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In December, the Index, which tracks the quarterly performance of business turnover among Bibby Financial Services’ 3,000-strong UK client base, dropped to 95.3, the lowest monthly reading since May 2010.

This was a result of severe weather conditions causing disruptions to many firms and the short nature of the month in which businesses closed for trade over the Christmas period. Despite these factors, the overall Index reading for Q4 2010 reached 99.5, an increase of 8.5 per cent on Q4 2009.

This positive sign is reinforced by the fact that business turnover in the final quarter of 2010 is the highest Q4 reading in three years and the third highest quarterly reading ever recorded in the Index. This has helped to make 2010 the strongest year on record, with the Index average of 96.5, up by 13.5 per cent on 2009.

All sectors saw a year-on-year improvement in turnover with a seasonal boost in productivity helping to stimulate growth. Transport and storage triumphed as the best-performing sector with a quarterly Index reading of 116.6 in Q4 2010 an increase of 33.1 per cent since Q4 2009.

This is the highest quarterly reading the sector has seen since the Index began in 2007. This was closely followed by the wholesale industry, which saw the Index reach 112.6 in the fourth quarter, up by 17 per cent on the same period last year. A seasonal peak in November raised the Index to 122.8, the highest reading the sector has seen since October 2007.

The pre-Christmas surge in output is reflected in the outlook of business owners and managers across the UK, which was captured at the end of November.

A series of 300 interviews conducted by Bibby Financial Services – a prominent provider of finance for business – as part of the report show a correlation between performance and confidence, with almost three quarters (72 per cent) of firms responding positively when asked how their business is currently faring.

This is up slightly from the 68 per cent who responded in the same manner in Q3 2010. These results align with the findings of the latest British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey, which reports that profitability confidence increased by seven points in Q4, to +30%, the highest level since Q4 2007.

Edward Rimmer, UK chief executive at Bibby Financial Services, comments: “Our latest Business Factors Index reveals some very promising signs regarding the current state of the UK economy and its prospects for growth in 2011.

“The fact that overall turnover among our client base in Q4 is 8.5 per cent higher than the same period a year ago suggests that not even the disruptive weather in December could prevent UK businesses from driving the economy forward from where it stood at the end of 2009.

“Despite the latest ONS figures showing that UK GDP declined by 0.5 per cent in the final quarter of 2010, it is apparent that business activity is continuing to grow and as an economy, we are still on the gradual road to recovery.”

Attitudes captured among owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses in November suggest that confidence is in line with performance:

• The number of businesses claiming things are really tough and they’re only just surviving, or have had to make cuts to their business, has declined slightly from almost a third (32 per cent) in Q3 to 28 per cent in Q4 2010.
• The level of optimism has remained the same as the previous quarter, with a third (33 per cent) of firms stating they are hopeful for the future.
• The number of firms that claim their business has never been in better shape, or is actually benefiting from the recession, has not altered since Q3, when 14 per cent responded in this manner. This is due to increased demand for services across several sectors, such as wholesale and transport and storage, which flourished in November.

Does sentiment vary across the regions?

Welsh firms have experienced the greatest turnaround in business performance since the last quarter, with 60 per cent (the highest regional reading), claiming that their business is steady, compared to just 24 per cent in Q3. Furthermore, 17 per cent, again the highest reading, say their business has never been in better shape.

In contrast, businesses in Scotland offer the bleakest picture of their current trading climate, with 62 per cent stating that conditions are tough and that they are only just surviving or that they have been forced to make cuts to the business, compared to only 20 per cent in Q3.

Kate Sharp, CEO Asset Based Finance Association, says: “The results of the latest Business Factors Index are indicative of the potential that small and medium-sized businesses have in bringing about economic recovery in the UK.

“Firms are still working through tough economic conditions and 2011 looks set to be another challenging year. However, the fact that turnover is increasing shows that many firms are developing additional revenue streams and there is hope on the horizon.

“Securing funding both to invest and grow is imperative for businesses if they are to sustain growth and ensuring that they are given adequate financial support to do this should be the key focus of the Government this year.”

Edward Rimmer concludes: “Despite positive signs of growth in Q4 2010, the reality remains that businesses are trying to survive and grow in extremely challenging trading conditions.

“As the CBI* outlines, continued cuts in government expenditure are likely to prevent economic activity from gathering any great momentum in 2011, while the rise in VAT, fuel costs and inflation will place additional pressure on all businesses and effect their confidence, not to mention cash flow.

“As a result of these expectations, firms remain cautious about economic recovery but we expect the curve of growth to continue on a steady path. The majority of our clients (60 per cent) continue to cut costs in order to prepare their businesses for further economical challenges ahead, while 45 per cent are managing debt more stringently.

“Looking ahead, in order for businesses to see any growth in 2011, they must keep their financial options open and seek commercial finance solutions which can benefit them in the short and long term. It is important to ensure businesses are prepared for growth and have access to funding where needed.

“With this in mind, it is vital that the Government not only takes robust action to ensure banks increase lending to firms, but that more is done to educate business owners on funding options. That way, they will be given the opportunity to take control of their cash flow and play their part in driving economic revival in this country.”

This and subsequent quarterly updates to the Business Factor Index will be issued by Bibby Financial Services and are available online at the company website.

* CBI Economic & Business Outlook December 2010

In the modern business environment, a growing number of people have to relocate because of their work commitments. It’s a fact of life for many, and the majority of them would rather find property to let, as opposed to committing to a purchase. Buying a home in the current economic climate isn’t a particularly appealing prospect for a lot of people.

Relocating represents a unique set of potential problems for home-seekers. In most cases, they are having to move to an area which they know very little about. They will often be unaware of the local facilities and amenities, such as the public transport network, the best areas for shopping, the location of hospitals and which neighbourhoods are more desirable.

Needless to say, every town and city in the United Kingdom has its own unique characteristics. The Internet is an excellent information source for people who want to do a little homework about their new location.
Whether you are on the lookout for a flat in Finchley or a house in Hartlepool, the best thing to do is to check out the property to let in the given area. It only takes a few minutes to find some superb possibilities.

The key word here is exposure. The more people that see the details of the property, the higher the chances are of leasing it out quickly. Therefore, the owner should be making a concerted effort to make sure as many potential lessees know about the existence and availability of the home in question. It’s imperative that the property gets maximum exposure.

Placing details of the flat or house in a local newspaper is one option, although there won’t be a large number of people seeing the advert. A far better choice would be to contact a local letting agency, which will then place a comprehensive description, as well as a photograph or two, on their website.

There are millions of Internet users in Britain, and the web has now become the first place for home-seekers to look. The chances of finding a tenant are greatly multiplied if the property owner opts to engage a letting agency.

In these difficult economic times, a flat or house that remains empty for too long represents a significant loss of potential income. When it comes to offering property to let, web-based letting agents beat local newspapers every time.

Using the website of a letting agency could not be simpler. A few clicks of a computer mouse will enable the user to gather a bespoke list of properties that will match the individual’s specific criteria, and all in a matter of seconds. There are a number of ways to filter out all the flats to let that are inappropriate to the home-seeker’s requirements.

For example, perhaps the most important factor for any potential tenant is the cost of the monthly rent. It only takes a second or two to specify a minimum and maximum outlay, thereby removing those places that are outside the price range. After all, searching properties that are not affordable is nothing more than a time wasting exercise.

The location of the property is obviously also a very important factor. With these websites, it’s so easy to simply enter a postcode into the database, which will remove all of those flats to let that are not in the required area. Whether you are looking for a place in Maidstone or Manchester, the best place to find it is, without doubt, on the worldwide web.

Bird control is now an issue for many businesses, whether it is preventing pigeons from landing on guttering near a car park, where they cause a mess to the cars, or stopping sparrows and other birds from nesting from inside warehouse areas.

There are many methods to deal with these problems, and as time has gone on, the more effective ways have turned out to be the more humane ones. For example, to stop birds alighting on roofs or gutters, spikes can be used which stop them landing. In other areas, netting can be used to prevent either their landing or entry.

With so many methods now available, shooting or trapping should only ever be a last resort, and whilst it may be effective for a short while, it does not solve the problem.

If you own a large business, or are responsible for the health and safety or hygiene of a business, it may be worthwhile consulting a pest control specialist who will be able to suggest the best ways of controlling unwanted birds.

SocialVibe received $4.2 million in Series A funding led by Redpoint Ventures in December 2007.[3] It was launched in February 2008 in public beta,[4] and, as of January 12, 2009, its members have raised a total of more than $250,000 for their respective charities.[5] On August 25th, SocialVibe formed a partnership with Interpublic, one of four major advertising holding companies worldwide, and its largest liaison to date.[6][7]

In spite of recent economic decline, in January 2009, JAFCO Ventures led an initiative along with Redpoint Ventures to raise the toal amount invested in the company to $12 Million, as the company shifts to a revenue sharing model with the charities it represents (all of the money raised on SocialVibe formerly went to the charity itself)