Chancellor George Osborne has launched the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS), a new body which he claims will "simplify the UK tax system with a focus on small businesses".

Continue reading "Tax system to be simplified for small firms" »

Business confidence among small firms is still fragile, according to research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Continue reading "Small business confidence fragile, says FSB" »

The Government is inviting employers and individuals to contribute to a consultation on the future of skills policy in the UK.

Continue reading "Government launches consultation on skills strategy" »

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that a range of its 'arm's length' bodies are to be scrapped.

Continue reading "Defra announces reforms to 30 bodies" »

The Bribery Act will come into force from April 2011, the Government has announced, which will make it a corporate offence to fail to prevent bribery.

Continue reading "Bribery Act will come into force by April" »

A Government advisory body has recommended that the use of contracts and technologies to bypass copyright law should be investigated.

Continue reading "Advisory body recommends review of copyright law" »

Solicitors' firms that do not pay the Assigned Risks Pool (ARP) premium could face closure under new rules announced by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Continue reading "Solicitors' firms that fail to pay ARP premium will face closure" »

The number of employment tribunal claims rocketed by more than 50% in 2009/10, compared to the previous year, according to statistics from the Tribunal Service.

Continue reading "Employment tribunal claims increase year-on-year" »

A member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has called for a rise in interest rates.

Continue reading "Bank of England MPC member calls for interest rate rise" »

An independent review has concluded that the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) must deliver better value for money and a better experience for its customers.

Continue reading "Rural Payments Agency must improve, review concludes" »

The Government has announced that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will retain its responsibility for food safety but will lose its remit to regulate nutrition and labelling in England.

Continue reading "Food Standards Agency to retain food safety focus" »

The Rural Affairs Minister for Wales has launched an initiative to protect the identities of food and drink produced in the country.

Continue reading "Minister calls for protected status for Welsh foods" »

Internet sales rose by a fifth in June compared to the same month in 2009, according to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index.

Continue reading "Online sales up by a fifth in June" »

Early summer sales and a rush on electronic equipment boosted retail sales in June 2010, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Continue reading "Retail sales see summer growth" »

Grocery sales hit a five-month peak during June 2010, thanks in part to the World Cup and the warm weather.

Continue reading "Grocery sales at five-month peak" »

Despite the rise in overall UK sales, weak Scottish retail sales are causing concern, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Continue reading "Weak Scottish retail sales causing concern, says BRC" »

Fewer manufacturing firms went into administration during the first half of the year, compared to 2009, according to figures from business advisory firm Deloitte.

Continue reading "Fewer manufacturing firms in administration" »

The output of UK manufacturers increased at the fastest rate for 15 years during the three months up to July, according to the latest figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Continue reading "UK manufacturing output rises at fastest pace for 15 years" »

The plans to build 85,000 new homes in England have been scrapped after the Government axed regional house building targets for local authorities.

Continue reading "Plans for 85,000 new homes scrapped after house building targets axed" »