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Support your local start-up

In the Daily Post yesterday, the Federation of Small Businesses comes out in favour of greater support for start-ups across the region.

I hate to say again, but the first place the Assembly Government could start is with business rates, as I pointed out in the Eisteddfod field earlier this week.

Yes, I am going to continue to write and campaign on this matter as it is too important for politicians to ignore.

As usual, the Assembly went on to talk about Flexible Business Support Programme which is not focused on the needs of the many but on the needs of the few. Most importantly, it is small shops who are being hit hardest across Wales and the retail sector is largely ignored in any Welsh business support programme.

If anyone has any doubts as to how the credit crunch is hitting the small retail trade, go to any high street in Wales. Many are holding on by the skin of their teeth and in the tourist resorts will be facing a long hard winter.

So rather than coming out with the usual rehearsed lines, perhaps the Assembly Government should go and visit some of these businesses and ask them what support they need to keep them going, something they have failed to do with any business support programme they have initiated during the last nine years.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Local start ups in general, do not pack up and leave when their grants (if any) run out. Unlike the many large companies who have come to Wales, been given vast sums of cash and then left. Wales should build on it's strengths and not keep funding it's weakness.
August 09, 2008 3:15 am
Anonymous said…
Small business leads to medium business and the story goes on....
Dylan,
You are about the only person that I know, that is actually campaigning on this very issue.
Small business used to be the backbone of our country.
You are quite correct about the lower council tax incentive that a new business starter can benefit from.
It is also crazy that you need an energy certificate from 1st October. Another stumbling block for new and small business applicants and tenants of small retail properties..
Someone has to pay for it that's for sure!
September 21, 2008 8:36 pm
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