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Your EnterQuest Bulletin - Issue 355
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| Thought for the week: "My formula for success is rise early, work late and strike oil." JP Getty |
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In this week's issue:
Labour will back Business Link... and more female entrepreneurs
Following the Tory party's announcement a couple of weeks ago that they would scrap Business Link if they win the general election, the Labour party have responded by outlining their own ideas for boosting UK entrepreneurship if they stay in power.
Lord Davies, the Minister for Trade and Small Business, has told The Sunday Times that Business Link will continue to provide an advice service if Labour are re-elected, as it is a "tried and tested service" and that it is "here to stay". Davies claims that nearly a million "people" used Business Link in the third quarter of 2008/09 with a customer satisfaction level of 90%.
This is in complete contrast to Shadow Small Business Minister Mark Prisk's claim to The Sunday Times that a number of surveys show that Business Link is not popular with businesses and is costing £190 million per year. Prisk has said the Tories will expand the role of enterprise agencies in place of Business Link.
In addition to voicing support for Business Link, Davies says that Labour will put in place a number of measures to boost female entrepreneurship in the UK, so that it is on a par with the USA, and this will boost the economy and employment. They will do this by asking the banks to provide advice tailored to female entrepreneurs, by appointing a women's enterprise champion in each of the regions, and by providing inspiration to women and young people through a "Best of British" website.
According to The Sunday Times article, the Government had also asked Lord Alan Sugar and TV Dragon James Caan to study the service provided by Business Link. Caan has recommended a more consistent operation across the advice service and Sugar has called for a major marketing campaign to raise awareness.
Lord Davies is also saying that over time he "would like to see a one-stop shop for small businesses".
When Mark Prisk announced that the Tories would scrap Business Link there was considerable reaction on both sides of the argument posted on our website, which you can read here.
But what about Labour's plans for the future of the UK small business sector? Is providing support for more female entrepreneurs the answer? Is anything new being said there? Or is there something that we're all missing?
As for a "one-stop shop for small businesses" and a marketing campaign to raise awareness of Business Link, that particular wheel was first invented in 1995 when the Training and Enterprise Council's role came to an end, then reinvented by the Small Business Service in 2000, and again in 2005 through the national "one-size-fits-all" Business Link and its £35 million-a-year website. So what will this latest "one-stop shop" look like?
Whether you are a small business owner or a business adviser you can have your say about Labour's plans for enterprise support by clicking here to make a comment.
Each week we provide you with summaries of some popular or emerging business ideas in the UK and elsewhere around the world.
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An Italian frozen dessert 'university' is a niche training facility that teaches people about gelatos (which are a popular Italian frozen dessert) and how to set up their own gelato business. It has a range of campus-based and online courses for both start ups and established gelato business owners looking to up-skill.
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The Postcarden is a novel take on the greetings card. The card is a container for seeds, and is shaped to look like an allotment, cityscape or botanical garden. It may appeal to retailers looking for a quirky addition to their lines.
Each week EnterQuest highlights one or two business and consumer topics that are currently buzzing on the Internet.
The following topical business issues have been recently reported in the media. Did your radar pick them up?
1) Research carried out by credit firm Graydon UK has revealed the most common reason given by banks when rejecting loan applications in 2009. What is it?
a) poor credit score
b) the applicant's sector is too high-risk
c) insufficient security
d) poor business plan
2) The Royal Society has criticised the Government for not investing enough in which of the following sectors in order to boost the economy?
a) science and innovation
b) the services sector
c) manufacturing
d) voluntary and third sector
3) Small businesses are being warned to look out for rogue surveyors looking to make a quick buck after the Forum of Private Business (FPB) reported a rise in members' complaints. What is the rise in cowboy surveyors attributed to?
a) a surge in property prices
b) the recent rates revaluation
c) scrapping of training necessary to become a surveyor
d) relaxation of rules surrounding property surveying
Answers at the end of the Bulletin.
Improve your 'about us' page
This article highlights mistakes businesses make on their 'about us' pages, and why it is a powerful addition to a website when written properly. The points can be used when trying to rewrite or draft an 'about us' page from scratch.
Free image resizer tool
Resizr is a free online tool that can be used to resize images to your exact image size requirements. It accepts .jpg, .gif and .png files and can be used as many times as you like - there's no usage limit.
Tool for website typography inspiration
If you're stuck for inspiration for your business website's typography, the TYPEFLASH tool lets you try different effects, fonts and colours out, upload any photos and create site banners. It's free of charge.
Customer service assessment tool
The International Customer Service Institute (TICSI) has launched a free online customer service assessment tool for businesses that want to improve their customer service performance. It also outlines the benefits that can be gained by completing the assessment. Registration is required.
What good are accounts that are produced so late?
Would you like your business accounts updated daily and accessible to you online?
Contact Paul & Co now on (020) 8204 9911 or visit www.paul.co.uk. |
British Library Business & IP Centre in London
The Centre can help you from that first spark of inspiration to successfully launching and growing your business. It offers free access to business and intellectual property resources, workshops, networking events and one-to-one advice sessions.
Find out more at www.bl.uk/bipc. |
Success Tools
We have a simple yet marvellous purpose: to help people realise their full potential ... to make them successful and happy.
The goal is self-improvement ... the vehicles are audio, DVD, MP3 and video programmes.
Click on any of the Success Tools on the website page and see for yourself and start building your path to success now. Also, visit our 'Knowledge Pool - The Resource'.
Visit the website at www.cavendish-mr.org.uk. |
Claim Three Business-Building Reports Worth £90
Visit the link below to claim over 75 pages of FREE content, plus details of my Maverick Marketing Newsletter: fortnightly advice on practical client attraction strategies you can apply and profit from.
www.maverickmarketingconsultancy.co.uk/newsletter.htm |
To promote your products or services in EnterQuest Classifieds, call us on (0191) 461 8000 or e-mail enterquest@cobwebinfo.com.
Win an I.R.I.S. package worth over £200
EnterQuest has teamed up with mobile office products manufacturer I.R.I.S. to offer readers the chance to win a package containing IRISnotes 1.0 and IRIScan 2 Express worth over £200.
The IRISnotes 1.0 converts scribbled notes and diagrams into editable text on your PC, while the IRIScan converts paper documents such as invoices and receipts into editable and searchable text files.
To be in with a chance of winning this great prize, just answer the following question:
Q: When is the deadline for contesting rates revaluations with the Valuation Office Agency?
a) 31 March
b) 30 April
E-mail your answer, together with your name, address and daytime phone number, using 'I.R.I.S. Competition' in the subject line, to enterquest@cobwebinfo.com.
All entries must be received by 31 March. Full competition rules are available on request.
How's your business radar? The answers
1) The answer is c) - According to Graydon's research, banks rejected 41% of respondents' applications because the applicants had insufficient security.
2) The answer is a) - The Royal Society has criticised the Government for not investing enough in science and innovation. Business research and development was identified as a key weakness in the report, with British firms spending 1.14% of GDP on R&D.
3) The answer is b) - Cowboy operators are taking advantage of the recent rates revaluation, according to the FPB. It says the rogue operators are trying to offer businesses a reassessment of their rateable value before 31 March, which is the deadline for contesting revaluations with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). |
Also from EnterQuest's publisher
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The UK Small Business Marketing Bible contains hundreds of tips and tactics for boosting your sales using proven marketing strategies that work no matter what product or service you sell. |
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Good luck
The EnterQuest Team
This information is meant as a starting point only. Whilst all reasonable efforts have been made, the publisher makes no warranties that the information is accurate and up-to-date and will not be responsible for any errors or omissions in the information nor any consequences of any errors or omissions. Professional advice should be sought where appropriate. |
