Business news

Bank defends effect of quantitative easing on pension pots

24 May 12: The deputy governor of the Bank of England's decision making committee has defended its use of quantitative easing (QE) as savers see their pension pots squeezed.

£200 million coaching programme aims to accelerate SME growth

24 May 12: A new £200 million coaching programme aimed at helping up to 26,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to reach their full potential, has been launched by the Government.

HMRC launches new helpline and improved tax services for the bereaved

23 May 12: HMRC is to improve the quality of its contact processes and provide extra support for those who have suffered bereavement from this month, it has confirmed.

Businesses call for extended jobless entrepreneur funding

23 May 12: Small business groups are calling for the new enterprise allowance (NEA) scheme to be extended to encourage more jobless entrepreneurs to set up businesses.

UK inflation falls to two year low

22 May 12: Inflation fell to its lowest level since February 2010 in April, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.