Business tips, guides, quotes, and links to other useful stuff we like. We also sell business insurance. Today on the wheels of steel: JasperTumblr (3.0; @simplybusiness)http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/about-us/blog/2011/12/2011-12-09-autumn-statement/">Our response on the Autumn Statement</a>: <p>The UK is in dangerous economic straits. The deepening crisis in the euro area, and significant homegrown problems, have conspired to create an uncertain medium-term future for Britain.<br/><br/> Small…</p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/14008428898http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/14008428898Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:32:12 -0500<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/12/2011-12-08-internship-crackdown-begins-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">Internship crackdown begins - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/places/parliament_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Spiralling agency fees, internship crackdowns, and wavering EU credit ratings - here’s your need-to-know business news roundup.</p></strong> <p><strong>Tenants are paying as much as £2,000 in agency…</strong></p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/13924131776http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/13924131776Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:23:18 -0500<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/12/2011-12-06-business-rate-relief-promise-to-be-broken-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">Business rate relief promise 'to be broken' - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/landlord/white_house_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Rate relief promises broken, sluggish retail sales, and a deepening European debt crisis - here’s your need-to-know business news roundup.</p></strong> <p><strong>The Chancellor’s business rate relief…</strong></p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/13875808787http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/13875808787Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:14:14 -0500<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/12/2011-12-02-royal-mail-hit-by-glitch-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">Royal Mail hit by glitch - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/money/queens_head_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Royal Mail glitches, construction contraction, and European union - here’s your need-to-know business news roundup.</p></strong> <p><strong>Royal Mail has been hit by a technical glitch</strong> at the start of…</p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/13645894891http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/13645894891Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:10:27 -0500<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/11/2011-11-23-housing-market-may-never-recover-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">Housing market 'may never recover' - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/landlord/houses_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Employment rule rows, housing market concerns, and National Freelancers Day - here’s your need-to-know news roundup.</p></strong> <p><strong>The government has faced criticism over new employment plans</strong> that unions say would make it more difficult for employees to bring tribunal claims.</p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/13242512476http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/13242512476Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:52:28 -0500<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/11/2011-11-21-business-energy-switching-to-be-simplified-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">Business energy switching to be simplified - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/money/queens_head_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>New housing plans, energy switching, and City pay hikes - here’s your need-to-know business news roundup.</p> <br/></strong> <p><strong>The construction industry could receive a small boost</strong> under…</p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/13136801247http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/13136801247Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:23:15 -0500<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/11/2011-11-17-more-cash-for-apprenticeships-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">More cash for apprenticeships - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/places/parliament_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Apprenticeship funding, surprise retail rises, and costly Spanish debt - here’s your need-to-know business news roundup.</p> <br/></strong> <p><strong>Businesses will be encouraged to bid for new…</strong></p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/12958587215http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/12958587215Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:31:13 -0500<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/11/2011-11-16-uk-hit-with-raft-of-economic-bad-news-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">UK hit with raft of economic bad news - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/places/parliament_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Bad UK results, a possible return for cheque guarantee, and fresh euro concerns - here your need-to-know business news roundup.</p></strong> <p><strong>Over a million young people are out of work</strong> and…</p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/12882257169http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/12882257169Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:06:41 -0500<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/11/2011-11-15-mps-consider-petrol-price-move-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">MPs consider petrol price move - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/trades/fuel_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Petrol price debates, worsening UK economy, and free e-commerce seminars - here’s your need-to-know business news roundup.</p></strong> <p><strong>MPs are debating a motion to ‘smooth out’ petrol…</strong></p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/12843615312http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/12843615312Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:07:01 -0500<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/articles/2011/11/2011-11-11-podcast-social-media/">Podcast - Building A Social Media Strategy - Part One </a>: <em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>In this, the first of a two-part episode, we’ll be looking at building an effective social media strategy.</p></strong> <p>Welcome back to the Simply Business podcast. In this, the first of a…</p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/12668839413http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/12668839413Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:13:23 -0500<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/11/2011-11-10-north-south-divide-widening-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">North-south divide widening - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/places/towerbridge_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Widening north-south divide, expensive management mistakes, and nervous markets - here’s your need-to-know business news roundup.</p></strong> <p><strong>The north-south divide has widened since the…</strong></p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/12635199124http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/12635199124Fri, 11 Nov 2011 07:32:19 -0500<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/10/2011-10-21-royal-mail-price-hike-coming-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">Royal Mail price hike coming? - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/money/queens_head_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Retail sales jump, pensions opt-outs, and Royal Mail price rises - here’s your need-to-know business news roundup.</p></strong> <p><strong>UK retail sales performed better than expected during…</strong></p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11738025794http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11738025794Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:58:44 -0400<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/articles/2011/10/2011-10-20-podcast-social-media/">Podcast - An Introduction To Social Media Marketing</a>: <em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>In this episode of our marketing podcast, we give you an introduction to social media marketing.</p></strong> <p>Social media is transforming the way businesses talk to their customers. This new set…</p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11696400135http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11696400135Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:31:10 -0400<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/articles/2011/10/2011-10-19-minimum-wage-rises-how-to-comply-with-the-changes/">Minimum Wage rises - how to comply with the changes</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/ex-logos/hmrclogo_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>The government introduced a raft of regulation changes this month – including an increase in the National Minimum Wage.</p></strong> <p><a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/knowledge/news/2011/10/2011-10-03-minimum-wage-rises-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">As previously reported</a>, the National Minimum Wage (NMW)…</p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11682544675http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11682544675Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:46:14 -0400<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/10/2011-10-19-business-rates-to-jump-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">Business rates to jump - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/shopping/sale2_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Big rise in business rates, online safety tips, and Bank of England warnings - here’s your need-to-know business news roundup.</p></strong> <p><strong>Business rates could rise by the biggest margin…</strong></p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11654234257http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11654234257Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:12:40 -0400<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/10/2011-10-17-north-south-divide-growing-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">North-south divide growing - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/places/parliament_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Quantitative easing woes, a widening north-south divide, and the taxman’s tenuous position – here’s your need-to-know business news roundup.</p></strong> <p><strong>Quantitative easing is likely to…</strong></p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11610511426http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11610511426Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:33:49 -0400<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/articles/2011/10/2011-10-14-home-working-advice-for-employers/">Home Working - Advice for Employers</a>: <p><img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/legal/scales_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Jen Smith</em><strong> <p class="MsoNormal">Working from home is often a great solution for employees who are looking for a more flexible style of working. However, employers need to ensure the home workers are properly…</p></strong></p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11475577761http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11475577761Sat, 15 Oct 2011 13:11:15 -0400<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/10/2011-10-13-sole-traders-on-the-rise-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">Sole traders on the rise - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/places/towerbridge_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Sole traders on the rise, unaffordable rents, and more BlackBerry woes - here’s your need-to-know business news roundup.</p></strong> <p><strong>The number of one man bands has increased</strong> despite the…</p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11431203413http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11431203413Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:41:01 -0400<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/knowledge/news/2011/10/2011-10-12-birmingham-more-credit-worthy-than-usa-todays-small-business-news-roundup/">Birmingham more credit-worthy than USA? - Today's small business news roundup</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/money/queens_head_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><em>By Josh Hall</em><strong><p>Unemployment up, good news for Birmingham, and a slow recovery - here’s your need-to-know business news roundup.</p></strong> <p><strong>UK unemployment is at its highest for 17 years</strong>, according to the…</p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11361220978http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11361220978Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:40:34 -0400<a href="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/about-us/blog/2011/10/2011-12-07-conservative-party-business/">Tory Conference is missed opportunity for small business support</a>: <img src="http://www.simplybusiness.co.uk:80/dms/sb/images/named-people/cameron_295.jpg" hspace="5" align="left"/><p>Last week, Britain’s SMEs were looking to the Conservative Party for reassurance. The Tory Conference was the perfect opportunity for the Prime Minister to assuage some of the concerns that the…</p>http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11303571736http://simplybusiness.tumblr.com/post/11303571736Tue, 11 Oct 2011 03:04:22 -0400