Independent Commission on Banking: Publication of Interim Report
The Interim Report sets out the Commission’s current and provisional views on the need for reform and on possible reform options.
Bribery Act 2010 – Quick Start Guide
The Bribery Act 2010 Quick Start Guide, will help organisations of all sizes and sectors put procedures in place.
New climate change advice to help businesses boost growth
Climate change will bring opportunities for economic growth if British businesses think now about how climate change will affect them, Environment Minister Lord Henley said today. The message came at the launch of a new interactive online tool designed by Defra and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) to prepare businesses for both climate risks and opportunities.
The Climate Resilience Toolkit is a quick and simple online tool available on the Business Link website for businesses wanting to increase their resilience to the changing climate, or explore possibilities for growth by taking advantage of the opportunities climate change will bring.
The toolkit provides a tailored report for each business to help it focus on what it should be doing to prepare, such as checking the robustness of its supply chain, the threat of flooding to premises and possible changes in customer demand for products.
Government bins business red tape
Business will be freed from the burden of red tape under a package of sweeping reforms to regulation, it was announced today.
In a speech to the Federation of Small Businesses in Liverpool, Mark Prisk revealed Business Secretary Vince Cable’s plans for a range of measures to be included in the Growth Review that will allow businesses to grow, including:
- a public audit of almost 22,000 statutory instruments that are currently on the statute book; and
- a moratorium to exempt businesses with fewer than ten employees and genuine start ups from new domestic regulation for three years.
New ‘Solutions for Business’ portfolio refocused on growth
The Government is launching a new portfolio of products today to help businesses and support growth in the economy.
The new Solutions for Business (SfB) package is simpler, making it easier to understand and accessible to companies.
There are 13 products designed to help businesses identify and overcome key challenges as they grow and develop. It will target activities where a Government lead is required, such as providing access to strategic advice, helping companies reach international markets and supporting innovation.
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk announced the 13 products at a North West Business Reception in Manchester.
Mr Prisk said:
“The new Solutions for Business portfolio has been designed to give businesses the help they need to expand and grow.
“We are moving away from centralised advice and focusing on targeted programmes. This streamlining is firmly based on developing those services which work, and which private providers do not offer. Securing economic growth is our central task and this step is part of our broad programme to free enterprise and help small firms prosper.”
Paternity Leave and Pay – Additional paternity leave and pay will come into force from 3rd April 2011.
Introduction of additional paternity leave and pay
Additional paternity leave and pay will come into force from 3 April 2011, eligible employees will gain the right to additional paternity leave and pay (APL&P).
The right will apply where:
- their partner is due to give birth on or after 3 April 2011
- they and/or the other adoptive parent receive notification on or after 3 April 2011 that they have been matched with a child for adoption
Additional paternity leave (APL) will allow an employee to take up to 26 weeks’ leave to care for the child.
The employee will only be able to start their APL:
- 20 or more weeks after the child’s birth or placement for adoption
- once their partner has returned to work from statutory maternity leave or statutory adoption leave and/or ended their entitlement to statutory maternity or adoption pay, or maternity allowance
New government measures announced to help small companies grow
Backing Small Business
The government has announced further plans to help small and medium-sized businesses to flourish and to encourage entrepreneurship. CJAM specialise in outsourcing to support SMEs contact our management team to find out more.
Set out within the Backing Small Business report, released on 1 November, are six steps to support small businesses:
– Improving access to finance
– Opening up government procurement and ensuring prompt payment
– Supporting those starting a business
– Making sure competition framework helps new companies
– Providing targeted support to those that have high-growth potential
– Ensuring that the government is deliberately reoriented towards their needs