In mediation, all parties involved in a dispute have a chance to put forward their case and to hear what the other party has to say.  At RESOLVE, our trained mediators help both parties reach an agreement as to how a dispute should be settled.  RESOLVE has two trained Mediators who will be dealing with both our existing and new clients who would like to benefit from our successful, unbiased and confidential service.

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If you would like to know more about this exciting new service, please contact us by telephone on +44 (0) 151 515 3014, email us or Submit your dispute details online

The economy had previously contracted for six consecutive quarters – the longest period since quarterly figures were first recorded in 1955.

There have been recent recovery signs – last week, UK unemployment fell for the first time in 18 months.

The UK’s had been the last major economy still in recession.

Europe’s two biggest economies – Germany and France – came out of recession last summer. Japan and the US also emerged from recession last year.

The weak level of growth took its toll on the value of the pound, which fell against both the dollar and the euro on the money markets

‘Below expectations’

“We can say that Britain has just crossed the line in coming out of recession,” said BBC chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym.

“It [the growth figure] was below analysts’ expectations. The figure could be moved down, or indeed upwards.”

How the ONS announced the UK had emerged from recession

Joe Grice, from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), said the UK’s production and service sectors each grew by 0.1% during the quarter.

The ONS figures also showed that GDP fell by a record 4.8% in 2009.

“The Q4 GDP figures are a major blow to hopes that the UK economy had emerged decisively from recession in Q4,” said analyst Jonathan Loynes at Capital Economics.

“No doubt some commentators will claim that the figures are under-estimating the true strength of the recovery and will be revised up in time.

“That is certainly possible. But it won’t change the big picture of an economy still operating way below both its pre-recession and trend levels of output.”

‘Frail’ recovery

The UK recession began in the April-to-June quarter of 2008, and was the longest UK recession on record.

During 18 months of recession, public borrowing increased to an estimated £178bn, while output slumped by 6%.

After the GDP figures were published, John Wright, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said that the recovery remained “frail”.

“In order to strengthen the recovery it is important that we boost consumer confidence and demand and that interest rates are held steady as continued investment in the economy will be the key to ensuring a sustainable recovery,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lee Hopley, chief economist at manufacturers organisation EEF, said: “Whilst today’s data confirm that manufacturing is now out of recession, they also continue to raise questions over the health of the wider economy.

“The trajectory for the recovery, particularly in the next six months, is an uncertain one and the best prospects remain an export-driven turnaround.”

First estimates of how the economy has performed are made with about 40% of the data available, and Investec economist David Page has warned there is “plenty of room for surprises” in the figures.

But the BBC’s Economics Editor Stephanie Flanders said: “Even with some revision – in fact, even if it turns out that the economy actually started to grow in the third quarter, given that the first estimate of a decline 0.4% has already been revised up to -0.2% – we are still talking about an extremely lacklustre recovery.”

‘Staggering’

Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling said he was now sure that “we are on a path to recovery.

“I’m confident but I’ll always remain cautious”.

But shadow chancellor George Osborne told the BBC that the UK needed a “new model of economic growth” under a Conservative Government.

He added: “Let’s be clear – this is about as weak growth as you can get.”

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, Vince Cable said the markets would be surprised that growth had been markedly slower than expected.

“Far from the quick recovery the chancellor has been praying for, the economy is only just staggering back into growth,” he said.

Please note: Information in this blog post is content property of the BBC and a full version of the article can be found by clicking here

Budgets will rise following more than two years of falls according to the survey from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA).  Advertisers cut their budgets again in the final quarter of 2009, but by the slowest rate since the recession began.

The findings will be welcomed by media companies who have suffered from a collapse in advertising spending. Around a quarter of companies cut their advertising budgets in the last three months of 2009, according to the survey, while 18% increased their budgets.

The majority of the 300 companies surveyed said they planned increases in budgets for the new year.  Internet and direct marketing continue to outperform more traditional forms of advertising, with budgets increasing while spending on radio, television and newspaper advertising fell nearly 7%.

Andy Viner, head of media at the accountancy group BDO, which conducted the survey with the IPA, said confidence was beginning to return to the market. “After nine consecutive quarters of reduced marketing spend, it appears that the rate of decline is at its slowest in nearly two years,” he said.

Please note: Information in this blog post is content property of the BBC and a full version of the article can be found by clicking here

In January 2009 the UK entered recession for the first time since 1991, after experiencing two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth.   As it stands the UK is one of the last major economies still in recession, with the French and German economies having exited the recession last summer.  This has left many people questioning the current government’s tactics for conquering the recession and made people ask the same question ‘How much longer is this likely to last?’

According to the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC), the UK economy is on the ‘Brink of leaving recession’.  In its economic survey for the fourth quarter of 2009, the BCC says there have been improvements in many areas, most strikingly in manufacturing, but it warned that, despite exports in the service sector strengthening, services were still struggling.

With the General Election set to take place later this year, the electorate will decide if the current political party has the ability to take us out of recession and build for the future, or whether a fresh impetus and plan of action is needed. Either way, the political debate will continue for the next few months, whilst the average UK person continues to struggle with their day to day life, due to the economic downturn.

Will the outcome of the General Election determine our countries path and will the ‘Great’ be put back in Great Britain? Those are questions that will be answered in the coming months and I have no doubt they will be eagerly anticipated by the majority of people in the UK.

Let’s hope its a Happy New Year…!

Berkeley Independent Advisers was a subsidiary of Berkeley Berry Birch, which went into administration in March 2006. PwC was appointed as the administrators.

This particular article further highlighted our involvement and experience within the financial services industry.  Whilst we are often seen as the bad guys, it is our aim to resolve accounts as amicably as possible.  We do not look to simply litigate; we firmly believe in Mediation and have two qualified Mediators on our payroll.  We work with the advisers in an attempt to help them repay money owed to our clients. Without these repayments, their authorisation through the FSA would be in jeopardy. ‘We’re most certainly the good guys!

If you would like more information on our Financial Services Division and advice on how this can benefit your company, please contact us by telephone on +44 (0) 151 515 3014, email us or complete our ‘Financial Services Recoveries Booking form’

Out of 200 advisers asked if they expected to earn more in 2010 than in 2009, 134 (67 per cent) answered they expected more cash in their pockets next year while only 34 (17 per cent) anticipated their earnings going down.

A further 13 per cent thought they would earn roughly the same and 3 per cent indicated they did not know how much cash to expect in 2010.

Derek McGuire, co-founder of Marketing Innovation Forum, said: “It is great to be able to report a message of positivity so close to Christmas, following the year many in financial services have had to battle through.

“Many advisers are flexible, forward-thinking entrepreneurs, so it is refreshing that so few seem disheartened, and so many are optimistic about the future.”

Julian Wells, director of Marketing Innovation Forum, said: “The ifs, buts and most importantly the when of the recovery have been discussed to death, and it remains a guessing game.

“This poll reveals that those on the front line of financial services are confident, which can only be a good thing. Let us not forget what a tough time the last two years have been for advisers though, so to see a downward trend at this point would actually have been very surprising.”

Please note: Information in this blog post is content property of FT Adviser and a full version of the article can be found by clicking here.

He said Legal & General’s survey of appointed representatives shows that 42 per cent of them believe business in the next quarter will be flat – broadly consistent with the previous surveys in the second and third quarter.

About a quarter (23 per cent) of advisers believe that next quarter will be worse, and this figure has in fact risen from 15 per cent in the third quarter and 6 per cent in the second quarter of the year.

Mr Smith said: “This isn’t really surprising, though, considering that this period covers the year-end when volumes are traditionally down, so I would call this realistic rather than pessimistic.

“However, we believe that there are plenty of things to be positive about, what with house prices showing a mini recovery, absent lenders potentially looking to come back into the market and more products at higher loan-to-values.

“In addition, there is a lot of interest in the commercial market, the buy-to-let market is showing signs of growth for the first time in a long time, and house builders such as Persimmon are generally quite bullish.

“Our message to brokers is ‘keep your chins up or you might not see the business that is out there.’”

Please note: Information in this blog post is content property of FT Adviser and a full version of the article can be found by clicking here.

Cash Flow – Independent Finance for Businesses

We can offer alternative independent flexible finance which takes account of the need for growth and is, therefore, geared to the actual sales of the business.  The more sales achieved, the more funding becomes available, without the need for further formal negotiation for increasing previously agreed overdraft facilities.

Up to 90% of the value of invoices submitted for payment today are paid tomorrow:

• Vital Cash Released
• No Restriction On Low Value Invoices
• Can Include Professional Credit Control
• Full Risk Assessment On Your Customers
• Bad Debts Reduced
• Customer Contact Can Remain with You
• Flexible Approach – You May Exclude Chosen Customers

We can search out the best deal for your specific business and can turn your sales into cash in 24 hours. Because this is independent finance, it is not subject to the restrictions of the main banking institutions.

If you would like more information on Cash Flow Finance and advice on how this can benefit your company, please contact us by telephone on +44 (0) 151 515 3014, email us or complete our ‘Cash Flow Contact Form’

Credit Management Services

In order to ensure the highest level of performance of monthly debt collections, adequately skilled personnel will be required.  However, this will require substantial investment on behalf of the business in salaries, NIC, etc.  In addition, there is the added problem of staff sickness/holidays, which must also be taken into account.

• You simply supply us with your monthly statements
• We plan the monthly Debt Collection strategy
• We advise you of any queries for Debt  Resolution
• You advise us of fresh orders – We take the required action to obtain payment before delivery
• We request customers to pay you direct
• You provide us with a daily list of payments received
• We can provide the above professional service at a lower cost than employing the suitable personnel in-house and at the same time, you will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of our skilled negotiators and debt collectors in seeking to achieve maximum monthly sales ledger receipts for your business.

If you would like to discuss how this service could benefit your company, please contact us by telephone on +44 (0) 151 515 3014, email us or complete our ‘Credit Control Outsourcing Form’