Pro Installer December 2015 - Issue 33 | Page 42

42 DECEMBER 2015 PRO INSTALLER PRO BUSINESS www.proinstaller.co.uk New FSB brand makes it easier for small businesses THE Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has launched a new brand alongside a major digital investment to better reflect the UK’s small business sector. The move is intended to enhance the organisation’s appeal to the ever changing make up of the UK’s 5.4 million small businesses. It will also make it easier for smaller businesses to see what the FSB has to offer, streamlining access to membership services, joining processes and campaign activity. New FSB research1 found that smaller businesses greatly value the sorts of membership services the FSB already offers including its 24/7 legal advice, financial support, and employment expertise. However, the research also found that, among small businesses who were not yet members of the FSB, awareness of these services was not widespread. ‘created and led by smaller businesses for smaller business’ The organisation has now made an investment in its online presence and will become more active on social media. FSB director David Miles said: “FSB is created and led by smaller businesses for smaller businesses. We know our members really value the services we offer. However, we need to get better at getting the message out. Our website is our shop window and I am confident today’s investment will help great numbers of businesses to see the value of what we offer.” The UK has been ranked as one of the most entrepreneurial in the world. There are now more businesses UK house prices continue to grow The cost of a typical home reaches a new record high, according to official figures, with growth of 6.1% over the past year. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) measured a jump of £1,000 in the typical cost of a property between August and September. It left the average price at a new peak of £286,000. The rises were again driven by England - where average costs are just below £300,000. Values in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland remain below the levels seen before the financial crisis. The ONS said starter home costs were rising at a slower rate on average than those across the wider market - with a first-time buyer paying 4.3% more than they did a year ago at £216,000. London’s rapid rate of price growth continued to ease down, rising by 7.2% over the 12 months to a new record high of £531,000. Property prices in Northern Ireland, which remain almost 40% below their pre-crisis high, achieved the fastest rate of annual growth at 10.2%. The official figures lag behind other house price reports, conducted by the likes of Nationwide and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. They have pointed to demand continuing to far outstrip supply as the market enters its traditional slowdown ahead of Christmas. The Prime Minister has demanded a house-building “crusade” to help ease the crisis over the shortage of homes through the relaxation of planning laws. However, the building industry has argued that a lack of skilled workers could limit the Government’s ambitions. A recent report found the construction sector needed an additional one million staff to meet demand for one million new homes by 2020. Source: www. specificationonline.co.uk than ever starting up with around 5.4 million registered in the UK at the start of this year, an increase of 1.9 million since the turn of the millennium. More than 99% of private sector businesses are small firms, accounting for 48% of private sector employment and 33% of private sector turnover2. 1 Research commissioned by FSB, 2015, amongst 600+ UK small businesses. 2 Department for Business Innovation & Skills, Business Population Estimates for the UK and Regions 2015 statistical bulletin, published 14 October 2015. Source: www.fsb.org.uk