Sirius Resource Centre

START-UP RESOURCE

It's essential to promote your business. If customers don't know you exist, how can you ever hope to sell to them?

But when money is tight, how can you afford a big marketing push? No need to panic. There are plenty of low cost and no-cost methods of spreading the word.

Link: http://sirius-hull.startupinfohub.co.uk/

Hull Business Support Handbook

Welcome to the latest edition of Hull City Council’s Business Support Handbook.

The Hull and Humber area is on the brink of an exciting and transformational period of economic activity and growth.

Following the Siemens announcement, over the next several years our area aims to become...

Link: Handbook Download

MARKETING RESOURCE

With an engaging mix of how-to guides, feature articles, checklists, expert Q&As, FAQs, case studies, video content and blogs, each site provides new and established businesses with free advice about how to manage a range of key tasks and issues. The sites also contain a weekly round-up of small business news.

Donut information is updated regularly and checked by a network of leading business support professionals and independent experts.

Link: http://sirius-hull.marketinginfohub.co.uk/

Would-be entrepreneurs delay start-up plans as election looms

New research has found that while many Brits want to start a business, nearly half say that economic instability and uncertainty ahead of the next general election is deterring them from starting up.

23/04/2024

All change for small firms as the new tax year begins

Small businesses are looking to make significant operational changes, especially around efficiency and finances, in the 2024/25 financial year.

16/04/2024

Small firms are optimistic for 2024 as they go for growth

A new survey of small businesses has found that two-thirds of UK business owners and freelancers say they expect to do better in 2024 compared to last year.

08/04/2024

IR35 tax changes leave one in ten contractors out of work

A new survey by the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) has found that 10% of skilled freelancers are currently out of work due to the impact of controversial reforms to IR35 tax legislation.

08/04/2024

Seven in ten workers unaware of new flexible working law

Research by Acas has found that most employees don't know about new laws that will make it easier to request flexible working.

02/04/2024

One in eight SME owners now use online influencers

More and more small businesses are using social media influencers as part of their sales and marketing strategy; and new research shows that those that do are reaping the rewards.

25/03/2024

Small firms struggle as bank branches close

A new study has investigated the impact of bank branch closures on the UK's small business community.

25/03/2024

Invaluable free guide on contract law basics launched

UK businesses of all sizes, and in all sectors, can benefit from a new free information guide that has been launched by Business Companion to give a clear, concise, and up-to-date overview of the key aspects of contract law for their everyday operations.

21/03/2024

Could the Bank of England interest rate fall this week?

Financial analysts predict that the Bank of England is likely to reduce interest rates in the coming months but will they cut the rate when they meet this week? Businesses are certainly hoping for good news but most economic pundits expect the rate to stay the same.

19/03/2024

HMRC asks businesses to pay back R&D tax relief

Thousands of small businesses have been asked to pay back the R&D tax relief they received in recent years as part of an HMRC crackdown on error and fraud.

12/03/2024

UK sees leap in digital start-ups with six figure turnovers

Despite challenging conditions, the number of UK digital micro-businesses turning over more than £100,000-a-year grew substantially during 2023.

12/03/2024

Spring Budget 2024 receives mixed reaction

Although Chancellor Jeremy Hunt claimed small businesses were close to his heart during his Spring Budget speech, many of those who represent the UK’s 5.5m SMEs were left distinctly underwhelmed.

06/03/2024

Why "start-up stigma" is holding back entrepreneurs

Societal pressures to conform and lack of support from friends and family are key barriers for people that want to start their own business, according to new research.

05/03/2024

Small firms steer clear of business loans with personal guarantees

New research has found that many business owners are reluctant to take out loans to help grow their business because of the risk to their personal assets, including their homes.

27/02/2024

Registering a company to get more expensive

The fee that businesses have to pay to register a limited company with Companies House is to increase significantly from 1 May 2024.

27/02/2024

Digital start ups soar during cost-of-living crisis

Despite challenging conditions, the number of UK digital micro businesses turning over more than £ 100,000 a year grew substantially during 2023, and almost a fifth (17%) now bring in six-figure sums, according to new figures published this week.

27/02/2024

Seven in ten small firms are open to switching banks

A new survey of UK small business owners has found that 69% of those polled said they would consider changing banks this year, as many seek new ways to grow their business.

20/02/2024

Amazon VAT checks cause cashflow crisis for small traders

Amazon is withholding payments from hundreds of UK sellers while it conducts new VAT checks; some traders are reporting that they are still waiting to be paid even though they have supplied all the necessary documentation.

20/02/2024

Record 900,000 new businesses launched in 2023

Street food stalls, property letting businesses and online retailers were the biggest growth sectors in 2023, as the number of UK start-ups increased by 12% compared to 2022.

13/02/2024

UK small businesses miss out on £7.4 billion due to unpaid invoices

According to a new survey by Capital on Tap, only 1% of small businesses in the UK have never had to deal with an overdue invoice

07/02/2024

Brits overestimate the cost of starting a business

Funding is a significant barrier for would-be entrepreneurs but new research has found that most people think that business start-up costs are far higher than they really are.

06/02/2024

Half of UK workers say their job stops them from keeping fit

Despite good intentions - especially at this time of year - many Brits lack the time or energy to exercise outside of work, according to a new report.

06/02/2024

A record 11.5 million tax returns filed by the deadline

HMRC has revealed that a record number of Self Assessment tax returns were submitted by the filing deadline.

02/02/2024

Newcastle is named best place to start a business

New research has found that Newcastle, London and Leicester are the best UK cities to start a small business in 2024, based on data including business growth and average monthly rents.

30/01/2024

Taxpayers warned about fake HMRC messages

As the 31 January self assessment tax deadline approaches, Brits are being urged not to fall for phishing emails, calls or texts that purport to come from the UK tax body HMRC.

23/01/2024

Elite Business Live to take place this March

The premier business conference, Elite Business Live, is set to open its doors for the 11th year on 13-14 March 2024, at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, St. Paul's, London.

18/01/2024

Polls show greater optimism among small business owners

Business surveys published this month suggest that one in two small business owners are feeling optimistic about their prospects in 2024, with many looking to grow.

16/01/2024

Pandemic has led to “midlife self-employment surge”

Tens of thousands of Brits aged over 50 have started running their own businesses in the past three years, bucking an overall downward trend in self-employment.

09/01/2024

HMRC targets Brits that sell online in new tax crackdown

Anyone selling goods or services via online platforms needs to be aware of new rules regarding the way that digital platforms such as eBay share information with HMRC; it could affect the amount of tax they have to pay.

09/01/2024

Calls for pensions to be included in divorce proceedings

Family lawyers call for pensions to be a compulsory part of divorce proceedings as full-scale of pension disparity revealed

03/01/2024

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Why not see if Sirius can help you with funding & support?

Client Testimonials

I had a great business idea, contacts and knowledge, so why work for someone else? But the banks were unsure about my choice of location for the business and refused me the loan that I needed.

Sirius recognised the potential and gave me a start-up loan. Once I gained the backing of Sirius, the banks started to take my proposal more seriously. Without this support I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do what I am doing now.”

Interiors-thestudio.com has now been trading for ten years. The business continues to expand, setting up an e-commerce website and diversifying into the contract market, offering furniture and a complete interior design service for bars, beauty salons and offices. “Sirius believed in me when no one else would. Now I’m expanding, taking on new staff and giving young people a chance. If you put your mind to it, anything is possible”

START-UP RESOURCE

Hull Business Support Handbook

MARKETING RESOURCE

Would-be entrepreneurs delay start-up plans as election looms

All change for small firms as the new tax year begins

Small firms are optimistic for 2024 as they go for growth

IR35 tax changes leave one in ten contractors out of work

Seven in ten workers unaware of new flexible working law

One in eight SME owners now use online influencers

Small firms struggle as bank branches close

Invaluable free guide on contract law basics launched

Could the Bank of England interest rate fall this week?

HMRC asks businesses to pay back R&D tax relief

UK sees leap in digital start-ups with six figure turnovers

Spring Budget 2024 receives mixed reaction

Why "start-up stigma" is holding back entrepreneurs

Small firms steer clear of business loans with personal guarantees

Registering a company to get more expensive

Digital start ups soar during cost-of-living crisis

Seven in ten small firms are open to switching banks

Amazon VAT checks cause cashflow crisis for small traders

Record 900,000 new businesses launched in 2023

UK small businesses miss out on £7.4 billion due to unpaid invoices

Brits overestimate the cost of starting a business

Half of UK workers say their job stops them from keeping fit

A record 11.5 million tax returns filed by the deadline

Newcastle is named best place to start a business

Taxpayers warned about fake HMRC messages

Elite Business Live to take place this March

Polls show greater optimism among small business owners

Pandemic has led to “midlife self-employment surge”

HMRC targets Brits that sell online in new tax crackdown

Calls for pensions to be included in divorce proceedings

Client Testimonials

Jason Bowers - Interiorsâ€“TheStudio.Com

In Partnership with

Lunch and Learn: Getting your business ready to access funding