FSB party conference events.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the UK’s largest business organisation with over 210,000 members, will maintain its major presence throughout this year’s political party conference season.

The FSB will hold ‘Small Business Matters’ fringe meetings at each conference. Speakers include The Rt Hon. Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Competitiveness, Mark Prisk MP, Shadow Minister for Small Business & Enterprise, and Lorely Burt, Shadow Minister for Business.

The FSB will also be holding two reception events in Northern Ireland, with guest speakers, The First Minister of Northern Ireland, Rt. Hon Rev Dr Ian Paisley MP MLA, and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt. Hon Shaun Woodward MP. The second event will be at the Conservative Party Conference, hosted by The Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson MP.

John Wright, FSB National Chairman, said:

“The life-blood of the UK economy is small businesses and they need to be heard consistently and constantly.”

“The party political conference season is the perfect opportunity for us to keep up the pressure on all three parties and to continue to champion the cause of all UK small businesses and their 12 million employees.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. For further information on each of the party conferences please visit the relevant link:

Lib Dems – Tuesday 18 September, 20:00 – Consort Room, Grant Hotel, Brighton:
Lib Dem Events

Labour – Monday 24 September, 18:30 – Beauville Suite, Trouville Hotel, Bournemouth:
Labour Events

Conservatives – Tuesday 2 October, 18:00 – Derby Room, Imperial Hotel, Blackpool:
Conservative Events

2. Small businesses employ 58 per cent of the private sector workforce, contribute over 50 per cent of UK GDP and make up more than 99 per cent of all UK businesses.

3. The FSB is Britain’s biggest business organisation with over 210,000 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.

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