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FSB Weekly Brief - Friday 24 October 2008 |
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Week 43 of 2008 Friday 24 October 2008
If ever there was proof that the pen is mightier than the sword, this week the FSB would have conquered many battles with tales of small business woes and ideas to help the 4.7 million strong sector through the current financial difficulties Media Coverage - National Newspaper Campaigns It all started on Monday when the FSB helped coordinate the Daily Mail’s Fair Play campaign which included a charter on how the government could support small businesses. This was closely followed by The Sun with a call to Back British Business, boosted by an open letter to Prime Minister Gordon Brown from FSB National Chairman John Wright. - Party proposals Next came proposals from the Government and Opposition to shore up small businesses with many ideas falling under the FSB’s Keep Trade Local campaign such as speeding up public sector payment times and automatically applying business rate relief. FSB National Chairman John Wright analysed the packages on the Guardian website’s comment pages. FSB Head of Public Affairs Stephen Alambritis discussed these issues on BBC 2’s Working Lunch and on Sky News while Scottish Public Affairs Manager Colin Borland appeared on BBC Radio Scotland. - Small Business Survival Package The FSB also launched its own proposals on how to support small businesses with a £1 billion Small Business Survival Package which would amalgamate the Small Firm Loan Guarantee and European Investment Bank funds as well as helping more small businesses secure procurement contracts. The Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph amongst other nationals and broadcast media were all very excited to hear our plans, which have also been sent to the Government and the Opposition. - Banks Coverage continued throughout the week as the government and the banking industry had their long awaited showdown on Thursday. This led to the creation of a forum involving small businesses and the banks to be chaired by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. The FSB’s concerns regarding banks were quoted in the Times, the Guardian, the Financial Times, the Independent, the Daily Mail, and across the pond in the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt mentioned the FSB’s concerns regarding banks during a Westminster Hall Debate. Helping hand The FSB this week launched a vital lifeline in the form of the FSB Finance Helpline responding to all financial enquiries. The number, available to all members is 08000 193 633. The new service comes on top of the FSB's current raft of benefits available to members including its popular 24 hour legal helpline, insurance services, business banking and finance for business. Be Smart APACS, the UK payments association has launched a new campaign to raise awareness amongst consumers of the simple steps they can take to shop safely online. The Be Card Smart Online campaign will run through to Christmas. Skills Sector Skills Councils are to be relicensed over the next year and the independent Commission for Employment and Skills is keen to hear from employers to ascertain how good or bad they have been so far. Click the link here find out more – http://www.ukces.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=2 Case studies Are you having a hard time with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. If you feel you have been unfairly treated with severe penalties or fines from HMRC, email the FSB. |
