With Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister and the inevitable reshuffle, we are at a pivotal point. It presents the only real opportunity to reset ahead of the next general election.
I represent the fish and chip industry, but I also speak to many small business owners, not just in the hospitality sector but across the board. Through running my own business, I also speak to many members of the general public, and the consensus is that we need change.
We need politicians to speak their minds. We need them to stop avoiding questions, and we need them to hold their hands up when they make mistakes. We all make them—that’s how we learn—but it’s how you respond to those mistakes that makes the difference. Being accountable would earn politicians far more respect than trying to blame someone else.
In a recent survey of my members, 98% of respondents said they believe the Government does not understand small businesses. The general feeling is that it would rather large chains took over because they are easier to regulate and ensure compliance with taxation and other requirements. That has to change.
Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, but more than that, we are vital to the communities we serve. We are often the first place of employment for young people, giving them valuable life skills and a strong work ethic. However, this comes at a cost to businesses, and it is becoming less attractive to employ people because of changes to wages and employment legislation. These are policies that may look good on paper but, in the real world, are having unintended consequences.
In a recent meeting with an official from the Department for Business and Trade, I was told that the Government is trying to shift its engagement with small businesses away from trade associations and towards industry panels made up of individual businesses. I passionately believe that is the wrong strategy. By talking to a trade association, you gain the collective views and experiences of thousands of businesses. With an industry panel, however, you hear from only a handful of businesses, each of which may have its own agenda. Industry panels certainly have value as focus groups, but it would be a huge mistake not to listen to representative trade associations.
We all share the same objective: economic recovery and sustainable growth. We need to bring some positivity back into the country and create an environment where entrepreneurs are willing to take risks. They will accept the losses if a venture doesn’t succeed, but they also need to be able to see the rewards if it does. At the moment, the balance between risk and reward is out of kilter. If you fail, you lose everything. If you succeed, you are hit by higher taxation, increasing regulation and the growing risk of litigation. We have to change that—and quickly.
My hopes for the new Government are clear: straight talking, greater engagement, and a genuine willingness to work together to move this country forward. I am confident about the future because we have immense talent in this nation. We are capable of achieving extraordinary things when our backs are against the wall and we pull together. We just need to feel that our politicians are on our side.
Andrew Crook CFSP is the president of the National Federation of Fish Friers.
