Lincolnshire small businesses say next Government needs to do more to help them
Small firms have been experiencing challenging times in recent years
Last updated 2nd Jul 2024
Two more days until the general election and small business owners from across Lincolnshire have told us times are still tough and whoever forms the next Government needs to do more to help them out.
A new poll's revealed four out of five of them admit they could still be swayed if they thought their interests were being prioritised.
We've been speaking to Katrina Pierce the Lincolnshire rep for the Federation of Small Businesses about the situation and the difficulties many of her members have been facing.
She told us: "Our businesses have been through a huge amount particularly just in the last 4 years."
The high street, hospitality and retail particularly have had a really tough time in recent years
"That's not just covid - we've had business interruptions through war in Ukraine - we've had the economic crisis and the cost of living crisis - we've had energy volatility - soaring inflation."
"These are things we need to just stabilise and get right".
"Our small towns and villages are what make England and the UK really really vibrant."
"But they've had a tough time - the high street, hospitality and retail particularly have had a really tough time in recent years."
"They need to see better funding - investment in high streets - in heritage, all this stuff that makes us feel good about where we live."
Small businesses suffer terribly from larger business particularly delaying or withholding payment
"Things like VAT - there's lots and lots of things enshrined in the small business act that would send a real positive message to this community that have suffered and weathered the storm in recent years - that crucially will be key to economic recovery."
"They were off the back of the last economic crisis in 2008."
"That will enshrine a number of issues that have either troubled or frustrated small businesses in recent years or are likely to."
"So things around fair payment practices, small businesses suffer terribly from larger business particularly delaying or withholding payment."
"That can put businesses out of business."