Sources of Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Sources of Finance - Essay Example The major challenge faced by SMEs is to access the capital to take advantage of new investment opportunities. The studies on SME financing in the past showed the lack of financing a major constraint for start-ups as well as expansion but recent statistics show an improved capital access for SMEs. This essay aims to present the definition of SMEs from the point of view of European Commission, the sources of finances available to SMEs along with the suitable financing options according to the stage the SME is in, the barriers SMEs face in procuring the capital or if the financing constraints still exist, and the steps needed by policy makers to provide congenial environment to SME sector. Background of Small and Medium sized Enterprises The Small and Medium sized Enterprise can be defined in two ways- Quantitatively and Qualitatively. The quantitative definition is based on the various criteria set by the different countries. Qualitatively SME can be defined on the basis of ownership w hich is limited to a few individuals. SMEs are privately owned with low volume of sales and a very few employees. The definition regarding the number of employees varies from country to country with 15 employees in Australia under Fair Work Act 2009, 50 employees under EU and a little less than 500 employees in USA to qualify for Small Business Administration. The European Commission has given a definition of an SME which qualifies an enterprise to be small or medium sized enterprise if it fulfils the criteria of maximum ceilings in either one of staff headcount, turnover or balance sheet given in Table 1. Table 1: Qualification to be an SME (Source: European Commission-a, 2009, p.3) This new definition was adopted by EC in 2003 and came into effect in 2005. The main reasons behind adopting new definition were to improve availability of capital, to update thresholds and to improve access to R&D and promote innovation (European Commission-b, 2005, p.8-10). The European Commission wor ks on policies regarding SMEs throughout Europe and assists them through business support measures. In 2010, the number of SMEs in EU was around 20.8 million, 99.8% of the total enterprises. These SMEs employed 87.5 million people, almost two-thirds of the total employed people producing GVA of 58.4% (Cambridge, 2011, p.8). In 2010, SMEs accounted for 60% of UK’s total public sector employment and 50% of the private sector turnover (Turner, 2010). In February 2011, UK ministry announced the reform measures specifically to open-up public sector markets for SMEs. This included the set-up of ‘contracts finder’ a source to access information regarding procurement, tenders and contracts and directives to government departments to set targets to increase businesses with SMEs. They also presented an SME Action Plan taking into account the limited means to increase non-UK business for SMEs in UK (Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 2011). Sources of Finance for SMEs Finance i s considered a key element that drives the SMEs to successively build productive capacities and create jobs. Without capital, SMEs cannot acquire

Young Children Exercise And Obesity Health And Social Care Essay

Young Children Exercise And Obesity Health And Social Care Essay Above given is a case study of on lifestyle health intervention. It is main case study for the following essay. The essay can be a It shall be a critical analysis of intervention`s design, delivery and those evaluation methodologies, which were being utilized for data gathering or desired outcome measuring the specified study. for this study. A critical discussion (in the light of relevant theories) of activities during developmental phase to evaluation phase of a health intervention shall be the topic of this essay move this line above the previous line.. For discussion, the essay is being divided into three parts. Part one highlights introduction and rationale for the choice of study. The second part explores and critically analyse the key features of the intervention`s methodology, design, and delivery by comparing it with other comparators and relevant literature. Final part covers evaluation methodologies employed to measure the desired outcomes of intervention, includes data collection for measuring outcome, process and fidelity of implementation. Sedentary behaviour is an unhealthy lifestyle. Spending more time in front of computer, TV viewing, video games playing, also not participating in outdoor activities (playing games), inactive parents who also do not support or help their children to be active, bad weather, and lack of insufficient health education in schools and communities are not only helping factors for enhancing this sedentary behaviour but the blame also goes to those cultural environments which promote physical inactivity and excessive eating. Because of this unhealthy lifestyle obesity is growing rapidly in UK. Childhood obesity is dangerous because it tracks into adulthood. In boys and girls aged 2-10 years, obesity increased from 10% in 1995 to 17% in 2005; further 16% boys and 12% girls are overweight (HSE, 2005). Data from National Child Measurement Programme showing that in England 13% children of aged 4-5 and 14.3% children of aged 10-11 are overweight; further 9.6% children of aged 4-5 years and 18.3% c hildren of aged 10-11 are obese. It is very clear that unhealthy lifestyle plays an important role in the development and maintenance for obesity (NCMP/2008). Improving lifestyles is thought to be one of the most effective means of reducing mortality and morbidity in the developed world. However, despite decades of health promotion, there has been no significant difference to lifestyles and instead there are rising levels of inactivity and obesity (Kathryn Thirlaway, 2008). In UK even majority of adults 37% of men and 25% of women are meeting the government target of at least thirty/30 minutes of intense physical activity for five/5 days per week but still there is a considerable public health burden due to physically inactive people. Every year more than 356,000 people are dying due to different cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Physical inactivity is not only responsible for this death toll but is one of major cause (Steven Allender et al, 2006). According to chief medical statement physically active people can reduce up to 50% risk of having any major disease like cancer and cardiovascular diseases but they can also prolong their liv es up to 20% to 30% (D.O.H, 2004). Unhealthy lifestyle has become a public health problem because of its association with major diseases. This is the reason for promoting healthy lifestyle different governments in United Kingdom have been introducing different interventions. In policy forms and in different schools and community based settings. Healthy weight, healthy life, child measurement programme, change 4 life, and in past LEAP project (Local Exercise Action Pilots), changes in schools curriculum for making physical activities and health education compulsory, providing healthy meals in schools and the most recent policy over salt usage are some of the great examples. To tackle above mentioned catastrophe there is an acute need of intervention. According to government policy for health promotion, an evidence based strategy for promoting healthy lifestyles is underpinning with national and local health improvement policies. Any intervention that can help in preventing obesity should be given high value. Because it is well known, in the absence of any intervention 50% of obese children will become obese adults (National audit office London, 2001). By following the health promotion principle of enabling people to increase control over their health and its determinants, and thereby improve their health (W.H.O 2005), many theories explain health behaviour and a change in health behaviour. Health Belief Model (HBM), Theory of Reasoned action, social learning and Transtheoretical (stages of change) Model, theory of health education are the examples. All of them are underpinning the practise of health promotion. Understanding of these theories is very essential while developing or designing health behaviour change intervention as the theory is logical place to begin (John kemm et al.) and theories provide bases for study design. National Institute of Health also argues that a theory is a systematic way of understanding events or situation and needs to be applicable to broad verity of situation, (NIH, 2005). This mean theories provide bases and a structure of knowledge can be built upon. For example theory of health belief model by focusing on individual`s perceptions of benefits and threats to his/her health further explains that a person`s attitude is determined by his/her knowledge and on that bases he/she acts. This means that, when person gain knowledge about something that influence the attitude and on that basis a change (step wise) in his/her actions occur. Therefore, theoretical understanding of change while developing intervention is also very important. For example, for this study (MAGIC) the concept of enhancing physical activity was being derived by the theory of health belief model (HBM) and by adopting health education model approach, an attempt of behaviour change among school children was being made. The MAGIC example is reflecting that for the study the theory of health belief provided a base and on that a health education model was being built. Basically, by following health promotion principal the MAGIC programme was being designed to promote healthy lifestyle with the help of health educa tion. Using scientific research as a base for developing sound practices in public health is called evidence based approach, which integrates research and practice (Liz Trinder et al. 2000). Was there any need for developing an intervention to improve physical activity among young children? Is MAGIC program evidence based? These questions can be answered by evaluating an intervention at developmental stage. For example, a literature search (systematic review and meta-analysis) for gathering the relevant evidences had been conducted for MAGIC programme. For the purpose researchers had set an inclusion and exclusion criterion for similar case studies to conduct a systematic review and that is systematic way of evidence finding. It was very important to search for those evidences which would help them in not repeating those mistakes while developing a design which had been causing failure previously. Therefore, it was very important to know what had been done so for. What kind of methods and designs had been used or what was already known about similar interventions and what needed to be done more or different. So the evidence based strategy can be adopted from different perspectives, of a researcher`s like creating hypothesis and design building which further maximise the strength of design and can even helpful in programme delivery. A logical model can be built on the bases of evidences which further can forecast the outcome of an intervention.

Platonic Forms :: essays research papers

One Example of a Platonic Form other than what the book suggests is the Form of a book. The idea to write this paper on the Form of book came to me while I was sitting in the library perusing the reference books, trying to decide on an answer to question 2. You could say that the answer was staring me right in the face. I believe that the Form of a book exists but I have to agree with Aristotle's idea that the Form is created when the object is created. I also think that Forms are eternal, but from the moment that they are first thought of and then brought into the physical world. At one point in time someone decided to put information together in the form of words written on pages put between two bindings. Before the first person who thought of and created this "book", I believe one must ask themselves if the Form existed. How could a Form exist if the object didn't yet exist? A Form for a thing such as a book exists once the object is created because it is a new idea. Therefore, everything participates in a Form because everything tangible exists. The idea of a perfect book can exist only in our minds through thought. Since books range in topic and in content , what might be the topic and content of this perfect book? A book contains ideas, characters, etc., so would the Form of a book then contain perfect ideas, characters, etc.? To define what a book is is to define what the Form must be a perfect version(idea) of. My philosophy textbook differs very much from a children's book such as "Where The Wild Things Are", but they both still participate in the Form of a book, being that the Form of a book only dictates the shape and not the content. It is when the thought of a book is represented in the physical world that content and topic come into play. Suppose that I make photocopies of every page out of "Where The Wild Things Are", and staple them together at the corner. We could still call that stapled together group of papers the book "Where The Wild Things Are", yet could we still state that it participates in the Form since it doesn't look like a book? This is where are senses deceive us.

Narrative Essay Example

Narrative essay Main character: genie Setting: swamp Plot: treasure is found There are four genies, which is Jinny, Winny, Tinny and Ninny, they are very good friend and they have living in a forest called The Peaceful Forest. They live in there almost 100 years, unfortunately they only can live 200 years, but they never feel sad about that and they live happily. One day, a devil has come to their place and tells them that there is a treasure inside the swamp which is behind the forest. He asks them to help him to get the treasure and he will give them a bottle of magic water that can help them to increase lifespan as the reward.After that, because the bottle of magic water only have one, so the genies started to become selfish and only think of self and try to get the magic water. But, actually the devil are lie to them, he just want them to help him to get the treasure and he does not have any reward to give back them. The four genies have a simple mind, so they do not think about the devil will lie to them, so they follow the devil to find the treasure and it take about 2 days to reach there. In the middle of the journey, Jinny, Winny and Tinny started to have conflict because they wanted to drink the magic water and do not want to let another to steal.Then, the devil started to smile because he has successful to provoke their relationship. Luckily, Niny, the leader of them which is lovely and kind, she started to tell them not to argue and try to persuade them but she failed because no one want to listen to her words. Few hours later, they reach the place, the devil is so exciting about the treasure that he have waited so long, so he call them to help him jump into the swamp to get it, but all of them are fighting because of the magic water. The devil can’t stand it, so he goes there and stop their fighting.When they all are pushing and pulling each other, the devil accidently felt into the swamp and he feel so painful because his weakness is cannot touch the swamp. The four genies quickly jump into it and try to save the devil, but it was too late, the devil has turn into ash. Unconsciously, Niny saw the treasure is floating on the swamp, so she take it and open it with the three other genies. After she opens it, they all smile to each other and hug each other because inside the treasure box, there was nothing inside. So, it means everything that they argue was a waste of time, and then they go back home and live happily just like before.

Adam Smiths Invisible Hand

Page 41 questions 2-5, 7 and 9 2) Honoring tradition, because Traditional Economies are based on customs and beliefs of its people, aka cultural things, which is often a tradition. 3) Economic decisions in a command economy are made from government officials considering the resources and needs of the country and distribute resources based on their judgment. 4) Consumers can spend their money as they want; producers decide what goods or services they’ll offer. 5) Adam Smith’s â€Å"invisible hand† does function in both traditional economies and command economies, too.In traditional economies they base everything on survival. To survive, you must think about yourself but more so about your peers to make sure you all produce and consume what you need. In command economies, the government distributes based on their judgments but still after considering what the people need. 7) Well defined economic roles and goals can be a strength in a traditional economy because th ere isn’t much disagreement going on about it. It can also be a weakness because people may not be able to get the role they desire due to their beliefs. ) I believe this is a traditional economy because in a traditional economy, tradition sort of assigns their jobs to them and by belief they can’t change this. Producers have to use materials as custom says, so they may not be able to use them as they would like to. And since they go by tradition, people can’t really change or have any say in the basic economy questions, or how they’re answered. Page 47 questions 2-5, 9 2) So they can provide for everyone. 3) Leaders can use the nation’s resources to produce items that may not make money in a market economy and even the sick or old who aren’t productive economically are provided for. ) Prices are below what they could be worth, and leaders are more unaware of local conditions, making their decisions wrong. The leaders are paged no matter the ir output. No private property makes people want to use resources wrong more. 5) The state rules the individuals every move. 9) Page 57 Questions 2-5, 7, 9 2) Private property, specialization, consumer sovereignty, competition, government involvement, voluntary exchange, profit. 3) People free to make their own economic choices, people are free to develop interests and talents they like. Profit. ) No mechanism for providing public goods and services, cannot provide security to those who cant be productive. 5) Efficiency serves as a reward for hard work and innovation, and if they were inefficient with distributing resources, they would make less profit. 7) What payments they pay to the factor market are sent as income from resources to the households who pay consumer spending to the product market which sends business revenue right back to businesses. 9) The government in this economy can try to help provide for those who can’t be productive and try to do some public services and offer goods.Page 63 questions 2-5, 8-9 2) A market driven mixed economy is an economy where the people want a mixture of command economies and market. France is one of these, their economy emphasized the command system in years following WW2, in the 80’s they witnessed the dissatisfaction with performance of the gov’t. So the French lowered the command role. 3) 4) 5) 8) 9) #1: The producer should be able to decide how many of the digital cameras or of everything else to produce. Because he is producing that good, he should be able to decide who to make it for, as well. #2: