FSB: We must fight the recession together, FSB National Chairman tells small businesses

The National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) today promised to provide shelter for small businesses struggling through the storm of recession.

Speaking to delegates in his opening speech at the FSB’s annual conference in Newport, Wales, National Chairman John Wright told delegates that small businesses are braving the challenges of recession but assured them that they will be supported by the FSB through the bad times. It will be the country’s 4.7 million small businesses that fire up the British economy, generate wealth, jobs and help get the economy back on track.

Promising to guide the FSB to more victories in the coming year, John Wright highlighted the FSB’s key achievements over the past year including a £1.3 billion package of support for small businesses; securing cross party support for the issue of automatic rate relief; working to ensure the Post Office kept the Post Office Card Account, saving many subpostmasters; and small businesses and the success of the national Keep Trade Local campaign.

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

“This is a hugely difficult and testing year for small businesses and it is demolishing many small businesses like yours and mine. The FSB has had a fantastic year in supporting small businesses which are the lifeblood of our economy and the FSB will continue to do all it can to provide our members with the best shelter to weather the downturn.

“We want the storm of recession to end and small businesses are the sector to see us through it. We have already seen some measures to help small businesses through these difficult times but we need to see more: we need to see the banks lending again, suppliers paying up on time and burdensome regulation being delayed. This year’s conference could not be a better time for small businesses across the country to come together and fire up the British economy.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

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The FSB is the UK’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.

The FSB’s annual conference is being held at Celtic Manor, Usk Valley near Newport, South Wales from Thursday 19 March to Saturday 21 March 2009. Computer company Dell is the top sponsor for the event and insurance company Towergate is the main supporter.

The Exhibitors are Dell; RBS Worldpay – Streamline; School Governors’ One Stop Shop; Hospital & Medical Care Association; 123 Send; NFSE Sales & Publications; FSB Factors; FSB Diamond Account; Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills; Business Simplification Programme – BERR; Child Support Agency; DeVine Personalised Gifts; Independent Financial Services (IFS) Ltd; FSB Gold Club; Towergate Insurance Ltd; FSB Care – Red Arc; FSB Telecom; HM Revenue & Customs; Design Council; Abbey Legal Services; ASC Finance for Business; Co-operative Bank; Health & Safety Executive; Intellectual Property Office; Centrica plc (British Gas Business); Visa Commercial; UK Trade & Investment.

The conference will be opened by an impressive panel, including Councillor Noel Trigg the Mayor of Newport City Council. Other guests will include Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills John Denham, Secretary of State for Wales the Rt Hon. Paul Murphy MP, the newly appointed shadow business minister, Kenneth Clarke and the Deputy First Minister for Wales, Ieuan Wyn Jones.

Delegates will also have a chance to debate and ask questions at the FSB’s very own Question Time hosted by John Humphrys with a panel of cross party politicians. Renowned broadcaster Andrew Neil will give a motivational speech and four-times Paralympic Gold medallist, David Roberts will be congratulated by delegates on his achievement. Previous conferences have been held in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast and Leeds.

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

Contacts:

Stephen Alambritis: 07788 422155
Sophie Kummer: 07917 628998
Prue Watson: 07825 125695
Marc Shoffman: 07595 067068

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