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       <description>Small Business, Freelance and Outsourcing News</description>
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        <title>Policymakers split over interest rates</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Policymakers_split_over_interest_rates/18660881/</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:18:09 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Most of Bank of England policymakers voted to keep rates unchanged at 5% at July&amp;rsquo;s meeting, but one voted for an interest rate rise and another for a cut. ]]> </description>
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        <title>Credit crunch "treated lightly" by marketers</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Credit_crunch_treated_lightly_by_marketers/18660880/</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:13:39 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A &amp;ldquo;surprisingly high&amp;rdquo; number of marketers said they were confident that their companies will increase their business over the next year when asked by the Chartered Institute of Marketing. ]]> </description>
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        <title>Credit crunch forces middle class professionals to seek extra income</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Credit_crunch_forces_middle_class_professionals_to_seek_extra_income/18660879/</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:42:23 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Thousands of middle class professionals are looking to earn extra income in order to deal with the credit crunch and soaring prices. ]]> </description>
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        <title>Outsourcing to private sector doubles to £80bn.</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Outsourcing_to_private_sector_doubles_to_£80bn./18660878/</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:07:42 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ An article published in the FT today says that outsourcing of public services to the private and voluntary sectors has almost doubled to close to &amp;pound;80bn in little more than a decade and makes up a far larger part of the economy than previously thought ]]> </description>
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        <title>Freelancers reject pay-rise to stay self-employed </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Freelancers_reject_pay-rise_to_stay_self-employed_/18660877/</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:36:10 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A recent study has shown that 50% of freelancers would reject a 100% increase in pay if it meant returning to regular employment.
An independent working life, flexible hours and being your own boss were quoted as reasons for rejecting a return to the &amp;lsquo;rat race&amp;rsquo;, even with the cash incentive. ]]> </description>
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        <title>Inflation is fuelling UK’s second job culture</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Inflation_is_fuelling_UK’s_second_job_culture/18660876/</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:50:30 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Consumer inflation is forcing increasing numbers of people to seek second income, says online marketplace for services PeoplePerHour.com. ]]> </description>
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        <title>Entrepreneurs see opportunity in downturn </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Entrepreneurs_see_opportunity_in_downturn_/18660874/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ An economic downturn is a time when many entrepreneurs see new opportunities for business, according to research by Tenon Forum. Over 60 per cent of entrepreneurs are feeling confident in the year ahead, and the number of entrepreneurs making &amp;quot;concrete plans&amp;quot; during the credit crisis has risen from 70 per cent in 2007 to 85 per cent now.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>Use internet or phone when conducting business research </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Use_internet_or_phone_when_conducting_business_research_/18659014/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A market research company has said that businesses should use the internet or the telephone to conduct &amp;quot;cost effective&amp;quot; research.According to Simon Lidington, vice president of The Market Research Society (MRS), small businesses could benefit most from good online or telephone research.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>Petrol prices 'affects' small business growth </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Petrol_prices_affects_small_business_growth_/18658822/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The high cost of oil worldwide, and high duty imposed by the government has created an unstable problem for small businesses. That's according to Phil McCabe of the Forum of Private Business(FPB) who said that few SMEs are seeing any point in planning for the future because of the high price, and continuing rises, in petrol.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>New fund available for female entrepreneurs</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/New_fund_available_for_female_entrepreneurs/18656650/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:52:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Female entrepreneurs are to be able to access a &amp;#163;10 million fund to finance loans, training and mentoring.  A partnership between Lloyds TSB and Enterprising Women is offering members the chance to apply for &amp;#163;30,000 loans from the fund, and is intended to help women entering the world of entrepreneurialism with their business ideas.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>New pay-gap and employment laws to be proposed</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/New_pay-gap_and_employment_laws_to_be_proposed/18656638/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:50:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ All forms of age discrimination are to be outlawed if the government successfully brings in new legislation, the BBC has reported.  Although discrimination over age in work environments has been illegal since 2006, other areas such as travel insurance and health cover will now be targeted, in a change to the Equities Bill expected to be announced today.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>EC announces plans for SMEs </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/EC_announces_plans_for_SMEs_/18656630/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:50:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The European Commission has launched its small business reforms, and promised &amp;quot;less red tape and more red carpet&amp;quot; for the continents SMEs. Among plans released yesterday is the creation of a European Private Company legal status which will allow businesses to trade across the continent without having to incorporate local subsidiaries, and a VAT exemption threshold increase to &amp;#163;80,000, a &amp;#163;13,000 increase on the current UK level.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>Mobiles 'vital' for small businesses </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Mobiles_vital_for_small_businesses_/18658834/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Research from the RadioFrame Networks has found that mobile phones are vital to small business owners. The survey also found that many bosses are now using their phones for a variety of purposes including email, instant messaging and internet browsing.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>FSB calls on EU to 'help small businesses'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/FSB_calls_on_EU_to_help_small_businesses/18654748/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:56:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called on the EU to take positive action to help SMEs fulfil their potential to help Europe get out of its &amp;quot;economic malaise&amp;quot;.  They have pointed to four key areas to help small businesses including regulatory exemptions for micro enterprises, small business elements to impact assessments, clearer EU law commencement dates, and a 12 week consultation period.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>Companies finding recruiting and retention tough</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Companies_finding_recruiting_and_retention_tough/18654732/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:55:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Businesses in the UK are finding it difficult to retain staff as well as recruit them in the first place, according to a new survey.  Recruiters Ochre House found that nearly 70 per cent of the 900 employees surveyed did not plan to stay in their job for more than the next six months, with 28 per cent stating the culture and ethics of their employer as a reason to leave.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>Employers may not be able to offer pensions opt-out</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Employers_may_not_be_able_to_offer_pensions_opt-out/18654713/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:50:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Proposed changes to the Pensions Bill will see employers no longer able to encourage or force their workers out of a workplace pension scheme.  The change will also prohibit the offer of inducements such as bonuses or higher salaries to encourage those in work to not enter a work pension scheme.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>Small businesses benefit from VoIP services</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_benefit_from_VoIP_services/18652420/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:57:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Small businesses and home-workers should consider the benefits of using VoIP (voice over internet protocol) as many are being &amp;quot;exploited&amp;quot; by the big telecom companies, a director has said.  Vincent Potier, managing director of Vonage, a VoIP provider said small businesses should consider the service as &amp;quot;it's much cheaper&amp;quot;. ]]> </description>
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        <title>Employers looking abroad for skilled workers</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Employers_looking_abroad_for_skilled_workers/18652399/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:55:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ An increasing number of employers are now turning to skilled foreign workers to fill specialist shortages, and the UK is now ranked second in a list of the top destination for global workers.  According to statistics released by Manpower, 20 per cent of employers are welcoming workers from the likes of Poland, India and Latvia, the top sources for foreign skills.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Employers_looking_abroad_for_skilled_workers/18652399/438011911</guid>
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        <title>Start-up numbers increase in first quarter</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Start-up_numbers_increase_in_first_quarter/18650537/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Numbers of new start-upshave increased for the highest number in the last three quarters according to new research from Barclays.  Estimates by the bank suggest that there were 98,000 new start-up businesses in England and Wales from January to March this year.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Start-up_numbers_increase_in_first_quarter/18650537/438011911</guid>
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        <title>FSB: Government blamed for rising business costs</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/FSB:_Government_blamed_for_rising_business_costs/18650102/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:05:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The government is being blamed by the majority of small businesses for their inability to cope with rapidly rising costs. That's according to a poll of over 9,000 business owners by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), with nearly 90 per cent saying that policies on items such as fuel were making the situation worse for SMEs.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>Social networks 'beneficial for businesses of all sizes'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Social_networks_beneficial_for_businesses_of_all_sizes/18648136/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Social networking sites have much to offer those businesses hoping to stay at the cutting edge of their sector, whether a small business or large organisation.That's according to the Social Media Portal, which said that sites offering networking services can be instrumental in ensuring that companies are up-to-date with the latest industry developments. ]]> </description>
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        <title>Entrepreneurs 'driven by idea' not money</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Entrepreneurs_driven_by_idea_not_money/18648261/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The desire to see an idea succeed rather than to earn large sums is the force pushing most entrepreneurs to branch out on their own, a recent survey revealed.Research conducted by VentureNavigator found that the impulse to create a start-up operation was a passion for a business concept. ]]> </description>
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        <title>Unusual start-ups added to award candidates </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Unusual_start-ups_added_to_award_candidates_/18645810/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Some surprising new start-ups have made it to the finals of the HSBC Start-Up Stars awards, including an eco wedding stationary business and an environmental coaching firm. Cherrygorgeous, offers stationary for weddings that they claim is carbon neutral, based on their use of local digital printers and 80 per cent recycled material.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>UK 'top' for staff training</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/UK_top_for_staff_training/18648068/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:20:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Britain tops Europe for staff training, a new report claims.In a survey of 1,000 medium and large companies in the UK, French e-learning specialist Cegos found that 61 per cent of staff had training last year, compared to less than 50 per cent of companies in Italy, France, Germany and Spain. ]]> </description>
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        <title>Too much experience can be negative for entrepreneurs</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Too_much_experience_can_be_negative_for_entrepreneurs/18645799/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:05:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Even if an entrepreneur craves experience, it seems to much of something can be bad for you, as a new survey has found that those with to much varied work experience have lower incomes due to not having a specialist area. The findings, in an edited version of the book Entrepreneurs: Jack of all Trades or Hobos? in the Times, also state that the number of occupational categories in which a person works raises their success within that business.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>Entrepreneurs confident of business growth</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Entrepreneurs_confident_of_business_growth/18643570/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:01:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The current state of the UK economy is not a worry to most entrepreneurs, with nearly a half predicting that their revenue will grow over 20 per cent over the next year, according to a survey. However, over half of those questioned in Entrepreneurship UK: 2008 by Deloitte said that their business had already been affected by the credit crunch. ]]> </description>
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        <title>New training law set out by government</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/New_training_law_set_out_by_government/18643546/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Over 20 million workers in England will now be able to request time out to train, the secretary of state of Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham said today. He added that he expected 300,000 people a year to train in their relevant job area under the new legislation, hoped to be in place by 2010.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>Continued lending not good for small business </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Continued_lending_not_good_for_small_business_/18641534/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:40:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A journalist at the Telegraph has warned that the continued strength in corporate lending is not a sustainable path to follow, and small businesses will &amp;quot;bear the brunt&amp;quot; of the turmoil that could engulf the economy. The higher prices of raw materials such as petrol as well as a need for banks to require collateral assets in the form of small businesses' properties, is leaving companies with &amp;quot;little room for manoeuvre&amp;quot;, according to Tracy Corrigan.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>New tool to assess business resilience</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/New_tool_to_assess_business_resilience/18641477/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:10:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ SMEs can now check their resilience in the current financial crunch thanks to a new online tool. The Self Assessment Business Diagnostic, developed by PI consulting, is a five minute online questionnaire that examines company performance in five key areas.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>Outsourcing to increase during credit crunch</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Outsourcing_to_increase_during_credit_crunch/18641466/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:05:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A survey of the British Bankers Association by the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) has found that the credit crunch is likely to lead to a &amp;quot;wave&amp;quot; of outsourcing in the financial industry. Just over half of respondents said that they knew how to get good value from outsourcing, but only a quarter thought they understood how the offshore industry worked.  ]]> </description>
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        <title>New charge for taking away rubbish </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/New_charge_for_taking_away_rubbish_/18639493/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:10:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Small businesses will be hit by a further charge requiring them to buy licences from the government if they wish to take away their own rubbish.A ruling by the European Court of Justice means that up to 388,000 small businesses will be hit by the &amp;#163;30 charge, as well other groups such as GPs and nurses who make home visits.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/New_charge_for_taking_away_rubbish_/18639493/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Teach your child to be a good entrepreneur </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Teach_your_child_to_be_a_good_entrepreneur_/18639306/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:06:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Leading entrepreneurs in the UK are backing a campaign by Country Living magazine that is encouraging children to play outside, with many saying that doing so helped them with their business ideas. Ruth Badger, Sir James Dyson and Sarah Beeny all support the campaign, and say that building wooden tree houses and playing war all added to their strategic thinking and encouraged their entrepreneurialism in later life.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Teach_your_child_to_be_a_good_entrepreneur_/18639306/438011911</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>New small business fraud hitting owners</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/New_small_business_fraud_hitting_owners/18639295/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:05:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Small businesses should be aware of a business-to-business trick that is affecting many in the UK, according to an article on the BBC. An offer to include details on a European-wide business directory may seem like a good idea, but the key is to check the small print.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/New_small_business_fraud_hitting_owners/18639295/438011911</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Small businesses should take managed risks</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_should_take_managed_risks/18637449/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Sun, 15 Jun 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Companies in the UK should take more risk if they want to expand, a new survey by BT has found. In a survey that questioned 2,000 business chiefs over ten countries, 85 per cent of businesses in India said that by being braver there were able to &amp;quot;seek considerable growth&amp;quot; and offer &amp;quot;innovative commercial propositions&amp;quot;.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_should_take_managed_risks/18637449/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Study into freelance work launched</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Study_into_freelance_work_launched/18637298/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Freelance work in the UK is to be studied by Kingston University, in an attempt to find out how many freelancers there are in the country. The Professional Contractors Group (PCG), a freelance trade body, wants to get people to understand there is a third way in the jobs market for people who don't want to be an employee or an employer.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Study_into_freelance_work_launched/18637298/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Young workers: More work, less play</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Young_workers:_More_work,_less_play/18637290/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:25:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Young people are working longer weeks and are letting their home lives slip, a new survey suggests.The findings, by American Express Insurance Services, have questioned whether or not the home-work balance is in good shape, with 44 per cent saying they have no &amp;quot;me time&amp;quot; and 15 per cent say they find it difficult to switch off from work in their free time.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Young_workers:_More_work,_less_play/18637290/438011910</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Website gives start-up advice</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Website_gives_start-up_advice/18635154/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:10:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The challenges facing many start-ups are huge, but the rewards can be just as big, with that in mind BusinessWeek.com has released its tips on the best way to start up a new small business. An important fact to remember is that many start ups won't have much extra time, as many expect. Without any annual holidays or guaranteed weekends, work can be tough and tiring ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Website_gives_start-up_advice/18635154/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Small businesses vulnerable to online fraud</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_vulnerable_to_online_fraud/18635105/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:55:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Deputy first minister for Wales Ieuan Wyn Jones has warned that small businesses are vulnerable to internet fraud. Speaking at an event in Newport yesterday he said: &amp;quot;E-crime affects all areas of society. It can be damaging for businesses, directly hitting their bottom line and deterring them from effective use of the internet.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_vulnerable_to_online_fraud/18635105/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Event to help small businesses</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Event_to_help_small_businesses/18633092/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:39:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A series of regional events aimed at helping start-ups and entrepreneurs set up their own small business will be taking place across the country in the next few weeks. Startupslive, an event sponsored by Barclays, BT Business and Microsoft, is aimed at helping those who require financial backing for their enterprises to find ways of getting it.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Event_to_help_small_businesses/18633092/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Wages stagnate at 40</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Wages_stagnate_at_40/18632955/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:50:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Money website fool.co.uk has reported that contrary to the belief that life begins at 40, many find that wages stagnate after a boom in their 20s and 30s. Unfortunately for those in their 40s a double blow occurs, with not only wages evening off, but also more money being spent in that age bracket, with 85 per cent owning their own homes, three in ten having families in their homes and six out of ten supporting others, including children and parents.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Wages_stagnate_at_40/18632955/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Small businesses 'should shop around for energy supplier'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_should_shop_around_for_energy_supplier/18632939/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:40:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ When facing energy supplier problems small businesses are the least able to cope, energywatch has said. Knowing that contracts for energy are different between companies and consumers, small businesses should shop around for the best deal.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_should_shop_around_for_energy_supplier/18632939/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Apprentice style interview tips </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Apprentice_style_interview_tips_/18626880/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:25:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ As well as inspiring entrepreneurs to start their own businesses, the BBC series The Apprentice can also show how to conduct yourself (or not) in an interview. With that in mind the BBC website has released its top tips for people who find themselves with the interviewer from hell.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Apprentice_style_interview_tips_/18626880/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Small firms confused by FSA advice</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_firms_confused_by_FSA_advice/18630955/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:10:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Continuous fee increases and uncertainty around the Financial Services Authority's (FSA) change to a principles-based approach is leaving many small businesses feeling overwhelmed, a retired expert has said. Mark Rothery, the former chairman of the small businesses panel set up by the FSA, also said that dealing with new fair contract terms is causing confusion.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_firms_confused_by_FSA_advice/18630955/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>More employers using temps </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/More_employers_using_temps_/18631051/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:51:30 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Employers are increasingly turning to temp workers and contractors during the current economic situation, two surveys have suggested. The results, from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG show the advantages of working in the temp job market, with it being an excellent choice for those looking to start again in work, or try out something new.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/More_employers_using_temps_/18631051/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Scotland sees decline in start-ups</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Scotland_sees_decline_in_start-ups/18628963/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:45:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Only one industry in Scotland saw a growth in start-ups in the first quarter of 2008, after a 17 per cent drop on the first quarter of 2007. Agriculture, hunting and forestry was the only sector with an increase, with 13 more businesses set up in the first three months of 2008 than in 2007.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Scotland_sees_decline_in_start-ups/18628963/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Workers spend hour and half surfing the net, study shows</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Workers_spend_hour_and_half_surfing_the_net,_study_shows/18628958/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ New research has shown that the average office worker in the UK spends around an hour and a half a week surfing personal websites during work time. The study, carried out by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), also showed that many companies understood the need for personal internet use, with only 14 per cent of the 503 organisations studied banning the internet completely.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Workers_spend_hour_and_half_surfing_the_net,_study_shows/18628958/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Small business should not mean boring</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_business_should_not_mean_boring/18628831/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:35:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A small business should not mean a dull office, according to an article in the Times over the weekend. Indeed, an office that is small, well run, and pleasant to the eye is beneficial for the employer and the employee, according to some experts.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_business_should_not_mean_boring/18628831/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Lawyers advise firms to get tough on late payers </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Lawyers_advise_firms_to_get_tough_on_late_payers_/18624690/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Small businesses should get tough on late payers, a lawyer has said. Research by accountancy firm Deloitte showed that the number of insolvencies taking place in the UK is on the rise, with 858 businesses going into administration in the first quarter of 2008, up from 557 on the same time last year.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Lawyers_advise_firms_to_get_tough_on_late_payers_/18624690/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Youth of today 'career chameleons'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Youth_of_today_career_chameleons/18626749/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:52:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A study by Alliance &amp;amp; Leicester has shown that less than a fifth of young people plan on staying in the same career path for life, and a quarter will change their jobs depending on what suits best at the time. It also found that the number of people wanting traditional jobs such as being a vet or a nurse has dropped, with only one in 20 wanting to work as a vet as opposed to 25 per cent who want to be a famous singer or band member.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Youth_of_today_career_chameleons/18626749/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Many women lack confidence in IT jobs</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Many_women_lack_confidence_in_IT_jobs/18624625/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:48:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ New research has shown that 41 per cent of women working in IT are not confident about their future success. Networking portal womenintechnology.co.uk said that many women find it a struggle to work their way up the career ladder in IT jobs, and that they also doubted their own ability due to the added pressures of motherhood.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Many_women_lack_confidence_in_IT_jobs/18624625/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Temps important to UK economy</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Temps_important_to_UK_economy/18622507/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:13:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Temping may be more than just a way of paying the bills, with one expert saying that both temps, and those who employ them, gain from the valuable work. Speaking to the Norwich Evening News, Sally Cleary, operations manager at Cooper Lomaz Recruitment, said: &amp;quot;Temps make a massive contribution and I don't think the UK could operate without the temporary workforce. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Temps_important_to_UK_economy/18622507/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Expert warns of difficulties of starting new business</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Expert_warns_of_difficulties_of_starting_new_business/18622426/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:45:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ For many, becoming the boss of their own company is a dream, but the realities of how difficult the setting up of a business can be can &amp;quot;blind people&amp;quot;, according to an expert. A spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses said: &amp;quot;It is a risk setting up a business, there is no doubt about that.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Expert_warns_of_difficulties_of_starting_new_business/18622426/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Workers put colleagues above high wages</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Workers_put_colleagues_above_high_wages/18622347/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The fifth annual City and Guilds Happiness Index has shown that workers in the UK are more likely to stay in a job because of good working relationships with their colleagues as opposed to high salaries. Workers also showed that enjoying what they do for a living was very important, and nearly half said that their work-life balance was a reason to stay with an employer.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Workers_put_colleagues_above_high_wages/18622347/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Virtual offices, a plausible alternative </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Virtual_offices,_a_plausible_alternative_/18620480/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:25:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Businesses are now considering whether or not to buy or rent new premises when virtual offices offer an attractive alternative, a business expert has said. Hina Joshi, an expert at Business Link, said: &amp;quot;A lot more people are tending to use virtual office facilities.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Virtual_offices,_a_plausible_alternative_/18620480/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Women anxious to return to work after maternity leave</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Women_anxious_to_return_to_work_after_maternity_leave/18620368/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:50:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Over two thirds of mothers returning to work after maternity leave are anxious about being less able to do their job than before they had a child, a new study has shown. A further 58 per cent of those surveyed by Corporate Mothers, a group designed to help working mothers via coaching and workshops, said that their employer had done nothing to help them return to work.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Women_anxious_to_return_to_work_after_maternity_leave/18620368/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Data security advice for small businesses released </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Data_security_advice_for_small_businesses_released_/18618617/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Small business website bytestart.co.uk has released what it believes are the key points every small business should follow to maintain data security. It may seem obvious, but keeping anti-virus software such as Norton or McAfee regularly updated is key in the ever changing world of internet virus threats, with even one non-completed update potentially causing massive problems for your company.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Data_security_advice_for_small_businesses_released_/18618617/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Small businesses should shop around for broadband provider </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_should_shop_around_for_broadband_provider_/18618356/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:20:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Many small businesses are reluctant to switch broadband providers, even if service standards drop, according to a report. Despite the fact that many small businesses are becoming more and more reliant on their internet access, with one in seven saying they couldn't manage more than a day without internet, only one in ten said they were considering switching providers.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_should_shop_around_for_broadband_provider_/18618356/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>New start-up pack launched by BCC </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/New_start-up_pack_launched_by_BCC_/18618270/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:45:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has announced that it is launching a new service to help start-ups become more successful. A pack is to be made available which it is hoped will help with many of the initial problems new small businesses face when starting, and includes a list of products and services which it is hoped will stop the high number of failures. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/New_start-up_pack_launched_by_BCC_/18618270/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Company bosses most likely to suffer identity fraud</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Company_bosses_most_likely_to_suffer_identity_fraud/18613717/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Sat, 31 May 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Small business owners should take steps to prevent identity fraud as bosses and company directors are more likely to experience it, according to a credit agency. Experian has analysed data from over 6,000 people who have asked for their help in tracking fraudsters, a rise of 66 per cent from 2006.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Company_bosses_most_likely_to_suffer_identity_fraud/18613717/438011909</guid>
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        <title>Entrepreneurs losing confidence in Labour</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Entrepreneurs_losing_confidence_in_Labour/18616036/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2008 12:10:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Entrepreneurs and small business owners are losing confidence in the government and backing the Conservative party, a new poll suggests. Think tank the Tenon Forum announced that over half of SMEs believed that the Tories understand the pressures of entrepreneurial businesses best, with over half of all those polls thinking David Cameron would do the best job in helping them.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Entrepreneurs_losing_confidence_in_Labour/18616036/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Small businesses forget disabled web access</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_forget_disabled_web_access/18613651/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2008 11:15:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Small businesses who run websites are missing out on the chance to &amp;quot;steal the lead&amp;quot; from larger companies in the race to make their sites accessible to disabled customers, says an expert. Julie Howell, director of accessibility at Fortune Cookie, a leading web design company, said she was disappointed more had not been done to explain to smaller businesses of the importance of making their websites accessible to the disabled.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_forget_disabled_web_access/18613651/438011911</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Logistics sector to appeal for more women</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Logistics_sector_to_appeal_for_more_women/18611811/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 13:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The logistics sector is attempting to make itself more appealing for workers by offering child-friendly career options that include flexi-time and &amp;quot;better working environments for female employees&amp;quot;, an industry executive has said. Dr Mick Jackson, acting chief executive at Skills for Logistics, said new facilities such as gyms, canteens and playgroups for children would add to the appeal for women, saying that: &amp;quot;There are even job opportunities that are based around working from home to fit in with family requirements.&amp;quot; ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Logistics_sector_to_appeal_for_more_women/18611811/438011911</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Make leap to flexi-time, expert suggests</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Make_leap_to_flexi-time,_expert_suggests/18611627/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 12:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Despite the government's initiative to allow flexible working for parents with children up to the age of 16 having a good response from many sectors, some have voiced their concerns. Discussing the situation on onrec.com, Christain Bergenger from Auto Time Solutions, said that bosses should seriously consider the option, as it &amp;quot;opens up the possibility for organisations to employ high calibre staff from a wider pool of applicants&amp;quot;. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Make_leap_to_flexi-time,_expert_suggests/18611627/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Employers should consider flexi-time to retain workers</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Employers_should_consider_flexi-time_to_retain_workers/18609587/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 27 May 2008 13:35:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A new survey has shown that 16 per cent of the &amp;quot;baby boomer&amp;quot; workforce is only looking to do part-time work, and 42 per cent will only take jobs that allow them to have leisure periods off. The Merrill Lynch statistics as published on workforce.com also show that retaining employees means that flexible working environments and a good work-life balance need to be in place.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Employers_should_consider_flexi-time_to_retain_workers/18609587/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Don't act when courting new business</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Dont_act_when_courting_new_business/18609568/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 27 May 2008 13:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Wining and dining clients to create new work is not a way for small businesses to attract people to their company, a journalist has advised. Instead, small businesses have the competitive edge over their larger rivals due to being able to do what they are not; give them a one-to-one client relationship.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Dont_act_when_courting_new_business/18609568/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Small businesses advised to check for inaccuracies this summer</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_advised_to_check_for_inaccuracies_this_summer/18607692/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Sun, 25 May 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Spring clean your brand this summer to make sure it presents your company in its best light, so says thestreet.com.It may seem like a big challenge, but small businesses should check that the way they are marketing themselves is not out-dated, mis-matched or irrelevant, say the website.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_advised_to_check_for_inaccuracies_this_summer/18607692/438011910</guid>
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        <title>Freelancing "great way" to earn money online</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Freelancing_great_way_to_earn_money_online/18607682/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Sat, 24 May 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Freelancing is the fourth best way to earn money on the internet, according to website bestsyndication.com.With more people being able to access the internet, working from home in your own time is a more attractive option for many people looking to cash in on the specialist areas they have knowledge in.   ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Freelancing_great_way_to_earn_money_online/18607682/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Small businesses urged to shop around for energy supplier</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_urged_to_shop_around_for_energy_supplier/18607573/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 14:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ With one in five small businesses spending ten per cent of their income on energy bills, an energy supplier has urged owners to shop around for the best deals. Research undertaken for Electricity4Business has shown that increasing costs in bills is making energy the second biggest output for companies, ahead of premises costs, equipment and insurance.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_urged_to_shop_around_for_energy_supplier/18607573/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Workers should 'think again' and return to education</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Workers_should_think_again_and_return_to_education/18605640/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 15:05:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Workers should think again about higher education and the benefits it could give them, according to the secretary of state for innovation, university and skills. John Denham, speaking at Southampton University is set to say that there is &amp;quot;a large pool of untapped talent&amp;quot; in the workforce which may benefit from gaining more qualifications.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Workers_should_think_again_and_return_to_education/18605640/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Agreement reached on rights of temps</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Agreement_reached_on_rights_of_temps/18605633/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Temp workers are to be given the same rights as permanent staff after 12 weeks of work, if an agreement penned by the government, employers and unions yesterday gets final approval. The decision will affect Britain's approximately 1.4 million UK agency temp workers and put them on an even keel with permanent staff when it comes to holidays and pay.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Agreement_reached_on_rights_of_temps/18605633/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>European Commission gives boost to Welsh start-ups </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/European_Commission_gives_boost_to_Welsh_start-ups_/18605622/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 14:55:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Entrepreneurs in Wales are set to benefit from a &amp;#163;36 million cash injection from the European Commission. The Start-Upproject intends to create 10,000 jobs and support 8,000 businesses in the country.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/European_Commission_gives_boost_to_Welsh_start-ups_/18605622/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Workers expected to prefer money to benefits</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Workers_expected_to_prefer_money_to_benefits/18603596/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The credit crunch is likely to lead to workers preferring jobs with higher salaries as opposed to benefits such as health insurance, an expert has warned. Peter Reilly, director of HR research and consultancy at the Institute for Employment Studies, said: &amp;quot;People who are on low incomes do want the money because they need to pay their debts. It's not just the credit crunch but higher levels of inflation [too].&amp;quot; ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Workers_expected_to_prefer_money_to_benefits/18603596/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Start-ups 'needn't do everything themselves'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Start-ups_neednt_do_everything_themselves/18603590/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ With 99.3 per cent of start-up businesses employing between zero and 49 people, searching elsewhere to get work done might seem daunting, but experts have said it is important to consider. John De Groot, chief executive of Startup Co, a group that advises potential entrepreneurs on good business practice says: &amp;quot;Cost cutting is a big subject,&amp;quot; arguing that for some business disciplines, paying others to do work &amp;quot;and then spending that time on what the owner is best at is the most economical use of time and money&amp;quot;. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Start-ups_neednt_do_everything_themselves/18603590/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Hiring a freelancer 'can boost start-ups' </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Hiring_a_freelancer_can_boost_start-ups_/18603582/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Getting freelancers to pitch for work can be one of the ways that start-up companies can get &amp;quot;invaluable expertise&amp;quot; at &amp;quot;a reasonable cost&amp;quot; according to bytestart.co.uk.According to the small business website, outsourcing can lead to a growth in business without breaking the bank, as employing people to do jobs that only take a short amount of time such as bookkeeping can mean the job will get done quicker and take up less of a small business owner's time doing work they are not completely sure of.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Hiring_a_freelancer_can_boost_start-ups_/18603582/438011910</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Temporary workers in demand</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Temporary_workers_in_demand/18602345/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 20 May 2008 17:12:20 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Economic instability has seen employers seek temporary workers instead of permanent staff, according to figures.Due to the credit crunch, employers like small businesses are favouring freelance and part-time employees as opposed to permanent workers because of their flexibility. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Temporary_workers_in_demand/18602345/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Many opportunities for those looking for work</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Many_opportunities_for_those_looking_for_work/18602339/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 20 May 2008 17:11:35 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ There are an increasing number of career opportunities available to adults, according to a spokesperson for the Learning and Skills Council(LSC).Those looking to change career can now take advantage of courses that were not always available to them when they were in education. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Many_opportunities_for_those_looking_for_work/18602339/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Skills training to become less complex</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Skills_training_to_become_less_complex/18602318/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 20 May 2008 17:10:40 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A new commission has been launched to streamline the sector skills councils, reports the Guardian.Headed by Chris Humphries, the new UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) is aiming to simplify the existing 25 sector skills councils in order to make them more accessible to small businesses. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Skills_training_to_become_less_complex/18602318/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Bank charges 'will affect start-up businesses'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Bank_charges_will_affect_start-up_businesses/18599754/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 17:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA) has said today that plans by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to introduce charges on its business accounts are just one of many cost increases hitting start ups during the credit crunch.George Derbyshire, chief executive of the NFEA, said today: &amp;quot;Whilst the sums involved seem modest in the context of the total turnover of a business, this is just one of a number of cost increases businesses are seeing.&amp;quot; ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Bank_charges_will_affect_start-up_businesses/18599754/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>In-demand graduates demanding flexibility</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/In-demand_graduates_demanding_flexibility/18599108/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 14:05:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Recent economic troubles have failed to stem companies' wish to employ new graduates, according to the results of a recent survey.Following a study, the Association of Graduate Recruiters predicts that 2008 will see a 16.4 per cent increase in the number of graduate positions advertised. 69.5 per cent of companies have more graduate vacancies this year than in 2007. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/In-demand_graduates_demanding_flexibility/18599108/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Virtual offices the way of the future</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Virtual_offices_the_way_of_the_future/18598988/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2008 13:55:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Companies of all sizes will soon be looking to benefit from virtualisation, according to a new study from a leading US research firm.Large companies have been using virtualisation for some time, but technological developments mean that smaller companies may also find cost benefits, power savings, improved resilience of their IT networks and a better return on their investment in computer technology offered by virtualisation, say analysts at Gartner. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Virtual_offices_the_way_of_the_future/18598988/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Olympics to bring boom for SMEs</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Olympics_to_bring_boom_for_SMEs/18597968/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Sun, 18 May 2008 17:01:36 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups could soon benefit from the boost in activity set to be spurred on by the approach of the 2012 Olympic Games.Minister of the Olympics Teresa Jowell has indicated that the government is eager to offer new and small businesses some of the &amp;#163;6 billion worth of government contracts up for grabs in the lead up to the games.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Olympics_to_bring_boom_for_SMEs/18597968/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Small business told to seek help for first years</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_business_told_to_seek_help_for_first_years/18597711/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Sat, 17 May 2008 16:38:21 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Small businesses have been encouraged to find a wise helping hand to help them navigate the first few difficult stages of operations. Adam Wayland, editor of smallbusiness.co.uk, says that &amp;quot;it's always preferable to get some sort of mentor in place, someone who's been through the process of setting up a business.&amp;quot; ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_business_told_to_seek_help_for_first_years/18597711/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Stand up for your rights, working fathers told</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Stand_up_for_your_rights,_working_fathers_told/18597562/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 16 May 2008 17:52:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Working fathers are failing to take advantage of their rights to flexible work, according to a new report. As the government rolls out changes which will see employees with children up to the age of 16 be given the right to request flexible work, men are encouraged to take up the opportunities available to them.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Stand_up_for_your_rights,_working_fathers_told/18597562/438011910</guid>
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        <title>IT a hurdle to flexible work</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/IT_a_hurdle_to_flexible_work/18595094/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2008 15:20:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ While councils are increasingly in favour of work flexibility as a means of reducing costs, the failure of IT to keep up with demands for working from home has prevented many companies from rolling out flexible work practices, according to a recent survey. A Work Wise UK study has found that IT constraints are the most significant deterrent to employers looking to offer their staff flexible work conditions.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/IT_a_hurdle_to_flexible_work/18595094/438011909</guid>
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        <title>Working parents get more flexible</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Working_parents_get_more_flexible/18595089/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2008 15:15:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Working parents have received welcome support from the government today as Gordon Brown announced plans to give all parents of children up to the age of 16 the right to request flexible working conditions. According to Press Association estimates, the new provision will give 4.5 million more workers the right to ask for flexible work &amp;#150; a right presently only extended to parents of children aged up to six years.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Working_parents_get_more_flexible/18595089/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Work from home, save the planet</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Work_from_home,_save_the_planet/18595085/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2008 15:15:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Working from home is good for the environment, according claims made by a leading work organisation. In celebrating National Work from Home Day today, Work Wise UK&amp;#150; the not-for-profit organisation behind the day &amp;#150; claims that people working from home not only enjoy greater flexibility, but they also lighten their carbon footprint.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Work_from_home,_save_the_planet/18595085/438011909</guid>
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        <title>Businesses warned check homeworker insurance </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Businesses_warned_check_homeworker_insurance_/18593046/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ People working from home need to make sure they have adequate insurance cover on their work equipment, Lloyds TSB warned today. Over three million people in the UK work from home according to the Office for National Statistics with over 60 per cent being self-employed.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Businesses_warned_check_homeworker_insurance_/18593046/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Parents returning to work in their droves</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Parents_returning_to_work_in_their_droves/18593043/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ New government incentives to get women back in to work are meaning less and less women are taking lengthy maternity leave, a new survey suggests. The joint YouGov and uSwitch research shows that the number of mothers in the UK staying at home full-time has fallen by 24 per cent in the past 15 years to just over two million. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Parents_returning_to_work_in_their_droves/18593043/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Better IT infrastructure needed to benefit homeworkers</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Better_IT_infrastructure_needed_to_benefit_homeworkers/18591559/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2008 18:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ SMEs and larger companies must measure the impact of various mobile and remote working technologies on the productivity of employees if they are to provide them with the most efficient levels of connectivity, it has been claimed.According to business technology website Computer Weekly, market analyst Gartner said that many companies are failing to measure their remote working technologies, the result of which is that projects aimed at improving efficiency do not deliver business benefits. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Laptop+in+kitchen+_1316_18591559_0_0_7010126_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Better_IT_infrastructure_needed_to_benefit_homeworkers/18591559/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>1 in 8 works from home</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/1_in_8_works_from_home/18591554/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2008 18:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ As many as one in eight (12.5 per cent) employees now work from home, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has revealed.This was one of the statistics released to mark National Work from Home Day on Thursday (15th May), which suggests that companies are coming around to the idea of providing their staff with flexible working opportunities. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/working+mother_1316_18591554_0_0_7011566_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/1_in_8_works_from_home/18591554/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Brown could make changes to flexible working rule</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Brown_could_make_changes_to_flexible_working_rule/18589700/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 17:13:20 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Prime Minister Gordon Brown has suggested that mothers of children in primary school could be given new legal rights regarding flexible work hours, it has been reported.According to the Financial Times, extending the right to ask companies for flexible work to women of children aged up to 12 would benefit an extra 4.5 million parents in addition to the six million already covered by the existing rules. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Brown_could_make_changes_to_flexible_working_rule/18589700/438011911</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Coventry self-employed 'most likely to take day off'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Coventry_self-employed_most_likely_to_take_day_off/18589694/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 17:12:34 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Self-employed workers in Coventry are more likely to take time off work sick than those from any other city in the UK, it has been revealed.According to research from Olbas Powerflu, all freelance workers and self-employed people with their own start-ups in Coventry would be willing to take time off from their job if they were suffering from a cold or flu, despite the fact that most admitted they cannot afford to do so. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Coventry_self-employed_most_likely_to_take_day_off/18589694/438011911</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Business women 'making time for the family'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Business_women_making_time_for_the_family/18589684/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 17:11:57 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Women are increasingly choosing to set up their own businesses so that they can spend more time with their family, a new work-life balance survey has revealed.Commissioned by Harriet Harman, minister for women and equality, the research indicated that 70 per cent of women would like to work more flexibly, with 75 per cent saying that work-family life balance is better for people running their own business. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Cooking+_1316_18589684_0_0_7010125_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Business_women_making_time_for_the_family/18589684/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Businesspeople offer advice to budding entrepreneurs</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Businesspeople_offer_advice_to_budding_entrepreneurs/18586478/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Sun, 11 May 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Switch your phone off at weekends - this is a tip from a successful entrepreneur who believes that businesspeople should try to maintain a good work-life balance.&amp;quot;I always switch my phone off at weekends,&amp;quot; Goldtrail Travel founder Kadir Aydin told Real Business. &amp;quot;If you become a slave to your business, you'll totally lose the plot.&amp;quot; ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/woman+shaking+hands_1316_18586478_0_0_7012562_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Businesspeople_offer_advice_to_budding_entrepreneurs/18586478/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>VoIP can help freelancers and small firms</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/VoIP_can_help_freelancers_and_small_firms/18586470/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Sat, 10 May 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) can help freelancers and other workers connect with employers and customers when they are out of the office.Colin Duffy, council member of the Internet Telephony Services Providers' Association (ITSPA), explained that it can be useful to have services such as having voicemails forwarded as MP3s to your email inbox. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/VoIP3_1316_18586470_0_0_6703_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/VoIP_can_help_freelancers_and_small_firms/18586470/438011911</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Freelancer edits diabetes magazine</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Freelancer_edits_diabetes_magazine/18586493/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2008 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A freelance writer is editing a new magazine aimed at people with diabetes, the Press Gazette reports.Christine Michael, who formerly edited Slimming World Magazine and Slimming Magazine, will work for Select Publisher Services on the new title, Sweet. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Diabetic+man_1316_18586493_0_0_11273_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Freelancer_edits_diabetes_magazine/18586493/438011910</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Apprentice's Jennifer to set up own business</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Apprentices_Jennifer_to_set_up_own_business/18584470/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Apprentice contestant Jennifer Maguire, who used to work as a freelancer, wishes to start up her own business in her home town of Dublin.Maguire was fired by Sir Alan Sugar in last night's episode of the BBC TV show, after failing to win the task that saw the contestants negotiating in Morocco. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Sir+Alan+Sugar_1316_18584470_0_0_7007621_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Apprentices_Jennifer_to_set_up_own_business/18584470/438011910</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>More businesses offer private medical insurance</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/More_businesses_offer_private_medical_insurance/18584454/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ An increasing number of businesses in the UK are seeing the benefits of taking out health insurance policies for their workers.According to Jonathan French, spokesman for the Association of British Insurers (ABI), more and more employers are using private medical insurance as a perk to attract staff. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/More_businesses_offer_private_medical_insurance/18584454/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>ACAS issues new guidance on workplace disputes</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/ACAS_issues_new_guidance_on_workplace_disputes/18582212/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2008 13:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Employment advisory service ACAS has issued new guidance on discipline and grievances that should help businesses to save time and money.The organisation has revised its code to make it easier for businesses and individuals to resolve disputes internally, and it has taken into account the changes being made to workplace dispute resolution in the Employment Bill, currently before parliament. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/ACAS_issues_new_guidance_on_workplace_disputes/18582212/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Freelancer named Headlinemoney Journalist of the Year</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Freelancer_named_Headlinemoney_Journalist_of_the_Year/18582210/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2008 13:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A freelance journalist was crowned journalist of the year at the Headlinemoney.co.uk awards for personal finance journalists, the Press Gazette reports.Sylvia Morris has worked as a freelancer for 25 years, and was voted the best in the business by fellow journalists. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Keyboard_1316_18582210_0_0_4001733_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Freelancer_named_Headlinemoney_Journalist_of_the_Year/18582210/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Small businesses 'let down by Competition Commission'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_let_down_by_Competition_Commission/18582207/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2008 13:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Small businesses on Britain's high streets have been let down by the Competition Commission in its recent inquiry into the grocery sector, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) believes.The commission has failed to come up with any solutions that will halt the decline of independent retailers, the FSB argues, in spite of the fact that a committee of MPs estimated that 2,000 small shops go out of business each year. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_businesses_let_down_by_Competition_Commission/18582207/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>'Thorough procedures' can help employers with health and safety</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Thorough_procedures_can_help_employers_with_health_and_safety/18580413/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 06 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Businesses can ensure they protect the health and safety of home workers by making sure they have thorough procedures in place.That's according to Linda Deverux of the National Group on Homeworking, who pointed out that safety procedures for on-site workers can often be simply extended to home workers. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Office_1316_18580413_0_0_14324_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Thorough_procedures_can_help_employers_with_health_and_safety/18580413/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Companies 'need to practise what they preach on flexible working'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Companies_need_to_practise_what_they_preach_on_flexible_working/18580405/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 06 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Companies need to ensure that they practise what they preach when it comes to flexible and part-time working, the British Computer Society (BCS) believes.Jan Peters of the BCS' Women's Forum said that many firms struggle to put flexible working into practice, which can confuse employees. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Homeworking_1316_18580405_0_0_7007637_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Companies_need_to_practise_what_they_preach_on_flexible_working/18580405/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Smaller UK firms embrace flexible work practices</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Smaller_UK_firms_embrace_flexible_work_practices/18578436/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Sun, 04 May 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The UK's small and medium-sized businesses are allowing for more flexible working practices, VNUnet reports.A study by Citrix Online found that nearly three quarters of smaller firms had introduced flexible working options, and almost a half gave their backing to government plans intended to extend these options to parents of older children. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/laptop+man_1316_18578436_0_0_7009176_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Smaller_UK_firms_embrace_flexible_work_practices/18578436/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>SNP measures popular among small businesses</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/SNP_measures_popular_among_small_businesses/18578433/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Sat, 03 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A survey conducted by the Scotsman newspaper has found that the Scottish National Party (SNP) is gaining in popularity among Scotland's small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).First Minister Alex Salmond's measures to cut business rates for small business and axing tolls on road bridges have proved poplular. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Alex+Salmond_1316_18578433_0_0_7003912_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/SNP_measures_popular_among_small_businesses/18578433/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>UK novelists back freelance journalist</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/UK_novelists_back_freelance_journalist/18578431/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 02 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Some of the UK's most prominent novelists have given their backing to a freelance journalist in Thailand who is facing a libel suit by supermarket giant Tesco.Freelancer Kamol Kamoltrakul is being sued after he criticised the company's Thailand operation, Tesco Lotus, in a news column. Other critics are also facing potentially ruinous legal suits. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Tesco+Logo_1316_18578431_0_0_7012349_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/UK_novelists_back_freelance_journalist/18578431/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Photographers protest at 'over-zealous' police treatment</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Photographers_protest_at_over-zealous_police_treatment/18576508/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A group of photographers have been protesting against harsh treatment of freelancers and others by police, the Press Gazette.Labour MP Austin Mitchell led a delegation of photographers to lobby government over actions by police that many press workers feel are over-zealous. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Paparazzi_1316_18576508_0_0_7010279_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Photographers_protest_at_over-zealous_police_treatment/18576508/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>FSB: False expense claims can cost businesses dearly</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/FSB:_False_expense_claims_can_cost_businesses_dearly/18576505/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has pointed out that false expense claims can cost businesses dearly.A new report by Travelodge indicates that millions of pounds are being lost through false expense claims, with claims including spurious items such as a new car, a diamond engagement ring and even a goat. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Engagement+ring_1316_18576505_0_0_7260_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/FSB:_False_expense_claims_can_cost_businesses_dearly/18576505/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>CBI looks to improve business climate in London</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/CBI_looks_to_improve_business_climate_in_London/18574365/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said it will work to make London a &amp;quot;pre-eminent&amp;quot; place to run a business, no matter who wins the mayoral election this week.According to director Nigel Bourne, the organisation will be looking to improve conditions for small firms and larger businesses. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/CBI_looks_to_improve_business_climate_in_London/18574365/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>London small businesses want 'clear signals' from new mayor</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/London_small_businesses_want_clear_signals_from_new_mayor/18572032/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The London small business community wants to see &amp;quot;some very clear and very quick signs&amp;quot; from whoever wins the mayoral election next month.That is according to Nick Winch, London policy manager for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), who said: &amp;quot;Small businesses want to know that their needs are going to be taken on board so that they can help deliver the new jobs that London needs.&amp;quot; ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/London+Bus+and+Big+Ben_1316_18572032_0_0_3513_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/London_small_businesses_want_clear_signals_from_new_mayor/18572032/438011911</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Home workers feeling isolated 'should maintain contact'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Home_workers_feeling_isolated_should_maintain_contact/18569993/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Home workers who feel isolated should make an effort to keep in regular contact with office-based colleagues.That is the view of information line adviser Carrie Druce, responding to a complaint to the Guardian newspaper by a home worker who said she no longer feels like part of the team. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Homeworking_1316_18569993_0_0_7007636_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Home_workers_feeling_isolated_should_maintain_contact/18569993/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Credit crunch will affect sectors differently</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Credit_crunch_will_affect_sectors_differently/18569987/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The credit crunch is likely to affect businesses in various sectors differently, the chief executive of the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA) has said.George Derbyshire warned that companies exposed to fluctuations in the property market - such as estate agents - may suffer during the tougher economic times, although DIY firms could benefit as people look to upgrade their existing homes. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Retail_1316_18569987_0_0_12636_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Credit_crunch_will_affect_sectors_differently/18569987/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Entrepreneurs 'can learn from failure'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Entrepreneurs_can_learn_from_failure/18569982/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Entrepreneurs and freelancers who experience business failure should take heart and learn from their experiences.That is the view of Rachel Elnaugh, a businesswoman and former judge on the TV show Dragon's Den. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Stress+%5bsquare%5d_1316_18569982_0_0_4001665_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Entrepreneurs_can_learn_from_failure/18569982/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Home working facilitated by technological developments</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Home_working_facilitated_by_technological_developments/18568240/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Developments in technology mean that, these days, more people can operate businesses without using a traditional office.That is the view of George Derbyshire, chief executive of the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA), who noted that home working has been &amp;quot;a growing trend in recent years as the internet, telecoms and IT capacity has developed&amp;quot;. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Hand+on+mouse_1316_18568240_0_0_15684_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Home_working_facilitated_by_technological_developments/18568240/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Local government 'should lower town centre parking charges'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Local_government_should_lower_town_centre_parking_charges/18568247/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called on local authorities to rethink town centre parking policies to help companies.The group believes that excessive parking charges are killing town centres - local authorities made &amp;#163;1.6 billion from these charges and fines in 2005, up from &amp;#163;628 million in 1997. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Parking+toll_1316_18568247_0_0_7011027_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Local_government_should_lower_town_centre_parking_charges/18568247/438011909</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Higher costs affecting small businesses in the UK</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Higher_costs_affecting_small_businesses_in_the_UK/18566028/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Rising costs are making life difficult for small businesses in the UK, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) points out.BRC head of media and campaigns, Richard Dodd, pointed out that people are short of spare cash and &amp;quot;are confining themselves to essentials&amp;quot; - meaning that almost every retail sector apart from food is being affected. ]]> </description>
				 <enclosure url="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/money+clock+square+_1316_18566028_0_0_7005930_300.jpg" />
               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Higher_costs_affecting_small_businesses_in_the_UK/18566028/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Many small firms believe they are hurt by unfair sales practices</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Many_small_firms_believe_they_are_hurt_by_unfair_sales_practices/18566022/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A new government study indicates that most small businesses in the UK think that their profits are being affected by rivals using unfair sales practices.The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform survey found that 53 per cent of small business leaders believe unfair sales tactics affect profits, with one in ten of these thinking rogue dealers cost them more than a fifth of their revenue. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Many_small_firms_believe_they_are_hurt_by_unfair_sales_practices/18566022/438011911</guid>
       </item>
       <item>
        <title>Freelancers 'like being their own boss'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Freelancers_like_being_their_own_boss/18564007/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Freelance workers generally love being their own boss, and this is one of the bonuses cited by Journalism.co.uk's latest Freelancer of the Fortnight, Caspar van Vark.He said: &amp;quot;Some freelancers like being able to work in their pyjamas, but that's not for me. I have a desk in a shared office and I put in normal days. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Freelancers_like_being_their_own_boss/18564007/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Local authorities 'could do more to help small firms'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Local_authorities_could_do_more_to_help_small_firms/18563996/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Local authorities could do more to help small local companies, a prominent business group has stated.Simon Briault, spokesperson for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said that councils can make changes in many different areas to support local firms, such as planning. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Local_authorities_could_do_more_to_help_small_firms/18563996/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Companies can save money through small eco-changes</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Companies_can_save_money_through_small_eco-changes/18563905/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Companies only need to make small changes in order to make a difference to a company's energy consumption.John Treble of energy management service the Green Consultancy pointed to measures such as making sure computer screens are turned off when they are not being used. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Companies_can_save_money_through_small_eco-changes/18563905/438011911</guid>
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        <title>Financial advisor offers self-employment incentive</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Financial_advisor_offers_self-employment_incentive/18563205/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ An independent financial advisor hopes to boost employment in the profession by offering varied training schemes.AWD Chase de Vere has opened its doors to advisors at various levels within their career and given them the option of working employed or freelance.  ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Financial_advisor_offers_self-employment_incentive/18563205/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Homeworking easy thanks to modern technology</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Homeworking_easy_thanks_to_modern_technology/18562760/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Working from home rather than travelling to the office is becoming easier than ever with the advent of modern technology, it has been claimed.The National Federation of Enterprise Agencies reports that many small business operations can be conducted via email and using a mobile phone, negating the need for the daily commute and potentially saving both staff and employers money. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Homeworking_easy_thanks_to_modern_technology/18562760/438011910</guid>
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        <title>Physician offers tips for freelance health writers</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Physician_offers_tips_for_freelance_health_writers/18559959/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Dr Franklin House, a physician working with diabetic patients in the US, has offered some tips for freelance health writers.An author himself, Dr House has emphasised the importance of accuracy and credibility. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Physician_offers_tips_for_freelance_health_writers/18559959/438011910</guid>
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        <title>Home working 'likely to regenerate local areas'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Home_working_likely_to_regenerate_local_areas/18559946/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ An increase in home working is likely to have the welcome effect of regenerating rural areas.Phil Flaxton of not-for-profit group Work Wise UK said that an increase in the number of people working from home would &amp;quot;repopulate&amp;quot; less populated areas in villages and small towns. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Home_working_likely_to_regenerate_local_areas/18559946/438011911</guid>
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        <title>Credit Crunch Week will help SMEs obtain advice</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Credit_Crunch_Week_will_help_SMEs_obtain_advice/18559927/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA) is launching Credit Crunch Week at the end of April in order to reassure small firms that there is plenty of advice available for them at a difficult economic time.The week will run from Monday, April 28th to Friday, May 2nd, with the NFEA running a series of seminars and workshops around the country to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Credit_Crunch_Week_will_help_SMEs_obtain_advice/18559927/438011909</guid>
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        <title>Online retail can be good for SMEs</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Online_retail_can_be_good_for_SMEs/18558016/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Selling goods through a website can be a very effective way for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to boost revenues.John De Groot, managing director of business support group StartupCo, said: &amp;quot;It can be a very cost-effective way of creating more sales without taking up more of the owner's time. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Online_retail_can_be_good_for_SMEs/18558016/438011909</guid>
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        <title>Home working option 'should be extensive'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Home_working_option_should_be_extensive/18558006/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The option to work from home should ideally be extended to all people who work with the aid of a PC and a telephone.That is the view of Brian Higton of the Telework Association, who said: &amp;quot;Some 80 per cent of the UK workforce can be categorised as 'information workers', i.e. people who work with data of one kind or another usually with the aid of a computer and a telephone. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Home_working_option_should_be_extensive/18558006/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Vietnam War photographers interred in US museum</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Vietnam_War_photographers_interred_in_US_museum/18556113/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Vietnam War photographers interred in US museumFour Vietnam War photographers who were killed when their helicopter was shot down have been interred in a capsule at the Newseum, a journalism museum in Washington, DC. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Vietnam_War_photographers_interred_in_US_museum/18556113/438011910</guid>
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        <title>Home working on think tank's alternative agenda</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Home_working_on_think_tanks_alternative_agenda/18556096/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A London-focused think tank has launched a manifesto outlining potential changes for the capital, which include more home working.The Alternative Manifesto from LondonSays comprises essays by a number of experts in various fields - one of them being transport guru Christian Wolmar. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Home_working_on_think_tanks_alternative_agenda/18556096/438011910</guid>
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        <title>SME workers can have more of an influence</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/SME_workers_can_have_more_of_an_influence/18556089/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ One of the key benefits of working for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) is being able to have more of a say on the firm's direction.According to professor Ronald McQuaid of Napier University's Employment Research Institute, there is &amp;quot;a greater chance to convince the key decision makers to do something, and not having to go through layers of managers - each one covering their own back - to achieve this. It is the ability to make a difference&amp;quot;. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/SME_workers_can_have_more_of_an_influence/18556089/438011909</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>New London mayor 'must help small businesses'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/New_London_mayor_must_help_small_businesses/18553777/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Whoever is elected as the new London mayor next month must help small businesses in the capital, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has urged.The group's Sue Terpilowski told BBC One's London News that it should be made easier for smaller firms to report problems. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/New_London_mayor_must_help_small_businesses/18553777/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Small firms urged to protect intellectual property</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_firms_urged_to_protect_intellectual_property/18553775/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Small businesses in the UK are being urged to protect one of their most valuable possessions - their intellectual property.The UK Intellectual Property Office points out that &amp;quot;the average small business relies heavily on the intellectual capital&amp;quot;. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Small_firms_urged_to_protect_intellectual_property/18553775/438011911</guid>
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        <title>HMRC revamps SA tax return</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/HMRC_revamps_SA_tax_return/18552002/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ HM Revenue &amp;amp; Customs has revamped the main self assessment (SA) tax return.Small business owners and freelancers who complete SA returns will find that the new version has fewer questions, simplified language and an improved layout. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/HMRC_revamps_SA_tax_return/18552002/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Cost savings could lead to more home working</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Cost_savings_could_lead_to_more_home_working/18551995/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Cost savings in offices is likely to drive the popularity of home working, according to Phil Flaxton of not-for-profit employment organisation Work Wise UK.He stressed that many big organisations provide incentives for people to work from home, such as BT which employs 12,000 registered home workers and 77,000 flexible workers. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Cost_savings_could_lead_to_more_home_working/18551995/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Companies 'should ensure data protection'</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Companies_should_ensure_data_protection/18551980/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ A spokeswoman for IT company Small Business Computing has highlighted the importance of data protection for businesses.Speaking as research from Boston Computer Network (BCN) indicates that six per cent of all PCs will suffer data loss in any given year, she stressed that every company should make sure they have a security policy. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Companies_should_ensure_data_protection/18551980/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>NUJ holds protest against poor police treatment of photographers </title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/NUJ_holds_protest_against_poor_police_treatment_of_photographers_/18550237/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has held a one-man protest against police harassment, the British Journal of Photography reports.NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear stood outside New Scotland Yard for an hour on March 28th in protest at the way in which press photographers are treated by police. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/NUJ_holds_protest_against_poor_police_treatment_of_photographers_/18550237/438011910</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Home working brings green benefits</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Home_working_brings_green_benefits/18550227/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Among the many benefits of home working are the environmental benefits of not travelling to the office.A flexible working employee survey by the government found that 52 per cent of employees were aware of the right to request flexible working arrangements, and that women were generally more aware than men. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Home_working_brings_green_benefits/18550227/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Flexibility appeals to many freelancers</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Flexibility_appeals_to_many_freelancers/18547832/438011910</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Flexibility is the aspect of work that appeals most to many freelancers.Andrew Charman of Powys, Journalism.co.uk's Freelancer of the fortnight, is a motoring journalist who began his career working on local newspapers as a photographer. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Flexibility_appeals_to_many_freelancers/18547832/438011910</guid>
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        <title>FSB to fight against possible income shifting legislation</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/FSB_to_fight_against_possible_income_shifting_legislation/18547815/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has stressed that it will fight against a possible government plan to introduce legislation against income shifting on the quiet.Income shifting allows couples who jointly own a company to divide the dividends between themselves in order to minimise tax liabilities, and the FSB hopes that legislation against this practice will be scrapped. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/FSB_to_fight_against_possible_income_shifting_legislation/18547815/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>Bank lowers interest rate to 5%</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Bank_lowers_interest_rate_to_5%/18547828/438011911</link>
               <pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:04:27 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Lower interest rates will be welcomed by those small business owners and freelance workers who are looking to take out a business loan.The Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) yesterday (April 11th) cut interest rates to 5.0 per cent as the UK economy faces slow growth and house prices slide. ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Bank_lowers_interest_rate_to_5%/18547828/438011911</guid>
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       <item>
        <title>IES: SME employees can feel more appreciated</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/IES:_SME_employees_can_feel_more_appreciated/18545866/438011909</link>
               <pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
               <description> <![CDATA[ Working for a small business is more likely to make you feel appreciated than working for a larger firm, the Institute of Employment Studies (IES) believes.The group's principal research fellow Dilys Robinson said: &amp;quot;It is easier to feel valued and involved with a smaller organisation as you can see the effects of what you do much more directly.&amp;quot; ]]> </description>
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               <guid>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/IES:_SME_employees_can_feel_more_appreciated/18545866/438011909</guid>
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        <title>Tax issue is vital for UK business growth</title>
               <link>http://www.peopleperhour.com/news/Tax_issue_is_vital_for_UK_business_growth/1854