Agenda item

FEDERATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES

Minutes:

Mr Chandra Sharma, attended the meeting representing the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). A joint meeting had taken place with the FSB, Councillor Morgan, John Coupland (SELBN) and Lorraine McQuillan to discuss changes to the business section of the Bromley Council website. The majority of the changes suggested had been accepted including:

 

- Broken links repaired

- Links to the Growth Hub / London South East Colleges

- A comprehensive list of networking groups listed on the site

- A list of business support workshops

- Business Opportunity Profiles

- Links to the Bromley Business Directory

- Links to the Business Rates section

- Dates published for the Bromley Business e-bulletins

- Links to the Borough’s BIDs

- Links to Council commercial properties to let or for sale

 

A follow up meeting between the FSB and Councillor Morgan had taken place on 6th March 2019. Councillor Hannah Gray had been appointed Small Business Champion, becoming the main contact for small businesses in the Borough. Councillors were also being encouraged to attend local business events.

 

A number of very successful FSB networking meetings had taken place in Orpington and Bromley since the last meeting of the Bromley Economic Partnership. A networking event focussing on procurement would be taking place on 17th May 2019 at the Cow & Pig Restaurant, Bromley, delivered by Maddy Pryor and Laurence Downes, LBB Assistant Director – Governance and Contracts. The FSB were asking for a follow up event with key partners in autumn 2019 and a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event in spring 2020.

 

Other FSB initiatives had been to arrange a joint meeting with London South East Colleges, the South East London Chamber of Commerce and the Orpington 1st BID Company, and a Networking Cupper Expo event at The Glades on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th March 2019. The FSB were also running a campaign for ‘Fair Pay, Fair Play’, asking for a three point plan which was felt would make a big difference in the fight to tackle poor payment processes. The latest FSB Policy Report, ‘Small Business, Big Heart: Bringing Communities Together’ had been written by the FSB's Employment and Pensions Policy Advisor, Emelia Quist, and it was suggested that she could attend a future meeting of the Bromley Economic Partnership to deliver a short presentation.

 

The next FSB Policy report in progress was the Business Crime report. The FSB were encouraging businesses to share any business crime related issues in the Bromley borough to Sarah King, FSB Development Manager by 8th April 2019.

 

Upcoming events included the FSB Business Crime event, taking place on 20th May 2019, the Borough Friendly Business Awards, and the FSB London Small Business Awards on 17th April 2019.

 

Monday 1st April 2019 had been named ‘Blue Monday’ by the FSB due to some significant changes which would affect a lot of small businesses including: making tax digital, which could cost small businesses over £500 a year; increased NI contributions of 3%; and business rates increases for a number of small businesses. However, it was acknowledged that the measures put in by the Chancellor of the £51,000 threshold would give a number of businesses a reduction of a third in their business rates.

 

Councillor Hannah Gray, Small Business Champion informed Members that the timeframe for introducing fast fibre to the Borough had slowed, however there was a possibility of using some of the facilities already available. It was noted that businesses needed fast fibre available if they were to be encouraged to locate in specific areas. A meeting of the Working Party would be taking place soon, and a local Orpington business had said they were willing to help.

 

Work would be undertaken with the FSB, town centre BIDs and Unite to Inspire, and it was noted that ‘Meet the Buyer’ events were a great opportunity to provide small businesses the chance to work with much larger companies.