Dyson inventor outlines plans to make UK European new tech centre
Sir James Dyson, the entrepreneur behind the Dyson vacuum cleaner, has authored a report which outlines ways the UK could become the European hub for new technology.
Civil servants 'pretended to be answer phones' to handle workload
Civil servants at the Department for Work and Pensions have claimed that they were told to pretend to be answer phones by their bosses, as they battled to deal with the high volume of calls during a national strike.
Hardware news: Dell launches new Vostro laptops
Dell launches new Vostro laptops
Analyst forecasts double-digit growth for online retail
Marketers must develop a multichannel sales and marketing strategy to take advantage of double digit growth in online retail business over the next five years, according to Forrester Research.
10 dos of mobile learning
With m-learning continuing to gain a foothold, Nigel Paine outlines ten key tips in embracing learning on the move.
Train and gain or snooze and lose
Dwindling levels of investment in training must rise this year if UK employers are to remain competitive on a global basis as the economy starts to emerge from recession, an expert has warned.
Telcos top customer service list of shame
Telco customer service levels are by far the worst in the UK, with one in four adults making a complaint over the last year but a mere 30% being happy with the way it was resolved.
These are the findings of a study undertaken by the Daily Mail’s Money Mail unit, the first in a new series investigating what the newspaper describes as the "parlous state of customer service in Britain".
Business IT Guide top technology trends
From previous articles on AccountingWEB.co.uk, readers will be familiar with the free information the Business IT Guide provides on small business technology issues. Based on traffic and downloads from its website, the Business IT Guide team has put together a summary of the technology trends that every small business should keep an eye on in the next 12 months.
eReaders and tablet computers
Training investment needs to rise if the economy is to recover
Dwindling levels of investment in training must rise this year if UK employers are to remain competitive on a global basis as the economy starts to emerge from recession, an expert has warned. According to the National Employer Skills Survey (NESS) for England undertaken among 79,152 organisations and commissioned by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills during March and July last year, the number of employers experiencing skills gaps rose to 19% in 2009 compared with 15% two years ago. Such s
Brown usurps Darling to announce Budget date
Supplanting his Chancellor, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has confirmed that the Budget will be delivered in "two weeks' time", fuelling speculation that there will be a general election on 6 May.
The Business Boot Camp: Mission one – PR with Paula Gardner
The four cadets taking part in BusinessZone.co.uk's Business Boot Camp have received details of their first mission from our expert mentor. Get the inside track on their briefing about PR.
The Business Boot Camp kicked off last week with a great mentoring session led by small business PR guru Paula Gardner, founder of www.DoYourOwnPR.com.
Google opens online doors to apps marketplace
Southwark rejects Google in Web map deal
Southwark Council has launched special mapping functionality on its website in a bid to help citizens get a better graphical understanding of their local environment and understand what services may be relevant to them.
Budget 2010 to take place on 24 March
Chancellor Alistair Darling will present his annual Budget statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday 24 March.
During a speech in London prime minister Gordon Brown said the speech will be delivered in two weeks time.
This year’s Budget comes at a pivotal point both financially and politically. The chancellor has to strike a balance between tackling an annual public deficit hovering around £180m and sustaining 2010’s precarious economic recovery. The significance of his Budget decisions will be amplified within a few days, when the prime minister is expected to launch his general election campaign while the debate on the Finance Bill is still taking place.
Depending on the election result, we could end up going through the whole Budget process again in June if the incoming Chancellor wants to introduce emergency fiscal measures.
Budget date set for 24 March
Gordon Brown has confirmed that the Budget will be delivered in "two weeks' time", fuelling speculation that there will be a general election on 6 May.
The prime minister took centre stage by divulging the Budget date in a speech at Thomson Reuters in Canary Wharf. The Treasury is expected to confirm in a written statement to parliament later today, that chancellor Alistair Darling will present his annual Budget to the House of Commons on Wednesday 24 March.
How to make a good first impression
When meeting a prospective customer, supplier or partner, first impressions really do count. Patrick Bird reveals how to get it right.
Communicating effectively and making a message memorable can be a challenge, especially in face-to-face situations. Whether it's with a client or prospect, the pressure of delivering information in the right tone and style requires careful planning.
It's important to make a connection with the people you are meeting to ensure put your ideas across effectively. Considering how a message will be received by individuals is a fundamental part of a communication strategy.
You can create a good first impression during the initial introductions with a firm, meaningful handshake and direct eye contact - but what about the moments beforehand? What does your body language say to potential clients as you walk into the room?
All change: The four trends reshaping customer service
Social media is gradually pushing, cajoling and challenging companies to redefine, re-evaluate and at times re-engineer the way in which they provide customer service - and, as Guy Stephens highlights, a number of trends have become evident.
A glass ceiling for women in accountancy and finance - that old chestnut!
How apt of the Prime Minister to choose International Women’s Day on Monday to call on UK plc to address a woeful shortfall of women in the boardroom. As research commissioned by the Government Equalities Office shows that 60% of people think there are not enough women directors in big business, the question begs, will the tide of public opinion be enough to challenge the ‘male, pale, and stale’ status quo that has existed for too long in this country? Rather optimistically, half of respondents to the survey believ