FSB: Dell help FSB bail out flood-hit members.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the UK’s largest business organisation, and Dell, the leading computer company, have joined forces to help small businesses hit by the recent flooding to buy new IT equipment at reduced rates.

The scheme will help small businesses in the affected areas access discounted IT equipment to replace items lost or damaged in the floods. IT equipment is often a significant outlay for small businesses but it is also increasingly vital to their work. Therefore, the FSB / Dell assistance offer aims to get flood-hit firms back on their feet quickly. It will also minimise their expenses on items that they may need more urgently than can be replaced using insurance claims. By-passing potential delays, given the pressure on insurance firms to process many thousands of claims, may help some firms to continue in business that would otherwise have ceased trading whilst waiting for their claim to be paid.

Norman Lay, FSB Sponsorship Chairman, said:

“This tie-up with Dell is extremely welcome and could not come at a better time for our flood-hit members. IT equipment is such an integral part of many small businesses these days – especially in helping maximise productivity with a small number of staff – that losing that assistance can hit a small firm very hard. The Federation of Small Businesses is doing all it can to support its members during this difficult time.”

John Wright, FSB National Chairman, said:

“The FSB has led the way in supporting businesses hit hard by the recent flooding. Our flood relief fund is providing FSB members with interest free loans to get them through this tough time and now, thanks to our sponsors at Dell, we are able to offer them even more assistance to get them back on their feet. With our loans and computer schemes we have two more reasons to show why small firms should join the FSB.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. Details of the FSB / Dell scheme can be found at http://www.fsb.org.uk/data/default.asp?id=1&loc=Sponsorship

2. The FSB is Britain’s biggest business organisation with over 205,000 members. It exists to protect and promote the interests of the self-employed, and all those who run their own business. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk.

3. For more information about Dell please go to www.dell.com

4. For more details about the FSB flood relief fund please go to www.fsb.org.uk/news.asp?REC=4161

Contacts:

For interviews with FSB Chief Spokesman Stephen Alambritis or other senior FSB personnel please contact the FSB Press Office.

FSB Press Office
Matthew Knowles: 020 7592 8113 / 07917 628991

Simon Briault: 020 7592 8128 / 07917 628998

Belinda Webb: 020 7592 8121 / 07825 125 695

Dell

Stephen Dempsey: 0870 907 4906

For regional FSB contacts please go to www.fsb.org.uk/regions