Informi was set up as a one stop shop where people can go to get information and guidance, and find advice and tools to help start and run a business. We don’t believe that enough information and resource is available to help small business owners, and it is our intention to help fill that gap. And speaking to the powers that be in Westminster, it seems that we’re not alone in that viewpoint.
This month Informi released the results of a survey of Members of Parliament across all sides of the House of Commons, on what they think about the current SME landscape in the UK.
The first thing we found is that almost four in five MPs (79%) believe that people thinking about starting a new business, and even those who have been operating a business for a number of years, need more information advice and guidance. Starting your own business is not an easy task. For many people they might find themselves with an idea, but with no clue of how to take that idea and turn it into a successful business. It is good to see that MPs agree that entrepreneurs should receive as much help as possible, and more than is currently available.
The second major finding from the MP survey is that a staggering 85% believe there needs to be a big increase in the number of SMEs who export for the UK to fulfil its potential as a trading nation. With the Brexit starting gun to be fired next week by Prime Minister Theresa May, many small businesses will need to look at whether exporting will help give them some stability in what could be an uncertain future for the economy. The government can help these businesses in their efforts to export by ensuring that even after we leave the European Union, strong new trading deals are created with nations both inside and outside the EU.
