The 2012 Budget is fast approaching (two weeks today, to be exact), and many business groups are busying themselves pestering the Chancellor with their proposals for how to improve the currently-treacherous economic landscape for freelancers, contractors, micro-businesses and small businesses. A separate Government body with a seat in the Cabinet to defend the interests of small businesses should be created at the heart of Whitehall, says the Federation of Small Businesses.

The introduction of an SBA-esque organisation would allow small business reforms to be ongoing and far-reaching – and not subject to the whim of each successive Government, and could act as a small-business champion at all levels of Government, facilitating the procurement process for Government departments. A UK SBA could also help address the current malaise surrounding small business finance and credit. The FSB argues that despite promises, successive UK Governments have failed to fully appreciate the needs of the country’s army of small businesses. Too often, the sector has seen temporary ‘eye-catching’ measures that have had no tangible effect on the ground, creating frustration among the small business community.

The FSB’s John Walker, said:
“The chancellor has made clear that there will be no big tax giveaways in this year’s Budget and that it is up to the private sector to drive economic recovery by creating jobs and growth. The FSB argues that in order to do that, the gvernment must think small first by giving the UK’s 4.5 million small businesses a more prominent seat within government.
“Through implementing a Small Business Administration, it would allow the Government to quickly implement policies aimed at helping small businesses.”