Contents

February 2010 | March 2010

 


04 Policy news 


12 Conservative Values


17 Resilience 

 

18 Growing Concerns

36 Animal Magic

 

38 FSB Success Story


Subscription

 

 

 

 

4 POLICY NEWS

FSB publishes its own manifesto; spotlight on

small businesses in Wales; Prince's Trust winners

announced; call for better ‘cold weather' plans


10 YOUR LETTERS

Internet business sales scam; tax break for holiday

lets; prompt payment call for members

 

12 CONSERVATIVE VALUES?

Shadow Chancellor George Osborne explains how

the Tories propose to help small businesses

 

17 CHASING PAYMENTS

Results of the FSB survey show late payment

problems for SMEs, but a bright outlook for 2010

 

18 GROWING CONCERNS

How a rise in National Insurance contributions

is set to put the wind up SMEs

20 CAST YOUR VOTES

With the General Election looming, we look at

what some of the political parties can offer SMEs

 

24 STRIKE WHILST THE MARKET IS HOT

Why buying your own business premises now

could be a savvy move

 

26 CONFERENCE CALL

We take a look at some of the hot topics at this

year's FSB Conference in Aberdeen


29 LETTERS FROM BRUSSELS

Dr Edmund Stoiber looks at how red tape

can be cut for European businesses

 

30 YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Employment and commercial law questions

answered by the FSB legal advice team

 

32 DOING THE BUSINESS

One FSB member sets to clean up with his

device that keeps wheelie bins locked and

secure

 

34 ON A ROLE

Four nominated candidates for FSB Honorary

National Officer positions are put under

the spotlight


36 ANIMAL MAGIC

How a pet shop in Middlesbrough went

from strength to strength last year

 

38 FSB SUCCESS STORY

Saving FSB members from unpaid debts

 

40 MUDDY WATERS

How the FSB stepped in to help businesses

affected by flooding in Cumbria and Scotland


42 BOOK AND WEBSITE REVIEWS

Rounding up the latest useful reading material

for small businesses

 

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First Voice is the official magazine of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The FSB is the largest representative body of small and medium-sized businesses of up to 250 employees in the UK.

First Voice is a valued tool for the business owner and manager and is sent free to every one of the FSB's 213,000 strong membership

 


Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this magazine, errors and omissions are not the responsibility of the publishers or of the editorial staff. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or editorial staff. All rights reserved. Unless specifically stated, goods or services mentioned are not formally endorsed by the FSB which does not guarantee or endorse or accept any liability for any goods and/or services featured in this publication.

Copyright NFSE (Sales) Ltd 2010