News

April 19, 2013

Also in the news this week – 19 April 2013

Watch out – there's a data thief about

One in ten employees has stolen important data from their place of work after handing in their notice, a study has revealed. The research, commissioned by IT specialist LogRhythm, found that before moving on to a new company, millions of workers have raided client databases or gathered contact details. It found that 23% have taken data from their workplace. What's more – one in ten who retrieved data after handing in their notice did so after they had left the company, using company passwords to access information. Read more on the IT Donut blog.

Thatcher would have curbed banks, say SMEs

A survey of 10,000 UK small businesses by Freelancer.co.uk reveals that more than 65% blame the coalition government's lack of courage in taking on vested interests for the current lack of credit – rather than Margaret Thatcher's original "big bang" banking reforms. An overwhelming 82% of small businesses said that the depth of Thatcher's commitment to small firms would have forced banks to lend. And 89% said Margaret Thatcher's personal experience of helping to run a small business made her a more passionate and better advocate for their interests than David Cameron. Freelancer.co.uk CEO, Matt Barrie, said: "In the 1980s she took on the miners, in the 2000s, she would have taken on the banks."

Online toolkit to help start-ups hiring staff

An online recruitment toolkit for employers has been introduced by the government. The Employing staff for the first time toolkit helps potential employers through the process of hiring their first member of staff and sets out the relevant legal requirements. This includes information on setting pay, getting the right insurance, understanding tax requirements and checking a new employee's right to work in the UK. In addition, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) will today launch six new guides to help small firms make sure they comply with the law when hiring, managing people and dealing with complaints at work.

Small firms plan to increase staff levels

More than a quarter of small businesses plan to take on more staff this year, according to the six-monthly business confidence report from Regus. Based on the views of 3,000 business owners and managers, the report reveals that 28% of all small firms have plans to increase headcount by over 5% in the remainder of 2013. Over half of firms state that their recruitment drive will focus on sales and marketing staff, suggesting a determination to sell their way out of the downturn.

March freeze costs UK small businesses millions

As the Office of National Statistics (ONS) confirms that retail sales in March were 0.7% lower than in February because of bad weather, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has calculated that small firms have lost a total of £174 million. Its recent survey of SMEs has found that 55% of UK small firms have been impacted financially by the recent prolonged cold weather and that on average each business lost £1,580. Loss of demand (30%) and closures (26%) were the common impacts.

Calling all mumpreneurs

MumPanel wants to hear from mums who have a great business idea, product or service – or some way of improving on an existing product or service – that would benefit mums and their families. MumPanel founder, Lynne Barcoe said: "Our panel of expert judges, who represent all parts of the business development process, will select the best ideas from mums. We'll work with our overall winner to refine their idea so that it's in good shape to take to our contacts." Get in touch by 10^th May.