FSB: Small businesses to converge on Newport for major conference

Small businesses will be gathering against the backdrop of recession in South Wales later this year, at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Annual Conference 2009.

Held at the Celtic Manor in South Wales, the conference theme will be ‘Firing up the British Economy’, as small firms look at how to pull the country out of recession.

The conference will be opened by an impressive panel, including the Mayor of Newport City Council and the First Minister for Wales, the Rt Hon. Rhodri Morgan.

The event – the largest non-Governmental small business conference in the UK- will see high profile speakers including small business minister, Baroness Vadera; the newly appointed shadow business minister, Kenneth Clarke; and Vice President of the European Commission, Gunter Verheugen from Brussels. In addition to a keynote speech from the FSB’s National Chairman, John Wright, the Deputy First Minister for Wales, Ieuan Wyn Jones, will also be speaking to give the Welsh perspective.

After an exceptionally difficult year, motions relevant to the economic crisis will be debated on subjects such as the full nationalisation the country’s banks and support for first-time buyers to bring back life to the property market. The Performing Rights Society will also be taken to task following its aggressive tactics over the past year on their licence fee collection system.

Delegates will also have the chance to take part in workshops which will give them advice on getting through the downturn and how to have a healthy workplace.

Conference will also give small business delegates a chance to debate and ask questions at the FSB’s very own Question Time hosted by John Humphrys to include a panel of cross party politicians. A motivational speech by renowned broadcaster, Andrew Neil will also be given and four-times Paralympic Gold medallist, David Roberts will be congratulated by delegates on his achievement.

John Wright, Federation of Small Businesses National Chairman, said:

“The FSB’s Annual Conference is set to give small businesses the information they need to survive a difficult year. Set in the Usk Valley in South Wales, the event will demonstrate what a vibrant, strong business culture we have.

“Small businesses really are the lifeblood of our economy and they are doing all they can to survive these uncertain economic times and come out growing and prosperous. Conference 2009 will give small business owners the chance to debate issues highly relevant to them.”

Gethin Williams, the FSB’s South Wales Regional Chairman, said:

“Everyone will have a warm Welsh welcome at Conference 2009. With a jam-packed programme of entertainment including a traditional Welsh choir at the opening ceremony, a medieval banquet, a charity race night and a glittering ball.”

Notes to Editors

1. The FSB is Britain’s leading business organisation with over 215,000 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 http://www.fsb.org.uk.

2. The event will take place between 19 and 21 March 2009 and will be held at Celtic Manor, the Usk Valley, near Newport, South Wales. Dell, Visa, the Co-Operative Bank, British Gas and the Health and Safety Executive are just a few of the organisations that will be exhibiting at the conference.

3. The Celtic Manor is the venue for next year’s Ryder Cup event.

4. The FSB’s Annual Conference is the biggest non-governmental SME conference in the UK. Previous conferences have been held in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast and Leeds.

5. There will be four major workshops at the conference. These will include workshops on campaigning for small businesses; on achieving healthy workplaces; on the fourth-coming European parliamentary elections; and on how to survive the downturn with ASC Finance for Business.

6. The main sponsor of the FSB’s National Conference is Dell, the country’s largest seller of computers and PC products.