With around 4.5 million small businesses and medium sized companies in the UK, it is obvious why this sector is so important, but what is not so obvious is what is actually happening financially within this sector. According to a BBC News Report last week, official figures show that the UK's biggest four banks increased their lending to companies in the third quarter of 2011. There were £57.4bn of new loans from July to September, up from £53bn in the second quarter, the Bank of England said.

Developments For Business director, Peter Jones: 'I was having the annual review of one of my businesses with my accountant the other day. However there are some subsrantial savings out there such as:

Corporation Tax:

• Companies with profits in excess of £100,000 pay 0% corporation tax
• Directors can access this profit and pay 0% income tax

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1. Have a plan!
2. Don't have a single channel strategy - you need a range of marketing initiatives to spread the word about your business.
3. Add the latest technological advances - what do you know about social media? If you don't know anything about it, your staff will! Use their knowledge to help your business.
4. Once you have devised your marketing plan, fiddled with it, shaped it, commit to it! It is an investment...not a one-minute wonder.

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