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Federation of Small Businesses East Berkshire
c/o Jon Davey
1 Clewer Hill Road
Windsor
Berkshire
SL4 4BU
Tel: 01753 852904
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FSB Weekly Brief - Friday 24 October 2008
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.



In this section:
Meet the FSB
Small business call for lower London Interbank Offered Rate
East Berkshire FSB boost morale of small business
FSB response to the Queen's Speech 2008
Meet The Local Bankers
FSB launches Bank Watch Scheme
Small business champions to be announced at national ceremony
Bank branch managers must be held to account
FSB Small Business Survival Package
FSB Weekly Brief - Friday 24 October 2008
East Berkshire FSB new chair Mary Flavelle
FSB Media Coverage for this week
East Berkshire FSB Annual Networking Dinner
The largest UK business support organisation just got bigger!
Prime Minister urged to adopt key small business measures
Spotlight on small business at party conference
Networking Breakfast
Weekly Brief : Week 31 of 2008 : Friday August 1 2008
Meet the FSB
Golf Day & Evening Dinner
Why should you join the FSB?
Meet the FSB Networking Breakfast
Windsor Racecourse Business Networking
Weekly Brief - Week 8 of 2008
Weekly Brief - Week 7 of 2008
Curry Networking Evening
FSB Weekly Brief
Revisions to capital gains tax
Meet the FSB
Small Business Contracts for 2012 Olympics
Weekly Brief - Week 2 of 2008
Low Emission Zone
FSB Christmas Networking Lunch
FSB Weekly Brief - Friday 16 November 2007
Competition Commission lets supermarkets off the hook again
Pre-Budget Report is an absolute stinker for small businesses
Rest of UK should learn from Scotland
East Berkshire FSB AGM
Online marketing rookies 'could get help'
Networking BBQ
FSB Speed Networking
Are Small Firms Happy With Banks?
FREE Networking Event
FSB Weekly Brief 18 of 2007
FSB Weekly Brief 16 of 2007
FSB Weekly Brief 15 of 2007
FSB slams lazy HMRC campaign
FSB Conference 2007 Takes Shape
Businesses Fear UK Economy Will Suffer in 2007
Government Told to Buy Better to Save Taxpayers’ Money

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