Startacus Monthly Financial News Round-up - September 2014
by Startacus Admin
Welcome to the Startacus monthly financial news round-up, brought to you by Sophie Turton of Crunch Accounting.
Scotland decided to stay in the UK and the media moved their clairvoyance elsewhere. Meanwhile, September saw more growth for small and micro-businesses, who, it is predicted, will change the face of British enterprise. Ed Miliband also showed his support for the self-employed ‘army’, highlighting the need for better government backing and growth schemes.
60% of small businesses expect growth 
60% of small firms in the UK expect to grow over the next 12 months, with all sectors reporting a positive outlook for the seventh quarter in a row, according to a survey by the Federation of Small Business (FSB).
The report coincides with the latest growth figures from the Office for National Statistics, which show the economy grew 3.2% in Q2 this year. This continued growth has prompted a stronger confidence in small businesses, who, it is believed, will continue to “spearhead the UK’s recovery.”
Crowdfunding grows in popularity
A third of small businesses say that crowdfunding will be their most preferable funding option in the next year, according to survey by law firm, Irwin Mitchell.
They report showed alternative business funding is growing in popularity and acceptance, with 77% of businesses saying they would consider crowdfunding as an option. 73% are for P2P lending and 69% for angel investment.
Miliband gets behind self-employed ‘army’
Ed Miliband pledged to support the UK’s self-employed at the Manchester Labour conference towards the end of the month. He said:
“To the growing army of our self-employed, five million working people so often the most entrepreneurial, go-getting people in our country, they don’t want special treatment, but they do deserve a fair shot.
“Two thirds have no pension. Because of the jobs they do, one in five is stopped from getting a mortgage. It is time to end this modern, 21st century discrimination. The next Labour government will ensure there are equal rights for the self-employed.” 
Average Brit happy with wages but not happy with their jobs
British people are happy with their financial situation but unfulfilled in their jobs, a new global survey looking into people’s lives has shown.
51% said they were not “thriving” when it came to the purpose of their work, whereas 46% said their financial situation was “thriving”.
Dan Witters, who was a research director of the project suggesting the UK’s economic recovery may be to blame. He said: “As the country’s employment situation improved, it’s possible that many job seekers took the first available position they could get, without regard for whether the job was a good fit for their talents or long-term goals.”
Micro-businesses geared to change the face of British enterprise
The swelling number of micro-businesses in the UK looks set to change the way Britain does business, as more and more entrepreneurs strive to make money from their hobby, says new research from the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).
The number of people who are part-time self-employed increased by 10% since the beginning of 2014 and by 31% since 2000, signalling a rise in a new way of working.
If you're interested in finance news, why not check out 'Crunch Accounting' or some of our other financial roundups!
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Disease Screening and Diagnosis startup, Occuity has raised more than £1m, supported by Angel Investment Network
Third-generation German shipowner turned venture capitalist, Christian Oldendorff, is one of the youngest leaders, recognised in The Thirty@30 Years list
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The lowdown on the Liverpool-based Nova programme that is on the hunt for ambitious, early-stage founders and teams from throughout the UK to be part of its next cohort
We take a look at some basic tips on how social media has evolved and how small business owners can make it work to their advantage
If you're thinking about your business making the move to remote working on a permanent basis, these tips from other business owners will help
Wakuda is a new e-commerce marketplace for black-owned businesses in the UK that aims to stimulate the black economy and help empower the black community
Resilience and Recovery, a new report from The Female Founders Forum is released outlining the impact of COVID-19 on female-founded, equity-backed businesses
Landscape launches - the platform that’s bringing transparency to fundraising founders and is being described as the ‘Glassdoor for Venture Capital’
The global early-stage venture capital firm Antler reveals that it has invested in 7 tech startups from its second UK cohort
Published on: 29th September 2014
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- Nova seeking ambitious founders for its co-foundery programme 15th Oct 2020 The lowdown on the Liverpool-based Nova programme that is on the hunt for ambitious, early-stage founders and teams from throughout the UK to be part of its next cohort
- Impact of COVID-19 on female-led businesses 13th Oct 2020 Resilience and Recovery, a new report from The Female Founders Forum is released outlining the impact of COVID-19 on female-founded, equity-backed businesses
- Landscape - transparency for fundraising founders 13th Oct 2020 Landscape launches - the platform that’s bringing transparency to fundraising founders and is being described as the ‘Glassdoor for Venture Capital’
- Antler invests in 7 new UK tech startups 12th Oct 2020 The global early-stage venture capital firm Antler reveals that it has invested in 7 tech startups from its second UK cohort
