FSB to work with new enterprise partnerships

SMALL businesses are set to be at the heart of the newly created Local Enterprise Partnerships following a meeting between the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) earlier this week.

The coalition government has announced that Local Enterprise Partnerships will replace the recently abolished Regional Development Agencies in England.

The FSB welcomed the new arrangement, but voiced concerns that small and micro businesses would not be heard locally. Now, as the leading representative of the small business sector, it is to be a key business partner with Local Enterprise Partnerships.

Chris Spies, Peterborough branch chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said, “Small businesses must not be ignored and it is crucial that their voice is heard in the newly established Local Enterprise Partnerships, so it is fantastic news that the FSB is going to be the key business partner. We are working closely with the coalition government on putting LEPs in place and we want to ensure that the new entities will deliver results so that small firms have the ability to grow and develop, and ultimately boost local economies.”

For more information, visit: www.fsb.org.uk