Marches LEP backs prime minister's vow to take the 'brakes off'
The chairman of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has welcomed the Prime Minister's pledge to take the “brakes off business” in 2012 to help small enterprises thrive.
Dr Geoffrey Davies OBE backed measures to support businesses announced by David Cameron, including the Government's resolution to get “pointless time-wasting out of the British economy and British life once and for all.”
The Prime Minister made his comments to an audience of small business owners and entrepreneurs on Thursday 5 January just hours before an official visit to the Marches to meet companies in the LEP's Enterprise Zone.
The Marches LEP is tasked with creating the conditions for economic growth across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, and last year won a successful bid for Enterprise Zone status for a site in Rotherwas, Herefordshire.
Mr Cameron, on his first official engagement of 2012, said: “I am determined that we do everything possible to take the brakes off business: cutting taxes; slashing red tape; putting billions into big infrastructure projects; making it much easier for British firms to get out there and trade with the world.
“And there is something else we are doing: waging war against the excessive health and safety culture that has become an albatross around the neck of British businesses. But for British businesses – especially the smaller ones that are so vital to the future of our economy – this is a massively important issue. Every day they battle against a tide of risk assessment forms and face the fear of being sued for massive sums. The financial cost of this culture runs into the billions each year.”
Dr Davies, chairman of the Marches LEP, said he was delighted Mr Cameron had been able to see progress being made at the Rotherwas site, and welcomed the Prime Minister's pledge to support SMEs.
“I'm pleased that Marches businesses had the opportunity to talk directly to the Prime Minister about the issues they are facing and their plans for the future.
“More than 80 per cent of businesses across the Marches are SMEs, employing fewer than five people, and these businesses probably provide the greatest opportunity for real growth. Any moves to free small firms from the stranglehold of health and safety red tape will really help support enterprise in this region.”
Speaking to businesses yesterday, Mr Cameron also announced that the Government would be tackling the compensation culture and address the fear from businesses of being sued for trivial or excessive claims.
