The articles in FT and the Telegraph relate to tax recording and bookkeeping by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). HMRC plans to raise an extra £600m over four years by starting trials and paying visits to SMEs to ensure their record-keeping meets the requirements of tax regulations.

According to HMRC’s estimates, 4 in 10 (nearly 2 million) SMEs have inadequate tax records. The programme is implemented to ensure that the current criteria used by tax inspectors successfully identify errors and highlight areas where tax in underpaid.

The first “test and learn” phase will target approximately 1,200 SMEs within the next three months. Tax inspectors will not use their penalty powers unless they discover blatant breaches of tax regulations.

The article posted on the FT’s website describes the ways in which businesses can increase their profitability and customer base by either spending no money at all or by investing in new software or in consultancy services. The article focuses on how important it is that those in charge of the business realise how vital, and very often how simple, it is to make your business more profitable, without spending overwhelming amounts of money on for example hiring new members of staff.

The ways proposed by the article, which many tend to overlook or forget about, include ensuring that existing customers return to buy more by developing long lasting customer relationships, rather than adopting a trade as you go approach. This can be achieved by outsourcing to specialist companies those areas of business that you feel you can squeeze more out of, using their expertise.

Your article this morning in connection with the closure of support networks for business does highlight some potential shortcomings when it comes to Government policy on nurturing start-ups and growth businesses.

The demise of Business Link as you point out will not be missed by many, but on the whole, our experience of the organisation was positive. Nonetheless, reform was due, but will a group of volunteer mentors be able to provide the support required. After all, this is a commercial world, and therefore mentors will look to be recompensed as individuals take advantage of their knowledge. As your contributor Nick Wall comments, he estimates his advice would have cost him £100,000.

Whilst we are seeing the closure of support networks, I note that Nick Ogden is starting up business.co.uk. Although I have yet to investigate the portal in any detail, it can potentially provide an avenue for companies to seek advice.