22-04-2008
Councils could do more to support small businesses
News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages.
Local councils could do a lot more to help small businesses in their area of control survive and prosper, according to an industry expert.
By lowering rents, easing parking regulations and offering expert advice to small business owners, local authorities are in a "great" position to help all kinds of small firms flourish, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) stated.
According to FSB spokesman Simon Briault, councils can do a lot more to block the planning permission applications of major retailers and supermarkets in order to help smaller companies and local market towns avoid "supermarketisation".
Mr Briault added: "Depending on the size of your business, you can get up to 50 per cent off your business rates and we think that local councils should do more to make sure people are aware of that."
The FSB is the largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms