The FPB's campaigns and research team has been busy fighting on behalf of members in the month that the World's banking sector took centre stage. We are entering Pre-Budget Report season, which is when announcements are made about plans for next year's Budget.

 

With government funds being siphoned off into the banking system, tax increases could be on the horizon for us all. Utilities companies have also been in the spotlight recently for throwing their weight around, so we have been doing what we can to help those of our members affected by their bullying tactics.

 

 

 

Following Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Cabinet reshuffle, we made contact with the new government appointees. The Rt Hon Peter Mandelson has returned to the UK from his position as EU Commissioner for Trade to take the lead at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the FPB's Chief Executive met him last week to discuss measures to help small businesses during the financial crisis. A new Department of Energy and Climate Change has also been created.

 

 

 

Members told us about the measures they would like to see in the Pre-Budget Report in their responses to the latest Referendum ballot. We submitted the requests to the Treasury for consideration prior to the Pre-Budget Report announcements. The main measures we would like to see in support of small firms, over the coming year and beyond, are:

Despite access to finance being an obvious concern, as UK banks continue to struggle, members did not highlight this as one of the main barriers to growth. We are currently analysing the results of an in-depth study into access to finance for small businesses, the results of which will be published over the next few weeks.

 

 

 

Members of Parliament continue to demonstrate their support for their small-business constituents by signing our Think Smallest First Pledge. Recent signatories include David Howarth, MP for Cambridge, and Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale. If you have not already added your name to the petition, please do it now and show your support by following this link.

 

 

 

We continue to fight on behalf of members who feel their businesses have been subject to injustices through unfair competition. We have written to the Minister and Shadow Energy Ministers regarding the lack of redress for small firms with utilities companies, the story of which has also been picked up by the national press. Other issues affecting our members include banks dealing with credit card fraud, changes to 0870 telephone numbers and post office closures.

 

 

 

It's really important you tell us about the issues affecting your business so we can do what we can to help you. If you want our help with a matter affecting your business, get in touch by calling us on 01565 634467 or email us at campaigns@fpb.org.