February 2016

The world’s economists are out of ammo…

In an assessment of the world economy, the Economist paints a downbeat picture. World stockmarkets are in bear territory; gold (which improves when all else is looking bleak) has had its best start to a year in more than three decades; the cost of insurance against bank default has surged; talk of recession in America is […]

 

A closer look at the government’s reform to grants funding

A report from Business Advice and Grant Tree outlines some of the proposed changes to grant funding. Cheriton believes that grants are still a great way to fund innovation and encourage new ideas – let’s keep them…    

 

Poor planning could cost SMEs £25bn

Economia reports that over a quarter of SMEs in Britain (26%) are putting their financial survival on the line by failing to follow a business plan. This is revealed in research by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). Without a business plan, these firms have entered 2016 without any objectives, revenue targets or a plan […]

 

UK and Scottish governments ‘must back creative industries’

A report from the BBC headlines the recommendations of a Westminster committee that the UK and Scottish governments should work more closely to support the creative industries in Scotland.

 

How to navigate through the market storm

A view from Hargreaves Lansdown’s Mark Dampier:

 

Crowdfunded technology investment to top $8bn by 2020

Total funds raised on technology-based campaigns could see a seven-fold increase, according to a report by Juniper.  

 

The Government’s UK Productivity Plan – a strategy without an execution phase – except to convert R&D grants to loans…

UK productivity has been flat since the banking crisis and is now 14 per cent below the level that would have been achieved if pre-crisis trends had continued.   Addressing this, it is hard to disagree with the government’s overall strategic framework for raising productivity. It covers 15 policy areas from long term investment in […]

 

New tax law for telecoms – another take from SMEs as VAT cash flow benefits transfer to big business…

In a largely unpublicised change, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) introduced “emergency” legislation on 1 February 2016, purportedly to combat the threat of VAT fraud in the wholesale telecommunication sector. The HMRC policy paper was published on 11 January 2016, allowing very little time for affected businesses to plan the introduction, although some dispensation has […]

 

If you’re looking for financial management that can give your business that important edge, then we should talk. Contact Stephen Bramhall to set up an initial discussion on 07785 775828 or by Email.

Financial direction with a commercial edge