Better Business for AllBetter Business for All

Federation of Small Businesses

The UK’s leading business organisation around 200,000 members

Nearly 6,000 members in Kent and Medway in every sector

Lobbying and campaigning

• The FSB is non-profit making and non-party political

• The FSB is the UK's largest campaigning pressure group

• Proud of our independence – no Government funding

• Lobbying - pressure on MPs, Government and Whitehall and puts the FSB viewpoint over to the media.

• Member-led. Development Managers work alongside members in our regions to further FSB influence at a regional level.

Lobbying Kent and Medway MPs

Lobbying Kent and Medway MPs

Membership benefits

24 hr Legal Advice LineLegal Protection PackageFSB Business BankingFSB Card Payment ProcessingFSB Finance for BusinessFSB Insurance Services

FSB PensionFSB Independent Financial ServicesFSB Telecom ServicesFSB MedicalFSB Vehicle PackageFSB Print and Mail

Networking eventsCampaigning and Policy

Small biz stats

•There are over 5.4 million businesses in the UK

• Over 99% of firms employ less than 49 people

• 59% of the workforce (13.7 million) in the SME sector

• 50% of the UK GDP comes from the SME sector

• Over 500,000 people set up their own business each year(2014 saw the largest number of start-ups)

• 3.3 million businesses are sole proprietors

FSB survey post-General Election

The top 10 issues small businesses want the next Government to focus on in the next five years:

1. Reduce regulatory burden (53%)2. Introduce a more simplified tax system (51%)3. Reform business rates (44%)4. Improve the employability skills of young people (41%)5. Deliver improve broadband/ mobile connectivity (39%)6. Help UK small businesses to create more jobs (34%)7. Tackle late payments (33%)8. Lower energy costs for businesses (30%)9. Ensure better access for finance (28%)10. Increase investment in infrastructure (26%)

FSB survey Q3 2015

• Growth aspirations of small businesses are strong although have cooled slightly since this time last year

• 65.3% plan to grow over the next year

• 36% say skills are a barrier to growth

• 62% see credit conditions improving for small firms

• Net balance of profit and revenue growth continue to rise

• New Living Wages a challenge, as are the auto enrolment of pensions

Regulation continues to be one of the barriers to growth

Which 3 of the following actions would most help you comply with regulation?  Exemptions from certain regulations 42%Easier access to advice and information 38%Fewer recording and reporting requirements on regulations 35%Guidance on regulation well in advance of it becoming law 33%One-to-one support on how to best comply with regulation 24%More consistency between inspectors and regulators 16%A longer time period to prepare for a regulation before it becomes law 13%Fewer inspections 5%Other 6%None of these/ Not applicable 17%

 

 

BBfA – the Leicester and Leicestershire Journey

North West Leicestershire District Council

BRDO

LLEP

BBfA going forward

FSB keen to share information with it’s 6,000 Kent members

Supports ongoing training

For the good of the local small business, and local community

alison.parmar@fsb.org.uk

07917 628 904