Weekly Brief 10 of 2009 Friday 11 March 2009
In this week's issue: rate relief; FSB conference; banks; jobs; local government; payment times; podcast; Scotland; crime; case studies
Rate relief
A cross section of MPs attended a parliamentary debate last week on an FSB backed bill calling for rate relief to be given automatically to small firms. The Government said the Small Business Rate Relief (Automatic Payment) Bill tabled by Tory MP Peter Luff, had given "food for thought." The FSB will continue lobbying for it to be included in April's Budget. Read the debate
Conference
Hundreds of delegates will gather in Newport next week for the FSB Annual Conference 2009. Small businesses will discuss firing up the economy and hear speeches from FSB National Chairman John Wright, FSB Policy Chairman John Walker and addresses from Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills John Denham, Shadow Business Secretary Kenneth Clarke and broadcasters John Humphrys and Andrew Neil.
Banks
The debate over bank lending continued this week as the FSB kept up the pressure on branch managers to make the Government backed Enterprise Finance Guarantee available to small firms. The Economist, the International Herald Tribune, the Daily Mail, the Financial Times highlighted our concerns at the reluctance of bank managers to make funds available. The Daily Telegraph reported on one solution suggested by the FSB, the seven principles of small business banking launched last week.
Wages
When the FSB isn't trying to restore bank lending it is doing its best to save and create jobs in the small business sector. Regular Weekly Brief readers may remember the joint calls from the FSB and the Trades Union Congress for a Government fund for companies moving to short-term wages and temporary lay-offs, as reported by the Financial Times, the Independent and the Guardian this week.
Accord
The FSB has launched an accord urging local authorities to include small businesses in decision-making as part of the Keep Trade Local campaign. Read the press release and visit the campaign section of our website.
Late payment
Small businesses are now owed £25.9 billion in overdue payments, according to Bacs Payments Schemes Limited (Bacs) The Bacs study found that small businesses are owed £38,000 on average in late payments as reported by the Guardian.
Podcast
FSB National Chairman John Wright reflects on a meeting with the Government on building a low carbon economy while Minister for Sustainability Lord Hunt explains the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs' top tips for small businesses to go green in the latest FSB podcast.
Scottish panel
FSB Scottish Policy Convener Andy Willox will highlight the concerns of small businesses in the economic climate at the Scottish Liberal Democrats Spring Conference in Perth this afternoon. He will join a panel discussion with Lib Dem Deputy leader, Vince Cable, Scottish Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott and Lib Dem finance spokesman Jeremy Purvis.
Crime
The Home Office and the Department for Business have published guides on how to tackle crimes against business. One is for businesses, giving practical tips including how they can get themselves heard locally and identify organisations that can help them tackle crime. The second guide is for business crime partnerships, with advice on how they can engage with business, influence local priorities and promote their partnerships.
Made in Britain
ITV is looking for UK manufacturers to take part in a programme titled Made in Britain, on products that are put together in our green and pleasant land. Call Caroline Morris at ITV on 020 7157 4757 if you would like to be involved.
Have a good weekend,
Marc Shoffman