News

PM urges small firms to make most of support
03 February 2014

Prime Minister David Cameron has urged the UK’s 4.9 million small businesses to take advantage of measures that could save them up to £10,000 each a year.

Speaking at a Federation of Small Businesses event on 27 January, Mr Cameron highlighted government support including:

• a £1.1 billion package of business rates measures, with extra relief for small businesses through the extended doubling of Small Business Rate Relief
• the £30 million Growth Vouchers, programme, which will see 20,000 small businesses receive up to £2,000 to help them access specialist support on financial management, recruitment, marketing and making the most of digital technology
• broadband vouchers worth up to £3,000 each, available in ten UK cities to help more small firms boost their business by accessing faster and better broadband connectivity from April 2014, every business and charity will be entitled to a £2,000 Employment Allowance to reduce their employer national insurance contributions bill each year.
• Enterprise and Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “Small businesses are the bedrock of the UK economy. That’s why we must continue our drive to provide the support they need to scale up, move into new markets and hire more staff.”

The government has also been working with Enterprise Nation, which supports business owners and would-be entrepreneurs, to launch the Business Exchange, which asks larger businesses to link up with smaller ones to exchange skills, resources and ideas to help them grow.

Companies backing the Business Exchange include Sainsbury’s and John Lewis.

Link: More information on Growth Vouchers

Link: More information on broadband vouchers

Link: More information on the Business Exchange