Business121 Small Business Newsletter #55

In this week's Business121:

1. Cash awards for businesses tackling climate change
2. Raising Money - What lenders look for before handing out cash
3. Angels or dragons - who do you trust?
4. VAT Reverse Charge on electronic goods to combat Carousel fraud
5. 10 Steps to follow for your company fireworks display
6. Pensions A-Day has little impact on small business owners
7. Shell Springboard offering £40,000 awards to SME's tackling climate change
8. Small Business Statistics - VAT Registrations 2005
9. Entrepreneurs - Born or Bred?
10. More women go it alone to set up their dream business
11. Some common Health and Safety myths

Cash awards for businesses tackling climate change

With the release of the Stern report yesterday, climate change is front page news. There may still be questions about the causes and cures of climate change but one thing is for certain, it offers a huge opportunity for businesses.

Research conducted for Shell Springboard estimates that the UK market alone will be worth £30 Billion over the next 10 years. That's a massive market opportunity for companies providing products and services that can help to address climate change.

The research also identified the specific markets that offered the biggest opportunities for businesses. They are expected to be in building (both commercial and residential), renewable power and energy efficiency.

So if you can position your small business in this marketplace, you're likely to have a trailing wind to help you over the coming years.

If you're looking for some funding to propel your environmentally-friendly business or idea then the Shell Springboard awards could well be what you're looking for.

Shell Springboard are currently searching for small and medium sized businesses in the UK that have products and services or ideas that can help to address the problem of climate change. And they will be making 'no strings attached' cash awards of up to £40,000 to at least 9 businesses that satisfy their judges' criteria.

You can find out more about the Shell Springboard awards here

If you know of other small businesses that might want to apply for these cash awards please do forward this email to them. You will need to move quickly though as the closing date for applications is November 10.

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Raising Money - What lenders look for before handing out cash
You seek to borrow funds from banks, business angels or government agencies. While they make money by lending it, they also want to know that it is safe in your hands.

Poor management skills are the reason 80% of owner-managed firms go to the wall. So that's the first thing lenders look at when considering a loan. Here are the other factors they'll consider when deciding whether they will lend you money.

Angels or dragons - who do you trust?
Looking for an investor? Better make sure they're an angel, not a dragon.

Identifying the sources of funding that are available to your new business is only half the battle. Deciding which source is best for you and presenting your business as an attractive investment prospect is another challenge completely. Here's how to tackle the investment minefield.

VAT Reverse Charge on electronic goods to combat Carousel fraud
With effect from 1 December 2006, traders who sell certain electronic goods will be required to use the ‘Reverse Charge’ procedure, rather than accounting for output tax under the conventional rules.

10 Steps to follow for your company fireworks display
Remember, remember, the 5th November? It could be a date some companies may want to forget if they fail to follow legal guidelines for their fireworks display. An outline of the regulations and 10 steps for employers to follow.

Pensions A-Day has little impact on small business owners
A-Day, which was supposed to simplify the way pensions are taxed in the UK, has had a negligible impact on Britain’s businesses. Six months has passed since A-Day but more than half of the country’s SME owner-managers have made no change to their company’s pension schemes to comply with the legislation.

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SMALL BUSINESS NEWS
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Shell Springboard offering £40,000 awards to SME's tackling climate change
To encourage smaller businesses who are leading the fight against climate change, Shell Springboard will make at least nine awards of up to £40,000 to UK small and medium sized businesses.

Small Business Statistics - VAT Registrations 2005
Estimates of the number of enterprises registering and de-registering for VAT in 2005 have been published by the Small Business Service. The stock of VAT-registered enterprises at the start of 2006 is also released.

Entrepreneurs - Born or Bred?
This question is regularly asked in business circles - are successful business people born to do well, or does upbringing and environment play a bigger part?

More women go it alone to set up their dream business
Women across the UK are setting up more businesses than last year with 38,100 businesses started in the first six months of this year, up 9% on the same period last year, according to the latest small business research from Barclays.

Some common Health and Safety myths
The TUC has busted the most common health and safety myths including schools banning conkers, safety inspectors banning ladders, acrobats being forced to wear helmets and councils banning St George’s flags.

** For the latest Small Business News, visit http://www.Bytestart.co.uk **

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