Business structures

Seventy per cent of all new businesses are started at home, research by AXA Business Insurance and the Enterprise Nation business network has found.

A new employment status that allows workers to waive certain rights - such as the ability to claim for unfair dismissal - in exchange for shares has come into effect.

The Government has launched a consultation on providing two new tax reliefs worth £50 million to boost and support the creation of employee-owned companies.

British businesses are to be given more education and support on becoming employee-owned firms, the minister for employment relations Jo Swinson has announced.

Only four per cent of Britain's SMEs have provided goods and services for the Olympic and Paralympic games, a survey claims.

Britain's eight biggest cities outside London have been handed more power to make localised decisions on finance, transport and education, the Government has announced.

Reforms affecting the way top executives are paid are to be brought forward, the Government has announced.

Over 80 per cent of UK firms now offer employees flexible working options, a new study has found; although nearly 38 per cent of businesses only extend the privilege to senior members of staff.

Improving gender equality is vital in driving a European economic recovery, an annual report by the European Commission (EC) has said.

Businesses remain confident of their prospects for the next six months, despite losing confidence in the global economy.