I am not a political person - and this blog was never intended to be anything but a simple 'how to' guide to credit management - but at the moment I find that the 'politics' of keeping SMEs alive and flourishing are being pushed under my nose so often and from so many reputable sources that I feel that I have no choice but to relay all the information I find or receive, even if I don't choose to comment on it.
My latest 'find' comes via the The Federation of Small Businesses .
The Federation has joined forces with the Institute of Credit Management to produce the FSB-ICM 'Voice of Small Business" Survey 2009. It has also produced something called "Small Business - Big Vote: The Route to Recovery - FSB 2010 Election Manifesto".
It isn't clear to me that the Institute of Credit Management has anything to do with the Manifesto, but be that as it may, the Manifesto is certainly worth a read.
TheManifesto runs to twenty pages.
'Promote Self Employment', Generate Opportunities for Youth Employment', Declare a Moratorium on Employment Regulation', 'Cut Payroll Taxes' and 'Stop the Repeal of Furnished Holiday Letting Rules' will only take you up to page 7, but I have to say that the Manifesto doesn't get any less interesting, informative and thought provoking until you get to page 18, which is lined page entitled 'Notes'.
However, and as the Manifesto is in pdf format - which means that you can print it off - the lined page is probably a kindly and thoughtful provision considering the volume of statistical and other information that preceeds it.
You can find the Manifesto by going to the FSB's Home Page and clicking on the 'Small Business - Big Vote article.
I"m not commenting - but I have to say that I found the contents of page 15 particuarly interesting and important. 'Small Businesses are not just part of the local community - they are the the local community' says it all, doesn't it?
THE RATS TALES: Credit Management news, views and opinions - some of them unpopular...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Vote 'No' to An Increase in National Insurance Rates
The Forum of Private Business completed a snap poll of its members last week, and produced its results last Friday.
Unsurprisingly, nine out of ten smaller businesses were disappointed by last weeks budget - and more than two thirds of the members polled stated that they were expecting 'a more realistic budget' to be delivered after the General Election.
Eighty-seven percent of members thought that the Chancellor's budget would not increase business or consumer confidence - and the poll reflected widespread anger at the planned hike in National Insurance rates.
You can't do anything much about the Budget - save to vote for a party that will produce another, hopefully less political and less cynical one - but you do still have time to say 'NO' to the proposed rise in National Insurance Rates by signing the Petition . You can find more information about the Petition on the Federation of Small Businesses website - which, incidentally, is a good, informative, place to wander around in when you have the time.
Please take the time to sign the Petition today. Given the numbers of people who are unemployed at the moment, and its potential effect upon them, the one per cent raise in National Insurance rates is a thoroughly disgraceful idea - and never mind that it isn't scheduled to come into effect until April 2011. This is a tax on jobs - and it's going to mean fewer jobs, slower recovery, and yet more people having to sign on.
Unsurprisingly, nine out of ten smaller businesses were disappointed by last weeks budget - and more than two thirds of the members polled stated that they were expecting 'a more realistic budget' to be delivered after the General Election.
Eighty-seven percent of members thought that the Chancellor's budget would not increase business or consumer confidence - and the poll reflected widespread anger at the planned hike in National Insurance rates.
You can't do anything much about the Budget - save to vote for a party that will produce another, hopefully less political and less cynical one - but you do still have time to say 'NO' to the proposed rise in National Insurance Rates by signing the Petition . You can find more information about the Petition on the Federation of Small Businesses website - which, incidentally, is a good, informative, place to wander around in when you have the time.
Please take the time to sign the Petition today. Given the numbers of people who are unemployed at the moment, and its potential effect upon them, the one per cent raise in National Insurance rates is a thoroughly disgraceful idea - and never mind that it isn't scheduled to come into effect until April 2011. This is a tax on jobs - and it's going to mean fewer jobs, slower recovery, and yet more people having to sign on.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Sort Code Checker Relaunched
The on-line Sort Code Checker has been relaunched, and now covers BACS, CHAPS, cheques and paper credits as well as Faster Payments.
By inputting the sort code of the account to which the payment is to be made, customers can see whether that account can receive a Faster Payment, BACS credit or CHAPS payment - or whether a Direct Debit can be set up, or a cheque or paper credit can be paid into the account through the clearings.
The Sort Code Checker was originally developed to help customers see whether the account they wanted to send a payment to was linked in to the Faster Payments service which was launched at the same time. It has proved very popular - and is obviously of great benefit to businesses looking to avoid or prevent any possible delays to a payment or the registration of a new customers' Direct Debit details.
The Checker stores all of the UK's sort codes, and is regularly updated to ensure that data is current. You can find the Sort Code Checker at UK Payments .
By inputting the sort code of the account to which the payment is to be made, customers can see whether that account can receive a Faster Payment, BACS credit or CHAPS payment - or whether a Direct Debit can be set up, or a cheque or paper credit can be paid into the account through the clearings.
The Sort Code Checker was originally developed to help customers see whether the account they wanted to send a payment to was linked in to the Faster Payments service which was launched at the same time. It has proved very popular - and is obviously of great benefit to businesses looking to avoid or prevent any possible delays to a payment or the registration of a new customers' Direct Debit details.
The Checker stores all of the UK's sort codes, and is regularly updated to ensure that data is current. You can find the Sort Code Checker at UK Payments .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)