Accounting Software Industry News

VAT cut 'has not helped economy'

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:15:02 GMT

The British Retail Consortium has disputed claims from the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) that the VAT cut has helped to boost retail spending, in news which may be of interest to firms looking to control costs during the recession.

Richard Dodd, spokesperson for British Retail Consortium, said he did not believe there was any evidence that last year's VAT reduction - announced as part of the pre-Budget report - produced any sales growth.

"Clearly it will have raised sales above what would have been at a lower level otherwise, that's perfectly logical, but [the CEBR's] claim is not backed up by any figures," he added.

The CEBR recently claimed that the VAT cut boosted retail spend by £2.1 billion in the first three months of operation.

It claimed that annual growth in retail sales accelerated from 1.6 per cent in November 2008 to 2.6 per cent in December.

Recession 'provides chance for business growth'

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:58:40 GMT

The ongoing recession provides firms in the UK with the opportunity for business growth as well as risks, one sector commentator has claimed.

David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, said that at the moment the general message for firms was that they should be cautious in order to make sure that they keep hold of their revenue.

"The businesses that are surviving in a recession require good management and recessions are a great test for management," he added.

Mr Kern's comments support a report published by BDO Stoy Hayward LLP last month, which revealed that short and medium-term business confidence has risen simultaneously for the first time in 13 months.

However, according to the British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey results - Q1 2009, the UK recession is still very serious and is predicted to continue for some time.

Despite this, however, the pace of decline in the services sector appears to be slowing.

Financial climate 'influencing digital environment'

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:42:00 GMT

Businesses considering investing in carbon accounting software may be interested to hear that one sector commentator has claimed that the current financial climate is influencing the digital environment.

Co-founder and co-editor of the Social Media Portal Tim Gibbon said that in these challenging times, web users were taking a different approach to researching and comparing prices for the products and services that they are seeking.

"They are looking for competitive pricing and information before they purchase and these sites can offer that and it's one natural area that these interests may fall," he added.

And Rachel Hawkes, also co-founder and co-editor of the site, said that sites such as Gumtree and Craigslist - which offer people the ability to purchase and sell goods and services - were increasing in popularity amid the economic downturn.

According to Hitwise, classified ads hold a 0.29 per cent market share of all UK online traffic.

Carbon markets 'can't deliver'

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:22:32 GMT

Carbon markets are unable to deliver the amount of money required in the short term to provide a better solution to deforestation and climate change, one sector commentator has claimed - news which may be of interest to businesses hoping to begin accounting for carbon emissions.

David Ritter, senior campaigner at Greenpeace, said that there was an "urgent need" to make large amounts of money available to ensure that rainforests were seen as being worth more standing than they are cut down.

He added that the Rainforests Nations scheme was providing an emergency way of getting funding very quickly to the campaign, while carbon markets would be unable to deliver this finance as fast.

"Even the most optimistic carbon markets can't deliver the amount of money required in the short term so there is an urgent need for that kind of short-term fix," Mr Ritter explained.

In a recent report, Prince Charles noted that the annual transfer of funds to Rainforest Nations would act as an important economic stimulus that could help counter the effects of the global recession and further the Millennium Development Goals of poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

Fairtrade 'well positioned during recession'

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:34:49 GMT

Businesses committed to accounting for carbon emissions may be pleased to hear that one sector commentator has claimed Fairtrade is well positioned to take advantage of people's "disillusionment" with global financial markets.

Giles Robertson, interim director of marketing at the Fairtrade Foundation, said Britons were beginning to question the way the economy is run amid the collapse of trusted organisations, which would result in an "explosion" in the growth of Fairtrade.

"People increasingly look for new ways to potentially make a difference and increasingly we are seeing that people see buying a Fairtrade product as a real opportunity to make a development impact," he added.

Mr Robertson went on to note that 70 per cent of UK consumers recognise the Fairtrade mark on the products.

According to research commissioned by the Fairtrade Foundation, one in four (25 per cent) of the UK's shoppers now regularly buy several products carrying the Fairtrade mark.

Businesses 'can gain competitive edge'

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:57:46 GMT

Businesses with "real ideas" and the right financial structure can gain the competitive edge by having the advantage over the weakened competition, one sector commentator has claimed.

Marc Barber, editor of smallbusiness.co.uk, said that firms not overloaded with debt could not only survive the economic downturn, they could ultimately come out on top.

Furthermore, this would allow such companies to "position yourself for when good times return", he added.

However, Mr Barber warned that he believed the next 18 months would be full of "harsh times" for business and that the economy was certainly "not out of the woods yet".

According to the latest Business Trends report by accountants and business advisers BDO Stoy Hayward LLP, short-term business confidence over the next quarter has registered a second consecutive increase from 88.3 in February to 88.6 in March.

Furthermore, the Optimism Index, which measures business confidence two quarters ahead, is largely unchanged from January 2009 - from 89.9 to 90.0 - suggesting that the economy will continue to contract in the second quarter of 2009.

Green stimulus 'right thing for economy'

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:21:58 GMT

A green stimulus as part of the Budget will be the "right thing" to do for the economy, for jobs and for the planet, one group has claimed - a statement businesses keen on accounting for carbon emissions may be in agreement with.

Steve Howard, chief executive officer of The Climate Group, said recent proposals from the Sustainable Development Committee had been "bold and ambitious" but were also realistic.

He added that the proposals were the level of action required to put the UK at the forefront of the green industrial revolution.

"Green jobs in energy efficiency, electric vehicles, carbon capture and storage and renewable power will convert a trade deficit into tens of thousands of green jobs," Mr Howard stated.

And he added that one major growth area of the global economy has been clean energy and technology.

According to the Independent, Alistair Darling, the chancellor of the Exchequer, will announce in his Budget that trials for electric cars in two or three cities will begin next year.

Current business 'a case of controlling costs'

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:07:48 GMT

One priority currently being seen in the world of business is an effort to control costs, one sector commentator has stated.

Marc Barber, editor of smallbusiness.co.uk, said that a recent rise in business confidence may have been caused by some organisations' belief that they were over the worst of the economic downturn.

This would cause firms to feel "a little" more confident about the way their business was positioned, he added.

However, Mr Barber advised that companies should continue to control costs and not be too aggressive as 2009 would still be a difficult year.

"Just literally take things steady and strong and then see how you are at the end of the year. It's a case of holding tight really," he noted.

Mr Barber concluded by recommending that firms control costs and see where their finances stand at the beginning of 2010.

According to the latest Business Trends report by accountants and business advisers BDO Stoy Hayward LLP, short-term business confidence over the next quarter has registered a second consecutive increase from 88.3 in February to 88.6 in March.

Reaction to Bank's corporate lending figures

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:55:18 GMT

The Institute of Directors (IoD) has said that recent lending figures from the Bank of England should give firms confidence and promote business growth.

However, it notes that questions remain over the level of flexibility companies will now have with their finances.

Its comments follow the Bank of England's Credit Conditions Survey, published on April 2nd, which showed that the UK's banks and building societies are set to make credit more readily available to homeowners and businesses over the next few months.

Alexander Ehmann, head of parliamentary and regulatory affairs at the IoD, said that businesses should "take heart" from the news that the worst of the lending conditions were now hopefully over.

However, he added: "There is perhaps a more worrying issue not touched on in this data of the banks offering finance which isn't quite as flexible as it was in the past."

According to the Bank's survey, corporate credit availability had increased slightly over the past three months, contrary to the small fall expected in the 2008 fourth-quarter survey.

Managers told not to control costs by cutting training

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:37:35 GMT

While management teams in the UK may be keen to control costs during the recession, one sector commentator has advised that investment in training was still important if they wished to survive the economic downturn.

Ruth Spellman OBE, the Chartered Management Institute's chief executive, said the current low level of management skills in the UK - with only one in five managers having qualifications for their role - was "unhelpful".

"Now more than ever, is the time to invest wisely because if organisations think that developing competence is expensive, they should consider the cost of incompetence," she added.

Ms Spellman went on to note that a thirst for knowledge and professionalism could only be a good thing for gross domestic product.

According to a recent CBI/Nord Anglia report, in response to the recession, over half of employers (51 per cent) claim that they want to target their training more effectively to get maximum return on their spend.

Flexible working 'would be welcomed'

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:55:21 GMT

A "considerable amount" of the UK population would welcome flexible working, one sector commentator has claimed - which may be good news for businesses looking to boost the productivity of their workforce.

Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, said that technology had moved on over the last five years and that as a result the way people worked needed to change as well.

"What's happened is more and more of the working population and indeed their employers realise that the culture of presenteeism - going to a place of work Monday to Friday, nine to five, for many is less relevant," he explained.

Mr Flaxton added that where a person worked was "immaterial" as the technology was now available to allow them to operate "pretty much 24/7".

Introducing legislation to encourage this would be welcomed in particular by parents with children under the age of 16, Mr Flaxton concluded.

As of yesterday (April 6th), the right to request flexible working has been extended to employees with parental responsibility for children aged 16 and under.

Long term investment in employee health advised

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:11:01 GMT

Businesses have been advised by one organisation that over the long term it is going to become more important to consider investing in the health of their employees, which could, in turn, boost worker productivity.

According to a report from Bupa, by 2030, British businesses will be affected by an aging workforce and an increase in major diseases.

Furthermore, the rate of mental illness in the workforce will rise by five per cent to affect 4.2 million workers.

Helen Vaughan-Jones, acting senior manager for policy research at Bupa, said that the group was now working with businesses of all sizes to show how small changes and encouragement to staff can make big changes to improving employee health.

"This could be private medical insurance or employee assistance programmes, right through to more traditional health promotion campaigns such as healthy eating campaigns," she added.

Dame Carol Black's recent report on the health of Britain's working age population revealed that many businesses were now committed to investing in health and wellbeing initiatives in order to boost their corporate social responsibility credentials.

Consumer commitment to Fairtrade 'undiminished'

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:06:51 GMT

Despite the ongoing economic downturn, consumers' commitment to Fairtrade has been "undiminished", one sector commentator has claimed, which may be good news to businesses committed boosting their corporate social responsibility credentials.

Giles Robertson, interim director of marketing at the Fairtrade Foundation, said Fairtrade sales had increased "massively" against other similar trends such as organic produce.

"An extra 1.3 million households have been buying Fairtrade with an estimated retail of about £700 million in 2008, which is about a 44 per cent increase on the year before," he added.

And while Britons were now buying less, Mr Robertson stated that people would remain committed to the cause and that this was having a positive impact on producers.

According to research commissioned by the Fairtrade Foundation, carried out by TNS CAPI OmniBus, 64 per cent of the population associates the Fairtrade mark to a better deal for producers in the developing world.

Furthermore, 25 per cent of the UK's shoppers now regularly buy several products carrying the Fairtrade logo.

Interest rates 'set to stick'

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:48:36 GMT

Current interest rates set by the Bank of England are unlikely to change over the next year, one sector commentator has claimed.

Head of research at Hargreaves Lansdown Mark Dampier said that he believed the base rate of interest would remain at 0.5 per cent.

"I am keen to see if [the] central bank will move interest rates until they really see things improving," he stated.

And Mr Dampier added that there is unlikely to be any rapid upwards movement for the rates for the next five years and that they were likely to be static for the remainder of 2009 and possibly 2010 as well - which may be good news for businesses looking to control costs.

On March 5th, the Bank of England's monetary policy committee voted to reduce the interest rate by half a percentage point to 0.5 per cent.

It stated that its decision had been based on the fact that in the UK output dropped sharply in the fourth quarter of 2008 reflecting lower consumer spending.

Interest rates 'set to stick'

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:48:36 GMT

New 'green deal needed to boost jobs'

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:01:14 GMT

In order to boost jobs, promote business growth and fight climate change, the outcome of the current G20 summit in London must be a new green deal, according to one sector commentator.

Asad Rahman, environmental spokesperson for Friends of The Earth, said that western industrialised nations had a legal and moral responsibility to make progress in environmental issues.

This was because the current global financial and environmental crisises were "largely our making" and that the outcome was most likely to affect poorer and disadvantaged nations.

"We must have had a financial stimulus a new green deal which allows the creation of new green jobs and new green investments, massive amounts of investments in renewable," he added.

Mr Rahman claimed that this would be more successful in pulling the UK out of recession than moves to prop up the banks.

This year's G20 kicked off yesterday (April 2nd) and saw governors and finance ministers from 20 of the world's most powerful countries come together to agree policies for growth, discuss financial issues, deal with world crisises and combat terrorism.

New 'green deal needed to boost jobs'

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:01:14 GMT

UK government 'must show leadership at G20'

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:22:35 GMT

The government has been urged by one environmental charity to show robust leadership at the forthcoming G20 summit by focusing on the human side of the financial crisis - which may inspire businesses to begin accounting for carbon emissions now.

Asad Rahman, environmental spokesman for Friends of The Earth, said that the leading industrial nations had a legal responsibility to provide finance to developing countries of the world and those most affected by climate change through mitigation and adaptation.

He added that all communication at the summit had to have clear timelines, targets and amounts of money and that if those were not in place the charity would conclude that G20 had failed.

"Our line is: the time for words is over, a time for action is now," Mr Rahman concluded.

The G20 summit began today (April 2nd), as thousands of protesters took to the streets of London to draw attention to a wide range of issues.

UK government 'must show leadership at G20'

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:22:35 GMT

Public sector employment 'on the rise'

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:18:14 GMT

More Britons are moving into public sector employment as cuts are made to the number of positions available in the financial sector, one sector commentator has claimed - which may result in business growth being boosted in the industry.

Gerwyn Davies, government policy advisor for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, that self-employment was also on the rise.

However, he added: "It obviously remains to be seen how viable that future is at a time when we are going through one of the worst periods since the Second World War."

Mr Davies added that what was needed was for the economy to pick up so that companies would be able to begin hiring again giving redundant workers more opportunities, although he claimed that there was no sign of this happening in the short term.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the employment rate for people of working age was 74.1 per cent for the three months to January 2009, down 0.1 percentage points from the previous quarter and down 0.7 per cent over the year.

Public sector employment 'on the rise'

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:18:14 GMT

Earth Hour 'paved the way for further campaigns'

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:25:54 GMT

The success of the recent WWF campaign Earth Hour has the launched the charity's global deal campaign, one of the event's organisers has noted - which may be good news to businesses committed to accounting for carbon emissions.

Colin Butfield, head of campaigns at WWF, said that for the rest of the year during the lead-up to the UN Summit in December - when world leaders will meet to discuss their commitments to tackling climate change - the group would be working to gather continued support from international communities for its cause.

He added that the group was also focusing on scientific research to support its campaign, with scientists in the Arctic and the Amazon bringing their latest findings to the negotiations.

"We're going to lobby in all the major countries to try and get a global deal that is strong enough to tackle climate change," Mr Butfield stated.

Scientists at the Met Office are currently highlighting the necessity for early action on climate change.

Dr Vicky Pope, head of climate change advice at the Met Office, recently stated that even with drastic emissions cuts over the next decade, there will only be around a 50 per cent chance of keeping global temperature rises below two degrees C.

Earth Hour 'paved the way for further campaigns'

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:25:54 GMT

Knowing carbon emissions measurement 'essential'

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:25:15 GMT

It is essential that small and medium-sized enterprises know their carbon emissions measurement and their exact spend when it comes to effectively being able to control costs, one sector commentator had urged.

Erica Russell, a sustainable business advisor from Business Link, said that while this may seem like a simple piece of advice, there were still a number of firms who did not have the information close at hand.

"We know that even for very small businesses being able to know and see what your energy use is can have a big impact on the spend," she added.

Ms Russell stated that many UK businesses were now increasingly looking at ways to go green, which could boost their corporate social responsibility credentials.

A recent report from the Federation of Small Businesses revealed that many companies were now tackling the credit crunch head-on by not only making an effort to lower the energy bills, but also by cutting their prices where necessary.

Knowing carbon emissions measurement 'essential'

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:25:15 GMT

More businesses 'looking to control costs'

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:06:09 GMT

The government's business support service Business Link has seen a marked increase in the number of small businesses looking for advice on how to control costs.

Erica Russell, a sustainable business advisor from Business Link, said that cost-cutting was certainly now moving up the priority list for such firms.

But she added that a relatively high proportion of small companies were remaining optimistic about their business health during the recession.

"Most small businesses are very entrepreneurial by nature and are out fighting in quite a tough market, so I'm not surprised by their optimism," Ms Russell enthused.

Her comments come in response to recent research from uSwitch that shows that while almost 76 per cent of small businesses feel confident about surviving the recession nearly half are looking at cutting back on all of their costs.

In addition, 19 per cent note that the recession is having no impact on their business at all, while nine per cent claim the recession is actually proving beneficial for them.

Earth hour 'sent strong message on climate change'

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:57:13 GMT

Last week's Earth Hour - organised by the WWF - was a success and also sent out a strong message to people about the effects of climate change, according to one of the organisers.

Colin Butfield, head of campaigns at WWF, said that the drive had revealed that there were hundreds of millions of people who were willing to send a solid message to global leaders that something needed to be done about the environmental problem - which may inspire UK businesses to begin accounting for carbon emissions.

"Having it on this scale makes it way more than just a stunt; it makes it a really strong message to elected leaders around the world," he added.

On Saturday 28th March, homes and businesses across the world turned their lights off for one hour, including those which illuminate buildings such as Sydney Opera House, the pyramids of Giza, the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building and Big Ben.

In total, some 3,943 cities and towns from 88 countries took part in the campaign.

Consumer spending survey 'could monitor business progress'

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:40:34 GMT

UK companies wishing to monitor business progress may find that a consumer spending study can help them to look at what they need to do in order to rescue their share of consumers' discretionary spend, following the advice of one sector commentator.

The project from research organisation BDRC - which aims to help businesses find the best way to adapt to changes in spending - found that consumers would be cutting back on eating out, day trips, going to the cinema and other leisure pursuits.

Mark Long, director of the BDRC, said he believed this would aid businesses to understand how they can deliver additional value in their service.

In addition, he noted it would also help firms "begin to think about how they market promotions in order to offer customers the best value possible, as value for money is now almost certainly the business battleground".

The study also found that six out of ten Britons have cut back their spending, despite many feeling no adverse effects of the recession.

Carbon emissions measurement 'essential to control costs'

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:09:07 GMT

Companies that employ a carbon emissions measurement to calculate their exact energy spend may find the tool is "essential" to cost cutting for their small business, one sector commentator has claimed.

Erica Russell, a sustainable business advisor from Business Link, said that the most important information for a firm to know was exactly how much their energy costs were, but that there were still a lot of orgainsations that did not monitor this.

"We know that even for very small businesses being able to know and see what your energy use is can have a big impact on the spend," she added.

Ms Russell explained that in addition to cost cutting on items such as energy and waste, companies were also increasingly considering how this could be used in a positive way.

Public procurement and projects such as the Olympics are starting to generate more interest in green buying, she explained.

According to recent research from uSwitchforbusiness.com, 32 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises are focusing on making cutbacks that are simple and easy to implement in order to survive the recession.

Cutting carbon 'boosts productivity'

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:01:08 GMT

One Aberdeen company has found an innovative way of cutting carbon - and has seen its staff productivity boosted as a result, reports the Press and Journal.

Serviced holiday accommodation provider Skene House Hotel Suites has invested in bespoke, machine-washable uniforms for its staff.

This helps it to meet its corporate social responsibility objectives by eliminating the chemicals used in dry cleaning uniforms.

And the morale boost it has given to staff has helped to raise productivity, director Jennifer Lindsay tells the publication.

She says: "The new tops have overcome all the problems we previously had with the blouse.

"The cut means it flatters all figures, it sits neatly across the hips and is cool and comfortable."

Aberdeen city council notes that north-east Scotland has one of the UK's largest 'footprints' in terms of consumption of local natural resources.

Companies looking to overhaul their corporate social responsibility are told that transport, catering and energy consumption are the main areas the region needs to address.

Cutting carbon 'boosts productivity'

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:01:08 GMT

Energy reduction 'helps control costs'

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:00:01 GMT

Companies can find that reducing their energy consumption helps to control costs, as well as meeting the terms of their corporate social responsibility, it has been noted.

Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, explains that this can begin with an action as simple as switching off PCs at the end of each day.

"Powering down inactive PCs can provide a simple yet effective way for businesses to reduce overhead costs and environmental impact," she says.

She adds that the current conditions in both the energy markets and the economy as a whole "make it even more imperative for businesses to save money".

The alliance notes that, in its recent 2009 PC Energy Report, 27 per cent of UK employees surveyed said that they switch off their computers due to environmental concerns.

In the US, meanwhile, the focus among employees was less on corporate social responsibility and more on maintaining a functional machine by shutting it down regularly.

Joe Loper of the Alliance to Save Energy recently encouraged businesses to account for carbon and put in place a "carbon cap" in order to control costs as effectively as possible while also helping the environment.

Bristol firms 'accounting for carbon'

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:12:54 GMT

More Bristol firms are accounting for carbon as part of the city's Green Capital Pledge, it has emerged.

The Western Daily Press explains that the benefits of accounting for carbon more clearly can be many-fold.

They include the ability to cater for concerned clients who are asking questions about a company's corporate social responsibility.

One example of this is printing firm Doveton Press, which has begun sourcing its paper from sustainable forests.

And large businesses such as Wessex Water have also joined in the scheme, building new green headquarters with sustainability designed in.

The article adds that the other benefits to be derived include improved efficiency, a morale boost for staff and reduced costs.

Bristol city council explains that the pledge aims to ensure that, through a commitment to their corporate social responsibility, firms can place Bristol as the European Green Capital for 2010 or 2011.

The council points out that it is the only UK city to remain on the shortlist for the upcoming accolade.

Businesses 'should get savvy to phishing scams'

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:40:33 GMT

Companies keen to boost their business growth may wish to take particular care with their software, after one sector commentator claimed that Britons were not "savvy" when it came to phishing emails and scams.

The latest fraud figures released by APACS, the UK payment association, reveal that card fraud losses total £609.9 million, online banking fraud losses £52.5 million and cheque fraud losses £41.9 million.

Commenting on the research, Simon Crisp, director at Shopsafe.co.uk, said that businesses and individual internet users should not trust anyone when they ask for a username or password.

"Email is no different to on the phone. People need to become a lot more sceptical about it," he added.

Credit card information is the most advertised category of goods and services on the underground economy, accounting for 31 per cent of its total, according to recent research by Symantec.

Furthermore, the second most common category of goods and services advertised was financial accounts at 20 per cent of the total.

Tax on jobs 'could threaten demand'

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:44:48 GMT

The introduction of the government's tax on jobs, VAT Staff Hire Concession, could have a knock-on effect on business health and threaten the UK's current demand for temporary staff, it has been claimed.

As announced during the 2008 Budget, the concession will be withdrawn from April 1st 2009.

This will effect recruitment agencies and similar organisations which will now have to pay full VAT on national insurance contributions, pension payments and other commitments for the staff they provide.

Tom Hadley, director of external affairs at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, said that the decision by the government to go ahead with the scheme had been "disappointing" as the group had been hoping it would be delayed.

He added that when it came to what stifled or hindered job creation, any extra costs would not help.

"It also represents a communication challenge as we need to get the message to employers as there seems to be a lack of awareness about this," Mr Hadley concluded.

Time to begin accounting for carbon

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:16:33 GMT

It is time for businesses and industry to begin accounting for carbon emissions by arming themselves with "proper carbon targets", according to one sector commentator.

In a blog for Business Green, editor James Murray said that the accelerating rate of climate change had put a new focus on the effectiveness of proposed carbon reduction strategies.

"The simple fact is almost all the current goals that have been adopted or are in the process of being adopted by both governments and businesses are woefully inadequate," he explained.

Mr Murray explained that an increasing number of firms were now focused on lowering their own carbon emissions measurement, presenting a "real opportunity" for companies to reduce their carbon footprints even further.

This environmental credibility would allow them to distinguish themselves from rivals, he noted.

Business Green's Jonathan Ballantine recently stated that more businesses were also now endeavouring to produce a corporate social responsibility report.

'More support needed' for struggling businesses

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:45:57 GMT

More support needs to be given to firms to allow them to build a stronger business, while start-ups should be offered more help and advice in order to survive through the recession, one sector commentator has claimed.

George Derbyshire, chief executive of the business network NFEA, said the group believed there was an opportunity for the government to facilitate more independent advice and support than is currently available.

He added that there was a huge demand from businesses for this service, particularly as the group was receiving more enquiries from people considering starting up their own business.

"It's great for the government to set up new financial schemes, but what we need is for people to be helped and advised to make the most of those schemes," Mr Derbyshire commented.

However, the approaching Budget may offer some relief to UK companies, as the Forum for Private Business recently handed the government its own proposals, which included minimising the cost burdens of small firms.

Family-friendly policies 'can boost productivity'

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:47:44 GMT

Businesses are likely to find that the introduction of family-friendly policies, particularly during the economic downturn, allows them to improve their staff retention and productivity, an expert claims.

However, recent research commissioned by HireScores.com reveals that 81 per cent of British business managers admit that they would ask female job applicants if they were pregnant, planned on having children or already had children if they could.

Due to employment laws preventing these types of questions, almost 50 per cent of managers admit to factoring in a woman's age and relationship status when trying to establish whether they could potentially be getting pregnant in the future - findings which have been criticised by the Institute of Employment Rights.

Carolyn Jones, director of the Institute of Employment Rights, said that if companies were looking for a way to control costs then they would "hit the most vulnerable and in our labour market that is women".

Family-friendly policies in the workplace, however, would result in increased "loyalty, commitment and sustainability as employees will stay", she explained.

Family-friendly policies 'can boost productivity'

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:47:44 GMT

More people 'considering a green car'

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:44:22 GMT

Businesses keen to begin accounting for carbon emissions may wish to consider investing in a green fleet of company cars, following the statement of one sector commentator.

According to John Buckley, managing director of Carbon Footprint, more and more people are now taking note of carbon emissions when it comes to buying a new vehicle.

He advised Britons to look at the CO2 emissions and the miles per gallon that the car does when they are in the market for a new motor.

He added: "If you can get a car that uses less petrol or less diesel then you will save costs and also CO2 emissions."

Mr Buckley explained that although the recession was forcing people to hold off from buying a new car, when the time came for them to look for an upgrade, carbon emissions would be one of their considerations.

According to an AutoTrader survey, 51 per cent of motorists are considering purchasing an environmentally friendly car.

More people 'considering a green car'

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:44:22 GMT

How to make CSR reports credible

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:18:27 GMT

Businesses currently working on their corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports have been offered some advice on how to make them more credible.

Jonathan Ballantine, in an article for Business Green, explained that while the increase in the number of companies producing CSR reports may be seen as a positive trend, there are green groups which remain "sceptical about the true motivation behind many non-financial reports".

This is because a commitment to sustainability reporting may be a PR strategy designed to create legitimacy.

He spoke to Jennie Gibbons, corporate social reporting manager at British American Tobacco, who advised that the walls between CSR and PR should be clearly visible.

Mr Ballantine goes on to note: "Demonstrating that stakeholders have been directly involved in the development of the report can also help assure the audience that CSR claims are genuine."

He concluded that the most effective means of ensuring a CSR report is seen as credible is by having it validated or audited by a third party.

Meanwhile, recent research by Macdonald Hotels revealed that 53 per cent of businesses rated CSR as an influential factor when purchasing decisions are made.

Businesses 'must remain calm to gain competitive edge'

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:22:06 GMT

In order to gain the competitive edge during the recession, businesses have been advised by one sector commentator that they must remain calm in order to ensure they maintain the trust of their consumers.

Eric Groves, senior vice-president of global market development at Constant Contact, said that during such difficult economic times, panic could "erode" the trust of customers.

He explained that some big firms "bombarded" their email lists with daily sale offerings but that this could have the negative effect reducing the trust between the company and its consumers.

"Your communications frequency should be based on the needs of your recipients first and your business objectives second," Mr Groves said.

He concluded that over-communication would result in reduced open rates and a higher number of unsubscribers.

The Chartered Institute of Marketing's Marketing Trends Survey for autumn 2008 revealed that 11 per cent of marketers remain optimistic that the UK economy will improve in the next 12 months.

To maintain energy supplies 'UK must continue to burn coal'

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:55:38 GMT

In order for the UK to maintain its existing energy supplies, it must continue to burn coal, one sector commentator has claimed, although businesses could manage their own carbon footprints with the use of carbon accounting software.

Dr Jeff Chapman, chief executive of the Carbon Capture & Storage Association, said it was essential that the country began to build coal-fired power stations immediately.

Without taking this action he claimed that an energy gap was likely to evolve which would lead to an over-reliance on gas-fired power stations.

"We need to install carbon capture and storage as quickly as possible and it is really very urgent that ... people begin to get carbon capture and storage systems," Dr Chapman noted.

He concluded that carbon capture and storage is a natural way to take carbon from the ground, release its energy and return it to the ground.

The Institute for Public Policy Research recently urged the government to rule out any new coal-fired power plants unless they are fitted with technology to capture and store carbon dioxide.

Carbon emissions measurement 'still pleases consumers'

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:22:03 GMT

The Carbon Trust reveals that carbon emissions measurement remains as important as ever in the current economic climate.

Businesses are told that a quarter of shoppers are more concerned than in previous years about the impact on the environment of the goods and services that they buy.

And two in three consumers are still taking the environment into account as much as was the case a year ago when making purchases.

The figures have been published by the Carbon Trust, which operates an award scheme for businesses which conduct carbon emissions measurement and reduce their output.

Other figures from the report show that two-thirds of consumers believe it is important to shop with companies with clear environmentally driven corporate social responsibility objectives.

And around 14 per cent have switched where they get products and services from due to environmental concerns.

The Carbon Trust recently called on businesses to use its online wind turbine simulation to incorporate the potential use of an on-site turbine into their carbon accounting.

Accounting for carbon 'is good for business'

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:38:34 GMT

Accounting for carbon need not be a burden on businesses, reports Manchester Evening News.

The publication notes that Manchester city council operates the Environmental Business Pledge through collaboration with Groundwork.

Members of the scheme are given assistance in meeting their corporate social responsibility objectives through carbon emissions measurement to determine their impact on the environment.

The council provides assistance in reducing the business's carbon footprint - including fitting green roofs where appropriate.

And the results show that doing so can carry competitive advantages, with £9 million of sales increases reported by the 1,300 companies already taking part in the initiative.

Manchester city council explains that the Environmental Business Pledge was initially conceived as a 100-day programme with 250 companies taking part.

It was later expanded following its success as part of 2004's Challenge Manchester: 100 Days to a Clean City scheme.

As well as the competitive advantage gained through increased sales, the council adds that adopting sustainable processes can help to cut costs elsewhere in the business.

Keep customers coming back

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:29:12 GMT

Businesses could increase their productivity by encouraging customers to keep coming back for their services by employing email marketing, one sector commentator has claimed.

Eric Groves, senior vice-president of global market development at Constant Contact, said that the firm believed that great customer service results in higher profit margins.

He added that the most cost-effective acquisition channel was likely to be word-of-mouth and that positive customer service could lead to such a referral, which meant a win-win situation for business.

"By investing in building relationships with your customers you maximise the likelihood that your customers will choose you over the competition," Mr Groves added.

The quarterly National Email Benchmarking Report for April-June 2008, produced by the Direct Marketing Association's Email Marketing Council, indicated that email marketers are increasing campaign focus on retention and contact frequency as they tailor strategies to adapt to the uncertain economic climate.

During the second quarter of 2008, retention campaigns accounted for 82 per cent of all email marketing campaigns, up from 76 per cent in the first quarter of the year.

'Don't ignore' carbon capture storage

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:04:56 GMT

Industries keen to begin accounting for carbon have been advised by one sector commentator that it would be "irresponsible" to ignore the solution that carbon capture and storage provides.

Dr Jeff Chapman, chief executive of the Carbon Capture & Storage Association, said that industry was "inevitably" going to be reliant on fossil fuel power in the future and that if it wanted to maintain energy supplies it would have to continue to burn coal.

"Coal exists in abundance and carbon capture and storage is a perfectly natural way to take carbon from the ground, release its energy and return it to the ground," he added.

Dr Chapman explained that delays in building one coal-fired power station would lead to the process of many plants being installed being held up.

This meant a one-year delay could result in 150 to 200 million tonnes of CO2 going into the atmosphere at a later date.

The Centre for Policy Studies recently stated that gas-fired electricity will account for 70 per cent of all the UK's conventional generating capacity by 2020.

However, it noted that an over-reliance on one fuel would be undesirable.

Businesses 'failing to maximise usability of websites'

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:18:45 GMT

Businesses which wish to boost their productivity may like to turn their attention to the usability of their websites, following the suggestions of one sector commentator.

Steve Simmonds, business manager at Design UK, speaking at the Technology for Marketing & Advertising event, said that many firms were failing to maximise the usability of their online content due to minor errors on the web pages.

"Sometimes it can be [something that's been] completely overlooked. It might just be a very minor thing but it's minor things that can [cause problems]," he explained.

Design UK uses an eye tracking machine to see where on the page online users focus the most of their attention on and where their concentration begins to tail off.

This provides a detailed insight into how customers interact with a website which can reveal key recommendations for maximising the usability of websites and help companies to get more from their online budget.

Going green with new domain

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:08:28 GMT

While some businesses may already be taking steps to begin accounting for carbon - such as investing in carbon accounting software - according to one sector commentator a "great idea" is for firms to support environmental causes with the domain .eco.

James Murray, editor of BusinessGreen.com, said the applicant for the new top level domain creator Dot Eco was attempting to ensure that the bulk of it profits would be spent on environmental projects.

He added that Dot Eco appeared to be a "prime" example of what the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers was trying to achieve with the recent diversification of domain names.

"It will allow an emerging green and clean tech sector to promote itself more effectively and help further highlight environmental issues," Mr Murray concluded.

Dot Eco announced this month that it has entered into an integrated partnership with the climate crisis campaign organisation Alliance for Climate Protection and its founder, former US vice-president Al Gore, to secure and promote the .eco top level domain.