New Business Link online tools ease the burden on busy SMEs
Businesslink.gov.uk, the government website that provides practical advice for SMEs, has launched three new tools to make life easier for managers and small business owners.
- Tax key dates email alerts – by answering a few questions about their businesses, owners and managers can receive a list of important tax-related dates covering the next twelve months. They can also receive an email reminder as each date approaches informing them of a task and featuring a link to businesslink.gov.uk to help them complete that task. This tool will prove invaluable to firms who lose hundreds of pounds each year through missing filing and payment deadlines. www.businesslink.gov.uk/keydates
- Create a written statement of employment – by answering a few simple questions, managers can create a tailored statement of employment that will cover everything they legally need to give their new employee in writing. They can then download the completed statement to their own PC, print it out and give the finished document to their employee. www.businesslink.gov.uk/writtenstatement
- Regulation updates – businesses that want to keep on top of new legislation can find guidance on new and changing regulations that may affect them – before they come into force. The simple, 1-page updates provide summaries of new regulation, when it takes effect and where to find additional details. For businesses that register, the updates can be emailed directly. It’s a proactive service that will help SMEs reduce the time they spend on dealing with regulations. www.businesslink.gov.uk/regulationupdates
All the tools are free of charge, easy to use and can be found at www.businesslink.gov.uk, the online channel of the Business Link network.
Welcoming the new Business Link tools, Minister for Small Business and Enterprise, Nigel Griffiths said:
‘Busy managers can struggle keeping up-to-date with the regulations and deadlines that affect their businesses,’
‘These easy-to-use tools make planning for the future much simpler and remove some of the headaches associated with routine business administration. Using the one-stop-shop of businesslink.gov.uk will help entrepreneurs save time and money and let them get on with what they do best, making money and growing their businesses.’
David Miliband, Minister for the Cabinet Office, welcomed the launch of ‘Regulation updates’ and said:
‘Businesses need clearer, earlier information about forthcoming regulatory changes, and how they might be affected by them. ‘Regulation updates’ provide that information in a simple one-page format, and should prove of particular use to SMEs. Business Link’s new online tool demonstrates the Government’s commitment both to improving information made available to business, and effective use of web services to support delivery.’
The introduction of the three new tools has been supported by leading business groups. Stephen Alambritis of the Federation of Small Business said:
‘Saving time and money are uppermost in the minds of small businesses. These new online tools are just what small businesses need to put their minds at ease.’
Testimonials from small businesses who’ve trialled the tools are in the Notes to the Editors.
Notes to Editors
- Business Link is a service, managed by the DTI, providing businesses with easy access to support, advice and information. We’re dedicated to helping new and existing businesses innovate, improve, grow and become more competitive by providing quick and easy links to a broad range of private, public and voluntary business support services.
- Business Link and the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit jointly developed the Regulation updates service.
Testimonials from Small Business Owners – available to speak to the media
- Bespoke Invitations
Mollie Greene of Bespoke Invitations has used the Tax key dates email alerts tool and said: ‘As I am a new business start-up and work on my own, I am responsible for every aspect of the business from production to marketing and from cashflow management to tax issues. The benefit to my business will be that I will not forget or be late in filing my accounts. I can quite confidently “forget” about the dates and concentrate on the more pressing issues of day-to-day business.’
Mollie Greene, Owner, Bespoke Invitations.
Bespoke Invitations design and produce contemporary event stationery. Based in Manchester, the firm’s owner, Mollie Greene, also employs two designers who work on an ad-hoc, freelance basis. Contact: 0870 202 1422
- e-fishant limited
Mark Kennedy, Sales and Marketing Director of e-fishant limited has used all 3 tools and said: ‘the new online tools from businesslink.gov.uk are fantastic. We are quite a young business that is looking to expand its workforce. With so much to manage we don’t have the time or the resources to hire a contract employment lawyer. The online tools from businesslink.gov.uk help us save time and money and allowed us to move agency employees into direct employment.’
Mark Kennedy, Sales and Marketing Director, e-fishant limited.
Based in Harlington, Middlesex, e-fishant provides copywriting and web design services. The company currently has six employees. Contact: 07766 467467
Enquiries
Media enquiries – call Rhyddid Carter, DTI Press Office on 020 7215 6137
All other enquiries – contact Jonathon Hollow, businesslink.gov.uk Editor on 020 7215 8037
Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
70 Whitehall
LONDON SW1A 2AS
Press Enquiries +44 (0)20 7276 0311
Press Office Fax +44 (0)20 7276 0618
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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