Federation of Small Businesses - Weekly Brief

Friday 15 February 2008

In this week’s issue: supermarkets; green day; hands on brains; credit crunch; pc procurement; market fire; WEEE awareness; bridge tolls; Enterprising Britain 2008; card payments.

1. Another supermarket whitewash from the Competition Commission
This one’s scorching hot off the press: late on Friday afternoon the Competition Commission came up with its so-called remedies for the state of the UK grocery sector. The FSB thought they were rubbish. Not a surprise really, but worth saying. BBC News 24 ran with the story throughout the day, giving two slots to FSB spokesmen in the process. Radio 4’s PM programme also picked up the FSB’s views.

2. Green day
The National Trust this week came up with the idea of celebrating the leap year by giving all of its staff and volunteers the day off on Friday February 29 to reduce their own carbon footprint. Inevitably, inquiries were made of the FSB about whether small businesses ought to be doing the same. FSB Head of Public Affairs Stephen Alambritis quickly pooh-poohed the suggestion in The Times: “There needs to be a reality check about what is possible in a small business.”

3. University schemes to engage small businesses
The Mail on Sunday (MoS) this week ran a story about university schemes designed to engage with small businesses. The idea is that these schemes are mutually beneficial: the universities get small business expertise and a practical element to their business courses and the small businesses get the possibility of bright young graduates who have more appreciation of the real world of business and haven’t spent all their time in the library. Everyone’s a winner! Apparently, according to the MoS, many university schemes are failing to grab the attention of small businesses, with the exception of a plucky little scheme in the West Midlands (The West Midlands Technology Network). Simon Briault, FSB spokesman, told the paper: “When the university makes contact with the business it can be the beginning of a long, beneficial relationship.”

4. Credit crunch forces businesses to look far and wide for funds
The Financial Times this week ran a story about small businesses falling into the hands of loan sharks in their efforts to find credit during the economic downturn. The FSB was rightly invited to comment and did so with its usual aplomb.

5. Supplier diversity development questionnaire raises eyebrows
The Mail on Sunday was this week righteously enraged by a London Development Agency questionnaire that asks small business owners tendering for contracts whether they employ lesbian, gay, bisexual or transperson people. The FSB gave a reasoned reaction to the issue.

6. FSB calls for Camden market redevelopment to benefit the little guys
There was a huge fire in Camden market in London last week. The FSB told the Daily Express that the local council should not exclude small businesses when they redevelop the affected area.

7. WEEE should all know about this
NetRegs is warning that many small businesses are still unaware of the WEEE regulations. WEEE is all about obsolete electrical goods and there is lashings more info here: www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/275207/1631119/?lang=_e.

8. FSB puts an end to bridge tolls in Scotland
Andy Willox, FSB Scottish Policy Unit Chairman, brings news to the Weekly Brief that the bridge toll charges on the Forth and the Tay were removed this week after FSB lobbying. There are now no bridge tolls in Scotland. Heck yeah!

9. Enterprising Britain launch
Enterprising Britain, a Government-backed awards programme for enterprising regions of the country launches on Monday in Stoke-on-Trent in the presence of the new Business and Competitiveness Minister Shriti Vadera. More info here: www.enterprisingbritain.org

10. Help for retailers accepting card payments
APACS, the UK payments association, has come up with a shiny new website: The Retailers and Cards website provides general help and guidance for both new and existing merchants (a retailer or shop) on accepting cards for their businesses. Here’s the link: www.retailersandcards.org.uk.