Weekly Brief Week 17 of 2009      Friday 01 May 2009

In this week's issue: Keep Trade Local; Swine flue; The Sun; the Budget; Cars; Tolls; BusinessLink; Training; Shell

Keep Trade Local

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has responded to the FSB's Keep Trade Local petition on the Downing Street website which demands support for independent shops on the high street. Read the response.

Swine Flu

The outbreak of swine flu this week has generated a lot of enquiries about how small firms will cope. The FSB told the Daily Telegraph that businesses should have contingency plans in place to minimise the impact of a possible pandemic. More advice can be found on the Business Link website.

The Sun shines on small businesses

FSB National Chairman John Wright has lent his support to a new campaign by The Sun newspaper and Barclays to find the nation's top small businesses.  The winning enterprise will receive £20,000 with eight regional runners-up getting £5,000 each.

Budget poll

An FSB poll reported by the Daily Express and Daily Star this week showed that most small businesses will be negatively affected by increases in fuel and alcohol duty announced in the Chancellor Alistair Darling's Budget. Read the press release.

Avis support

The FSB has welcomed car rental company Avis' offer of £1,500 free car rentals to small businesses, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Bridge tolls

Public Affairs Manager for FSB Wales Russell Lawson spoke to the Financial Times this week about the negative impact of Severn bridge tolls on business growth and tourism.

No Nonsense guide

Business Link has launched No-Nonsense Guides with Government departments and regional development agencies to offer businesses clear and jargon-free advice about complex key issues.

Train to gain

The Learning and Skills Council is offering businesses in England up to £1,000 towards Digital Marketing. Visit the EConsultancy website to find out more.

Shell Step

Shell Step, the work placement programme for students, is being extended this year to graduates to help them find jobs. Shell places hundreds of students with small and medium firms to run development projects which suit their particular skills and ambitions. To find out more or to see if your business can help visit the Shell Step website.

Have a good weekend,  

Marc Shoffman