Federation of Small Businesses - Weekly Brief : Week 31 of 2008 : Friday August 1 2008

In this week’s issue: SME stats; employment tribunals; Countdown; trade unions; retirement; credit crunch; Boris; tips; procurement

1. Red tape tying up SME’s

The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform released its latest stats on small businesses in the UK this week. The figures confirmed the FSB’s own concerns that while thousands of new small and medium sized businesses are starting up each year, many are hesitant to take on staff because of the administrative and legislative burden. Our viewpoint was put across in the Mail on Sunday and the Financial Times. To view the latest stats visit http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/sme/smestats2007-ukspr.pdf

2. Tribunals

The latest from the Department of the Bleeding Obvious comes from boffins at the Universities of Warwickshire, Loughborough and Cardiff who this week unveiled research that small firms are more likely to lose employment tribunals. FSB National Chairman John Wright told the Financial Times on Saturday that small businesses often lack the resources to document evidence expected from them and therefore suffer against scrupulous lawyers. FSB members who are experiencing problems can always make use of our legal helpline, for more information visit http://initforyou.fsb.org.uk/

3. Carol Vorderman

Maths geeks, students, pensioners and the unemployed were left shocked this week when Carol Vorderman announced she was leaving cult game show Countdown after bosses ordered her to take a pay cut. The People gave Ms Vorderman some humble πr² on Sunday using previous advice from the FSB that lower wages and longer hours may be the only way though the current economic climate. DoDo DoDo DoDoDoDo Dum.

4. Business 1 Trade Unions 0

Prime Minister Gordon Brown finally received some praise this week after meetings with trade unions on Labour policy where he is reported to have stood his ground on several demands. The FSB was among business leaders welcoming the agreements in the Financial Times on Tuesday.

5. No time for retirement

Another week and another media humping spin on the credit crunch. It looks like it’s not just holidays and house prices that are falling by the wayside, a survey by Clifton Asset Management this week claimed that business owners are delaying their retirement because of the economic slowdown. The FSB told the Telegraph that many small business owners are calculating that they simply cannot afford to retire.

6. FSB bites back against credit crunch

Always looking to help its members out in a pickle, the FSB joined up with service provider ASC Finance this week to provide advice on how to survive the credit crunch. The Daily Express was keen to follow our top tips on Wednesday. To find out more visit http://www.asc.co.uk/_files/Tips_to_beat_the_Credit_Crunch.pdf

7. Boris Johnson Keeps Trade Local

London Mayor Boris Johnson gave the FSB’s Keep Trade Local campaign a boost on Thursday when he announced that all new retail developments in the Capital should provide cut-price rents for independent retailers. The FSB backed the Mayor’s plan in the Evening Standard and even got a mention in the Leader column.

8. Tip Tip hooray

FSB members showed they have deep pockets this week when a snap poll revealed that among our 2000 restaurateurs, 99 per cent do not use tips to subsidise wages of their waiting staff. The survey coincided with a welcome announcement from the Government that banned restaurants and bars from paying below the minimum wage and making up the difference using employee’s tips. The generosity of FSB members was picked up by the Daily Mirror which currently runs a Fair Tips campaign. To find out more and to sign up to the campaign visit http://www.fairtips.org/

9. Procurement survey

There is still time for you to tell us your views on issues regarding public sector procurement. The FSB is running a campaign with the British Venture Capital Association and the Confederation of British Industry on concerns and success stories in public sector procurement to make the government more aware. Visit www.theidfactor.com/sme.php to register your experiences.