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FSB hope other councils "follow suit" and sign Accord

A council in the North East is the first to support a new agreement that aims to guide small businesses through the economic downturn.

Hartlepool council has signed up to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Engagement Accord and hopes to generate and improve dialogue between small businesses and the Local Authorities.

Colin Stratton, FSB North East Regional Chairman, who has urged other Local Authorities to back the scheme, said: “We are delighted that Hartlepool Council is the first to sign the Accord.

“Today’s agreement between Hartlepool and the FSB is a further step in the right direction in improving the relationship between small businesses and the council. We hope that the other authorities in the North East follow suit and make the commitment to the small business community.”

The agreement aims to nominate business engagement representatives who will ensure the views of the local businesses are heard, as well as improving communication in consultations. This will be achieved via newsletters, information on websites and text messaging.

Councillor Pamela Hargreaves of Hartlepool Borough Council, and engagement representative, said: “The council is very committed to helping people start small businesses in Hartlepool and giving those firms support to grow and flourish.

“We already use the majority of the approaches which the Accord promotes so we are extremely pleased to be the first council in the North East to sign up to it.”

David Longstaff, Regional Organiser at the FSB, added: “Although this is a voluntary agreement I’m sure the council is more than committed in supporting the small business community.

“When our small businesses come to us with questions we can direct them to business champions or we can liaise on their behalf. This will save them time and let them got on with their work.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .