Innovative small businesses are being called on to enter the Nectar Business Awards for a chance to win a £4,000 prize.

Now in their second year, the awards will reward business owners that can demonstrate a combination of innovative thinking, best practice and hard work. Free to enter,

Businesses that have helped improve their local community have been called on to enter the Enterprising Britain awards for a chance to raise the profile of enterprise in their region.

The awards recognise the most enterprising locations across the UK, but firms that have helped create

Employers who take on apprentices can now measure their return on investment (ROI), following the launch of a free online calculator by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS).

The Return on Investment Calculator is available on the NAS website. It works by estimating the average costs

Hospitality firms are being urged to make their tipping policy more transparent, after new research found that nearly two-thirds of customers do not know where their tips go.

The survey by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) also found that 95 per cent of people

Business owners who think they have been overcharged on their business rates, since the last revaluation in 2005, have only got until the end of March to apply for a rebate.

New rateable values are introduced on 1 April 2010. Businesses that think they have been overcharged during the

A comprehensive review of business regulations and a simpler tax system are the priorities for small firms in this year's Budget, business groups have said.

The demands follow confirmation from HM Treasury that this year's Budget speech will take place on 24 March.

Forum of

Employers must monitor staff expenses claims more closely in the current economic environment ¯ that's the message from fuel card company FuelGenie, which found that one in 30 employees in small firms admitted to making false claims.

FuelGenie spokeswoman, Sarah Keane, said that

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has revised its economic forecast for the UK's recovery, warning that the rate of growth will be slower next year than anticipated.

The BCC had predicted growth of 2.3 per cent in 2011, but in its latest forecast has downgraded that figure to 2.1

Businesses in the North West which can demonstrate that their green measures have improved their profits have been called on to enter the Northwest Business Environment Awards.

The awards are hosted by the North West Regional Development Agency and environmental business support group

Farmers are now among the business owners who can access dedicated support from Business Link, following the launch of a farming section on the BusinessLink.gov.uk website.

The new guidance on the site includes advice for farmers on securing funding, managing their operations and

A third of small firms expect the majority of their revenue to come from online sales over the next five years, research from PayPoint has revealed.

The Powering Small Business Britain survey of 800 small firms found that 35 per cent expect to rely on online trading to generate most of

Employers can find out how to prepare for changes to VAT payments, PAYE and corporation tax, following the launch of a "Super Podcast" by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

The podcast, which covers four key areas rather than the usual one, includes important VAT changes which come into