SMALL BUSINESSES

Activity 
(Worst thing since prices were sliced 
Business Monitor: Dialling 'M' for machine leaves customers cold 
Entrepreneurs fear cost of Social Chapter 
The secrets of succession 
City: Small firms push product research 
City: Insolvencies on way to lowest rate in 25 years

Admission of high-tech low use)
EU rules 'creating a jobless crisis'

1	Why are small businesses a vital part of the country's economy?
2	What can a) the government, and b) other businesses do to help small businesses survive and grow?
3	Why should they want to help small businesses?



Activity
(City: Small firms push product research)

1	a) What is research and development (R&D)?
	b) What are its main aims?

2	What could happen to a company which does not develop new products?

3	The survey found that, in Europe, smaller companies spend a high proportion of their income on Research and Development. Why is this a surprising finding?

4	In what ways does the article suggest that the R&D of small businesses differs from that of larger companies?