Archive - Thursday, 1 October 2009


Find by date

Other ways to search

Also look for

Never miss anything again. Sign up for our RSS news feeds and Newsletters.

Friendliness rewarded

SMALL firms in Dorset can count on support from the county’s local authorities.

That was the message at the Small Business Friendly Awards, organised by the Wessex region of the Federation of Small Businesses.

Six councils across Dorset entered three award categories and the winners were announced at a ceremony at the Carlton Hotel in Bournemouth.

FSB regional chairman Ken Moon, who presented the awards with regional vice-chairman Tim Colman, said “The FSB, through our regional and branch officers, lobbies for the rights of small businesses and on occasion gives local authorities a hard time regarding some of their policies.

“But we are also aware that there are many examples of good practice – which generally go unseen and unheard.”

Dorset County Council won the award for Best Small Business Friendly Procurement Policy.

This recognised work by its new procurement unit to make pre-qualification questionnaires for tendering accessible to small businesses while developing a relationship with the FSB and others to help achieve this goal.

East Dorset District Council collected the award for the Best Small Business Friendly Programme or Campaign.

This recognised its Dormen campaign, which supports new small businesses by mentoring.

North Dorset District Council won the Best All Round Small Business Friendliness award for a raft of initiatives including the efforts of the taxation department.

Its team contacted every small firm entitled to Small Business Rate Relief to explain entitlement and support the claim.

The FSB has successfully lobbied government to recognise the importance of small businesses in creating jobs for skilled young people graduating from college and university.

Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Brighton, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that 10,000 skilled internships for young people will be created.

“The government’s pledge to set up 10,000 skilled internships is a real victory for the FSB and a victory for small businesses across the country,” said Mr Moon, adding: “Small firms are the country’s job creators.

“The FSB is committed to promoting this scheme among its membership, and to encouraging all small businesses to link up with university careers services to offer vacancies and create placements.”