SBS aims to smooth out difficulties

By LINDA WHITNEY FOR MAILONLINE
Updated:

 

The newly-formed Small Business Service (SBS) has issued a plea for views on the difficulties faced by small businesses. David Irwin, the first chief executive of the SBS, spoke exclusively to Money Mail, the Daily Mail's financial section, last week.

null

'We have been charged with reviewing all business support services around the country, so we'd like your help,' he says. 'Please contact us and tell us your business needs and aspirations.'

The SBS was launched recently with the lofty aims of helping all small businesses realise their potential, especially by cutting red tape, offering world-class business support and promoting enterprise - especially among under-represented and disadvantaged groups.

Mr Irwin says his plans for the SBS include setting up a website offering business information - including details of regulations in plain English - and expanding the Business Link phoneline, which offers only the number of your local Business Link, to give basic business information and referrals to experts.

A dial-up service to give details of all the regulations that apply to your particular business is also being considered, and the Government is to be asked to consider which regulations can be scrapped.

Mr Irwin also wants a grace period of two to three months after regulations are agreed and before they come into force to give small businesses time to prepare, as well as a 'red tape index' to monitor the number of regulations and their burden on small firms.

Other proposals include offering free software on the new website to help small firms record information where regulations require it; boosting regional venture capital funds to make them available to companies needing as little as £100,000; revamping the Business Link network and setting up a school for its advisers to bring them all up to the level of the best; and offering a customised advice to 'lifestyle businesses' where the main aim is to fit in to someone's lifestyle rather than maximise profit.

Marie Oakley, 42, and husband Andrew, 46, (pictured) run Coventry Silvercraft, making corporate jewellery such as cufflinks, plus sports trophies.

David Irwin recently met them when he visited their company. With ten staff and ambitious to grow, what can the SBS do for them?

'Rather than providing consultants to tell small firms what they should do, I'd like to see the SBS deliver more practical assistance, such as schemes to help small firms find staff or trainees,' says Mrs Oakley.

'We recently took on a graduate through a grant-aided scheme and also got help from the local Chamber of Commerce with our IT needs - that is the kind of help small firms need. We need to know what help is available. We are too busy working to spend much time looking for help, so the proposed website and the database telling you what regulations apply to your business are brilliant ideas.' Mrs Oakley also thinks the boost to regional venture capital funds could prove valuable when the firm wants to grow in future.

You can write to David Irwin at SBS, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H OET or e-mail him at sbs@sbs.gsi.gov.uk

Most watched Money videos