maidstone local strategic partnership workshop 22 may 2009

Maidstone Local Strategic Partnership Workshop

22 May 2009

Maidstone Local Strategic Partnership

The Federation of Small Businesses is Britain’s leading business organisation

217,000 members throughout the UK, 7,000 members in Kent and Medway 1129 in Mid Kent Branch


There is nothing small about small businesses

99.3% UK businesses employ 50 people or less 4.3 million small businesses contributing 59% UK GDPEmploy 13.5 million people - 51% private sector workforce


There is nothing small about small businesses

Maidstone Retail Premises

Chequers and Fremlin’s Walk 140 22%Town centre multiple stores 175 28%Independent retailers 272 43%Vacant 43 7%


Kent Small Business Barometer


FSB FIVE POINT PLAN1. Cut Payroll Taxes2. Simplify access to public sector contracts3. Declare a moratorium on business regulation4. Promote part-time work through tax exemptions5. Simplify and promote apprenticeships


1. Cut Payroll TaxesThe employers’ National Insurance Contribution represents a tax on jobs. In addition to the 11% NI contributions paid by the employee, the employer currently pays 12.8% - That’s £12.80 Tax payable to the government on top of every £100 paid in wages. Hardly an incentive!


2. Simplify access to public sector contracts

Over half of small businesses are deterred from the process of tendering for government contracts due to the time required and the bureaucratic burden entailed


3. Declare a moratorium on business regulation

The problem of regulation has been exacerbated by the sheer volume of legislation affecting business. In 2008 alone, 57 new or altered regulations affecting businesses were brought into being.


4. Promote part time working through tax exemptions

Exploring more ways of promoting and supporting part time work would encourage growth in employment and be especially valuable to small firms where the cost of part time employees is spread over a smaller workforce


5. Simplify and promote apprenticeships

69% of all apprenticeships take place in small businesses but small business struggle with the administrative burden of setting up an apprenticeship.


FSB FIVE POINT PLAN1. Cut Payroll Taxes2. Simplify access to public sector contracts3. Declare a moratorium on business regulation4. Promote part-time work through tax exemptions5. Simplify and promote apprenticeships

maidstone local strategic partnership workshop 22 may 2009

Documents

federation of small

half of small businesses

small business struggle

small firms

uk businesses

business regulation

smaller workforce slide

private sector workforce