UK is one of top places to do business
The 2015 World Bank Ease of Doing Business report places the UK as the sixth out of 189 countries, ahead of the US, Germany and Japan when it comes to ease of doing business. It is up two places, from eighth last year. Sajid Javid, business secretary, said: "The UK has once again climbed up the rankings and is one of the top places in the world to do business, getting closer to the government's target of reaching the top five. This is international recognition of the UK's strong and stable business environment, competitiveness and entrepreneurial spirit."
HMRC customer service is "failing UK taxpayers"
MPs on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have criticised the levels of customer service provided by HMRC, accusing the tax body of only answering 50% of phone calls to its customer care centre. Meg Hillier, chair of the PAC, said HMRC must "rapidly improve its customer service, previously described by the PAC as abysmal and now even worse". It also described HMRC's record of 11 prosecutions for offshore tax evasion in the past five years as "woefully inadequate".
BCC challenges business myths
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has published a series of articles challenging what it calls the "cosy Westminster consensus" on a range of business and economic issues. Entitled Bursting the Bubble: 10 ways Westminster gets it wrong on business and the economy, the publication challenges establishment myths about debt, productivity, bank finance, education, infrastructure, inward investment, exports, the EU, energy and broadband. John Longworth, BCC director general, said: "The quality of debate in Westminster needs a real shake-up, and so too do some of the lazy assumptions that guide government decisions on business and the economy."
Vast majority of UK employers suffering staff shortages
Widespread shortages of permanent and temporary staff mean that 94% of UK employers are operating with limited capacity to take on more work according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). The REC says eight in ten businesses plan to hire permanent staff in the next three months, and three-quarters plan to increase headcount in the medium term. It says 67% have either increased pay or headcount in the last year, while 79% have taken on agency workers to access key skills. Suzie McCafferty, managing director of Select Appointments, said: "The latest figures from the REC show the whole of the UK is pretty much working at full capacity right now, with very limited scope to take on more work."