim where employee was made redundant on return from maternity leave is unsuccessful A recent Court of Appeal ruling has clarified the approach taken by the courts when considering a discrimination claim. In this case, an employee was made redundant on her return from maternity ...

Case law: sick-pay policy for employees with disabilities A recent tribunal ruling has clarified that employers can treat employees with disabilities the same as other employees when it comes their sick-pay policies. In this case, the employer's ...

Case law: staff handbook provision can be contractually binding Businesses should review the wording of their Staff Handbook, and any other terms and conditions applicable to staff recruitment, or risk having the terms incorporated into an employee's contract of ...

Case law: statutory dismissal procedure must be followed Employers risk higher compensation awards if their dismissal procedures are stricter than the statutory disciplinary and dismissal procedure, following a recent appeal tribunal ruling. In the ...

Case law: successful claim for stress at work A new High Court ruling shows that it is not only those working excessive full-time hours who can successfully claim for work-related stress. The case also highlights that plans for employees ...

Case law: successor used as comparator in equal pay claim Businesses drawing up a remuneration package for a replacement employee should take note of a recent tribunal decision in an equal pay claim. In this case, a female employee was replaced by a ...

Case law: third-party pressure can justify dismissal A recent case has clarified the issues that an employer must take into account when dismissing an employee on the basis of pressure from, and information provided by, a third party. An employee ...

Case law: time limits in discrimination claims Employees may have more time from the date of a grievance to bring a discrimination claim, according to a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) ruling. Some uncertainty has existed over the ...

Case law: unreasonable terms restricting firms' liability cannot be enforced Businesses that exclude or restrict liability in their contracts for loss of business, loss of profits and other financial loss should review them now, as such clauses may no longer give them the ...

Case law: what is - and isn't - a statutory grievance Following a recent case, businesses now have more guidance on what counts as an employee's statutory grievance and would therefore trigger the statutory grievance procedures. An employee was told ...

Case law: whether grievance is appeal against dismissal In the light of a recent decision, employers are advised to adopt a flexible approach to any grievance raised by an employee after they have been dismissed. An employee was made redundant ...

Case law: why employers must carry out workplace assessments Employers must carry out workplace assessments for all workers, or risk paying damages or an out-of-court settlement. A freelance editor working for a national newspaper has received £37,500 ...

Case law: why length of service may not mean difference in pay A recent European decision highlights yet again the pressure that employers are under to remove inequality of pay and conditions between men and women, or justify any difference they ...

Case law: 'without prejudice' correspondence in settlement negotiations Businesses involved in settlement negotiations should not assume that all correspondence will be protected from disclosure, following a recent High Court ruling. The case involved negotiations ...

Case law: 'without prejudice' rule might not apply to discussions before litigation A recent Court of Appeal decision has clarified when discussions between an employer and employee, which may take place some time before litigation is started or even threatened, may be protected ...

Case law: 'worker' defined for purposes of national minimum wage Businesses need to meet their obligations under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, and guidance on the definition of a 'worker' entitled to receive the national minimum wage has been given in a ...

Case study: How delegating benefits my business "It became apparent that my employees were capable of doing some of my work themselves. Whenever I was away, they dealt with things effectively."The company had reached a critical stage and ...

Case study: How I chose my business location THE SOLUTION: "My partner and I have four businesses based in Peterborough and Birmingham and we are about to open our fifth restaurant and pub, Oaka, in Kennington, London. "It was ...

Case study: How I chose my business name THE ISSUE: How to choose an effective business name THE SOLUTION: "I was trying to come up with a business name for two years before I decided on Spa Fabulous, and we finally opened the salon in ...

Case study: How I keep my team united THE ISSUE: Maintaining a harmonious team.THE SOLUTION: "I founded the business with my partner in December 2002. As commercial insurance brokers, more than 60 per cent of our workforce is made ...

Case study: How I manage my seasonal business THE ISSUE: Surviving year-round when running a seasonal business THE SOLUTION: "We sell clothing and equipment for watersports such as surfing and diving. Our busiest time of year is between ...

Case study: How networking benefits my business THE ISSUE: To generate more business by raising profile THE SOLUTION: "When I started the company in 1990, building a network was important to help grow the business. I thought about contacts I ...

Case study: How referrals benefit my business THE ISSUE: How to generate more business. THE SOLUTION: "I set up Affinity with my business partner in 2000. Referrals have been responsible for many of the jobs we've done. "In the wedding ...

Case study: How supporting charity has strengthened my business THE ISSUE: The mutual benefits of giving to good causesTHE SOLUTION: "I set up Happy Computers in 1990 with the aim of making a positive impact through everything the firm does. We're in ...

Case study: How updating my business plan benefited my firm THE SOLUTION: "I launched the business with my wife in 1991, since when we have expanded to employ 55 people. Although writing our business plan was one of the first things we did, we originally ...

Case study: How we became an eco-friendly business THE SOLUTION: "Our managing director, Mandie Kemp, set up the company in 1995, since when it has grown to employing 14 staff. In 2003, Mandie decided both the business and the environment would ...

Changes to Highly Skilled Migrant Programme rules Revised assessment criteria for the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) are effective from 5 December, which may have implications for employers. HSMP is currently the only points-based ...

Choosing a name for your business Inspiration for business names can come from almost anywhere. Some names are playful, such as The Cod Father fish-and-chip shop. Others, such as The Village Bakery, are more functional.But all ...

Choosing an online payment system Being a successful e-retailer is not just about having an attractive website or offering the best deals; repeat sales are also dependent on making payment easy, and Internet shoppers are no longer ...

Clarification of flexible working for employee carers The right of employees, who care for qualifying adults, to request flexible working has been amended, so that carers who are a son- or daughter-in-law of a qualifying adult can now apply. An ...

Collaborating for contracts Teaming up with another small firm through a sub-contract or joint venture can greatly increase your chances of landing public-sector and corporate contracts. This in turn provides multiple benefits ...

Commercial mortgages While leasing and renting offer flexibility, the main benefit of buying your premises is that the property becomes an asset that adds value to your business, particularly if property prices continue ...

Company cars and tax This year's Budget brought reforms aimed at encouraging businesses to take a more environmentally-friendly approach to transport. The Government has introduced a new system of road tax, Vehicle ...

Company details may need to appear on websites and e-communications Limited companies and limited liability partnerships may need to update their websites and e-comms under new requirements of the Companies Act 2006. The new rules from 1 January 2007 state ...

Company identity theft Company identity fraud takes place when criminals misuse a legitimate firm's identity to obtain goods or services fraudulently. Not only can this leave you to foot the bill, but your credit rating ...

Corporate Homicide Workplace fatalities are not as rare as you might think. According to the Health and Safety Executive, 220 employees died at work and 117 members of the public lost their lives because of ...

Countdown to October age discrimination legislation Businesses need to be aware how they will be affected by the wide-ranging Employment Equality (Age) Regulations, which come into force on 1 October. Managers are advised to review their ...

Creating a healthy workplace All businesses are legally obliged to carry out a health and safety risk assessment of their premises once a year. But in addition to this check of the basic safety essentials of your premises, ...

Credit-checking customers "If you don't run credit-checks, the worst-case scenario is you won't get paid, of course, but it could simply mean you'll always get paid late," warns Philip King, director general of the ...

Data protection provisions to apply to pre-October 1998 manual records for first time Businesses that hold personal information on their employees in certain manual records created before 24 October 1998 need to be aware that the Data Protection Act will apply fully to these records ...

Data-protection guidance regarding employee references A Good Practice Note issued by the Information Commissioner's Office and available now ensures employers can keep on the right side of the law if employees ask to see references given about ...

Definition of 'carer' under Work and Families Act announced Under provisions of the Work and Families Act 2006 that come into force next April, employers will be required to accommodate requests for flexible working from employees who are ...

Delays affecting previously reported legislation Regulations implementing the EU Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) were originally due to be made by August 2004. The Directive regulates the re-use, recycling and ...

Delegating Are you always over-stretched and constantly having to work long hours? Are you reluctant to let anyone else make important decisions? Are some tasks being rushed or not completed because you simply ...

Developing a green travel strategy According to the Energy Savings Trust (EST), just one in five firms has considered the impact of work-related travel on the environment. Yet transport is one of the biggest contributors to the ...

Disability discrimination provisions now in force The final provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 are in force from 4 December, and impose further obligations on employers. The new rules confirm that employers have a duty not to ...

Distance-selling guide for businesses published Businesses that sell goods and services online, by phone or mail order will welcome guidance published recently on the application of the legal regulations governing distance selling. The DTI ...

Do you need to review your fixed-term contract employees? Employers need to review employees on fixed-term contracts if they are not to be treated as permanent employees under legislation coming into force this July. This important provision, designed ...

Doing your bit "Supporting charities and getting actively involved in the local community is a rewarding experience for businesses, regardless of their size," stresses Susan Hinchcliffe, regeneration and ...

DTI guide on individual employment rights available A useful guide on the individual rights and responsibilities of employees has been published by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The new 96-page guide outlines employees' and workers' ...

DTI plans to increase statutory minimum holiday entitlement Employers will no longer be able to include the eight UK bank and public holidays as part of their employees' statutory annual leave under proposals published in a Government consultation paper. ...

DTI publishes age-discrimination questionnaire The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has published a questionnaire and reply form that can be used by employees and employers in age-related complaints when the new age-discrimination laws ...

DTI publishes scam-busting guidelines To help prevent more businesses being conned, the DTI has issued new guidelines explaining how staff can spot and avoid common scams. Recently, a number of UK businesses have received calls from ...

DTI redundancy ready-reckoners New online 'redundancy ready-reckoners' will help employers take account of changes to the way statutory redundancy payments are calculated from 1 October 2006, when the new age-discrimination rules ...

Employers could be liable to pay royalties for staff radios Currently in court, a case is taking place in which the Performing Rights Society (PRS) is suing a car repair firm for unpaid royalties because its employees listen to radios at work. The PRS ...

Employer's guide: checking the status of migrant workers A new website on employing migrant workers, launched by the Home Office, offers a step-by-guide to help businesses ensure that their prospective employees are legally allowed to work in the ...

Employer's guide: how to produce a company handbook Employers looking to produce or improve a company handbook for their organisation will benefit from new guidance from Acas. The new, free Self-help guide: Producing a company handbook, focuses on ...

End game "Many owner-managers put a lot of hard work into building up their business only to throw away the possible rewards by failing to plan their exit," says Business Link Berkshire adviser Keith ...

Enhanced capital allowances for energy-saving equipment Businesses can now claim 100 per cent first-year capital allowances when buying a range of energy-saving equipment, thanks to changes introduced under the capital allowances legislation, which took ...

Financial forecasts Of all the financial information you need to help you keep your business healthy, cashflow, sales and costs forecasts are the most important. The more frequently you do them, the better your chance ...

Finding the right location for your business A hairdresser on an industrial estate will never attract as many customers as one in a town centre. A white-goods seller in a narrow lane will find receiving and making deliveries onerous. Being in ...

Fire-risk assessment The introduction of new regulations in October 2006 means that the previous system of fire-safety certificates for premises has been abolished. The employer or 'responsible person' for the premises ...

Fire-safety rules mean businesses must carry out risk assessments. Anyone with control of commercial premises is now required to take reasonable steps to remove or reduce the risk of fire as far as possible, and to put a plan in place ensuring people can escape ...

Flexible working extended to carers Employers need to be aware that an employee's right to request flexible working is extended from 6 April. At present, the law on flexible working enables parents with a child under 6 or a disabled ...

Flood alert "About 25 per cent of small firms fail within a year of suffering serious flood damage," warns Ron Whitehead, chairman of the Flood Protection Association. "Get help from professionals ...

Getting ready for Christmas "Most businesses can do well at Christmas, but it will be particularly good for businesses that sell products or services which can be given as gifts," says Peter Nowlan, director of ...

Green is good Helping the environment and running a profitable business do not have to be mutually exclusive. Saving energy, recycling and reducing pollution can cut your operating costs; capitalising on their PR ...

Guidance on employers' liability insurance Aimed at improving employers' understanding of their obligations to insure against employees' work-related injuries or disease, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has produced a new leaflet ...

Have your say: compulsory three per cent contribution to employees' pensions proposed Businesses are being asked for their views on the proposed new arrangements for pensions, to be introduced alongside the rise in state pension age. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has ...

Have your say: draft WEEE Regulations published Following numerous delays, a timetable has now been set for UK businesses to comply with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. The purpose of the Directive is to ...

Have your say: DTI plans to protect vulnerable agency workers Businesses using agency workers - as short-term cover, to meet upturn in demand, or to cover staff absence - need to be aware of plans to protect vulnerable workers in this ...

Have your say: employers face stricter national minimum wage enforcement Employers need to make sure that they comply with the national minimum wage (NMW) legislation, in view of proposed measures for stricter enforcement against employers who flout the rules. The ...

Have your say: guidance on directors' health and safety duties The Institute of Directors (IoD) has produced draft guidance for businesses of all sizes that sets out what is expected of directors in overseeing health and safety performance at work. The IoD ...

Have your say: implementation of the Companies Act 2006 Businesses that need to plan for the changes to be brought in by the Companies Act 2006 will be greatly helped by the Government's announcement of the commencement dates for all remaining ...

Have your say: improved procedures for resolving employment disputes Workplace disputes are expensive, stressful and wasteful, so the Government is consulting businesses on ways to reduce the number of disputes and resolve them earlier. The consultation, ...

Have your say: improving payment practices in the construction industry Businesses engaged in the construction industry, or that deal with construction companies, now have the opportunity to comment on new proposals concerning payment practices. The Department for ...

Have your say: increase in minimum holiday entitlement Proposed changes to holiday entitlement are due to take effect in October 2007, which mean that employers can no longer include the UK's eight bank and public holidays as part of their employees' ...

Have your say: mediation rules for sheriff courts Under new rules proposed by the Mediation Committee of the Sheriff Court Rules Council, businesses in dispute with each other would have to consider using mediation and alternative dispute ...

Have your say: new regulations on unfair commercial practices Businesses dealing with consumers have the opportunity to comment on proposed legislation that will outlaw a host of deceptive and intimidating consumer sales practices. The Department of Trade ...

Have your say: new rules giving additional paternity leave and pay The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is consulting with employers on how new rules giving additional paternity leave and pay to male employees will work in practice, with the aim of keeping ...

Have your say: preventing illegal migrant working The views of businesses employing foreign workers are being sought on proposals to implement new powers contained in the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 to tackle illegal working by ...

Have your say: registration of Scottish floating charges The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR - formerly the DTI) is asking businesses for their views on a proposal to treat floating charges - charges on assets that ...

Have your say: revised code of practice on CCTV at work Businesses that use CCTV at their premises need to ensure that they comply with the relevant legislation, and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is seeking interested parties' views on a ...

Health and safety resource for businesses employing young workers A new online guide has been launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to help employers with health and safety issues for young workers, especially those new to the workplace. The online ...

Health and safety starter pack for small businesses New and small businesses can now access most of the basic health and safety advice that they need to help them comply with the law and protect their workers, thanks to the Starter Pack published by ...

Helping hands Work placements come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from internships linked to universities to informal arrangements with people who knock on your door. But they all give you an opportunity to ...

HMRC guidance on employer contributions to occupational pension schemes HM Revenue &Customs (HMRC) has published new and reassuring guidance for employers on the test for determining whether employer contributions to occupational pension schemes are tax ...

Homeworking Under current employment law, employers are obliged to 'seriously consider' requests for flexible working from employees with children under the age of six or employees with children with ...

How I clinched deals with supermarkets "I launched the business because I wanted to produce premium-quality sausages that were affordable and aimed at the mainstream market. Many independent suppliers ignore the supermarkets and just ...

How I stay close to my customers THE SOLUTION: "About 80 per cent of my business comes from existing customers. It's much easier than chasing work from new customers. Keeping close to my clients enables me to understand what ...

How mentoring benefited our business THE SOLUTION: "The Wind Dam Integration Concept was the brainchild of chartered aircraft engineer Derek Miles, aided and abetted by me."In 1999, Derek won a DTI Smart Award for a feasibility ...

How to appeal an HM Revenue & Customs decision Over 87,000 tax complaints were registered against HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in 2005. If you have a problem, a fixed complaints procedure is in place which you must follow. First stepsYou can ...

How to update your business plan Your business plan should be a document that works ...

How we carry out direct mail campaigns THE SOLUTION: "The business was set up in 1996, since when it has grown to having 25 employees. We provide highly targeted direct-mail campaigns to small local firms. We can carry out the whole ...

How we prepare for Christmas THE SOLUTION: "Insideout opened its first store in Tavistock in March 2004 - we now have three stores in Devon. We sell a range of gifts and homewares, including jewellery and decorative ...