Week 05 of 2012        Friday 03 February 2012

Small firms need to be able to grow

Read the FSB’s comments to the Observer discussing how Government needs to get back to practices that allow small businesses to grow.

FSB backs campaign to cut business rates

The FSB has backed a Daily Mail campaign calling on the Government to reduce the impact of business rates rises due in April.

Your Business

National Policy Chairman, Mike Cherry has written an article for a brand new business publication, Your Business with James Caan. The magazine is aimed at entrepreneurs and business-builders looking either to start a business or take it to the next level.

Access to Work

Have you employed someone through the Access to Work scheme or do you use it to run your own business? This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to share your experiences of the scheme.

Unemployment debate

David Simpson MP made an intervention in a debate on unemployment in Halifax, stressing the importance of skills and that the Government works with organisations such as the FSB.

Legal Aid Bill

During the passage of the Legal Aid Bill, Lord McNally welcomed the support of the FSB for proposals in the Bill on redress in financial services cases.

Access to finance

Lord Harrison urged the Government to do more to improve access to finance for small businesses, citing the difficulty FSB members face in accessing bank finance.

Global Entrepreneurship Conference

FSB members are able to get a discount on tickets for the main day of the forthcoming Global Entrepreneurship Congress, being held in Liverpool on 13 March 2012. Find out more and book tickets using by using the code FSB20.

Business in You

The FSB is supporting the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ ‘Business in You’ campaign, which launched earlier this week. The FSB is a key supporter of this campaign, which is similar to our own ‘Real-Life Entrepreneurs’ campaign in its aim to encourage and inspire people to set up and grow small businesses.

Become a mentor

The FSB has joined forces with Get Mentoring to encourage more business people to become mentor and to help businesses.Mentoring helps to improve business confidence, leadership and management skills, resulting in improved business performance, for both mentor and mentee.

Dragon’s searching for new recruits

Dragon’s Den is searching for new entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas for investment. The BBC will be auditioning throughout the coming months. If you would like an application form please send an This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to or visit the website.

Franchise conference events

FSB members have been offered free tickets to the National Franchise Exhibition in Birmingham on 24 - 25 February, and The British and International Franchise Exhibition in London on 16 - 17 March. Both of these events also incorporate the Growing Your Own Business conference, which includes keynote speeches from successful entrepreneurs, advice on growing a small businesses and a number of exhibitors offering business services.

Use code FSBNL at to claim your tickets.

Follow the FSB on Facebook 

You can follow the activities of the FSB by joining our official fanpage on Facebook. Become a fan to view regularly updated events, photo galleries, lobbying information and have the opportunity to add your own photos and discuss current small business issues.

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Plymouth’s Premier Public Speaking Club Wants New Members!

Self-development is extremely important in this crippling, challenging and competitive economy. Today’s employers expect every employee to have refined communication skills along with extensive leadership experience, and with huge cuts in both the public and private sector, investing in yourself is a very smart idea.

Unarguably, great communication is essential in every part of life, whether that be making a presentation at work or giving a speech at a wedding. Dragon’s Den Deborah Meaden once said “There is no point in speaking, unless you are convincing and you can speak with conviction.”

But can communication skills be improved? Many people make the mistaken assumption that great speaking, especially public speaking is an inherited skill - you’ve either got it or you haven’t. In fact, like any other skill, public speaking requires knowledge and experience gained through regular practise.

There is absolutely no need to pay hundreds or even thousands of pounds attending self-development courses whose effectiveness can sometimes be difficult to gauge.

Toastmasters International is probably the most cost-effective self-development programme on the planet…..and anybody is welcome to join!

Founded in California in 1924 to help ‘ordinary’ people acquire and develop public speaking and leadership skills, the organisation today has more than 270,000 members worldwide whom benefit from the effective education it provides. The good news is there is no need to travel to California to profit from this world-renowned organisation. Plymouth has its very own thriving Toastmasters group called Armada Speakers. The club is made up of 20 to 25 people who meet once every two weeks for 2 hours on a Tuesday evening. Each meeting gives everyone attending an opportunity to practice the following skills in a relaxed and supportive environment:

* Presenting prepared speeches

* Giving impromptu talks

* Conducting meetings

* Offering constructive evaluation

Plymouth’s members are made up of people from all walks of life. Some members are trying to overcome deep seated fears of public speaking whilst others enjoy the chance to improve their existing competency in front of a supportive audience acting as a team of ‘critical friends’

At only £55 for a 6 month membership (less than a pint of beer each week!), it is significantly more cost effective than enrolling on a formal course and so much more fun!

To attend a meeting for free, turn up at the Duke of Cornwall Hotel on Millbay Road on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, starting at 7:00pm. The next meetings are Tuesday February 21st followed by Tuesday March 6th. For more information, visit the Toastmaster’s website www.toastmasters.org ! Or visit the clubs website at www.armadaspeakers.org.uk 

If you have any questions about the Plymouth club, email Our President Martin Limburn This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text38492 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

FSB News Release

PR 2012 03

Issue date: Tuesday 17 January 2012  

As small firms look to shed more staff, Government must be bolder to help incentivise job creation 

FSB releases new figures on small firms employment intentions ahead of the Government’s response to the Modern Workplaces consultation

New figures from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows that small businesses will look to shed staff in the first three months of 2012, as it warns that the Government needs to be bolder in its changes to existing employment law to incentivise employment.

Ahead of employment statistics published tomorrow (Wednesday 18 January), figures from the FSB ‘Voice of Small Business’ Index show that a net balance of 6.5 per cent small firms plan to lay off workers in the first three months of 2012 – the highest level since the survey began.

The ‘Voice of Small Business’ Index also shows that a balance of 4.8 per cent of small businesses reduced their headcount in the three months from October to December – slightly less than businesses had expected.

With heavy cuts in the public sector and a steep rise in the number of people unemployed, more job losses by small businesses would make for an extremely difficult labour market.

With unemployment statistics expected to rise again tomorrow, the FSB is urging the Government to ‘think small first’ when it responds to the Modern Workplaces consultation. The FSB is specifically calling for:

•  Micro firms to be made exempt from the extension of the right to request flexible working for all

•  A complete and simplified reform of maternity and paternity leave in the future – doing so in an uncertain economic environment could harm businesses

•  A micro business exemption from proposals on pay audits which will require employers who lose an Employment Tribunal case to carry out a potentially costly, time consuming and complex pay audit

Small business confidence plummeted at the end of 2012 as businesses were hit by high inflation, rising utility bills and reduced spending. So the FSB is calling on the Government to act on policies and initiatives already announced to help boost small business confidence so that they can invest and grow and turn this into good news in 2012.

John Walker, National Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said: 

“The beginning of 2012 is beginning to look bleak with confidence incredibly low and businesses looking to shed staff. However, things do not need to be so negative. If the Government makes the right choices and puts action into words we can turn this around. The Government has a good chance to make a real difference to the livelihoods of small firms when it reports on the Modern Workplaces consultation. Tinkering and increasing existing employment laws will only serve to worsen this situation. But by putting simple measures in place, such as excluding micro firms from the right to request flexible working for all, will help free businesses from the shackle of red tape so they can grow, innovate and take on new staff.”

FSB News Release

PR 2012 02

Issue date: Monday 16 January 2012

Small business confidence crashes at end of 2011

Small business confidence plummeted in 2011 as businesses were hit by high inflation, rising utilities bills and reduced consumer spending power according to the latest findings from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) ‘Voice of Small Business’ Index.

The Index, comprising some 1,600 responses from businesses across the UK, recorded a score of -24.5 – the lowest level since the Index started in 2010 and is a fall of some 15.2 points over the quarter. Given that economic recovery is relying on business investment to create jobs and support the recovery, the ongoing weak sentiment is worrying.

And, with one in eight (12.6%) firms expecting a worsening economic situation in the coming three months, the FSB is calling on the Government to act on policies and initiatives already announced to help boost small business confidence so that they can invest and grow.

While the short term prospects look weak, an improving inflation outlook will certainly help confidence over the year.  Inflation is expected to fall back sharply this year as the impact of 2011’s VAT rise lessens, with recent energy price cuts an encouraging sign inflationary pressures are finally easing.

Falling inflation should help cash-strapped consumers and give more room for discretionary spending. Businesses will benefit too as the cost pressures they faced in 2011 fade, which should feed into better margins and improved profitability.

Reforms announced by the Government should help too.  The FSB has supported many of the policies outlined in the Growth Reviews and the Autumn Statement, such as measures to encourage bank lending to small businesses and boost investment through the seed enterprise investment scheme.  Proposed reforms to the planning system and government procurement contracts to increase small firms’ access were steps in the right direction too.

However, many of these measures will take time to feed-in.  The key now for all levels of government is to focus on implementation: small firms need to see action to match the rhetoric and to see tangible actions that will benefit their businesses and permanently change the business environment for the better.

John Walker, National Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said:

“The message is clear – things are going to get worse before they get better. But, we are hopeful that as the inflationary pressures lessen in 2012, that businesses will become more confident. There are some good policy proposals in the pipeline too.  However, the Government needs to quickly put in place the actions that it has promised. Small firms have heard what the Government has to say but are still waiting to see implementation. We believe that must be the Government’s priority: to make 2012 the year of doing, with the aim of creating a dynamic business landscape in which our entrepreneurs can grow and flourish.”

Charles Davis, Managing Economist, cebr, said:

“The Q4 survey shows that small businesses are fighting a tough battle against a worsening economy. On the upside, falling inflation should ease the pressure on margins and should allow interest and mortgage rates to stay low for at least the next two years.”

FSB News Release

PR 2011 01

Issue date: Monday 9 January 2011  

Olympics legacy will be damp squib for small firms  

New figures show that six in 10 small firms believe the London 2012 Games will not have a positive impact on their business in the long term despite David Cameron saying today that the UK is “on track” for a lasting legacy, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said today.

As the UK marks 200 days until the start of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the FSB’s ‘Voice of Small Business’ Survey Panel shows that 62 per cent of small firms believe that the Games will have no long term positive impact on their business, despite promises that the legacy of the London 2012 Games will continue for years.

Only seven per cent of small businesses believe the Games will benefit their business overall, and a quarter (25%) expect a negative impact on their business.

The FSB is concerned that when the bid for the London 2012 Games went through, it was sold on the basis that is would create a long legacy for the country, yet small businesses do not believe that they will benefit from this.

With 200 days to go, the FSB is calling on the Government and Olympics Authorities to ensure that small firms are aware of how they can reap the benefits of the Games and the tourism benefits that can come from them.

John Walker, National Chairman Federation of Small Businesses, said: 

“It is worrying that 200 days before the Olympic and Paralympic Games are set to begin, small businesses think it will not benefit their business. This is even more worrying considering the London 2012 Games was sold on the basis of its legacy. We all know times are tough, but 2012 is a year of big events that small firms should be able to benefit from. The Government and Olympic Authorities must help show small businesses how they can reap the rewards from one of the biggest sporting and tourism events the country has seen for years.”

Plymouth has signed up the 25th member of the
Buy With Confidence 
Approved Trader scheme

Consumers in Plymouth are now able to buy with confidence as Plymouth recently joined an initiative aimed at promoting the city’s many good traders and helping consumers avoid rogue traders.

Plymouth City Council joined the Buy With Confidence scheme which is open to many different kinds of businesses; Plymouth had initially encouraged the kinds of businesses that usually contract with their customers in their homes such as builders and gardeners to sign up but we now have a wide range of trades to choose from including retailers and surveyors.

Only good, honest traders get approved because, as part of the application process, the business will be checked for trustworthiness and fair trading practices. Only if the business passes all of the stringent checks will it be able to display the Buy With Confidence logo. Whilst part of the scheme, the business will be monitored to make sure standards remain high.

Inclusion in the list means that the local business aims to give a good, reliable and customer friendly service. Displaying the Buy With Confidence logo shows that the business is willing to go the extra mile for it’s customers.

How the scheme works

• There is a set fee for businesses to sign up; this depends on the number of employees.
• Potential for increased sales
• Promotion on Buy With Confidence website
• Buy With Confidence logo can be used on all advertising, paperwork and vehicles
• Membership certificate and weather-proof stickers provided to advertise membership 
• Hotlink to the business website via Buy With Confidence website 
• Increased consumer confidence in the business
• Impartial help and advice if problems arise
• Inclusion on the Which?Local website
• The scheme is part of a national campaign: www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk