Flexibility and collaboration the key to future employee relations

As small and medium size businesses provide the driving force behind economic growth, a more collaborative style of relations between owner managers and unions is required. A new alliance between the Federation of Small Business and the General Federation of Trade Unions may provide just that.

EU bank's growing interest in SMEs

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is probably one of the European Union's least-known institutions. Which is a shame, because it has lots and lots of money, much of which is used to finance small businesses start-ups.

The wheel of family fortune

Family-run firms account for nearly three-quarters of all companies, but very few of them evolve into legendary business dynasties such as Cadbury's or Sainsbury. Business Europe explores the pros and cons of filling the boardroom with members of the same family.

Mixed blessings of red tape

Ahead of Thursday's green paper on parental leave, Business Europe talks to Peter Done, managing director of the UK's leading employment law consultants Peninsula Business Services.

More red tape looms

A new tranche of business legislation is threatening to undermine the pre-election charm offensive launched by Tony Blair last week when he unveiled plans for a deregulation bill that aims to boost enterprise by cutting red tape, writes Catherine Wheatley of Sunday Business.

Joining the euro: A leap of faith?

Simon Buckby, Chief Executive of pro-euro lobby Britain in Europe, invites you to take a hard look at the consequences of remaining outside the single European currency indefinitely.

New proposals to help honest businesses

Proposals to help customers distinguish honest businesses from crooked chancers could figure in the government's legislative programme, reports Catherine Wheatley of Sunday Business.

The anti-euro lobby that keeps its options open

As Tony Blair gradually steps up his campaign in favour of the single European currency, Business Europe talks to George Eustice, one of anti-euro lobby Business for Sterling's leading campaign co-ordinators.

SMEs gain from new EU antitrust immunity

Small firms are set to be the main beneficiary of new European Commission regulations governing fair competition when companies strike business deals agreeing to co-operate with one another.

Government must consult SMEs more widely, says new IBA chief

The Institute of Business Advisers, which represents experts specialising in small business consultancy services, yesterday chose Michael Horner as its new Chief Executive. In an interview with Business Europe, Horner says that while the outlook for SMEs in late 2000 is improving, there remains an urgent need for the government to consult with them more widely.

Climate change: small firms make a big difference

The UK's worst flooding in 40 years has put the threat of global warming back onto the agenda just in time for this week's world climate-change summit in The Hague. As politicians squabble over who should cut emissions of which pollutants, green-minded small businesses can do more than read the newspapers.

Block early retirement or face pensions collapse, warns OECD

Welfare systems across the developed world risk collapsing under the weight of an ageing population unless governments take immediate steps to halt early retirement, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development warned today.

French SME exodus to UK exaggerated

Although small French companies have been flocking across the Channel to escape sky-high taxes and social charges for some years now, the exodus won't last forever and may already be slowing down.

New EU contract rules 'nightmare' for SMEs

European Commission plans to overhaul rules outlawing unfair small print or 'clauses' in business to consumer contracts could be a legal nightmare for small EU companies, warn industry lawyers.

UK BUDGET: Fuel-tax cuts top agenda

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown is betting his political future that deep cuts in road hauliers' vehicle excise duties and tax breaks for rural drivers will buy off another crippling fuel-levy protest.

Late payment - tell Mike it was only business

Under changes to the 1998 late payment of commercial debt act, small to medium-sized enterprises will be entitled to claim interest on late payments from other SMEs. How can SME solidarity be expected when delayed payments are an accepted form of business practice?

E-tax avoidance fears sparks EU action

With the rise of e-commerce, tax specialists and business analysts are turning their attention to the issue of e-taxation. For now, there are no e-commerce specific taxes so an e-business faces similar tax issues to those weighing on traditional enterprises.

Electronic public offerings: the cheaper finance alternative

Technology comes to the rescue of small firms faced with an unexpected growth opportunity, but without the cash to exploit it.

Time is running out for France's SMEs

Jacques Freidel is not a man to mince his words. As far as the president of France's largest small business lobby is concerned, the French government's move to introduce a statutory 35-hour working week are quite simply insane.

Small business service chief wants SMEs on front page

David Irwin, chief executive of the government's Small Business Service, tells Business Europe that he aims to move small-to-medium sized firms from the back to the front pages during the next two years.

EU small-business chief promises real help

If there is one man in Europe whose job it is to nurture the EU's 18 million small and medium-sized enterprises, it is Enterprise Commissioner Erkki Liikanen. He is the member of the Union's 20-strong executive agency responsible for the 230-million-euro SME budget and putting flesh on the European Charter for Small Businesses agreed by government heads at their summit in Feira, Portugal, in June. But what can he do in practical terms?

Haskins ready to battle red tape for three more years

Christopher Haskins, the Northern Foods chairman appointed by Tony Blair to weed out superfluous business regulations, tells Business Europe why tensions over red tape are running so high, and explains what needs to be done about it.

National minimum wage enjoys trouble-free introduction

The national minimum wage, introduced in April 1999 amid dire warnings of rampant inflation and mass unemployment, has in fact caused relatively few ripples during its first 18 months, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.

Smaller transport firms find a new niche

Giant global logistics companies are carving up multinational business but they can't do it all. A clutch of smaller transport firms have discovered that they can step into this niche.

UK government acknowledges growing role of business clusters

Chancellor Gordon Brown's decision in his 2000 budget to set aside 50 million pounds for promoting "business clusters" reflects the increasingly important economic role played by dynamic local hubs of interdependent yet competing firms.

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