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DTI
RESEARCH BUSTS SMALL BUSINESS MYTHS |
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 The
degree of risk felt by those thinking of starting their own business
is wrongly inflated, deterring some from taking the next step. New
research has found that a myth widespread among the public is that
most small businesses fail within the first year. In fact, contrary
to what many people think over 80 per cent of new businesses survive
their first year. 
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NEW
TASK FORCE ON WOMENS ENTERPRISE |
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 Trade
and Industry Secretary, Alan Johnson, has
welcomed the announcement of a new task force
to boost levels of female enterprise. The
DTI will be managing the recruitment of the
chair and members of the Task Force that will
be launched from Spring 2006. The Task Force
will take forward the Women's Enterprise Panel's
recommendations.
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more |
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INDO
BRITISH PARTNERSHIP NETWORK LAUNCHED |
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 The
Indo British Partnership Network was officially launched at Asia House
in London on 5 December 2005, the eve of the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell,
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport visiting India to
sign the UK/India Co-Production Treaty; a formal framework for cooperation
between the British and Indian creative industries.
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MORE
SME'S WIN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS |
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 A
DTI survey of central civil government departments and agencies has
shown that of the £4.7billion covered by the survey, over £1
billion was awarded to small businesses, representing 22% of the value
of contracts up from 18% last year. To raise awareness, the DTI's
Small Business Service have today published a new edition of the Smaller
Supplier - Better Value guide.
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SHARPER
FOCUS FOR SMALL FIRMS LOAN GUARANTEE |
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 The
sweeping changes to the Small Firms Loan Guarantee
(SFLG) recommended by the Graham Review came
into effect today. SFLG was launched in 1981
to help SMEs with viable business propositions
to access debt finance. Over 100,000 guarantees
have been issued since the scheme started
enabling around £4bn of lending to over
90,000 businesses.
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more |
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CRE
HELPING EMPLOYERS MAKE IT EQUAL |
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 The
Commission for Racial Equality today launched its Code of Practice
on 'Racial Equality in Employment', a toolkit to eliminate racism
at work. The guide follows a three month consultation with a wide
spectrum of employers across Britain. Launching the code a, Trevor
Phillips, CRE Chair said: For many people, work is the only place
where they interact with those from different cultural and ethnic
backgrounds.
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POWER
NOT POUNDS MOTIVATES LONDON ENTPRENEURS |
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 Making
your own decisions is considered the best aspect of owning and running
a business according to 75% of people in a survey commissioned by
Business Link for London. The research, which polled 2,452 Londoners,
highlighted that many people consider that making money is secondary.
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MANDEEP
OVERCOMES DISABILITIES TO BE IN BUSINESS |
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 Mandeep
Lotta is on track to creating a thriving business
thanks to the support of Remploy Interwork.
Mandeep, who is blind and physically impaired,
found his disabilities were holding him back
from finding suitable job opportunities. So
he decided to start his own business Midhorizon
Publications Ltd - which creates information
leaflets and signs in Braille.
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more |
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WOMEN
HOLD KEY TO ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY |
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 The
benefits of getting more women to take up
entrepreneurship are clear according to DTI
Minister for Women and Equality, Meg Munn.
Women-owned businesses contribute about £70
billion to Gross Value Added, about 25 per
cent of the UK total, mainly from the growing
service sector. Nearly a million women are
self-employed today in the UK.
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more |
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HORLICK
LAUNCHES 'BRAMDIVA' FOR WEALTHY WOMEN |
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 In
true biz-glam style, City Superwomen Nicola Horlick yesterday launched
'Bramdiva', a financial management initiative for wealthy women. Short
on facts, but long on style, Horlick hosted a launch party at Frankie
Dettori's eponymous Knightsbridge eaterie 'Frankie's', attended by
200 mainly female guests. "As a woman and a mother, I am very
conscious of the fact that many women today feel excluded from the
world of investment" said Horlick.
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JOWELL
HAILS REDUCTION IN GENDER PAY GAP |
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 Minister
for Women Tessa Jowell today welcomed the
Office of National Statistics announcement
of a fall in the gender pay gap. Mrs Jowell
said: "It is excellent news that the
gender pay gap is now at its lowest level
in 30 years since the introduction of the
Equal Pay Act. "In 1975, women earned
70p for every £1 a man received, while
today women receive 83p.
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more |
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TRADE
MINISTER MEETS WITH CORPORATE GIANTS OF INDIA |
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Mr Ian Pearson MP, Minister for International
Trade & Investment met with representatives
of India's largest businesses on 7 November
2005, to gain an understanding of the experiences
India's companies doing business in Britain.
Members of The India Group expressed their
views on a variety of subjects including:
grants & subsidies.
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more |
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PHARMACLINIX
WINS ENTERPRISE AWARD 2005 |
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 Shashi
Gossain, a Registered Pharmacist, founder
of PharmaClinix was named the winner of the
Enterprise award at the Pharmacy Business
Awards 2005. Pharmaclinix is a onestop Health
and Beauty Clinic, offering a holistic approach
to total well being. Its services include
facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, waxing
and the latest treatment for skin rejuvenation,
acne, hair removal and laser treatment.
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more |
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MUSLIM
WOMEN'S CAREERS BLIGHTED SAYS THE EOC |
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 New
Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) figures reveal the gaping chasm
between young Pakistani and Bangladeshi women's ambitions and the
realities they face in the workplace. Almost 50% of those in employment
are aiming for a promotion, but despite high levels of ambition, and
in many cases higher levels of skill and training, they are finding
it disproportionately difficult to get the jobs they're after.
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MUSLIM
WOMAN TACKLES RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE |
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 It's
been up and running for just seven months,
yet a cultural awareness training company
launched to tackle religious and cultural
intolerance in the workplace has already been
recognised for its groundbreaking work. '
Noble Khan, founded by Sadi Mehmood, has been
licensed by ASET, the national body responsible
for certifying vocational learning programmes.
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more |
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INDIA'S
GROWTH THREATENED BY POOR INFRASTRUCTURE |
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 India's
phenomenal growth rate of six per cent a year will be unsustainable
without serious social reform and infrastructure development, according
to a panel of experts at 'The Indian Economy: Elephant or Tiger' a
Question Time event, hosted by global credit insurer Atradius on 13
October 2005.
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BUSINESS
ANGEL GITA PATEL MAKES ASIAN POWER 100 LIST |
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 Gita
Patel, a Director of Stargate Capital Management and Head of Trapezia,
an innovative investment product that is the first to be dedicated
to the venture capital requirements of women entrepreneurs, has been
included in the first Asian Power 100 List, which recognises the most
influential and successful members of the British Asian community
- launched by the Institute Of Asian Professionals.
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STRONG
GROWTH CONTINUES IN SMALL BUSINESS SECTOR |
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 Minister
for Industry and the Regions Alun Michael
today welcomed a net increase in the business
population across the UK, with new figures
showing an increase of around 260,000 firms
operating at the start of 2004. The latest
statistics show this to be the highest year
on year increase in the business population
since the figures started in 1995.
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more |
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ICICI
OPENS FOR BUSINESS IN MANCHESTER |
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 On
17th August 2005, ICICI Bank UK Ltd launched their branch in Manchester
to cater to the banking needs of those in the North of England. This
is ICICI Bank UK Ltd's third branch in England. Speaking on the occasion,
Mr Sonjoy Chatterjee, MD & CEO of ICICI Bank UK Ltd commented
'We are delighted to offer our services to the residents and businesses
of Manchester.
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MUSLIM
GRADUATES ARE MISSING OUT IN THE LABOUR MARKET
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 More
must be done to improve the numbers of Muslim
graduates moving into jobs. Just 76 per cent
of Muslim graduates of working age are in
jobs, compared with the overall graduate rate
of 87 per cent - an 11 per cent gap. The employment
rate among the Muslim population, is 45 per
cent compared with 75 per cent for the overall
population.
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more |
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SOCIAL
ENTERPRISE GENERATES £18BN TURNOVER
FOR THE UK |
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 Social
Enterprises generate some £18billion
in annual turnover and employ over 775,000
people new findings published by the DTI show.
Social Enterprises are businesses driven by
social or environmental goals rather than
the need to maximise private profit. The Survey
provides a snapshot of this diverse and important
business sector, and how it contributes to
society and the environment.
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more |
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GITA
PATEL LAUNCHES 'TRAPEZIA' VC FUND FOR WOMEN |
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 Gita
Patel, Director of Stargate Capital Management,
announced the launch of 'Trapezia', the first
UK-based investment fund dedicated to Women
Focused Businesses. The pioneering £30
million fund seeks to capitalise on the funding
gap for women entrepreneurs.
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more |
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50
YEARS TO PLUG ASIAN UNEMPLOYMENT GAP |
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 There
are now more black and Asian people in work
than there were eight years ago, but progress
is slow, and if black unemployment continues
to fall at such a modest rate, it could take
46 years before there are the same numbers
of ethnic and white people out of work. The
report by the TUC shows that unemployment
amongst the UK's BME communities stands at
11%.
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more |
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WOMEN
COULD BOOST LONDON'S GDP BY £1.5 BILLION
P.A. |
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 London’s
economic output would be £1.5 billion
higher if part time employment rates for women
with children in London were raised to equal
those in the rest of the country. Manny Lewis,
the LDA’s Chief Executive, said “The
lack of good-quality affordable childcare
is a severe problem for many Londoners who
are struggling to move into work."
read
more |
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WOMEN'S
BUSINESS COUNCIL PROPOSED |
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 Women
who are looking to become budding businesswomen
were being encouraged by The Women's Enterprise
Online Event held on 23 & 24 June 2005.
The eventwas aimed at motivating more women
to consider enterprise as a viable prospect
by linking them up with women's support networks
and business support organisations.
read
more |
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MPs
SALUTE INDIA'S CORPORATE LEADERS |
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 On
Monday 20th June 2005, UK Parliamentary Group
- Labour Friends of India, hosted a meeting
in the House of Commons to hear from India's
corporate leaders. The delegates were part
of the annual CII visit to London and included
Narayana Murthy of Infosys, Yogi Deveshwar
of ITC Group, Jamshed Irani of Tata Sons,
& Rakesh Mittal of Bharti Telecom.
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more |
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FOREIGN
INVESTORS HOLD ONE THIRD OF UK SHARES |
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 Rest
of the world investors owned 33 per cent of
UK shares listed on the London Stock Exchange
at the end of 2004, according to the Office
for National Statistics (ONS) report on share
ownership published today. Between 1st January
2004 and 31st December 2004 the UK Stock Market
was valued at £1,480 billion (almost
£1.5 trillion) - an increase of £112
billion.
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more |
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LONDON'S
ASIAN BUSINESSES WORTH £60BN A YEAR |
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 The
report, 'The contribution of Asian-owned businesses to London’s
economy' was launched by the Mayor today at his Asian Business Conference
in City Hall. The report shows that in 2003/04 there were almost 39,000
Asian-owned businesses in the capital providing 300,000 jobs - representing
12 per cent of total employment of all firms surveyed - generating
some £60bn per year.
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ASIANS
ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR A QUEEN'S AWARD
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 Successful
Asian-owned companies are being invited to
apply for a Queen's Award for Enterprise -
the UK's most prestigious Award for business.
And Asian entrepreneurs who have been inspired
by or supported by particular individuals
can now express their gratitude by nominating
them for a Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion.
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