Weekly Brief 12 of 2009              Friday 27 March 2009

In this week's issue:  FSB Conference; Budget; G20; Keep Trade Local; Regulation; Internet; Tax; Transport; Awards; Case studies

Rate Relief

The FSB's campaign for automatic rate relief in England has been given a welcome boost after Northern Ireland's Finance and Personnel Minister, Nigel Dodds, pledged to introduce Automatic Rates Relief in the country within the next financial year. Well done to our friends at FSB Northern Ireland for their lobbying work. Meanwhile, the England campaign took its next step as hundreds of FSB members filled in postcards at our Annual Conference to send to the Chancellor, calling for the tax relief to be given automatically. Read about our postcard campaign.

FSB Conference

Hundreds of delegates attended the FSB Annual Conference at the Celtic Manor in Newport, South Wales where they heard from dignitaries such as FSB National Chairman John Wright and broadcasters John Humphrys and Andrew Neil.  Videos, podcasts, news feed, photo galleries and more can be viewed at the FSB Conference website.

Budget

The FSB's proposals for wage subsidies got a mention in the Financial Times as rumours abound over what the Chancellor Alistair Darling will include in his Budget next month.

G20 meetings

If it's not bad enough that the trains are always delayed and the bus never turns up, workers around Central London are being warned about possible disruptions in getting to work due to mass protests planned to coincide with the G20 meetings next week.  The Guardian and the Telegraph reported on advice the FSB has given its members on avoiding interruptions.

Keep Trade Local

FSB Head of Public Affairs Stephen Alambritis wrote an article for the Daily Mirror this week which detailed proposals to help save the high street in a feature on the newspaper's rescue package for small firms. Find out more about our own Keep Trade Local campaign.

Regulation

Tory MP Brian Binley has tabled an Early Day motion (EDM) expressing concern at the cost of new business regulations. Read the EDM and ask your MP to sign it.

Online

A survey by auction website eBay has revealed that almost two thirds (64 per cent) of online businesses are confident about the future and more than three-quarters are planning to expand their businesses during 2009.

Tax returns

Employers with fewer than 50 staff are being urged to file their 2008/09 Employer Annual Return online this year, and get a £75 tax-free payment in the process. The returns are due by 19 May, or late-filing penalties will apply. Visit the HMRC website for more information.

Every Penny Counts

The FSB is supporting the Freight Transport Association's Every Penny Counts campaign which is calling for a moratorium on the planned fuel duty increases and Government fee hikes proposed for 2009.

Awards

Business- to -business loyalty programme, Nectar Business has launched its inaugural Small Business Awards for small and medium sized UK companies, who could be in with the chance of winning £2,000 and 50,000 Nectar points. Open until 18th May 2009, the awards acknowledge best practice, great ideas and outstanding achievements in business. Visit the Nectar website to see full entry criteria, awards information and download an entry form.

Case studies

The FSB is looking for businesses that are having trouble paying their business rates and would benefit from automatic rate relief. We are also gathering case studies on entrepreneurs who started their business under the Enterprise Allowance Scheme. Email us your experiences.

Have a good weekend,  

Marc Shoffman