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?