The concept of Enterprise Zones is not new. First rolled out in the 1980’s, some were criticised for doing no more than moving employment from one part of the country to another, and for subsidising investment that would have occurred in any event.

Last week saw a Commons Transport Committee reporting that there is ‘a good case’ for the proposed HS2 high speed rail route set initially to link London to Birmingham, and then on to Manchester and Leeds as a second phase.

How many people own shares in your company? If it’s more than one, have you thought about what happens if one of you wants to leave, or dies, or if you don’t agree on the direction your business should take? All too often it is only when these issues come up that owner-managers realise that it would have been useful to think of them earlier and cover them in a shareholders’ agreement.

Most of us are not saving enough for retirement. With people living longer, and the State pension benefits becoming increasingly inadequate the Government recognises radical reforms are required if individuals are to make adequate provisions for themselves. The solution, rather than increase taxes or expect people to be poorer in retirement, is a combination of making people work longer and forcing employers to set up and make contributions to a pension scheme. Research by the Department of Work and Pensions shows that in 2010, 83% of employers had no staff pension scheme in place. Not surprisingly the majority are small employers, however, there are still a substantial number of larger employers (250+ workers) who have yet to arrange a pension scheme.

Part 1 – Introduction Starting from October 2012, any UK employer who employs at least one person will be legally obliged to set up and register a pension scheme and automatically enrol certain workers into that pension scheme. Employers will also be required to make a contribution of up to 3% of qualifying earnings. To help employers a new national pension scheme will be made available – the National Employment Savings Trust or NEST.

Adding extra value to its employee offering can single out a business as the employer to work for. If your company has not considered introducing an employee benefit scheme, then perhaps it’s high time it did…

A group of like-minded colleagues working together towards a common goal will achieve more success than a single individual. Yet if you are the owner or leader of a small business you will know how easy it is to try and 'wear all the hats' yourself.

At a time when many small businesses in the Midlands are still battling with the impact of the recession, the prospect of new low-carbon work in the construction and built environment sector couldn't come at a better time.

A top business consultant who regularly attends networking meetings throughout the West Midlands has warned that many small business owners who take part in ‘express-networking’ events fail to make a lasting impression because they spend too much time talking about themselves and not enough time showing an interest in others.

A top business consultant who regularly attends networking meetings throughout the West Midlands has warned that many small business owners who take part in ‘express-networking’ events fail to make a lasting impression because they spend too much time talking about themselves and not enough time showing an interest in others.

Put simply, a business is insolvent if there are no assets to cover its liabilities. Today’s uncertain economic climate makes it essential for businesses to ensure meticulous due diligence and forward planning.

News that New Look has launched a mobile-ready website has been countered in the retail market by Debenhams announcing further apps for Android and Nokia models.

When I was undertaking my CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personal Development) many years ago I read this quote from Fowler; “Induction should not be the Cinderella of training”. It’s resonated with me over the years and here’s why:

Many SME’s will pay a significant amount to ensure that the design of their marketing collateral looks professional, but how many, I wonder, happily pay the same sort of money for the right content?

If your business is tempted to take over another enterprise, up-front investment in due diligence procedures can save you potentially tens of thousands of pounds.

It is very common for friends to start a business together and for each to hold a 50 per cent holding. Most arrangements work well so long as the business prospers and they don’t fall out.

It looks like the long awaited recovery will continue with recent reports providing further evidence that the Manufacturing Sector is slowly leading the UK out of recession.

You have your database of customers and prospects but now you have to keep it up to date. Every month that goes by without it being used reduces its value to your organisation.

Research compiled by my company has shown that organisations that make time to plan and review their businesses on a regular basis are more likely to achieve turnover targets, manage the bottom line and achieve steady growth and financial stability.

Now that the dust has settled so to speak, we can begin to assess the true impact of the cloud of volcanic ash, which has been wreaking havoc across Europe recently.

According to a recent survey by InvisiView Media, although 98 per cent of employees believe it is vital to protect confidential information, more than half don’t take any security measures at all when sending data out externally.

Looking back at 2009 : At the beginning of each business or financial year it is very useful or business owners and management to review progress against business plans; to identify success and failures and to take on board lessons learned in order to improve future business performance.

Having been an entrepreneur for a number of years I have frequently shared my experiences with a number of clients and collegues, sometimes to teach a point and sometimes to simply learn something new.

Do you own a website that you’d like to see at the number 1 spot in Google? Have you heard people talking about how easy and effective article marketing is, and are you wondering - “What’s it all about, how do I get started, and what can I expect?” If so, you’re in the right place, because I’m about to give you an introductory guide to article marketing to help you get started.

In addition to all major search engines, you should also try to get listed in local search engines and directories. This could really help you in getting a better position in the search engines.

Unless you have been living on the Moon for the last 2 years, you will have heard of Twitter. It is mentioned on the TV, on the radio and now in the world of business! In fact it seems you can't escape Twitter at the moment. So what's Twitter all about and can it help a business?

Data is at the heart of every business, but is your company’s data secure? The implications of data loss are significant; from lost business and damage to your reputation, to fines or even prison

Historically graduates and SMEs have not always been attracted to each other. SMEs lack the ‘perceived’ opportunities of blue-chip companies, while graduates can be seen as lacking in practical experience. However some SMEs are wising up to the fact that graduates have the potential to be a huge asset

You have spent a great deal of time and effort developing an article or feature and the next stage is to sell-in to a journalist and persuade them that it would be perfect for their publication. How many people though fall at the very last hurdle?

It seems everyone wants to take payments online, and why not? Taking payments online can be a dream in terms of optimising your business processes. No more chasing customers for cheques, postal orders or cash!

Relationship management becomes more important as you assume more professional responsibility. You need skills to build bonds, inspire, influence and develop others. All the while you need to be open to change, manage conflict and establish teamwork.

Anyone starting out in the world of online auctions is likely to ask the question, what sells well on eBay? An answer such as electronics, media and designer clothing may sound useful, but in actuality the best product for a person to sell is completely unique to that person. In the course of the next few hundred words you will discover how to identify an area in which you could sell, and whether that area will be profitable.

How can you earn respect from business peers, increase sales and boost team morale all in one go? One way is by winning an industry award. There’s no question that it requires an investment of time, but if you believe your company is a potential winner, then the rewards really are significant.

While slow economic recovery comes as welcome news for many small businesses that have seen tough times of late, the news is no surprise to some. West Midlands ICT businesses have been continuing to blaze a trail even during a recession that has rocked the globe.

How often do we judge each other on our communication? And yet how often are we ourselves guilty of making the most basic grammatical mistakes?

The credit crunch has had a significant impact on the commercial property sector and the hotel market has to find new ways of meeting its bed expansion programme as traditional forms of funding become increasingly difficult. Shaun Baugh director of national property and construction consultants Wakemans looks at the opportunities presented by re-branding and converting existing hotels that are under-performing or falling into distress.

The automotive industry is feeling the brunt of the recession and has had a lot of negative publicity because of financing problems and the recent tragic accidents. Michael Meakin, a partner at chartered accountants Clement Keys who specialises in motorsport and Sharon Quaife-Hobbs, sales and marketing director of RT Quaife Engineering Ltd, a world leader in the design, development and engineering of automotive parts, agree that whilst this is creating difficulties for the sport, the automotive industry behind the sport is still strong. Their view is that the outlook is positive because of the UK’s reputation for excellence and the benefits that a weaker pound brings to manufactures who export internationally.

Cabinet Member for Equalities and Human Resources, Councillor Alan Rudge explains why it is so important to engage with local community partners and drive forward the Community Cohesion agenda.

What is PR? Coverage in a local or national newspaper? An article in a trade journal? Perhaps an interview on local radio about a new product or service? It’s certainly all of these things but also so much more. Public Relations is the management of your company’s reputation. It’s used to gain trust and understanding between your business and your customers, employees and stakeholders. Essentially, it’s what you do, what you say, and – even more importantly – what other people say about you.

Richard L. Daft one of the country's (USA) recognized academic leadership experts raises the question, "What kind of people can lead an organization through major change?"

Are you working longer and taking home less than your staff? Are you working all hours of the day and night and still barely managing to keep your customers happy? Are you unable to delegate or outsource work to give you more time to work on your business? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, maybe its time you learnt what Brain Surgeons do

If you've ever wondered whether you should include telemarketing in your marketing mix, here are 8 reasons (and the answer is yes).

Negotiating is a skill that like warfare tactics must be honed. It is important to be mentally prepared to win. Do the ground work well before your reach the negotiating table and decide on the "path" you are going to take. Positivity will help as also a sense of confidence and self esteem. Set aside any doubts you may have and stride forward prepared to win at all costs.

Hundreds of thousands of webmasters across the world make money online with their websites. Why not you? Here are 10 easy tips that you can use on your website to make it profitable. As with any good website however, you first need quality original content!

Let's cover an area of working the room with which people often struggle... the actual moving around the room. Disengaging with one group and breaking into groups. Finally I will cover the bridge process and explain the importance of the follow up after we have met new people.

There are few images as recognizable throughout the world as the Coca-Cola brand. Travel to the furthest reaches of the globe and you will probably encounter it on a clock or a sign, if not on the drink itself.

Selecting a name for your new business is not easy. A name does more than identify your company. It tells customers who you are, what you do, and more than a little about how you do it. Your name differentiates you from your peers, peaks customer interest, and invites further investigation -- if you do it right.