The FPB has announced the names of the politicians who have made the shortlist for the 2008 business-friendly MP/MEP award, which is being sponsored by England's Regional Development Agencies. The winner of the prestigious business accolade will be announced on Wednesday, 14 May at a ceremony at Portcullis House, Westminster.
"These politicians have been prepared to stand up for small businesses, and have spoken out in Parliament on their behalf. They have actively represented owner-managers in their own constituencies, and many have been willing to support them by intervening in specific disputes," said the FPB's National Chairman, Len Collinson. "They have all championed the fact that helping small firms to flourish, and creating the right conditions for entrepreneurship to thrive, ultimately benefits the wider economy and the taxpayer."
The 13-strong list of nominees for the 2008 award – now in its third year – are (surnames in alphabetical order): Bob Blizzard (Labour MP for Waveney); Tim Boswell (Conservative MP for Daventry); Lorely Burt (Liberal Democrat MP for Solihull); Bruce George (Labour MP for Walsall South); Oliver Heald (Conservative MP for Hertfordshire North East); Philip Hollobone (Conservative MP for Kettering); the Rt Hon David Maclean (Conservative MP for Penrith and the Border); George Osborne (Conservative MP for Tatton); John Penrose (Conservative MP for Weston-super-Mare); Michael Wills (Labour MP for North Swindon); Rob Wilson (Conservative MP for Reading East); Derek Wyatt (Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey); Sir George Young (Conservative MP for North West Hampshire).
The inaugural winner was Malcolm Harbour, MEP for the West Midlands. "I was delighted and privileged to be the winner of the inaugural business-friendly MP/MEP award," said Mr Harbour, after picking up his award. "It has given me new opportunities to meet owners and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises, and continue my work on their behalf – there is much to be done to promote innovation and cut red tape."
This year, the FPB, which represents around 25,000 small and medium-sized businesses across the UK, opened up the competition to allow non-members to nominate the politicians who have excelled in understanding, supporting and representing their needs. Members were able to keep track of the nominations by logging on to the FPB's website, www.fpb.org, through the media and via the FPB's weekly eNewsletter.
A panel of five judges will decide the winner of the award on the basis of the work each politician has done on behalf of small firms, in addition to the comments made by owner-managers and other business leaders. The panel of judges are: Jane Caven, managing director of Sage Green (and a non-executive director of the FPB); Mike Hill, Head of Enterprise, Skills and Strategy at the North West Regional Development Agency; Howard Jackson, managing director of HCSS Education; Peter Walker, managing director of Vista Communications; and Len Collinson. Mr Collinson believes there is a strong field of candidates vying for the award.
"Owners and managers of smaller businesses play an important part in the economy, creating wealth and job opportunities," he said. "That is why we have chosen to encourage politicians to engage with them and to represent them by creating this award."
He added: "It is reassuring to know that there are politicians that have taken the time and effort to engage with the owners and managers of private businesses. Through this award, we aim to highlight the work of those legislators as an example for others to follow."
The winner will be announced at a reception hosted by Andy Love MP, the Labour MP for Edmonton and also Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Small Business Group.
Regional Development Agencies are responsible for sustainable economic development in the English regions. Current lead Chief Executive, Steven Broomhead, who is also the Chief Executive of the Northwest Regional Development Agency, said the organisation was delighted to be supporting the 2008 business-friendly MP/MEP award.
"The Regional Development Agencies and our Business Link services help thousands of businesses every year to start-up or grow across the UK. However it is also important to recognise the contribution our MP and MEPs can make to a business success by ‘taking-up their cause' and this award provides the platform to recognise this work on a national level."
