smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Manufacturing businesses are being asked to play their part in cutting bureaucracy and red tape in the latest phase of a government campaign to reduce the burdens on British businesses.

For the next three weeks the Red Tape Challenge will focus on 140 different regulations that manufacturers and producers have to deal with every day. The Challenge asks whether the regulations are good and should be retained or if they are burdensome or redundant and should be scrapped.

The campaign also asks for suggestions on how regulations can be improved or simplified to reduce the burden that they place on businesses but maintain protections for employees, consumers and the public.

Manufacturing minister Mark Prisk says, ‘Our manufacturing sector is at the centre of our plans to rebalance the economy and promote sustainable private sector growth. That’s why cutting back the bureaucracy and the red-tape that you have to deal with every day is one of my main priorities. I want our manufacturers to be making things, not filling out forms.

'We want manufacturers to tell us about the regulations they deal with every day; the legislation and inspection regimes that serve no useful purpose and get in the way of growth.’

EEF chief executive Terry Scuoler adds, ‘The burden of regulation weighing down on UK manufacturing has been rising relentlessly. That’s why EEF is backing this important initiative which gives businesses the opportunity to tell government directly which regulations are working, which aren’t and which should be scrapped.

In my role as manufacturing sector champion, I will be working with government to help it deliver on its promise to cut red tape. I urge businesses to get involved – the more evidence we can offer, the better our chances of reducing inappropriate and stifling regulation.’

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