How
much help do you get from your Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)? Are you
confident that you can get the advice and the services you need from it? Do you
and other small businesses in your area have a voice in local business strategy
of your LEP?
What The Federation
of Small Businesses (FSB) Thinks
Your
bookkeepers are aware of one of one
of its recent reports, which says up front that LEPs must engage more with
small businesses. Consulting more effectively with them would help them
encourage and make the most of local growth opportunities. The recommendations
of the report include LEPs having a small business sub-group and a stakeholder
relationship manager to make sure that the needs and ideas of local small
organisations are brought to the attention of the LEP. A board member with the
relevant background and experience should also be appointed to hold specific
responsibility for small business issues.
The
report follows a survey of LEPs, Local Authorities and small
business representatives. Of the 39 LEPs currently operating, 36 responded, as
well as 131 local authorities and business people. The FSB conclusions are
that LEPs are hampered by a lack of government clarity about their role and
mission, as well as by inadequate funding and staffing. Its report therefore
also makes recommendations to government.
A fascinating graph covers types of LEP activities to
support small business competitiveness that are currently available, and the
considerable amount that that falls short of what a) local authorities and b)
the FSB think they should be offering.
Why
the Small Business Sector is Important
It points out that ‘small and medium sized businesses have been responsible for
four in five (84%) jobs created in the private sector between 2010 and 2013,
and represent almost half (48%) of private sector turnover. Yet the report
finds that large businesses are perceived to have most influence within LEPs.
According to FSB National
Chairman, John Allan, "LEPs
are crucial to delivering local economic growth across England. While some have
done a good job of reaching out to the small business community, others need to
up their game. Small firms will ultimately be the ones creating most of the
jobs and prosperity in the private sector, so it is absolutely essential that
they are at the heart of all LEPs thinking and plans.”
So
how much do you and your outsourced
bookkeepers know about your local LEP? Is it time to find out more and
become proactive in lobbying for the changes that are needed?
