There would not be a single pound of taxation in Britain without small business owners, Lord Digby Jones said today.
Speaking at the launch of Small Business Week, which is organised by BT Business, the former trade minister and CBI head said entrepreneurs and small business owners were the only people who generated wealth and could eradicate national debt.
“We need to get the small businesses of this country right up onto the radar screens of those who make the rules and want the votes,” he added.
“What we need from whoever wins the next election is to see initiatives make a difference on the ground, and for that we need to fundamentally change the way government is delivered.”
Lord Jones said the UK had a system of government that was not fit for purpose for the 21st century, and while many government initiatives for economic stimulus are well intended, the money often does not actually get through where it is needed.
The launch of Small Business Week saw the release of the findings from the Business Pulse report, which canvassed more than 7,000 small and medium sized companies in the UK.
The research revealed that three quarters of small companies believe the economy will see an upturn in 2010, while a third predict the improvement will come by next January.
Some 43% of respondents said they wanted more help with access to finance, while a further 39% want better access to legal and regulatory advice. A third requested more advice on growing their business.
Mark Prisk, shadow small business minister, spoke at the launch about the Conservatives’ promise to give small companies an NI holiday for their first ten members of staff. He added:
“Small businesses are vital to the country’s recovery; they don’t want a hand out, but a hand up. They know that if they make it in the tough times then they can prosper in the better times.
“It’s important that we listen and understand the practical problems which they face, so that established companies can grow and new businesses can flourish.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2009