The UK Government have announced the creation of a new Small Business Council, due to launch next month, which will bring together SME leaders from across the country.
The Small Business Council builds on the Department’s existing support for SMEs and will provide a bespoke forum for small businesses to have their voices represented within Government.
Almost every business in the country is a small business (99.9%) who in turn support 27 million jobs across the UK, accounting for £4.5 trillion of annual turnover – which is why the government say that they are making 2024 the year of the SME.
In addition to the formation of the Small Business Council, the Help to Grow campaign and website has also been refreshed to create a one-stop shop for SMEs to find the information they need to grow and scale up. This will include helping small firms to clearly identify what funding they can access, webinars as well as the basics of setting up a business for the first time.
This support includes the new Help to Grow management courses as announced in the Autumn Statement. which go live today. The Help to Grow: Management scheme is an intensive 12-week programme to improve SME leadership and management skills. SMEs from all sectors are able to access the programme that is 90% subsidised by government. This has already supported nearly 8,000 businesses, with the ambition to support up to 30,000 over the programme’s lifetime.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local communities and drive the UK’s economy, supporting jobs and wages across the country.
This new Council will mean SMEs have a clear voice at the table and we can deliver on the key needs for business.
We are taking action to ensure that they have the support, tools and guidance they need to thrive – because when small businesses succeed, the UK succeeds.
– Kemi Badenoch, Business and Trade Secretary
I know first hand how important small businesses are, but I also understand some of the barriers they face to start up or grow their existing firm.
Which is why I’m proud of the work we’re doing as government to really tackle some of the burning issues SMEs face on a daily basis – only then can we help boost jobs and grow the economy.
– Kevin Hollinrake, Small Business Minister
One Response
Can they just put an Amazon complaints section on the website?