FSB members frequently tell us that complying with regulation is one of the biggest bugbears for small businesses. And the way that regulation is enforced is just as important as the sheer volume of it. Inspections should be risk-based, balanced and undertaken by well-informed inspectors who understand small businesses. All too often our members tell us that this is not the case.
The Government has opened a consultation which seeks to gather evidence in order to ease the burdens of regulatory inspections by highlighting best and worst practice. In turn, this should free up businesses so they can get on with the job at hand of getting the economy back on track.
The Government has asked for views from all the relevant organisations and people to help them get the approach to regulatory enforcement right.
This consultation, 'Transforming regulatory enforcement : freeing up business growth', is intended to inform policy development over the summer and a White Paper in the autumn.
What you can do to help?
So that we go to Government with the right concerns, bugbears and views of the small business community, we are asking you, small business owners, to tell us about your experiences of any sort of inspections – good or bad. We would also like to hear about what you would have liked to see to make your experiences better.
We have created a simple form so you can tell us your experiences. It should take 10-15 minutes to fill in will help us to inform Government and get regulatory enforcement correct once and for all.
We will send your answers to the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills anonymously and the FSB will retain it to inform our policy work for the future. It is important that Government is made aware of the specific problems that you are experiencing so that we can influence the areas where cuts are made. Allowing the Government to see your suggestions can be very positive and could result in change.