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<title>Close Invoice Finance: News Feed</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/feed/atom/news" ></link>
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<description type="html" ><![CDATA[This is a news feed]]></description>
<image><title>Close Invoice Finance: News Feed</title>
<link>http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/feed/atom/news</link>
<url>http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/images/close-invoice-finance-logo.gif</url>
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<entry>
<title>Jubilee bank holiday dismay for UK firms</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/39/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:3e085585-6312-153b-8b94-5b710e460ee7</id>
<updated>2012-04-13T10:41:13+01:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[More than a third of British businesses are unhappy about the additional bank holiday which is taking place this coming June to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>£130m cash boost for Southern businesses</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/38/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:71b3ecd9-5be4-7b77-4d66-25810db5d6e5</id>
<updated>2012-04-11T14:50:39+01:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[A LEADING local finance provider is helping businesses in the South of England access the cash they need and even more so in the wake of the current economic crisis.]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>REVEALED - Is the price of diesel really much cheaper in France compared to Britain?</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/35/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:fd064a96-436c-8a5a-6750-851550a1cb76</id>
<updated>2012-03-05T11:13:43+00:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[The price of diesel has become a sore point for motorists and businesses alike in recent years, as prices at the forecourt race towards the eye-watering 150p a litre mark.

When This is Money writes an article about diesel prices, a common discussion point among our readers is about how much less our French compatriots pay at the pumps, with many saying that the price is much cheaper across the Channel.

So is this the case? And how much tax do the French actually pay on their diesel compared to us Britons? Lee Boyce investigates.]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Fuel costs continue to cripple UK businesses</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/34/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:6aa15ea7-cd95-b898-6470-e42478f5b11e</id>
<updated>2012-03-01T11:42:22+00:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[UK businesses continue to suffer as a result of record fuel prices, in spite of the government’s decision to postpone a rise in fuel duty originally planned for the beginning of the New Year.

The latest Close Business Barometer has today revealed that the rising cost of fuel is taking its toll on 41 per cent of firms across the country. 
]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>SME Owners Feel the Heat</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/36/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:862dfe35-ecc4-775e-9948-769ba3128894</id>
<updated>2012-03-05T11:17:38+00:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>SME owners’ personal lives take a dip</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/31/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:7e4cedc9-36c8-15c1-de0e-103ca2987477</id>
<updated>2012-01-16T13:56:39+00:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[A staggering 50 per cent of SME owner managers across the UK say that the state of the economy is taking its toll on their personal life, according to new statistics released today.

The latest Close Business Barometer shows that of those who say their personal life is suffering, 48 per cent are stressed and a third say that their work-life balance has deteriorated. The survey canvasses the views of SME owners across the UK on a range of financial issues.
]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Businesses in West Midlands not prepared for big freeze</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/37/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:bfeb2073-4a39-46b8-2353-ba2ebae4a09f</id>
<updated>2012-03-05T11:25:09+00:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Businesses not prepared for big freeze</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/30/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:9dea49ba-e1e4-a546-fd9b-d3fe95e1a20c</id>
<updated>2011-12-12T16:09:00+00:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[DESPITE signs of yet another big freeze this winter, a worrying number of companies admit to being ill-prepared for the inevitable disruption it brings. 

The Close Business Barometer, a quarterly survey of small and medium-sized businesses across the UK, found that while more than half (58 per cent) are worried about the effects of more arctic weather this year, one in four don’t have a business continuity plan in place to deal with unfortunate, but common, consequences such as staff absenteeism and power failures.
]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Cash strapped firms in the West Midlands axe Christmas parties</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/33/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:5a59a9d0-9b4c-e68e-95b1-71b2bc4d6778</id>
<updated>2012-01-26T15:28:29+00:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[CHRISTMAS parties are being axed by more than two fifths of cash-strapped businesses in the West Midlands, with half saying they have no choice but to rein in spending.]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Bosses say bah humbug to Christmas parties</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/29/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:1e8d409e-314f-0156-8dbb-4ce35202a474</id>
<updated>2011-11-30T11:24:13+00:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[Over a third of hard-up businesses across the UK won’t hold a Christmas party for staff this year, with 48 per cent of these companies saying they have no choice but to rein in spending.]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Don’t let LEZ grind your business to a halt</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/27/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:40c2049c-9499-c988-1ef6-8ac2638ad5e2</id>
<updated>2011-11-16T11:57:05+00:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[November 15, 2011 – With just weeks to go before the new compliance regulations come into place for the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ), thousands of businesses in the transport sector are facing significant financial hardship ensuring their vehicles meet the new exacting requirements.
]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Close Brothers Expands to Ireland</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/32/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:6f534ff7-03b8-30a9-68e6-fec1a2eacc69</id>
<updated>2012-01-26T15:24:13+00:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[Close Brothers, one of the UK’s leading specialist finance services group, has extended its operations to Ireland.]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Local Lender is Best in the Region</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/26/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:7408bb6a-7484-1062-8760-aaec983d854b</id>
<updated>2011-11-09T13:53:54+00:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[CLOSE Invoice Finance (“Close”) has scooped the coveted award for ‘Asset Based Lender of the Year’ following Insider Media’s North West Dealmaker Awards which were held at Manchester Central Conference Centre on Thursday 3rd November.  ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Three in 10 UK businesses employ migrant workers</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/25/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:39cad2ad-386d-bfb4-858a-a51fac36b0a9</id>
<updated>2011-10-27T09:33:50+01:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[NEW research published this week shows that despite the government’s calls to reduce the use of migrant workers, three in 10 UK bosses rely on them to plug the skills gaps in their workforce. 

According to the Business Barometer, independently commissioned and published by Close Invoice Finance, of the 30 per cent of employers who hire migrant workers almost half hire them because they are best placed to do the job.
]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>1 in 5 businesses missing out on finance </title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/24/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:0305e100-f678-2339-a979-3e72f2dac863</id>
<updated>2011-10-06T10:39:04+01:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[NEW research has revealed that 20 per cent of businesses in the UK may be missing out on access to finance simply because of fears about approaching their bank.

One in five respondents in the Business Finance Barometer, independently commissioned and published by Close Invoice Finance, stated that they hadn’t asked for increased credit from their bank for fear of either being turned down, or the bank deciding to increase the cost of their existing borrowing.
]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Businesses tackle Rugby World Cup head on</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/23/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:d905eaab-2f1c-dc2c-c84c-b2b87356c128</id>
<updated>2011-09-07T12:33:57+01:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[It’s game on as one third of UK bosses say they will accommodate flexi-time requests to allow rugby-keen employees to enjoy the upcoming World Cup.
]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Ask the Expert - Protection from late payments</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/21/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:a78d3e7c-3b28-db6d-5d76-d388936a11ed</id>
<updated>2011-08-25T10:59:27+01:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[Mike Vince, partner at Close Invoice Finance, helps businesses to deal with the tricky issue of late customer payments.]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Newcastle&#039;s St James&#039; Park to play key part in Olympics</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/17/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:71a7ee05-3dae-a3b6-2e64-005c6c768452</id>
<updated>2011-08-12T16:11:02+01:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[The London 2012 Olympics might be taking place about 300 miles away, but St James' Park in Newcastle will play a key part in it.]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>North west missing out on £2.9bn Olympic cash</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/18/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:481c9829-c546-e1df-2097-099bc9d4db6d</id>
<updated>2011-08-25T10:09:17+01:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[North West businesses could lose out on a share of £2.9bn because they are ill- prepared for the London 2012 Olympics, according to a new report. ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Almost half of companies still unaware of invoice finance - New Close Invoice Finance Website aims to support greater access to finance</title>
<link href="http://www.closeinvoice.co.uk/news/16/index.html" ></link>
<id>urn:uuid:25e940bf-015e-3e7e-4e3d-6298ef9aee0a</id>
<updated>2011-08-08T15:01:22+01:00</updated>
<summary type="html" ><![CDATA[NEW research has shown that 45 per cent of companies across the UK have never heard of invoice finance, despite the industry being worth a reported £212 billion*.]]></summary>
</entry>
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