The first up at the crease, when the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee's (EET) begins its review of Scottish Enterprise and the small firms support body Business Gateway (BG), will be the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland (FSB).
The small business organisation has claimed that the current structure has left a gap in the support of businesses that are struggling in the current economic climate.
In the Scotsman on Sunday, Michael Dixon, the FSB's Edinburgh branch chairman noted that,
"The vast majority of businesses who are not start-ups or are left outside the elite Scottish Enterprise stable of 2,000 account-managed companies feel that there is no place for them in this set up. Now more than ever, the jobs, services and revenue these businesses provide are crucial to our economic growth and should not be excluded from support on the basis of arbitrary targets. What we are not trying to do is say this is all rubbish and start again. We want to see that businesses no matter what their sector, size and growth potential get support."
It is heartening to see that Scottish MSPs are taking an interest in small business support, especially as the Learning and Enterprise Committee has allowed the Economic Renewal Programme to be adopted with comment or criticism.
The FSB in Scotland is also to be congratulated on making a stand for small businesses.
One can only hope, following the CBI’s remarks last week, that the FSB in Wales is about to do the same.
Comments
Stones and glass houses? Seems tat the Conservatives like to talk the talk but not walk the walk when it comes to business issues.
Bloody ERP.
It is a sad fact that questionable, if not downright bad, behaviour is often rewarded – in the form of success – by our society; this applies across all sections of the community, including business and politics. One result of this is the reinforcement of self-righteous attitudes that are often displayed, by such people, at every opportunity: just glance through any newspaper, magazine or blog and you will find examples aplenty. Having run three of my own businesses, as well as working at senior level in both the private and public sectors, I have spent enough time in the company of Politicians and Business People to know that the issue of Business Support, will, sadly, never be satisfactorily resolved. Entrepreneurs, business owners, their various representative bodies and politicians are destined to be forever pitted against each other: because they all believe they know best.
In the meantime, the enlightened will remain focussed and build world-beating businesses, by creating and embracing a more respectful, collaborative, inclusive and sustainable path to success. Good luck to them.
Thanks
Victoria