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Business121 Small Business Newsletter #80

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In this week's Business121:

1. Business Awards - the benefits of entering
2. How to handle interviews with journalists - Top Tips
3. Offshore bank accounts - HMRC 'amnesty' details
4. An overview of VAT for small businesses
5. How you can lower your IT costs and benefit the environment
6. Contractors vindicated as MPs criticise MSC legislation
7. National Business Awards open for entries
8. Government launches new small business forum
9. Single European tax could cost UK business £4bn
10. Online sales boom set to continue

Business Awards - the benefits of entering

Winning an award, or even just being nominated, can propel your business in the most amazing ways.

You can benefit from increased sales, widespread credibility, extra valuable exposure within the business community and media and boosts in employee morale. Simply participating can open doors you didn't even know existed.

With this year's National Business Awards now open for entries, now could be the time for you to put your business in the spotlight.

The National Business Awards recognise and celebrate innovation and success across UK organisations of all sizes. This year, there are 18 categories in total, including;

1. The 3i Growth Strategy of the Year Award

1. The AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award
2. The Cable & Wireless Award for Customer Focus
3. The City & Guilds Employer of the Year Award
4. The Health, Work & Well-being Award, and
5. The Tenon Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit

If you're entering these, or any other business awards, our article on Winning Business Awards will be a very worthwhile read. It tells you the golden rules you must remember when preparing your entry, how to raise your profile at the critical time and crucially, what to do when you win.

Good luck with your entry!

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How to handle interviews with journalists - Top 10 Tips
As a general rule, remember that the media are not your enemy – the average journalist won't be trying to catch you out by asking awkward questions. But depending on the story, some may, so it's always worth you being 100% ready for any interview. Here's what you need to know before being interviewed.

Offshore Bank Accounts - HMRC Amnesty Details
HMRC have offered an amnesty to thousands of UK small business owners and investors who hide money in offshore accounts. Read this to find out the details of the amnesty and how you may be affected.

An overview of VAT for small businesses
A summary of the UK VAT registration rules - when you should register and how VAT is calculated. A Value Added Tax guide for small businesses.

How to lower your IT costs and benefit the environment
As the demand for computing power soars, and businesses come under increasing pressure to introduce eco-friendly policies, here's how you can reduce your IT operating costs and benefit the environment at the same time.

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SMALL BUSINESS NEWS
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Contractors vindicated as MPs criticise MSC legislation
Opposition MPs voiced their criticisms of the new tax rules for Managed Service Companies (MSCs) during a Commons debate on the Finance Bill this week.

National Business Awards open for entries
The National Business Awards recognises and rewards excellence, innovation and success. Open to organisations of all sizes and from any industry sector – public or private, companies from across the country are now being invited to enter this year's awards.

Government launches new small business forum
The new Small Business Forum will provide an informal way for the Government to engage with the small business community and an opportunity to seek the views of individuals and representative groups, on a range of policy issues.

Single European tax could cost UK business £4bn
The Times reports that a common business tax across the European Union would push up costs for British business by £4 billion a year. This is according to research published by the Saïd Business School which examined plans proposed by the European Commissionfor a 'common consolidated corporate tax base'!

Online sales boom set to continue
Online sales will amount to £78 billion a year by 2010, according to sector analyst IMRG. It predicts that £42 billion will be spent online this year by 26 million UK Internet shoppers, who will each receive an average of 33 parcels and spend an average of £1,600 over the Internet, reports the Independent.

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

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(c) Business121.co.uk 2007

Posted May 9, 2007