Greg on ‘work experience’ at local company
28 July 2011
Greg with Business Buddy Chris Robertson
Greg carried out a ‘work experience placement’ at a Bexhill-on-Sea company this week in order to learn about the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses.
Greg visited London Road-based Tax Assist accountants last Friday. His visit was been arranged as part of the Business Buddy scheme, which was recently launched by the Forum of Private Business – a not-for-profit small business support organisation which Tax Assist is a member of.
Business Buddy aims to foster a greater understanding of small businesses among politicians by providing them with hands-on experience of day-to-day life at a firm in their constituency.
The Forum’s head of campaigns, Jane Bennett, said: “It’s all well and good for lobby groups like the Forum to tell the Government about the issues facing small businesses, but there’s no substitute for first-hand experience.
“We want politicians to see for themselves what it’s like to run a small business so that’s why we developed the Business Buddy scheme.”
Speaking in Bexhill Greg said “I was very keen to hear from Chris Robertson, whose firm TaxAssist Accountants acts for hundreds of small businesses and independent traders in the Bexhill area, how they are coping in these tough economic times. Although trading conditions are still very difficult for many local businesses I was very impressed at the examples of initiative and ambition on the part of local entrepreneurs who are determined to grow their companies. However, most of all we need the banks to start lending to SMEs once again in order that the most vibrant sector of our economy can grow and I have undertaken to raise any individual cases where local small businesses are not being fairly treated by the banks with the most senior bank management.”
Small Business Minister Mark Prisk has given Business Buddy his backing and urged his fellow MPs to get involved.
Mr Prisk said: “I encourage all members of Parliament who share my passion for UK business to make the most of the opportunity offered by the Forum of Private Business’s Business Buddy scheme.
“My contact with small businesses tells me that you will not only benefit from gaining a real understanding of the challenges business owners face and overcome each and every day, but that you will find the experience to be hugely enjoyable.”
Business Buddy is part of the Forum’s wider Get Britain Trading campaign, which aims to both raise awareness of the important economic role played by small businesses, and lobby for the Government to tackle common problems which prevent small businesses from growing and creating jobs.
Business owners seeking more information about the Forum’s Business Buddy scheme or Get Britain Trading should email getbritaintrading@fpb.org or visit www.fpb.org
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