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Executive BoardBoard RepresentationFederation of Small BusinessesBenefits and Constraints from LSP Engagement
  
Benefits and Constraints from LSP Engagement
Federation of Small Businesses
Organisational Purpose
Common Purpose with LSPs
Benefits and Constraints from LSP Engagement
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Relationships with other Partnerships
More Information
 
Benefits
 
  • To ensure that LSPs are appraised of the issues faced by SMEs and how these issues affect the ongoing sustainable development for those businesses.
 
  • The FSB represents a significant number of small and micro businesses.  Micros are often referred to as ‘hobby businesses’ or ‘lifestyle businesses’ (terms which the business owners would not apply).  To label micro business as such can mean that they are neglected when decisions are made.
 
  • Engagement with the LSP offers an opportunity to assist non-Business representatives in understanding more about business issues at all levels
 
  • Enables LSPs to communicate and engage with a difficult-to-reach sector of the business community.
 
Constraints
 
  • The FSB is member-led and therefore on occasion has limited resources available, due to the amount of time members can commit.
 
  • The meetings are often held during office hours, which may be convenient to the Local Authority partners (the majority) but not to business owners – hence the poor ratio of entrepreneurs/business people to LA/Govt employees.
 
  • Communication and feedback is often poor, because of the complicated nature of some of the issues discussed, lengthy documentation and reports, and the non-use of plain English. Finding member volunteers with the necessary expertise and available time to read through long reports often compounds the problem.
 
  • LSPs struggle to make a difference because they are dominated by representatives from Local Authorities and these individuals don’t have the decision making powers needed to move issues forward.
 
  • The static nature of LSPs often lead to them being referred to as ‘talking shops’ which means that only those who are paid to be there, or are retired or semi-retired, carry any plans forward.
 
  • AWM fail to send decision makers to LSP meetings.  This makes it a very lengthy procedure to achieve action points.
 
  • Business can often be put off by the lack of achievement or value.
 
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