Welcome to the East of England Area Policy Unit

Making the voice of the FSB and its membership heard across the East of England is at the heart of the work of the Area Policy Unit. With around 17,000 members covering a wide range of business activities the FSB is able to present informed views on a wide range of issues affecting micro and small businesses in the Region.

The APU's membership is drawn from the FSB's own Regional Committees:-

• Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire
• East Anglia (Norfolk & Suffolk)
• Essex
• Lincolnshire (Peterborough Branch)  

who act as link between the FSB's members at branch level and the National Policy Committee.

Members also represent the FSB at consultation meetings and on outside bodies and a regular programme of lobbying activities is undertaken to ensure our members' views are made known wherever possible.

Key Policy Activities:

These include the following areas

• Crimes Against Businesses  
• Broadband Provision
• Transport Infrastructure Provision
• Learning & Skills
• Prompt Payment 

Policy Conference

The APU organises an annual policy conference to enable members to hear about the work of regional organisations affecting their businesses.

The next Conference will be held on 31st March 2010 at the Millenium Conference Suite, Rowley Mile Racecourse, Newmarket from 11.00 am to 4.30pm.

The title of the conference will be "Small Businesses - The Route to Recovery in Rural Areas" and will include sessions on broadband provision, skills and training and rural enterprise.

All FSB members are invited to attend free of charge and further information can be obtained from the Area Policy Manager.