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 Since 1977 the Forum of Private Business (FPB) has been fighting for the fair treatment of its members by decision-makers in the UK and the European Union (EU). We have an enormous task on our hands as the Government persists in changing, updating and introducing new legislation and taxes which strangle and disproportionately burden small firms.
We reviewed our campaigns at the end of 2007 to ensure we were focused on the key concerns of our members. We have been disappointed with the Government's lack of interest in the country's small businesses and have since launched three ‘core' campaigns (see below), calling on decision-makers to take action now to ensure the sustainability of our members.
We believe that if decision-makers make the three pledges outlined below, it will enable small businesses to flourish and grow, which will in turn benefit the UK's economy as a whole. For more information on each of our core campaigns, please click on the links below.
We receive feedback from our members on a daily basis about the constant struggle they face in dealing with burdensome legislation, and the associated costs, as well as changes and increases in taxation. To combat these problems, we are asking politicians in Brussels, Westminster, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to ‘think smallest first'.
We want the Government to consider the smallest businesses before any other when it comes to new or changing regulations because we believe that, if this pledge is honoured, the resulting regulations and taxes will not create unnecessary burdens on any business. Our aim is to achieve a reduction in taxation and regulations for smaller firms, as well as to raise awareness of the issues relating to late payment, which is still one of the biggest problems facing owner-managers of smaller businesses.
Our members tell us that they often struggle to access competent and affordable advice. We also receive comments from members about the employability of school- and college-leavers, and the gap between the school curriculum and the needs of businesses, which affects their ability to grow. We are calling on policy-makers to ‘promote business growth'.
We want to see conditions in the UK that will enable expansion in established smaller firms. By pushing for better-targeted skills and training, stronger support for businesses and improved access to the EU's single market, we can help ensure that business-owners have the support, skills and opportunities they need for their firms to flourish.
We receive many comments from members about ‘local' issues they face. Decision-makers often do not fully understand how the policies they implement impact on businesses at the national, regional and local levels. Badly thought-out legislation at the national level can trickle down and affect areas around the country in different ways. We aim to support smaller companies in the areas in which they trade, work and live.
We want government to ‘support local business'. We are calling for the protection and promotion of independent businesses on the high street, and believe the roll-out of congestion charging schemes across the country pose a threat to local businesses. We want to ensure that small firms have better access to tender for public sector contracts in their local areas and we are campaigning for an increase in the threshold for Small Business Rate Relief.
Click here to find out more.
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