"Small business survey shows steady progress", the government proclaimed this week as it released the latest study of UK small businesses. Two thirds have ambitions to grow and half are producing new products and services, it went on. All great news yes? Well no, actually.
Buried on page 24 of the full report were some worrying statistics. In its analysis of entrepreneurs’ attitudes towards business support, the data showed while 16% of new business owners went to their bank for start-up advice and 12% turned to their accountant, a tiny 5% used Business Link for guidance. Not brilliant figures for the government's so-called flagship SME advisory service.
The negative results continued. Page 26 revealed that only a tenth of small employers believe the government takes their concerns into account and a very significant 34% felt ministers pay no attention whatsoever.
Don’t trust statistics you may say. But the government itself calls the poll "the most representative survey of the UK small business sector" so I beg to differ!
It's clear that when entrepreneurs think business support, they don't think government. This is an attitude which so should not exist.
SMEs account for 99.9% of all businesses yet ministers appear completely oblivious to their concerns.
Government actions over the last few months have demonstrated an unbelievably negative attitude towards what ministers themselves continually describe as the engine room of the UK economy. And now the government's own commissioned survey confirms it.
Admittedly the latest research was conducted in 2006/07 but with the recent controversy over issues such as capital gains tax, it's likely the 2008 figures will be even worse.
The announcement yesterday of the creation of a new working group to advise Gordon Brown's Business Council for Britain on issues affecting small companies is hugely welcome. But look how it's come about. Criticism from the likes of the Forum of Private Business that the council, set up last year, has no SME representation is blatantly the only reason why ministers have acted.
But acted they have so lets hope the working group really is a route through which small firm owners can get their voices heard.
SMEs are waiting with bated breath for what Alistair Darling will announce in next week's budget. If it's yet more anti-small business measures it's likely to lead to an outcry the likes of which haven't been seen before as well as plenty more material for my blog.
Buried on page 24 of the full report were some worrying statistics. In its analysis of entrepreneurs’ attitudes towards business support, the data showed while 16% of new business owners went to their bank for start-up advice and 12% turned to their accountant, a tiny 5% used Business Link for guidance. Not brilliant figures for the government's so-called flagship SME advisory service.
The negative results continued. Page 26 revealed that only a tenth of small employers believe the government takes their concerns into account and a very significant 34% felt ministers pay no attention whatsoever.
Don’t trust statistics you may say. But the government itself calls the poll "the most representative survey of the UK small business sector" so I beg to differ!
It's clear that when entrepreneurs think business support, they don't think government. This is an attitude which so should not exist.
SMEs account for 99.9% of all businesses yet ministers appear completely oblivious to their concerns.
Government actions over the last few months have demonstrated an unbelievably negative attitude towards what ministers themselves continually describe as the engine room of the UK economy. And now the government's own commissioned survey confirms it.
Admittedly the latest research was conducted in 2006/07 but with the recent controversy over issues such as capital gains tax, it's likely the 2008 figures will be even worse.
The announcement yesterday of the creation of a new working group to advise Gordon Brown's Business Council for Britain on issues affecting small companies is hugely welcome. But look how it's come about. Criticism from the likes of the Forum of Private Business that the council, set up last year, has no SME representation is blatantly the only reason why ministers have acted.
But acted they have so lets hope the working group really is a route through which small firm owners can get their voices heard.
SMEs are waiting with bated breath for what Alistair Darling will announce in next week's budget. If it's yet more anti-small business measures it's likely to lead to an outcry the likes of which haven't been seen before as well as plenty more material for my blog.
