smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

The government must address a number of key issues affecting small businesses in next week's Autumn Statement if the economy is to grow next year, says the Forum of Private Business (FPB).
 
The lobbying group has written to business secretary Vince Cable, small business minister Mark Prisk and Chancellor George Osborne - who will deliver the statement on Tuesday – outlining its main arguments for change.

The FPB wants to see the government take action in a number of crucial areas, including education and training, export, tax, finance, and bank lending.

If trading conditions for smaller businesses improve, the Forum believes the small and medium-sized enterprise sector will be able to deliver growth in the wider UK economy and provide much-needed jobs to rein in spiralling unemployment.

Key points in the Forum's letter ask for a focus on schools to improve employability, a greater business voice in how skills money is spent and support from government on raising awareness of exporting for the first time.

Other proposals include ensuring the Regional Growth Fund delivers funds on a much quicker basis by relaxing requirements on due diligence for low value bids.

FPB chief executive Phil Orford says, ‘The Forum believes one of the key issues facing the UK economy is a business sector lacking sufficient confidence to invest. And while the effect of external market conditions is difficult to control, one action government can take is to set out clear financial and regulatory domestic road map in the years ahead.

‘It is our belief that the recommendations set out in this letter are capable of generating further growth in the private sector, and thereby support a jobs recovery in the UK. We hope the ministers will find our input useful.’

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