Weekly Brief
Week 20 of 2009 Friday 22 May 2009
In this week's issue: Awards; Termination rates; Construction; Business Rates; Podcast; Post Bank; Basketball; Human rights
Public Affairs
The FSB has been nominated for a Public Affairs News' Private Sector Campaign of the Year award. It shortlists our policy and press work calling for a loan scheme for struggling small businesses which eventually took the form of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee in January. View the shortlist.
Terminate the rate
The FSB helped launch a campaign by phone operators BT and 3 to lower the rate for calling a different network. A change in the cost of Mobile Termination Rates could save consumers and businesses money and ultimately boost the economy. Find out more and read coverage in the Financial Times and the Evening Standard.
Construction survey
The FSB is calling for the VAT rate on home renovations to be lowered to five per cent to boost the ailing construction sector after a member survey of firms in the industry this week revealed that 59 per cent had experienced a decrease in trade in the last six months and 37 per cent were concerned their future financial prospects were poor. We are also supporting the Federation of Master Builders Ger Britain Building Campaign. View the press release and read more.
Business rates
FSB National Chairman John Wright spoke out against increases in rate bills in an Evening Standard article highlighting the impact of business rate rises on traders in Cecil Court, an historical part of Charing Cross daring back to the 17th Century.
Election podcast
Find out about the key small business issues the FSB would like candidates for the European elections to consider in a podcast with EU and International Affairs Chairman Tina Sommer.
Post Bank
An early day motion calling for the establishment of a Post Bank operated within the post office network has now received over 200 signatures from MPs. The FSB is part of the Post Bank Coalition (FSB, CWU, Unite, new economics foundation (nef), the Pensioners Convention and the Public Interest Research Centre) calling for a Post Bank which would provide financial services to small businesses and help shore up the post office network.
Baskets of medals?
The FSB is going for gold by backing the British female wheelchair basketball team as the paralympians attempt to reach the 2010 World Championships and prepare for the Paralympic Games in London 2012. Read more.
Human rights
The Ministry of Justice, the Department for Health and consultancy TwentyFifty Limited, are working in partnership to find out what UK companies are doing on human rights and how they can be supported to go further. The project team are asking UK companies of all sizes and sectors, to participate in an online questionnaire. Contact rosina.robson@fsb.org.uk if you would be interested in taking part in focus groups.
Brighton business
The Daily Telegraph visited Brighton this week to see how small businesses in the area were coping in the recession. View the video.
Have a good Bank Holiday weekend,
Marc Shoffman