Business owners rate protecting their businesses above insuring their staff’s safety, according to figures released by Norwich Union.

Tough economic and financial circumstances has seen smaller companies squeezed for cash and taking an increasingly defensive approach to business insurance.

The insurer discovered businesses were significantly more likely to consider policies which protected premises, business loans and reduced staff cover as more important than life, personal accident or property cover for staff.

But the majority of respondents also admitted to not understanding the product, with 13 per cent having never heard of it, 26 per cent having heard the name but not knowing what it covers and 36 per cent not understanding the difference between individual products.

The survey also revealed the business owners most common worry is a downturn in the market, with 46 per cent of respondents placing it in their top three concerns, followed by losing clients to competitors, at 32 per cent, clients failing to pay for services, at 30 per cent and utility bills, at 23 per cent.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has awarded grants of nearly a million pounds to help food caterers and food retailers improve food safety. Local authorities will administer the grants of up to �50,000, and will involve community groups, local colleges and a range of other organisations in delivery of support to businesses.

The business grants will help almost 5,000 businesses to implement Safer Food better Business (SFBB) ? an innovative and practical approach that helps small businesses put in place food safety management systems. This year the FSA grants have focussed on those caterers and retailers who are harder to reach. SFBB has been developed by the FSA in partnership with industry and local authorities with specific advice available for different cuisines and groups such as care homes.

Applications for the grants were invited in May and applications were internally appraised and considered by an external appraisal panel on 7 August. The panel had representatives from local authorities, LACORS (Local Authorities Coordinator of Regulatory Services), the British Hospitality Association and an academic from Birmingham University. The Agency received 40 applications for grants and 26 were successful, involving 69 local authorities and a range of other organisations.

New laws will come into force in October that govern the display of company names at premises. The Companies (Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2008 are effective as of 1 October this year, and will mean that companies will have to display their registered name at their registered office and their inspection place, as well as any place where a company carries on business. Registered names must be displayed in a position where they can be easily seen by visitors. Furthermore, a company’s registered name, number, place of registration and registered office address must be displayed on business letters, e-mails, websites and other documentation.

An exception to the rule is for home based businesses whose company name does not have to be displayed at a location which is primarily used for living accommodation.