Business gazeteer

Published on Wednesday 6 May 2009 20:01

HEALTH check for entrepreneurs

IT could make for pretty depressing reading. But those brave souls at Deloitte are keen to do it anyway.

The accountancy firm is compiling a report on the state of health of entrepreneurism.

"Entrepreneurship UK: 2009" will be a snapshot of the mindset of the country's entrepreneurial talent.

Jim Boyle, the partner who heads Deloitte's Scottish entrepreneurial business team, explains: "Entrepreneurs have a voracious appetite for growth, a passion for success and are naturally very positive about their businesses."

He adds: "However, the past 12 months have been extremely challenging for business and we are interested to gauge how businesses across Edinburgh are responding and to see whether the events of the last 12 months have tempered their plans and ambitions."

The survey, which will be analysed by experts including James Caan of Dragons' Den, is available at www.deloitte. co.uk/entrepreneurshipuk.

BAD DAY

Royal Dutch Shell

CORPORATE governance body Pirc urged investors in Shell to vote against the oil major's pay plans at its forthcoming annual general meeting. Its move adds to growing criticism over a decision to award bonuses.

GOOD DAY

Lovell

THE housing regeneration specialist, which is based at Glasgow Business Park, has scooped a top health and safety accolade from RoSPA, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. It picks up a RoSPA Gold Medal.

FACT OF THE DAY

2,092

BRITS are spending 259 less on their holidays this year than in 2007, thanks to the recession.

Researchers say 2009 will see people spend an average 2,092 on their family holiday – 259 less than two years ago. And the biggest cutback, according to Holiday-Rentals.co.uk, is on actual travel, with the average family spending 545 getting to and from their destination in 2009, a drop of almost 82 since 2007.

The poll of 2,000 people also found we are taking almost 50 less spending money away.

KILLER QUOTE

"WE MUST not allow temporary setback to produce a poverty of vision, a lowering of our expectations of Britain's future potential in a global economy."

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, addressing the ABI conference