Out from the jaws of adversity

MORE than one-in-three Oldham entrepreneurs are looking to start their own business during the economic downturn and more than half of Oldham small business owners believe the next great British company will be born during the current recession.

Despite being in the midst of some of the toughest trading conditions since the 1990s, economic downturn cannot dampen the British spirit of entrepreneurialism according to research commissioned by Alibaba.com, the world’s largest online B2B marketplace for small businesses.

Maggie Choo, a director at Alibaba.com, says: “It comes as no surprise that Oldham small businesses are defying the recession.

“UK entrepreneurs are renowned for being highly creative and adaptable, quick to seize new market opportunities and adept at problem solving.


Chamber networking lunch date
Oldham Chamber of Commerce members are invited to a networking lunch at the Bower Hotel, Chadderton, on Friday December 4. Taking place between noon and 2pm, the lunch in open to members and their guests. Places can be reserved by emailing events manager Pauline Pawlykiwskyj at Pauline.P awlykiwskyj@business-support-solutions.co.uk or by calling her on 0161-875 2357.


Broadband high in the sky

FROM the middle of next year, Lufthansa customers from Manchester Airport will be able to enjoy the full freedom to communicate via the internet above the clouds as the airline relaunches FlyNet, its on-board broadband service.

Additionally, the new service will permit in-flight data transfer over standard GSM/GPRS mobile networks. Through FlyNet, Lufthansa passengers will have WLAN Internet access and be able to send SMS messages by mobile phone and transfer data via smartphones such as PDA, iPhone or BlackBerry devices.

With its new business partner Panasonic, Lufthansa aims to equip a major part of its long-range fleet with FlyNet within the first year of operation.


Revenue wants ‘ins and outs’

REVENUE and Customs (HMRC) wants to dramatically increase its powers to demand information from companies on customers and clients so that it can target them for investigations.

At present, HMRC largely restricts its requests for information on taxpayers to banks and estate agents, but now wants the right to be able to routinely ask all companies for data on their trading partners. According to Manchester accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young, companies could be asked to provide details on their suppliers so that HMRC can pursue those suppliers it believes are not paying the right amount of VAT.

HMRC also wants the right to levy bigger fines on companies that fail to provide the information on their customers.