Speaking up for small business

Last week I spoke with long term?contact of Enterprise Nation, Frank Mckenna , founder of business network, Downtown in Business. We got talking about small business representation and how?owners, from start-ups to scale-ups, need an array of champions in their corner. ?

With an economy powered by more than 6 million companies plus millions more who are self-employed or running side hustles, this is a big constituency to represent. Founders at different stages and from a range of sectors have varying requirements. All are looking for a stable economy in which to operate but nuances on the type of support/finance/market access required can differ. ??

This is therefore the start of a list of bodies/companies/organisations presenting small businesses to media, government, and society at large. It is by no means final - simply a listing of twenty five I come across regularly. Let's keep adding to ensure the voices of millions are heard. ?

1. Accounting bodies – whether it’s ACCA , ICAEW or AAT , professional bodies for accountants comment on small business issues like Making Tax Digital
2. British Business Bank (BBB) – with its escalator of finance from StartUp Loans to growth capital, BBB sees the pinch points for access to finance
3. The British Library Business & IP Centres – offer a regional network of IP resource and space in which businesses connect
4. Business support organisations and?Growth Hubs – operating in all parts of the?UK including Hatch Enterprise UK , Newable , The Growth Company , Business West offer a strong voice for small business at a local level
5. CBI - Confederation of British Industry – via its small business policy unit ?
6. Chambers of Commerce – offering nationwide coverage and central policy via British Chambers of Commerce ?
7. Downtown in Business - with networks across the North of England and West Midlands
8. Enterprise Nation – I'm biased on this one! With 800k+ small businesses visiting the platform each year, this puts us in a strong position to see what small businesses are searching for when it comes to support – and what works with publicly funded support programmes
9. Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) – does a magnificent job of being in the corridors of power to argue for conditions for small business on topics from energy caps to prompt payment
10. Founders Forum Group – founders have an able operator in the form of Brent Hoberman ensuring entrepreneurial conditions are at their best ?
11. Global platforms and corporates – I’ve written about this a number of times; how business service providers are taking on a vital role in representing small businesses with evidence based on usage, customer demands etc. Brands doing a great job of this include Adobe , 亚马逊 , Vodafone , Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth , Sage , Santander UK and more
12. Global Entrepreneurship Network – run in the UK by Marc Ortmans and Matt Smith offering a focal point for enterprising activity and small business engagement every November
13. Great British Entrepreneur Awards & Community - representing small businesses through recognition and celebration. Francesca James has scaled this brilliantly
14. UKHospitality – provides a strong voice for an important element of the small business sector, led by Kate Nicholls OBE ?
15. Institute of Directors (IoD) – building a better environment for directors
16. Family Business UK – does what it says on the tin and represents family owned businesses under leadership of Fiona Graham ?
17. IPSE's Self-Employed Showcase - representing freelancers and the self-employed
18. Make UK - with a focus on manufacturers
19. Responsible Finance - umbrella organisation for community development finance lenders
20. ScaleUp Institute – I have watched with respect as this organisation and Irene Graham OBE have well and truly got scale-ups on the agenda
21. Small Business Britain – Michelle Ovens CBE has long been a champion for small business through her oversight of Small Business Saturday and campaigning on other important topics ?
22. techUK – represents companies large and small with particular strength on how SMEs can win government contracts and onboard to digital frameworks ?
23. The Entrepreneurs Network – in my view, the best enterprise think tank in the UK. Philip Salter is a constant source of ideas, international comparisons, and recommendations?to ensure the UK remains a great place to start and grow a business
24. UK Business Forums – run by Richard Osborne offering a forum in which small businesses can share views and issues with peers
25. UK Finance – an umbrella organisation for banks and the finance industry, small businesses have an effective voice in this organisation via Stephen Pegge , a long-time small business supporter. ?