Business Update April 2006
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Key links
Succession planning
According to a 2005 survey from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), 30 per cent of small-business closures take place because of the lack of an effective succession plan. ...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 ...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 ...How to update your business plan
Your business plan should be a document that works ...Q&A: How do I manage flexible working?
Lynette Swift (LS) is managing director of flexible-working consultancy Swiftwork. She talks to Tom Whitney about the benefits. What is flexible working? LS: "It's a work pattern that includes ...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 ...Prepare now for age-discrimination regulations
The final draft of regulations to protect workers from age discrimination in the workplace has been laid before Parliament for approval, ready for introduction in October 2006. Employers should ...Have your say on new paternity rights
Businesses now have the chance to put their views on the latest changes to paternity arrangements that the Government proposes to introduce from April 2007.
The consultation proposes that fathers ...Health and safety websites updated with practical help
Two recently updated sources of valuable online information can help businesses take advantage of the benefits of involving their workers in health and safety management issues.
The first is a ...Tax-break "cycle to work" scheme simplified
The Government has recently updated the "cycle to work" scheme, which gives tax breaks to employers who provide cycles for their employees.
The scheme enables employees who are basic-rate ...Good practice guide to making websites accessible now published
The British Standards Institution (BSI) has published new guidance on making websites user-friendly for disabled people, to help businesses attract disabled customers and avoid legal claims under ...Case law: part-time workers' rights recognised
Employers with part-time workers who don't enjoy the same benefits as full-time workers should review employees' contracts in the light of a new decision in the House of Lords.
In recognising ...Case law: manager jointly liable for discrimination damages
Employers should warn managers that they can be made jointly liable with their employer if a sex-discrimination claim is brought, following a recent decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal ...Case law: take advice on rolled-up holiday pay
Businesses that pay rolled-up holiday pay should take legal advice following a new judgment in the European Court of Justice, which has created legal uncertainty over whether rolled-up holiday pay ...Case law: European ruling on rest breaks could impose new burdens
Employers will have to make sure that workers actually take rest breaks they are entitled to, not just ensure that they can if they want to, if a preliminary opinion from the European Court of ...Have your say on sexuality discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services
The DTI is now consulting on the approach to be adopted, in Regulations under the Equality Act 2006, which will outlaw discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the ...Is this your problem?
I need to make sure my recruitment advertisement is legal and effective...Taking on an employee is a major step for all business, but recruiting the right person is particularly crucial to a small ...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 ...