Business Update July 2007

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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 ...Q&A: Setting up a basic IT system Geoff Higginbottom, Network Services Director at Octavia Information Systems, talks Afsheen Latif through the ins and outs of setting up a basic IT system. How do I assess my IT needs?Ask yourself ...Small is beautiful Being small does not have to be a barrier to success - in fact, it can be a positive strength. Large organisations may seem to have many markets sewn up, but their one-size-fits-all approach to ...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 ...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 ...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 ...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: 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: 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 ...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 ...OFT guidance on new search powers The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has published guidance on how it will exercise its new powers to make on-site inspections of business premises under consumer protection rules that took effect in ...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: 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 ...Updated Acas guidance on mediation in the workplace Acas has updated the FAQs for businesses on the section of its website covering its mediation service for employers and employees. Conflicts at work that end up in an employment tribunal cost ...I want to find a partner to help me develop my business... Many small business owners find it hard to take their firm to the next level. It can be hard to find the resources you need without overstretching yourself. Sharing the load with a business partner ...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 ...