Small business question time

ENTREPRENEURS and business people have a chance to challenge local and national officials about regulations at a Horsham event.

All business owners can attend the conference day at the Roffey Park Conference Centre on Friday November 18, organised by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Policy Group.

The FSB’s national chairman John Walker and national policy chairman Mike Cherry will voice the views of small businesses who are struggling with rising energy prices, finance and public procurement accessibility, shares in NI payment holidays and targeted VAT reductions.

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Horsham MP Francis Maude, the minister for cabinet office and paymaster general, will also be there to give the Government’s views.

Local authority representatives from Sussex and Surrey are attending too in order to gauge and react to people’s thoughts and concerns.

Furthermore, Andrew Lee, director of strategy and partnerships of the South Downs National Park, will be talking about the issues facing rural businesses.

Gary Shipton, editor in chief of the West Sussex County Times group of newspapers will chair a ‘Question Time’ style debate, allowing the audience to question all the speakers.

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Ann Swain, of the West Sussex branch of the FSB said: “We want to give small business in Surrey and Sussex the opportunity to put their case to Government and to hear from FSB national officers what they are saying to ministers about the changes that the FSB wants to see in Government policy.

“If small business is to play a key role in assisting the country out of the current economic difficulties then we need to see that the Government recognises that legislation designed for big business is not necessarily appropriate for micro and small businesses.”

To find out more and book a place, telephone the FSB regional office on 01403 734257.