Following a survey of many of our small businesses in Southsea and Portsmouth, we have set up a forum which meets regularly. Our next meeting is on Monday 16 February at 6.30pm when we will hear from the Leader of the City Council, Cllr Donna Jones. We will meet at the Florence Arms, Florence Road in the back room as usual - this meeting will only be for small businesses so we can have a frank discussion about the issues.
We have different speakers each meeting, so far we have looked at reducing business rates, the use of social media to help businesses, Shaping the Future of Portsmouth and Business Improvement Districts. I hope that we will be able to form a good lobby group too to ensure that Portsmouth and Southsea’s businesses flourish. Contact me if you wish to join the forum.
In September 2014, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) reported that confidence among small businesses continues to improve with three-fifths of firms surveyed expected to grow in the next 12 months.
Supporting small businesses is a crucial part of our long-term economic plan, creating more jobs and increasing the country’s economic security.
That’s why we are cutting taxes and reducing regulation to help small businesses grow and take on more people. We are scrapping red tape saving businesses £1.5 billion a year, reducing business rates for small businesses and our Employment Allowance means that 450,000 small businesses will pay no jobs tax.
Thanks to the hard work of British businesses our country is starting to recover after tough economic times. But the job is not done and there is still more to do. Working through our long-term economic plan is the only way to build a healthier economy, and secure a better and brighter future for Britain.
Our small businesses working together in Portsmouth and Southsea will help our local economy so we must support them and use our local retailers and businesses as much as possible.
