About us

As experts in business, we offer our members a wide range of vital business services including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice heard in government. Our mission is to help smaller businesses achieve their ambitions.

Established 50 years ago to help our members succeed in business, we are a non-profit making and non-party political organisation that’s led by our members, for our members. 

Members receive an exclusive package of great value business services including advice, financial products and support. The benefits include protection in the case of tax inspection, legal and HR advice, as well as local networking groups and business banking.

We don’t only provide fantastic membership benefits - FSB is also the UK’s leading business campaigner, focused on delivering change which supports smaller businesses to grow and succeed. Our policy and advocacy team in Westminster focuses on UK and English policy issues. Further to this, our expert teams in Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast work with governments, elected members and decision-makers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Find out more about our mission

We have had huge influence on making change and influencing policy – recently securing a £940 million reduction in business rates for small firms; a freeze on the VAT threshold as well as on fuel duty. We also persuaded the Government to adopt a reform package to stop late payments to small businesses.

We’ve successfully campaigned for small firms to be excluded from the IR35 extension; and secured a £675 million Future High Street Fund. We successfully campaigned for the abolishment of the unfair ‘staircase tax’ and the halving of apprenticeship training co-investment.

The 5.8 million small businesses in the UK make up 99.3 per cent of all private sector businesses. They contribute a staggering amount to the UK’s local and national economies, as well as being a major source of employment. We encourage our members to get involved with our work – from engaging with our campaigns, to standing in our local and national member volunteer elections. Together, we are stronger

Overturning Tax Hikes

We overturned a £2bn tax hike on the self employed.

Wales

£57m Brexit Preparedness fund for smaller businesses

##FairPayFairPlay

Tackling Late Payments

We Campaigned for new plans to finally stop the scourge of late payments

Fuel Duty Frozen

We Sucessfully campaigned for a 9 year freeze of fuel duty

Protecting You

We've achieved protection for the smallest businesses from digital tax plans and VAT

Cutting Rates

Due to our lobbying, 1.5 million small businesses will now pay no businesses rates at all or have reductions to help the high street and those most affected by the recent revaluation. Future annual inflationary rises will also be lower

Improving Broadband to 10Mbps

We won a commitment to a 10Mbps Universal Service Obligation for broadband, the essential 'fourth utility' for smaller businesses

Northern Ireland

£20m Secured by extending Small Business Rate Relief

Scotland

£50m capital fund to regenerate town centres

Our latest reports

Redefining Intelligence
Report Mon, 04 March 2024

Redefining Intelligence

The growth of AI among small firms.

Manufacturing Momentum
Report Wed, 17 January 2024

Manufacturing Momentum

Growing SME Manufacturing in Wales

VAT for Small Businesses
Report Tue, 16 January 2024

VAT for Small Businesses

VAT impacts millions of small businesses, with 2.7 million businesses registered for VAT in the UK.

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