FSB

BUSINESS SUPPORT REPORT

Throughout the Covid pandemic, small businesses sought out and needed support and advice like never before. But how useful was that advice, where did they source it from and what have we learned about how we can improve the sharing of business support and advice through this extraordinary period?

These are the questions the FSB sought to investigate with an important new report entitled ‘Open For Business’. FSB spoke to SME business owners from across the UK to find out how support and advice had (or hadn’t) helped them and as you may imagine, we had a real mixed response. The most encouraging figure was that 84% of those surveyed did actively seek advice and, even better, 45% felt that the advice may well have helped them save their business which is a great testimony to everyone offering help.

However, on the downside, businesses with no employees were more frustrated about the support – or lack of it – they could get and there was also quite a lot of confusion about where the find the right sources of reliable information.

The report can be downloaded from the fsb.org.uk website.

Thank you to all of you who have supported or shared details of the FSB’s new summer social media campaign to highlight and celebrate our local hospitality, tourist, retail and service businesses.

The #MyHiddenGems campaign has been kindly supported by media organisations, councils, LEPs, Growth Hubs and others from

A BIG THANK YOU!

all over the UK and we have already seen businesses from all areas of Cornwall such as Bude, Par, Redruth and Calstock spotlighted.

As a reminder, the idea behind the campaign is to encourage people to pick their favourite local businesses, write a few words about them along with a photograph, pop it on Twitter using the hashtag #MyHiddenGems (tagging us at @FSBCornwall) and we can then amplify the recommendations across our other FSB social media channels. Thanks to all those who have supported us so far via social media, internal newsletters and more. The campaign runs until the end of September and it’s not too late to get involved. For more information email: ann.vandermeulen@fsb.org.uk

FSB Offer for Business Cornwall Magazine Readers at www.fsb.org.uk/join

If you want to join FSB after reading this page then please quote BCM30 when you join and save £30!

WORKPLACE TESTING CALL

Rule changes regarding self-isolation will come as a huge relief to small businesses which have lost badlyneeded trade through forced closures or restricted operations following the so called “pinging” of staff. Ann Vandermeulen, development manager for FSB Cornwall, said: “Smaller firms have been especially exposed to ‘pings’. Two or three people having to self-isolate might not be noticed at a big corporation but, for a small business, it often made opening impossible. From hairdressers, to cafes, building sites, convenience stores, and restaurants, all in-person businesses were most likely to be impacted by staff being taken out. Particularly galling when there have been so many potential customers about!” Despite exemptions for certain sectors this was also of little help to smaller firms. Largely due to the complexity of the system and the arbitrary distinctions between sectors deemed ‘essential’, these exemptions didn’t protect the whole supply chain so many have struggled somewhat needlessly, causing immense frustration.

Therefore, the relief around easing of selfisolation requirements is huge but there remains a duty of care to keep people safe and operate responsibly. FSB IS urging Government to adopt strategies that protect all smaller businesses that are so vulnerable to staff disruption. For example, a well-functioning testing system is all the more crucial. The FSB says the Government really should reconsider its decision to stop sending free workplace testing kits to small businesses. An even more ambitious vaccination programme, on-site testing and enhanced, well thought out, safety measures are fundamental to a truly sustainable reopening of the economy and FSB will be lobbying for a new, more practical, business friendly approach.