ABCD Business Development Project to close 31st March 2010
The Project wishes to thank all ABCD businesses with whom it has been in contact since inception in 2005 for their participation.

Less than a month left to claim backdated business rates
Less than a month left to claim backdated business rates

Business groups unite against National Insurance increase
The 1% increase to NICs, which will take effect from April 2011, should be scrapped according to the coalition

Time off for training regulations a mystery to a fifth of employers
From 6 April 2010, employees with at least 26 weeks' continuous service can request time off for study or training

Use of forced mandatory retirement age soars during recession
Many employers have used forced retirement as a "cheap and easy" alternative to redundancy

EU committee vote in favour of 20 weeks' full pay on maternity leave
The Pregnant Workers Directive would effectively treble maternity pay in the UK

Three-quarters of firms not reclaiming foreign VAT
A new procedure for reclaiming VAT from EU countries came into effect on 1 January 2010

Mixed reactions to Tories' plan to scrap Business Link
The statement has prompted mixed reactions from the business community

Tax system prevents firms taking on employees, survey shows
The FSB is now calling for the Government to freeze National Insurance (NI) contributions and give an NI rebate to small firms

Social networks pose biggest threat to small firms, claims report
A survey of IT professionals shows that 80% believe Web 2.0-based malware will be a major problem during 2010

eBay scraps mandatory free postage for sellers
From 8 February 2010, the P&P requirement has been replaced with a maximum limit on P&P charges by sellers

Small firms unaware of apprenticeship legislation
Employers could be fined up to £2,500 per day for taking on apprentices without appropriate insurance cover

Complementary therapy market predicted to grow
The market for complementary therapy will grow from £213 million in 2009 to £282 million by 2014

New employment legislation could cost small firms more than £25 billion
The BCC is calling for a three-year moratorium on new employment laws in the UK

New apprenticeship grants for employers
It is available immediately and finishes at the end of March 2010

Government launches data website
A range of non-personal data is available, such as crime, health and education statistics

Tax disclosure deal must be given to all, says CIOT
"There is a measure of unfairness in offering a deal to one sector and not to others"

Mobile phones will replace cash payments, report predicts
The UK will be one of the first countries to use these new 'mobile wallets'

75% of business owners unaware of eye test legislation
EU legislation is due to come into force in 2011 and requires commercial licence holders to have an eye test at least every five years

Half of small firms to adopt cloud computing by end of year
73% of business owners are planning to adopt cloud computing within the next five years