What do photographers, cleaners, eBay traders, cafes, consultants, hairdressers, cake makers and gardeners have in common? The answer is that they all feature in the top 20 list of types of business start ups around the UK during 2011...
The Government's latest web-based initiative to support and encourage start ups was launched by David Cameron last week. The Business In You website has been set up by the Department for Business (BIS) to "highlight support for start-ups and growing businesses and encourage entrepreneurial spirit in 2012"...
Currently large numbers of business owners are finding trading conditions very tough with many looking to get out of business and return to employment, while many others are scaling down their enterprise and seeking part-time work to supplement their income. At the same time Government are encouraging more people to start up in business with the launch of a new campaign...
According to official figures there are 4.14 million people in self-employment (about 14% of total employment) and latest statistics available show that self employment was 300,000 higher in spring 2010 than at the start of the recession in 2008 - a rise of about 8%. However a report by the CIPD suggests that these figures don't tell the whole story...
Our lead article last week presented a rather controversial argument which raised questions about 2012 being held up by Government and others as the 'year for enterprise', and whether it makes sense to encourage more start ups, especially now there is so little genuine local business support available...
Is it right to encourage the start up of more hairdressers, shops and freelancers to add to the struggling hairdressers, shops and freelancers who are already scraping the barrel in terms of finding demand from customers with spare disposable income for their already widely available products and services - especially following the near wipeout of practical, face-to-face support?...
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