Weekly Brief 4 of 2009              Friday 30 January 2009

In this week's issue: Tax, FSB podcast, Five Point Plan; Late Payment; Enterprise Finance Guarantee; Environment; Post Office; Square Mile

Tax returns

The FSB has called for small businesses that file their self-assessment tax forms late during these testing times to be given a break by HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC). The deadline is January 31, read our press release.
 

FSB Podcast

The second edition of the FSB podcast is available to download now. This latest episode details FSB proposals to  beat the recession and the latest from the Keep Trade Local campaign. You can subscribe to the feed on the FSB website.

Five Point Plan

The FSB reported a dramatic rise in calls to its legal advice line on redundancies from concerned small businesses.  This underlines the importance of our Five Point Plan to create and retain jobs as reported by the BBC, Sky News, Financial Times, Daily Mail, and the Daily Express.

Late payment

FSB National Chairman John Wright expressed concern this week after the Daily Telegraph reported that despite calls from the Government to settle their bills with small businesses within 10 days, four out of five local authorities have failed to speed up payment.

Enterprise Finance Guarantee

The FSB is pleased to hear that a small business - a member of the FSB - in Essex has become one of the first businesses to receive funds from the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, a scheme that mirrors what we called for back in October. Basildon-based delivery company Abby Couriers has received a £100,000 loan from Barclays Bank, Visit the FSB website to find out more about the scheme. Email us your experiences of the scheme.

Competition

The Prime Minister has launched a national competition, Retrofit for the Future, to encourage businesses to bid for a share of £10m in Government funding to design and install high performance solutions to improve the environmental sustainability and reduce the costs of existing housing in the UK.

Post about the Post Office

The Business and Enterprise Committee is seeking the views of Post Office customers in helping to shape their inquiry "Post Offices: Securing Their Future." Submit your views about the service at the online forum until March 10.

City of London

The FSB is supporting moves by the City of London Corporation to establish new business support networks and supply chains between the Square Mile and small businesses in neighbouring boroughs.

Have a good weekend,

Marc Shoffman