GDP growth welcomed by small firms
Martin McTague, national chair of FSB, cautiously welcomed new figures from the Office for National Statistics, which show that the UK economy grew by 0.4 per cent in December. He told The Telegraph: “With tax changes coming up in April, and the looming Employment Rights Bill which is set to put a big dampener on small businesses’ willingness to take on staff, any economic uplift carried over from last year will be a help, but more must be done to offset turbulence.”
New financial incentives needed to support apprenticeships, says FSB
Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith joined FSB members at a roundtable to kick off National Apprenticeship Week, which began on February 9 and ends today (February 14). To mark the week, FSB also reiterated calls for a £3,000 apprenticeship incentive, which would help small firms hire new talent. Elsewhere, the Department for Education announced changes to apprenticeships, which were welcomed by small firms. FSB’s Director of External Affairs, Craig Beaumont, told The Independent and The Times: “These flexibilities should help SME employers fill skills gaps faster.”
Government outlines new plans ahead of Procurement Act launch
The Procurement Act 2023 is coming into force on February 24 – and this week the Government announced further plans it says will help small businesses win more public contracts. The plans will let local councils reserve contracts for small firms and require large suppliers to advertise job vacancies at job centres. A new AI tool is also in development to streamline procurement. FSB will continue pushing for fairer access to public contracts, highlighting the role small businesses play in local economies.
Reminder for landlords: Legal duty to manage asbestos
Landlords, building owners and those responsible for a building’s general maintenance are being reminded about their legal duty to manage and monitor asbestos in the property. Asbestos is the leading cause of work-related deaths in Britain, and it causes around 5,000 deaths each year. The Health and Safety Executive’s asbestos management webpage provides resources on compliance and safety.
FSB calls for swift action on late payments
Nearly seven in ten small firms experienced late payment in the last quarter of 2024, according to FSB research, putting financial strain on small businesses and piling stress onto their owners. As part of this, FSB is calling for stronger action, including requiring large businesses to publish full breakdowns of their payment reporting in their annual reports. Alongside the new Fair Payment Code, introduced with FSB's backing, this would provide greater transparency and accountability. This was highlighted this week as FSB backed the Good Business Charter's Timely Tuesday, which forms part of their Good Business Fortnight campaign, highlighting the impact of late payment on small firms.
Tool helps small firms tackle food fraud
A new free-to-use food fraud resilience self-assessment tool from the Food Standards Agency is now available for small businesses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to prevent food fraud affecting their business. Food crime is a serious type of fraud, covering a range of different crimes, from the illegal processing of animals to mislabelling and mismarketing food, and substituting foods with inferior ingredients.
Scotland: FSB calls for fair and clear rules on cosmetic procedures
FSB Scotland has called on the Scottish Government to work with the cosmetic industry – including both medical and non-medical professionals – before introducing new rules for non-surgical cosmetic procedures (NSCP). The proposed regulations aim to set standards for treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers. In its response to the Scottish Government’s consultation, FSB highlighted concerns from businesses, particularly around how ‘appropriate healthcare professionals’ will be defined in the new rules. FSB is also calling for a review of the current regulator for independent clinics to assess whether a new body is needed to oversee NSCP.
Northern Ireland: New Skills Barometer launched
The Northern Ireland Skills Barometer 2023-2033 was welcomed by FSB as a useful resource for employers, policymakers, and educators, to access information that supports long-term, sustainable economic growth in Northern Ireland. The barometer, launched by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald MLA, provides a comprehensive outline of the challenges facing Northern Ireland’s labour market over the coming decade, and the skills, investment, and training required to address them.
Help improve the UKRI website
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Government’s funding body for research and innovation is inviting small business owners to take part in a short survey on how it can improve its website. The survey, is open until 28 February.
Transport: Eurostar resumes direct London-Amsterdam services
Eurostar resumed its direct service between Amsterdam and London. From 10 February, the service began operating three daily services (expected to rise to five by 2026) on weekdays and Sundays (two on Saturdays) between London St Pancras International and Amsterdam.
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