, Labour’s Shadow
Secretary for Business and Trade, has today launched ‘The Beating
Heart of our Economy’ Labour’s Plan for Small Businesses at the
first of Labour’s regional small business roadshows to be held
across the country.
Unveiling the plan in a speech to small businesses in the east of
England, the plan sets out Labour’s blueprint to create a
long-term environment in which businesses across the country can
do what they do best: putting in hard work and dedication to
create growth, jobs, and prosperity in every part of the country.
The plan, drawn up from conversations with small business owners
about the biggest challenges they would like to see addressed,
outlines the steps Labour will take to give small business the
backing they need to reach new heights and to give small business
a voice right at the heart of Government.
In the announcement, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary set out
the detail of Labour’s new plan, committing to:
-
Legislate to tackle late payments going
further, faster than the Conservatives with tough new laws to
make sure small businesses get paid on time.
-
Scrap business rates for a fairer system to
reduce the burden on high street premises and not stand in the
way of firms who want to expand.
-
Revitalise Britain’s high streets by tackling
anti-social behaviour by introducing new town centre police
patrols.
-
Boost small business Exports by publishing a
trade strategy and working alongside the Federation of Small
Business on a Small Business Export Taskforce.
-
Give a new direction for skills and addressing
skills shortages by creating Skills England and working with
local industry to ensure local people have the skills they want
including new Technical Excellence Colleges.
-
Get Britain building again by reform the
planning system to build 1.5 million homes over the Parliament
and removing the planning barriers holding business back
including grid connections.
-
Make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower and
cutting energy bills for small business and creating job
opportunities for tradespeople.
-
Make the UK the best place to start-up and
scale-up by unlocking the supply of patient capital
for technology-intensive businesses.
-
Provide a fair chance at public contracts to
give small and medium businesses fairer opportunities to
benefit from public contract bidding.
Labour is ready to implement these plans and work hand in hand
with small businesses to make Britain the best place in the world
to start and grow a business.
Speaking ahead of the launch of Labour’s Plan for Small
Business, , Labour’s Shadow
Secretary for Business and Trade said;
“Small business is the beating heart of our economy. Breathing
life into our high streets and delivering services that make our
lives easier.
“When I speak to our talented founders and business owners many
tell me they feel overlooked by the Government and, after 13
years of economic failure, it is getting harder and harder to run
a successful business.
“Britain is brimming with driven entrepreneurs and Labour will
work hand in hand with them to ensure the next Labour Government
is offering the firm foundations they need to prosper and grow.
Labour is proud to back our small businesses and this plan is a
serious blueprint to create the long-term environment businesses
across the country are crying out for.”
Ends.
Notes to Editors:
A copy of Jonathan Renold’s
speech will be made available tomorrow, along with a copy of
Labour’s Plan for Small Businesses.
