Business News

In business you will come across many potential clients, suppliers and partners. It is very important to build a picture of that person before agreeing to work with them. Spotting someone who is trustworthy is a very important skill in the business world. The old adage of not judging a book by its cover can often be a wise and effective saying to call upon. However a new report is explaining that most people actually form a judgement of a person in a very quick time.Many people may think they are non-judgmental, however a report is now suggesting that we actually form a decision if we can trust them within a split second of first laying eyes on themResearch carried out by the New York University has suggested that human brains automatically compute the features of another person`s face upon first viewing. This then relays to us a judgment based on the appearance before we have had time to properly assess the persons face.

Need to improve the face of your business?

Your Virtual Office London has always helped smaller companies improve the face of their business. We provide professional business services to help improve the image you portray on your potential business clients and suppliers. It is a well-known fact people will form a judgment on a person and of a business, having a professional image is key to really succeeding in the market you are competing in.Your Virtual Office London provides prestigious business address and virtual office services to help sharpen up the small fledgling business. In competitive sectors having a professional image is a vital tool to help you build a thriving business. We provide key services to help with the progression of your company`s success. Services such as a London registered office address and business mail forwarding services in a prominent central London location will help to portray a professional image which will help your business increase is success and growth rate.Customers are very savvy when it comes to researching your business and doing their homework. Research has shown that a client would prefer to deal with a larger company as opposed to a home-based one man band, our services are aimed to give your small business then professional face it needs to develop itself.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, is due to unveil a plan which could see the British government exploring the role that digital currencies such as Bitcoin could play in the existing financial system and whether they need to be regulated. The measures included in the plan are intended to make Britain the global centre of financial innovation.The growing popularity of Bitcoin has sounded alarm bells in the regulated financial system and as it is not controlled by a central bank it is therefore much more difficult to regulate.A Bitcoin is a new type of money, it is completely virtual and can be used to buy products and services just like an online version of cash but is currently limited by the small number of shops and retailers that will accept it.

Currently there are 3 main ways to get a Bitcoin:

- You can buy Bitcoins using real money. The current value of one Bitcoin is approximately £500.- You can sell something and receive payment in Bitcoins- Or they can be created using a computer, this is called “mining”Bitcoins have become popular due to the fact that some people like the fact that Bitcoin is not controlled by the government or banks, which in turn means there are no taxes or bank fees to pay, at least for now.People can also spend their Bitcoins anonymously and although the transactions are recorded publicly, unless someone knew your Account number it would be almost impossible to check on your transactions.Every transaction is recorded publicly so it's very difficult to copy Bitcoins or make fake ones or even spend ones you don't own.It is possible to lose your Bitcoin virtual “wallet” or delete your Bitcoins from your phone or PC and lose them forever. This is one of the main drawbacks of the current system and there have also been thefts from websites that let you store your Bitcoins remotely.At the moment the value of Bitcoins goes up and down a lot, so it's impossible to say whether it's safe to turn your 'real' money into Bitcoins.Speaking at London's Canary Wharf , the Chancellor said that it is "only by harnessing innovations in finance, alongside our existing world class knowledge and skills in financial services, that we'll ensure Britain's financial sector continues to meet the diverse needs of businesses and consumers here and around the globe".He also announced the government is to investigate the potential for virtual and digital currencies such as Bitcoin to encourage innovation in the UK's financial sector, while also examining their potential risks.More than 60,000 online retailers now accept virtual currencies worldwide and the growing popularity has seen backers of the currencies push for greater mainstream adoption. However, their use has also been linked to illegal activity online.BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said: "Enthusiasts say it is the future of money, detractors claim that it is extremely volatile and is used mainly by drug dealers and money launderers."Now the government says it will examine whether this and other virtual currencies should be regulated, how they could help stimulate innovation - and their potential risks."

European home owners are now worrying about soaring energy bills a new survey has explained. With lack of security over supplies and increased localised conflict, Europeans are now starting to think about the consequences and what they can do to help combat the increasing costs.Many home owners are now looking to maximise the energy efficiency of their houses, in order to combat the rising cost of energy.Over 77% of European home owners surveyed explained that they are looking to changing their home in order to meet better regulations on energy efficiency. The driving force behind this is the rising cost of energy and uncertainty of stable supply from Russia.Read more business and economy news in our business blog.

Boris Johnson, mayor of London, has said that Britain could be better of if without the EU (European Union). The mayor has made the comments to coincide with a publication of a new report which is expected to say that London`s economy would not really suffer is they did decide to leave the EU.Boris who is scheduled to make a speech regarding the report on Wednesday is expect to discuss an 8 point outline on how the EU should reform. The plan he has come up with is expected to far exceed any demands being put forward by the prime minister David Cameron, who is also trying to reform the EU. David Cameron is holding a meeting with EU leaders at the summit in Brussels, and is expected to discuss his idea of reform. Boris Johnson is pushing a more rigorous reform plan with more pressures which the EU leaders will not be happy about.This is widely thought to be a political point scorer with Boris expected to stand for a MP in 2015 with a bid for the Conservative leadership in tow; if David Cameron fails to win the general election.If you found this news article interesting, you can find more in our business and economy blog.

The latest Markit UK Construction PMI report has stated that in July 2014, the new UK house building grew at its fastest rate for nearly 11 years, not since November 2003 has home building seen more activity, driven by the demand for new new projects and the growing demand of the first time buyers.Although the house building market is one part of the PMI index and the overall index was down slightly from 62.4 to 62.6 in June, growth in the market is indicated by anything over 50.Tim Moore, the senior economist at Markit, stated that "July's figures suggest the UK construction sector is enjoying its strongest cyclical upswing since the global financial crisis, while a new record rise in employment highlights that construction firms are increasingly confident about the sustainability of the upturn,"The growth in the construction industry has been positive for the past 15 months and has given rise to a reported fastest rate of labour hiring since April 1997 when the survey first began.It is expected that this period of growth will have the usual knock-on effect in the home and DIY markets but this will not be reflected until later in the year.With the markets anticipating an interest rate rise sooner rather than later Ray Boulger, of the mortgage brokers John Charcol, is expecting and average 2014 house price rise of around 8%. Which is based on the Halifax and Nationwide indexes.This rise reflects a similar increase seen towards the end of 2013, and which caused a surprise due to the slow growth experienced at the start of 2013.This view is rejected by the housing market commentator Henry Pryor who predicts that although house prices will rise, the scale of the rise will be only 5% nationally in 2014, but 8% within the M25 motorway. The London market is expected remain buoyant with demand still outstripping supply.If you enjoyed this blog you can read more on our business and economy blog section.

In business, professional image is the key to your success. Many more people are now taking the plunge and starting a new business venture within the comforts of their own home. The internet has made starting a company a simple process and operating a business from home even easier.What many of the start-ups in our own experience frequently overlook is the information required during the formation of a new Limited Company. Key details such a registered office address, director`s details and even shareholders details can often be confirmed without properly thinking about the ramifications of the details provided to Companies House.Most new business start-ups have not been through the company formation process before and such terminologies as a registered office address can be overlooked. It is important to understand that any details provided on formation will be permanently on public records.

Security and peace of mind

Using our London mail forwarding service with a registered office address has many benefits for your company. Firstly we have to imagine what would happen if you were to use your own residential address for your business. Many of our business clients always intend to provide the best possible service to their own customers, however as the business grows so will the potential for possibility of a disgruntled customer. We have had many scare stories where customers have turned up at a person`s house to discuss something very trivial, they managed to obtain the residential address via a company search online. You can imagine how awkward this could be if it`s unexpected and you were at home with your family.Our London mail forwarding address and registered office provides you with a safe and secure service that keeps your residential address of public record. This means there is no chance of customers turning up as and when it suits them. It gives you peace of mind and helps you to concentrate on providing the best possible service to your clients.

A professional image is the key for your fledglings` business success

Clients are becoming very aware that more and more businesses are operating from home. Many potential customers will do their homework first, and looking at where your business is operating from is part of their process. If you have a residential street address on your website then most customers will have a look at where you are trading from. Again a customer is more likely to go with an established larger company as this provides security over a small one man band operating from home. Our London mail forwarding address service is designed to give the smaller business an equal footing, it makes your company appear well established.Our London address is located in a prestigious location in central London. Using an established address in the heart of London can help persuade those clients who may have been reluctant to purchase from you due to knowing you were operating out of a residential address.

Why use Your Virtual Office London?

Your Virtual Office London have been providing leading expert advice to small businesses since 1971. Having started out as a company formation agent in City Road where Companies House were once based, our services have since grown to provide a more complete package for our clients.We understand starting a company is an important step, often a milestone in one`s personal life, and that we are here to ensure you do things correctly. Using our experience we can help guide you through the formation process and help provide guidance on the supplementary services that we provide to our clients.Our mail forwarding and registered office can be combined with a director`s service address to provide complete anonymity for peace of mind. Further into your businesses life span you may require professional advice for accounting, we have trained qualified accountants who can help talk plain English to you about the requirement`s HMRC set out for Ltd companies.Whatever your need, get in touch today, we are always happy to help.

Europe's inflation has fallen to a new record low since the beginning of the financial crisis. The European Central Bank has said this is now becoming very dangerous for the economies of Europe.Inflation rose only by 0.4% in July, down from 0.5% in June. At this low rate there is a very real risk of deflation. The European Central Banks target is 2%. If it stays lower than 1% there is a chance prices could begin to spiral.A few EU countries have also felt a deflation and Spain`s latest figures have shown a fall in prices over the last 12 months. Other countries such as Greece and Portugal have had inflation well below Zero.It is widely expected that the European Commission Bank will begin on a programme of quantative easing, with them buying financial assets from governments such as debt and bonds, with the aim to help increase inflation.These figures show how weak the Eurozone economy is and the UK is very lucky to not be part of the since currency at present, as the UK continues to grow and thrive.This blog was brought to you by Your Virtual Office London, if you enjoyed this post, you can read more interesting and insightful articles on our business and economy blog.

It is now the second time Argentine has defaulted on its debt, this will be the second time in 13 years. It was hoped that discussions being held in New Your with a group of bond holders would be successful however it has ended in failure.The bond holders we requesting a full pay-out of the $1.3 billion on the bonds they hold. Argentina stated they ant afford to purchase the bonds back and suggested the bond holders were using the debt crisis to cash in and make a profit out of them.The last time Argentina defaulted was in 2001, a US judge has given a deadline of 04.00 GMT for a deal to be agreed. The Argentine Minister has said that the Bond Holders rejected their latest offer.The latest default is not expected to have the same effect on the economy as it did in 2001. In the 2001 default many people were protesting and dozens were killed, authorities froze many savers accounts in order to stop a run on the banks.If you found this economy blog interesting you can read more insightful articles in our economy and business blog sections

it is reported that the US economy grew at a high rate of 4% during the months of April to June. The United States Department of Commerce have reported that the growth during this second quarter now has reversed the contraction seen at the start of the first period in the current year.Now growth is forthcoming the Federal Reserve would start to ease the economic stimulus, it is expected that the Federal Reserve will reduce it`s monthly bond purchased from $35 billion to $25 billion.However the growth is now leading to inflation fears, the US labour market is a lot weaker than predicted and this could lead to higher inflation when combined with low interest rates, which are suggested to remain low until mid 2015. Low inflation rates could increase inflation, inflation increased by 1.9% in the first quarter of 2014, it is higher than the 1.4% target.If you enjoyed this business blog post, you may like to know there are more interesting and informative articles in our business blog.Your Virtual Office is a leading virtual office provider in London, if you would like to speak to us about our products please get in contact with us here.

With effect from January 2015 UK drivers may face the prospect of dealing with driverless cars on our already overcrowded city roads.At present the UK government has announced that these driverless vehicles will be allowed on public roads from January next year and have invited cities to declare an interest for the hosting of just three technical trials before the start of October. The trials will be starting at the same time and are intended to run for between 18 and 36 months, and it is thought that in addition to testing public opinion and safety these trials will be used to review the current UK road regulations and to provide appropriate additional guidelines if it is proved necessary.Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, made the announcement at the research facility of Mira, an automotive engineering firm based in the Midlands, and mentioned that this transformational technology will open up new opportunities for the UK economy and society.The UK government has set aside a £10m fund to cover the cost of the trials and this will be divided between the three host cities.The government has already requested civil servants at the Department of Transport to publish a review of road regulations and has given them a deadline of December 2014. This review will concentrate on the compliance with safety and traffic laws and which may involve various changes to the current Highway Code as it applies to England, Scotland and Wales.Additional areas to be reviewed will examine how these new rules and regulations will apply to these driverless vehicles in which the driver can take back control at short notice, for example in an emergency situation, and how they should apply to driverless vehicles, especially in the case of an accident where both legal and insurance issues may require specific conditions to be met by either the driverless vehicles, such as a routine testing of the guidance system, or one of the passenger(s) may need to be nominated as the designated driver in case of an emergency situation.If you found this business blog interested you can read more articles in our business blog here.