FSB and government to discuss SME employment
Dec 07 2011
The inquiry will look at how firms can be encouraged to take on staff
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the All Party Parliamentary Small Business Group (APPSBG) will launch an inquiry with the government to see how SME employment barriers can be removed.
With 95 per cent of private sector businesses employing less than 20 members of staff, the inquiry will look at how these firms can be encouraged to take on staff and how budding entrepreneurs can be supported in setting up their own business against a backdrop of uncertain economic times.
The FSB is calling on the government to reinstate the graduate internship scheme to give graduates the opportunity to acquire the skills they need for starting and running a business.
The organisation also wants to see a prioritising of enterprise education by putting it in the statutory curriculum, as well as extending Work Trials to the first day someone signs on to Jobseekers Allowance to help create an estimated 46,000 more jobs.
FSB national chairman John Walker says, ‘Challenges posed to entrepreneurs will always vary, but we know from our members that common issues at start-up stage include finding suitably skilled staff, complex regulation and access to finance. And coming up against these at the very beginning of their entrepreneurial career can prevent them from growing.
'With the private sector being relied on to drive economic recovery, these barriers need to be removed – budding entrepreneurs should be supported in setting up in business, and existing businesses should be encouraged to innovate, take on staff and grow.’
Brian Binley MP, chairman of the APPSBG adds, ‘I am hopeful that this inquiry will go some way to addressing the challenges of rising youth unemployment and the skills crisis we have thanks to the legacy left by the previous government.’
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