Get the tax break that actually helps

Jonathan Bowers, December 1st 2008, 3:16PM

The Government is trying to counter the recession (and falling voter numbers) by offering short term tax incentives. The headline cut is the 2.5% on VAT that supposedly will have us all scurrying straight out to the shops. Additionally, Alistair Darling has announced a one year tax exemption for certain empty properties as an aid to embattled UK businesses.

The problem is that these measures don’t look as great when scrutinised. The VAT cut will apparently be funded by a hike in a few years time, while the business community says the property tax provision is too little, too late. So are these tax moves really to help British people and industry or just political spin?

Either way, there are measures businesses in the UK can take that will truly help to reduce the financial burden during the recession.

As UKFast reported in early September, there is a little known piece of Government legislation which offers business rate reductions for qualifying small companies. Businesses using a property with a rateable value of less then £10,000 are eligible and could save thousands.

In conjunction with rate relief campaigners leaseholdersunited.com, UKFast launched a major PR push in early September to alert small businesses in the Manchester area to the £16m of unclaimed tax rebates available.

At the time we urged rapid action as the deadline for backdated claims ran out at the end of September 2008. However, I am delighted to say that this deadline has been extended to September 2010. So as the recession bites hard for some, small businesses should make sure that they claim now to get the rate relief that they are entitled to.

To find out if you are eligible to make a claim or to get details on how to claim, visit leaseholdersunited.com.

Tags: business_policy, manchester_businesses, workplace
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The Power of Change

Jonathan Bowers, November 17th 2008, 5:04PM

So in the end the US Presidential contest was less of a battle than the preceding Democratic nomination process. But Why? Well it seems as though the message of change resonated powerfully with the US people.

Either Obama or Clinton would have represented change and as a result the Democratic nomination was a very close run thing. However, after 8 years of Bush’s brand of Republicanism, the American people were ready to embrace a fresh approach and so Obama v McCain virtually became a non-contest.

In fact, never before in US political history has the handing over of the Presidential baton represented such a launching pad for change. Political analysts are already hotly speculating the impact of Obama’s new direction.

For example, stem cell research, such a promising branch of medical science, is expected to be freed from its religious shackles. The US is also expected to front up to its environmental responsibilities and to work on improving its international standing.

If Obama does succeed with these policies, the US electorate will have used their power to invoke change to benefit all of us.

Scaled down a bit, the message of looking to change for a better deal can be equally applied to the business world. We are now familiar with the idea of ‘shopping around’ for our car insurance or phone provider but the same can be true for our hosting provider.

Not every ISP offers the same hardware and they certainly do not offer the same level of support. To get your hosting right you need the best of both. So don’t feel as though you have to stick with a bad choice. If you need dedicated, 100% reliable server hosting and your current supplier cannot deliver this, make the change.

Changing to the right hosting company can be the catalyst to success. Just like changing to a visionary new leader.

Tags: motivational speakers, business_policy, internet, politics, websites
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UKFast wins MEN Business Award

Jonathan Bowers, November 7th 2008, 11:26AM

I am delighted to be able to report that UKFast won a M.E.N. Business of the Year Award last night. We are all thrilled with the win, not only because it meant a great night’s celebration, but also because it is a real tangible reward for all of our hardworking employees.

The awards look to recognise the top Manchester businesses of 2008. There were six category winners at the ceremony held in Manchester's Midland Hotel and we fought off very tough competition to win in the category of businesses that had revenue of under £10m per year.

In fact, the high standard of entrants for this year’s awards makes our win all the more pleasing. The judging panel said the competition had “attracted one of the strongest fields in the event's history, with all the finalists showing impressive leadership and innovation”.

We certainly know how tough it was to just make last night’s shortlist of three. Our entire business came under scrutiny by an expert panel, and our MD Lawrence Jones then gave two impassioned presentations to them. So, after a lot of work and some nervous nail biting it was fantastic that the rollercoaster ride came to such a brilliant conclusion.

But, the event was not just about our success. Looking around the room last night, it reaffirmed to me that Manchester and the North West boasts so much business talent and vision. The judges were impressed with the quality of the local firms in the competition and said as a business region we should be collectively proud about what we are achieving.

Even in difficult times, Manchester is a booming economic centre and we are very proud to be recognised as a leading Manchester business.

Get more details and see pictures from the Awards dinner.

Tags: awards, brand, economy, internet, manchester_businesses, marketing
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It pays to be at the centre of attention

Jonathan Bowers, October 20th 2008, 5:13PM

Rural communities in the UK have come to the end of their tether with broadband providers and their deceptive claims, reports this week say. Broadband firms overstating the ‘speed’ of their packages is not new and the fact the rural communities always seem to feel the most disgruntled is also not new. However the critical mass of calls for the authorities to do something is novel.

Countryside dwellers, such as those in Huntingdon, Cambridge, are hitting back with concerted pressure on the Government and Ofcom to bring the misleading broadband providers to heel.

The classic problem is the ‘up to’ capacity advertised by broadband companies. Most, not surprisingly, state the maximum speed available on their network prominently. Meanwhile, talk of possible geographical limitations is relegated to the small print. The result is disappointed customers in areas that are a long way from the main local exchange, such as any rural community.

Residents in Huntingdonshire believe that instead of the 8MB broadband that is promoted, they are in reality only getting 512KB, one sixteenth of the headline speed.

All this grief and disappointing performance is because Huntington is not located on a broadband superhighway and that got me thinking about the parallels to the ecommerce industry. Quick and reliable service is essential for any Web business. Customers will not wait for slow loading sites.
Furthermore, Google rankings partly rely on speed ratings, so again slow websites will lose out due to poor Google listings.

So the lessons for ebusinesses are to ensure that their server power is up to the job and that their hosting company is located on a major hub of the broadband network. ISPs, such as UKFast, who occupy a position right on the broadband superhighway can offer more.

So to be in the ecommerce fast lane make sure your hosting provider is right in the middle of the action.

Tags: broadband, e-commerce, google, hosting, internet, websites
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Internet can be a remedy to the credit crunch

Jonathan Bowers, October 10th 2008, 2:59PM

The latest figures for online ad spend are an eye opening read. According to the Internet Advertising Bureau, internet advertising expenditure increased by 21% year on year in the first half of 2008, while the total ad market fell by 0.7% in the same period.

Now these figures do cover a period before the credit crunch truly kicked in but the slow down was already starting and confidence was already falling, so they do reflect behaviour in belt tightening times.

The main headline is that when the advertising market as a whole is cutting back, internet spend continues to rise. And why is this? It is because companies know that online advertising is affordable, accountable and effective.

Online ads have the potential to reach a world of consumers and many online ads only cost per click, so you don’t pay for ineffective advertising. Meanwhile, pay-per-click campaigns and banner leads alike can be monitored to record the direct correlation between advert - interest- spend, so scrutinising management boards can see the tangible results of advertising on the net.

So even when businesses need to cut overheads they have learned that to do so online is a false economy. In my view, if cuts can be concentrated elsewhere they should be because a continued investment in an online presence will always deliver a strong return.

In fact, a bold policy of actually injecting extra online advertising investment now could be the best business decision an MD makes all year. Imagine having your brand all over the internet when your rivals are hiding behind the office photocopier.

And those with an online business should be equally bold. Promote your business and be prepared for extra traffic by ensuring that your hosting solution is up to scratch. Don’t run the risk of downtime when the online marketplace is at the fore. Invest in a dedicated hosting solution to ensure that you are equipped to beat the crunch.

Tags: advertising, adwords, brand, e-commerce, hosting, internet, marketing
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