The growth hub for small and independent businesses
Comparing your energy standing charge to other suppliers should be part of your continual energy cost audit. If you know all the charging elements that make up your bill, you’re empowered to make informed decisions. In this article, we’ll cover all aspects of your standing charge, including what it stands for, how to interpret it and how to judge if it’s a fair rate levied on your monthly or quarterly bill.
25 Jan 2022
For many, the beginning of a new year is a time for setting goals and getting organised. To help, we’ve put together a list of important tax-related dates to keep in mind throughout the year. Be sure to prepare for them in advance to avoid any unnecessary penalties.
24 Jan 2022
Reducing energy consumption and costs in the workplace are hot topics amongst business owners and colleagues. Not just because of our green credentials, bills are also set to rise this year due to energy prices rising on international finance markets. Energy use has come into sharp focus lately as we’ve realised even minor adjustments can have a massive impact on lowering energy waste. Turning down the heating by one degree, turning off lights, using low energy bulbs, using dimmer switches, opening windows rather than relying on air conditioning are just some of the minor adjustments we can make that cause significant reductions. Today would be the ideal time to begin an energy audit for your business or in your place of work to see what cash and energy savings are possible.
19 Jan 2022
Starting a restaurant business isn’t for the faint-hearted or uncommitted. On paper, it looks easy - find the premises, give the place a fresh lick of paint (you can roll your sleeves up too) and get new flooring. Then buy a new cooking range, plates, pots, pans, utensils, cutlery and uniforms. Hire a mix of permanent and part-time staff, place a few local ads, create a buzz on social media, and voila! You’re good to go. If only it were that easy.
18 Jan 2022
SMEs make up 90% of businesses worldwide and the SME market in the UK contributes £2 trillion a year to the economy. SMEs also contribute significantly to international trade volumes – $35 trillion of trade is expected this year as the economy continues to recover. Yet despite the pivotal role SMEs play, they’ve traditionally had to navigate complicated and costly international payment systems. Corporate B2B payment platforms aren’t always viable for small business owners who usually have to rely on their bank to facilitate transactions.
13 Jan 2022
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) tracks inflation – i.e. how much prices rise over time – on everyday products. In December 2021, the headline rate of inflation in the UK rose to 5.1%: the highest rate in a decade. What does this mean for businesses?
12 Jan 2022
If your business has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, you might be considering applying for finance through the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS). On 1 January 2022, a few changes came into effect. Read on to find out what’s changed and how to apply.
10 Jan 2022
On 21 December 2021, the government announced £1 billion of additional support for the hundreds of thousands of organisations across the UK hit hardest by the wave of Omicron variant coronavirus cases. Let’s take a look at how the £1bn fund is being distributed.
6 Jan 2022
Small Businesses are the lifeblood of many high streets. Our towns and cities would be ghost towns without our much-loved newsagents, salons and barbers, grocers, cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs. And on industrial estates dotted around the country, many services and small manufacturing firms provide the backbone for the country’s business community to thrive. Raising capital if you’re such a business owner can represent a challenge, but there are a few different ways you can access the funding you need.
5 Jan 2022
Sign up for the best of Funding Options sent straight to your inbox.