Councils should listen to small businesses

Mar 17 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

LOCAL authorities are being encouraged to listen to the needs of small businesses in an initiative aiming to help both groups ride out the economic storm.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has put together a Small Business Engagement Accord, which has been launched in the South East and will be rolled out in the North East in the next few weeks.

Councils in Kent signed up to 14 different accord principles, promoting the importance of listening to small firms through measures such as nominating business engagement champions from the business community and councils.

Colin Stratton, FSB regional chairman for the North East, said: “During this economic slowdown, it’s absolutely crucial that our North East local authorities proactively seek the views of small businesses, so that they can provide them with the support they need to get through these tough times.

“In every area where a local authority has signed the accord, small businesses will be able to put their views and concerns directly to decision-makers. The FSB calls on all our North East local authorities to sign up to the 14 principles of the Small Business Engagement Accord and to put their support behind the businesses which keep our local areas going.”

He said the project, which is the next step in the FSB’s Keep Business Local campaign, represented a win-win situation.

“By following the principles, the local authorities can ensure that the voice of small business becomes central to any future consultations and also puts in place a structure to help ensure that councils and businesses work in partnership.”