Small Business Manifesto
“The government isn’t listening!” how many times do we hear that comment from the business community? However the more I deal with Government the more I believe that the problem is actually a case of “the Government can’t hear”. Good Information and excellent communication are the bedrock upon which effective and efficient management decisions are based in order to create strategy whether you are a business or the Government of Jersey.
Yet when it comes to dealing with business there is no one central body to which Government can turn to communicate with the 5,180 businesses in Jersey, whether it be on an individual basis or by sector.
As a business owner I send information into the local parish, company registrars, Regulation of Undertakings, Social Security, Income Tax and so on, all of whom use this data to inform their particular aspect of Government.
So, to help to crystallise the different requirements of small businesses, we are going to propose this manifesto:
1. To optimise business formation and membership of The Jersey Chamber of Commerce
The first and most important manifesto pledge is to make sure the needs of small businesses are heard by those in Government. We think a basic problem here that the company formation process is totally removed from those agencies, such as Chamber or JBV that can support businesses.
It is crucial that all parties work together to make sure that new businesses automatically have the opportunity to participate both in the benefits that EDD now offer, but also in the services made available through Chamber. Chamber’s Small Business Group will be putting together proposals to make sure that happens.
2. Creation of a CV bureau for business
The second manifesto pledge seeks to find a way for small businesses to get on the radar of potential employees. There are too many potential employees leaving school or, at the other end of the spectrum wanting a few hours a week, who for one reason or another can’t find a suitable job and don’t know what opportunities there are out there in the economy with small businesses; equally, plenty of small businesses are hunting for good local staff.
3. Flexing the Regulations of Undertakings Law
The third pledge is based around the Regulations of Undertakings. Once a business CV bureau has been established and a business can show that it has advertised its vacancy without response from a locally qualified individual, then Government should look much more favourably on that business’s ability to employ non-qualified individuals. This gap in resources should then inform future Government strategy.
4. Establishment of a local pensions and healthcare provider
The fourth pledge is to do with pensions and healthcare for local business. It is absolutely vital that at least one local, tax-efficient provider be established. A locally owned provider is going to reinvest in the community unlike much larger outside providers who can, and have, simply walked away. Work has begun but this needs to be finalised as soon as possible
5. Green Small Business Strategy
A fifth pledge is a green one. It should be Government policy to encourage local businesses to switch from petrol driven vehicles to electric. That means providing electric charge up points in car parks.
There should be a waste recycling strategy for small business that is cost-effective, not tax-effective. Whilst there still remains no organised cardboard waste collection facility in <place w:st="on">St. Helier</place> for instance how can there be any justification in building a new incinerator that simply perpetuates bad habits rather than reforming them?
6. Reducing Costs to Small Business
There is little doubt that the costs to small businesses because of Government tax and employment legislation continue to grow and the time has come (if some of these costs are genuinely unavoidable) to mitigate their effect on business. Therefore we have asked EDD to examine the need for Small Business Social Security relief and Small Business rates, to recognise some of the costs of start up and remaining in business.