|
Forum Calls For Stronger Business Support
Listed under: News
Published: Friday, March 19, 2010
The chief executive of one of the leading business advice groups in the country – the Forum of Private Business (FPB) – is urging more people to support smaller enterprises in the UK, comparing the financial hardships of the past year to the industrial challenges of the late 70s.
Speaking at the forum's most recent business support event, Mr Orford said, “The industrial decline of the 70s and 80s is seen as stimulating the growth of business support. We don’t think that the services of today can be prescribed as standard – every company owner’s needs are different and it is important that we cater for them all.”
Commenting on the challenging year ahead, he predicted the coming 18 months would be “very difficult” for smaller businesses, citing changes to the financial climate, heightened customer expectations and difficult relationships with suppliers as just some of the issues likely to affect retailers over the next 12 months.
“Businesses must adapt and evolve and there will be a need for greater collaboration going forward. I look at my own kids now – both are studying business – and the way they will need support in five years time will be totally different from the enterprises of today,” he added.
Also speaking at the event was Kavita Oberoi, one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs and star of the Channel Four TV programme The Secret Millionaire. Emphasising the importance of working together, she said, “At one point, businesses wouldn’t work with others because they were competitors, but it’s important to support each other and remember that whatever you put out will always come back.”
The Forum will be embarking on a number of new initiatives to support smaller businesses over the next year. For more information, please visit http://www.fpb.org
Speaking at the forum's most recent business support event, Mr Orford said, “The industrial decline of the 70s and 80s is seen as stimulating the growth of business support. We don’t think that the services of today can be prescribed as standard – every company owner’s needs are different and it is important that we cater for them all.”
Commenting on the challenging year ahead, he predicted the coming 18 months would be “very difficult” for smaller businesses, citing changes to the financial climate, heightened customer expectations and difficult relationships with suppliers as just some of the issues likely to affect retailers over the next 12 months.
“Businesses must adapt and evolve and there will be a need for greater collaboration going forward. I look at my own kids now – both are studying business – and the way they will need support in five years time will be totally different from the enterprises of today,” he added.
Also speaking at the event was Kavita Oberoi, one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs and star of the Channel Four TV programme The Secret Millionaire. Emphasising the importance of working together, she said, “At one point, businesses wouldn’t work with others because they were competitors, but it’s important to support each other and remember that whatever you put out will always come back.”
The Forum will be embarking on a number of new initiatives to support smaller businesses over the next year. For more information, please visit http://www.fpb.org
