Lord Young’s proposals to help small firms grow have been welcomed by business leaders in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Lord Young’s ‘Growing Your Business’ report calls for small firms to have access to growth vouchers to access advice and support, to help people of all ages access start-up loans at low interest rates and to improve the chances of SMEs landing work with the public sector.
Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said Lord Young’s proposals were on the organisation’s wish-list to help ‘fire up’ business growth.
She said: “The Prime Minister said he wanted to fire up business growth and that is a sentiment we would very much agree with.
“In fact, it’s not only something we agree with it is something we have been lobbying government for at a local and national level for some time.
“Each of the main proposals from Lord Young’s report are very much what the Chamber has been calling for and we would urge the government to act upon them as soon as possible.
“Locally, we have been working hard with the Local Enterprise Partnership through its SME group to create a portal to help local businesses tender for work with all of the local authorities in this area.
“As a Chamber, we continue to fight the corner of our members on a national level but also work with partners locally to ensure companies across Coventry and Warwickshire are getting the best deal.
“That is why we welcome Lord Young’s proposals because those already in business need as much assistance as possible and the Chamber is the best route to get that support.
“Also, we need more and more people starting businesses – of all ages and backgrounds – whether they have just finished in education or have been made redundant.
“Once again, the Chamber is the perfect place to begin when looking to establish a business.”