Welcome to Direction
As a business owner you need to keep up to speed with today’s pressing issues and understand how they may affect your business. Direction’s mix of news and comment from financial and business experts gives you a head start.
Speaking out
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We speak to four owner-managers about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for their businesses as the UK economy makes its first tentative steps towards recovery.
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Forward thinking
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Danielle Stewart explains in plain language what each issue will mean for businesses, how it came about and what needs to be done. View the video.
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Agenda
Rather than allow extra time, HMRC is increasingly likely to blow the final whistle on cash-strapped businesses, which could have a significant impact on lenders.
Creditor leniency has provided a lifeline for many struggling businesses, but as Direction explains, mounting debts could lead to a rise in both insolvencies and stress as the recovery kicks in.
- Funding
With bank lending dramatically reduced, now may be the time to consider alternatives. The renewed interest of private equity in growth capital could hold the key to mid-market companies’ funding requirements.
- Review your people costs
Employment costs need to be kept under review but as the recession deepens, the need to minimise costs must be balanced against the need to retain good staff to pave the way for recovery.
- Rich pickings
For stronger cash-rich businesses with vision, now is the time to start the search for potential acquisition targets.
- Winning in a recession
Those who are prepared to respond imaginatively to the challenges ahead will prosper and emerge from the recession as stronger, healthier businesses
- What not to do in a recession
Business survival or success doesn’t happen by accident. Careful planning is required to minimise overheads, maximise profits and ensure the business flourishes.
- Keeping the pieces in place
As companies struggle through the recession, jobs are often the first casualty. But as this article discovers, previous downturns suggest staff custs should be handled with care.
- Oiling the wheels
As lenders recalibrate their business plans and approach to risk, businesses in search of bank funding are facing difficult times. The finance cogs have not entirely seized up, and money is available if the right approach is taken.