The Black Country Branch, which covers the 4 metropolitan boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton and also the district council of South Staffordshire, has over 2,500 members.
The branch is run by volunteer members, who organise regular meetings for the branch, covering a wide range of business areas from advertising on the radio to the implications for small business of the new money laundering act. The branch also produces a regular newsletter to keep members informed of local small business issues.
Members of the branch committee represent the FSB on several external groups such as Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs – Safe & Sound) and assist with local Government consultations.
The branch can also call on the services of the Staffordshire and West Midlands Regional Organiser – a professional member of staff who acts as a point of contact for the media, external organisations and FSB members.
Organisational Purpose
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is the largest campaigning group promoting and protecting the interests of self-employed and owners of small firms.
The FSB is non-profit making and apolitical.
Formed in 1974, it now has over 190,000 members across 33 regions and 230 branches. On the member benefits side, the FSB offers assistance and support, while its lobbying arm - led by the Westminster Press and Parliamentary office - applies pressure on MPs, Government and civil servants in Whitehall, lobbies politicians in their constituencies and puts the FSB viewpoint over to the media.
The FSB also has Press and Parliamentary Offices in Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast to lobby the devolved assemblies on behalf of members. Area Policy Development Officers work with Regional organisations and Government Offices, through the Area Policy Units.
In 2005 the FSB established an additional office in Brussels, where direct influence to the European Commission can be made.
Common Purpose with LSPs
There are now 4 million small businesses in the UK, which equates to 99% of all British businesses. Small and medium sized businesses employ more than 58% of the private sector workforce – almost 13 million people. FSB members alone employ close to one and a half million workers.
It is important that this vital sector of the economy is engaged in the policy making process at all levels, and especially at the local level. However, business is often under-represented on local government partnerships, due to the lack of time available to many business owners. FSB involvement provides a mechanism for the LSP to engage with the small business sector and for the FSB to provide consultation on local policies.
Drivers
- Free business from Red Tape that impacts against business
- Combat Crime against business
- Invest in skills to boost productivity and competitiveness
- Create a better business environment
- Ensure business policies are business-friendly as well as family-friendly
- Make taxes fairer and simpler
These six policy principles aim to ensure that small businesses are at the core of the political agenda, in recognition that it is small businesses that create wealth and jobs.
Benefits and Constraints from LSP Engagement
Benefits
- To ensure that LSPs are appraised of the issues faced by Small & Medium sized Enterprises (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.
- Business can often be put off by the lack of achievement or value.
Relationships with other Partnerships
The FSB works with a wide range of organisations at a National, Regional and Local level including:
- Confederation of West Midlands Chambers of Commerce
- West Midlands Business Council
- West Midlands Business Transport Group
- Regional Rural Affairs Partnership
- Business Links Supervisory Boards
- Several Local Strategic Partnerships & Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships across the West Midlands region
- Councils across the West Midlands region
More Information
Other things you need to know
The FSB is a member-led organisation, which means that policies and campaigns are directed by members currently running businesses and who are in a unique position to comment on issues directly affecting small business. Members cover the whole spectrum of business types in all sectors.
One of the major benefits to FSB members is the FSB's legal helpline, which operates 24 hours a day. In previous years the helpline has received over 100,000 calls, the majority of calls on employment matters, but they also dealt with issues such as commercial contract, landlord and tenant, and consumer affairs.
During 2001, the FSB allocated £500,000 to members as a result of the Foot and Mouth outbreak. This money was available to businesses that were facing financial difficulties in the form of interest free loans.
Over past years, lobbying has ensured that small businesses get a fair deal from the banks on charges and interest, the removal of corporation tax for businesses with profits below £10,000 and exemptions for small firms under stakeholder pension requirements.
There is concern about Government plans to give local authorities further revenue-raising powers through Business Improvement Districts and for congestion charges, and the continuing burden on employers in administering welfare payments through the payroll. The regulatory burden is also a particular concern. On these and other issues, the FSB is fighting for a better deal for small businesses.
Find out more
Federation of Small Businesses; http://www.fsb.org.uk/
