IT contractors 'could find roles administering firms' security programmes'

It is important for companies to continue investing in IT contractors to run security initiatives, an expert has suggested.Neil Munroe, external affairs director for Equifax, has claimed that many or...

Firms urged to consult with staff on improvements

Firms, including umbrella companies, must involve their staff in discussions on how to improve business operating systems, it has been advised.Employees should be able to offer suggestions on how thi...

Compulsory pension funds needed, says expert

Some form of compulsory pension scheme is needed, one expert has advised.Reform of the pension system was inevitable, according to Gordon Forbes, managing director of Caledonia Asset Management, but ...

CIOT welcomes tax improvements

The government's proposals to improve the process of tax policy-making have been welcomed by the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT).Reform of the tax law process has been on the CIOT's ag...

Emergency Budget "better than expected"

The emergency Budget was "better than expected" for many people, although public sector contractors could be hard hit, it has been suggested.For investors and business owners, the measures announced ...

UK 'must do more to encourage entrepreneurs'

Government cuts should not be at the expense of small firms but used to encourage entrepreneurs, it has been suggested.Boosting innovation would aid the country, said Michael Baxter, editor of Invest...

Gov't 'should encourage entrepreneurs to hire'

The government should be helping entrepreneurs to take on staff, one employment body has suggested.Chancellor George Osborne's emergency Budget is a positive step in helping to create more jobs, ...

Cuts and tax increases 'necessary pain for businesses'

Spending cuts and tax rises are a "necessary pain" for businesses, it has been said.However, they must be off-set by measures to help business leaders who want to grow their companies and employ more...

Firms urged to discourage non-genuine absence

Firms have been advised to have thorough absence policies in place in order to discourage non-genuine absences.Return-to-work interviews, collecting absence data and thorough training should be used,...

Default retirement age 'outdated and negative'

The current default retirement age in the UK has been slammed by Independent Age.It is "outdated and gives rise to negative stereotypes of ageing and older people" said Claire Nurden, research and po...

IR35 'fails for two reasons'

The IR35 legislation affecting freelance contractors should be scrapped after failing for two main reasons, it has been said.Enquiries into IR35 are time-consuming and can take many years, pointed ou...

Default retirement age must be scrapped, says charity

There should be no default retirement age in the UK, one charity has told the government.According to a poll by Age UK, nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of Brits want ministers to abolish forced retir...

Thousands more engineers needed to meet energy demand, says expert

Some 500,000 extra engineers will be needed to satisfy the global appetite for energy in the next two decades, according to one industry expert.Trillions of dollars will need to be spent in the secto...

CBI calls for changes to aid labour market

The CBI has unveiled a package of measures it said would ensure the labour market can sustain businesses and jobs during the recovery, including flexible working, blocking regulations and changing re...

TUC: Capital Gains Tax rates should be increased

Chancellor George Osborne should increase both the rate and coverage of Capital Gains Tax (CGT), the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has suggested.It has pointed out that with CGT levied at 18 per cent a...

Small firms 'must protect against loss of key workers'

Small firms are becoming increasingly reliant on key employees, with two-thirds saying the death of such a person would have a "severe impact" on their business, according to figures from Scottish pr...

Review cash flow now, businesses told

Business owners have been advised to review their financial situation in light of the uncertainty facing the country's economy.Ahead of chancellor George Osborne's emergency Budget next week,...

REC: Construction workforce of the future must be built

Calls by the Association of Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) for the creation of a National Construction Research Institute have been welcomed by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).T...

CIPD: More performance-related pay needed in public sector

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has suggested that the public sector makes greater use of performance-related pay.It said this would give "more bang for the taxpayer buck"...

Chancellor 'should put small firms first'

Chancellor George Osborn should put small businesses first in his emergency Budget next week, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has said.The body said the difficult decisions needed to tackle ...