Author Archive for Ian Jindal

US/UK “love in” on entrepreneurship

Published
by
Ian Jindal
  on  February 16, 2005
  in  Business innovation and Current events
. 0 Comments

This transcript (http://www.sbs.gov.uk/default.php?page=/speeches/houseofreps.php) is of the UK’s Director General of the Small Business Service, an executive agency of the Department of Trade and Industry.

It’s difficult to read this - either as a small business owner, a support of enterprise or someone who works in the enterprise sector - without significant reservation that the PR content significantly outweighs the real benefit.

Continue reading ‘US/UK “love in” on entrepreneurship’

Yet another “survey” shows growth in SME web use…

Published
by
Ian Jindal
  on  December 16, 2004
  in  eCommerce
. 0 Comments

I’m not sure why people bother “reporting” “surveys” of - gasp - 150 people, but - in a shock finding from which we’re all reeling - it appears that SMEs in the UK expect to increase their online revenues by 25%.

Here’s Netimperative’s uncritical take on the press release - oops, I mean ‘research’.

The shock conclusion is that 100,000 SMEs may not have websites. Shouldn’t we look at this in more detail? There are good reasons for SMEs to have a web presence - whether in a directory, their own site, or otherwise. Continue reading ‘Yet another “survey” shows growth in SME web use…’

Businesses vote to pay more tax for services: local issues

Published
by
Ian Jindal
  on  December 6, 2004
  in  eGovernment
. 0 Comments

The issues of “thinking and acting locally” have taken a back seat in the UK Government’s drive for regional democracy and representation in England. While London and a handful of other cities have opted for directly-elected Mayors, there’s been little appetite elsewhere for measures that are widely-perceived to constitute increased bureaucracy rather than increased service and accountability.

It’s interesting and refreshing then to see businesses voting at a local level to increase the taxes they pay ( a 1% increase on their business rates - a method by which local authorities levy an ‘open for business’ tax upon businesses in their area) - in return for increased services. Continue reading ‘Businesses vote to pay more tax for services: local issues’