An influential support organisation for Hampshire companies has welcomed the Wessex branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) as a full member.
The Hampshire Business Alliance says having the FSB – one of the UK’s largest business membership bodies – on board will strengthen the collective voice of companies throughout the county on key issues.
The Alliance was launched at the inaugural conference of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce in November 2011.
Members of the Alliance are committed to working together to cut the duplication and costs of business support and provide services for employers of all sizes.
Hampshire Chamber chief executive Jimmy Chestnutt said: “Having the FSB as a partner in the Alliance will benefit all our members as we build on each other’s strengths and work towards providing an effective and influential single point of contact for the new Solent and Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnerships, the LEPs.”
FSB Wessex regional chairman Ken Moon said: “The FSB and the Chamber both worked very hard behind the scenes before the creation of the LEPs and it makes perfect sense for us to join the Hampshire Business Alliance as a formal member so we can continue our close working relationship for the benefit of small businesses.”
The move has been welcomed by other business leaders in Hampshire. Solent LEP Chairman Doug Morrison said: “The Alliance will gain from having such a leading player as the FSB involved as an active member. The decision gives the Alliance scope to become the largest and most influential representative business support organisation in the region. With its formal links to the Chambers in Dorset and the Isle of Wight, the Alliance is also becoming the most obvious first point of contact for the LEP.”
The Hampshire Business Alliance now embraces three key organisations: Hampshire Chamber, the FSB and the not-for-profit economic development company, the Southern Enterprise Alliance (SEA).
Jonathan Morris, SEA managing director, said: “We are working with partners to ensure local business has the best possible support. It is great to have the FSB onside and it is another important step in reducing duplication, co-operating where it makes sense to do so, and reducing costs for business wherever possible.”
