The next UK government should focus on improving the trading relationship with the EU after the costs of Brexit hampered exports, one of the country's most influential business groups has said.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FBS) published its election manifesto on Friday, citing “stronger trading relationships with the UK's key trading partners, including the EU” as one of its priorities.
Martin McTague, national chair of the FSB, said Britain's decision to leave the EU has negatively impacted some small businesses exporting to the EU.
He said The independent: “What we are seeing in specific areas is a really big drop for exporters…
“Location is very important and many small companies do not have the resources to face distant markets. Neighborhood is important. “Many of them have been discouraged by the additional burden Brexit has caused.”
Asked if it was important to improve relations with the EU, he said: “I think that is much more important for the small business community. Frankly, larger companies have the capacity, resilience and resources to weather any storm that comes their way and deal with problems.
“And they are willing to put up their guard and move to the mainland, whereas that is not an option for most small businesses. That is why it is important to have a better business relationship.”
McTague said that although a better relationship with the EU is “slowly emerging”, his organization would like any incoming government to “put more emphasis on that”.
Previously published FSB research showed that almost one in 10 small businesses that used to export or import goods have stopped doing so in the past five years, partly due to costs, volume of paperwork and supply chain or logistical problems. .
The FSB manifesto also calls for a future government to reform business rates and enshrine in law measures to crack down on large companies with poor payment practices to smaller suppliers.
Additionally, the group wants to improve small business access to finance and ensure a legal public procurement target of 33 percent for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
An FSB survey found that 96 percent of small business owners intend to vote, but 20 percent have not yet decided which party. 33 percent have a good idea who they will vote for, but could still change their minds.
According to the survey, the main concern for small businesses is that any future government will increase taxes.
FSB policy chair Tina McKenzie said: “Small business owners and the self-employed are an astute and motivated part of the electorate.
“They are used to weighing competitive offers when running their businesses, and it is clear from our research that when it comes to elections they are looking to see which party has the most compelling offer for small businesses.
“Small businesses are the key to securing economic recovery, driving innovation and creating jobs across the UK.
“Our small business manifesto sets out the measures needed to create the conditions for that to happen, many of which involve no additional expenditure.
The independent previously reported that Brexit is leaving a hole of almost £100 billion in the UK's annual exports, making the British economy worse off than it would have been if it had remained in the European Union.
