New figures show that six in 10 rural businesses are suffering with the slow speed of their broadband, as the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) calls for the majority of the countryside to have access to superfast broadband by 2015 to revitalise the rural economy.

The New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) should be extended to encourage more budding entrepreneurs to use the scheme, the All Party Parliamentary Small Business Group (APPSBG) said today.

The FSB welcomes measures in Queen's speech on economic growth, particularly aimed at resolving workplace disputes and reforming the employment tribunal system. It believes these measures will considerably improve small business owners' willingness to take on more employees.

The FSB welcomes measures aimed at resolving workplace disputes and reforming the employment tribunal system. It believes these measures will considerably improve small business owners' willingness to take on more employees.

Small businesses are still struggling to win public sector contracts despite the Government's efforts to make it easier, the latest figures from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) show.