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New figures from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows that small businesses will look to shed staff in the first three months of 2012, as it warns that the Government needs to be bolder in its changes to existing employment law to incentivise employment.

Small business confidence plummeted in 2011 as businesses were hit by high inflation, rising utilities bills and reduced consumer spending power according to the latest findings from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) ‘Voice of Small Business' Index.

New figures show that six in 10 small firms believe the London 2012 Games will not have a positive impact on their business in the long term despite David Cameron saying today that the UK is "on track" for a lasting legacy, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said today.

A short message from the FSBs National Chairman,John Walker, looking back at 2011 and ahead to 2012. 2011 has been a year of huge global events and news stories which have had us all gripped. And next year is set to be yet another tough year for small businesses.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is urging the Government not to water down the proposals in the Independent Commission on Bankings (ICB) report and is calling for an increase in competition in the banking sector to be at the heart of the Government's response next week.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has welcomed the findings in the Portas Review of the high streets and urges central and local Government to take action as soon as possible.

The Government must get its policy on broadband right by ensuring that everyone has access to adequate broadband as a new report from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows online trade is vital for growth.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and All Party Parliamentary Small Business Group (APPSBG) are launching an inquiry into entrepreneurship today, as new figures show that almost a third of small businesses at start-up stage have difficulty finding suitably skilled staff, ahead of employment statistics next week which are set to show another rise in unemployment.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) welcomes the Chancellor's Autumn Statement saying that it is a step in the right direction to help small firms that are central to economic growth and job creation in the UK.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is concerned that the Government has yet to make it clear how it will ensure that the UK has a seamless broadband infrastructure to avoid a divide between rural and urban areas, as figures show that for many small businesses broadband speeds aren't adequate.

The Chancellor should continue to provide the foundations for long term growth, with a particular focus on reducing regulation as well as addressing the pressing problem of rising youth unemployment in his forthcoming Autumn Statement, says the Federation of Small Businesses

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) will be championing Real-Life Entrepreneurs in its FSB Village at the Business Startup Show for the second time this year, this week.

A fifth of small businesses would like to see robust codes of conduct, overseen by an independent ombudsman to help improve the practices of collecting societies, new statistics from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) show.

The Government must be bold in its development of credit easing, ensuring that it is separate from the banks, affordable and available as soon as possible to help small businesses, says the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is concerned that the Government has triggered a rush by big businesses to mass purchase solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment leaving small firms high and dry, following its announcement that it plans to cut the Feed-In-Tariff (Fit) rate earlier than expected.

Government must introduce a small employer's relief for the recovery of statutory sick pay (SSP), as new figures from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) show that sickness absence costs small businesses on average £1,500 per year.

A rush toward ill thought out development simply to generate quick revenue will damage regions in the long run, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has said in its consultation response to the Local Government Resource Review, which closes today (Monday 24 October).

A targeted VAT cut and a National Insurance Contributions (NICs) holiday must be introduced for small firms as small business confidence fell to -9.3 due to the pressure of weak demand and rising costs, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) ‘Voice of Small Business' Index.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has welcomed an optional European common sales law as new figures show that it would make small firms' lives easier for nearly a fifth of businesses that sell online to other EU countries.

Proposals to charge small firms for ‘material' faults found during inspections by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) could damage relationships and may be seen as a way to raise revenue rather than improving compliance, says the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in response to a consultation which closes today.