Calls To “Radically Reform” Support For Businesses Following Brexit
Calls have been made to “radically reform” the small business support network in the UK, as firms begin to get ready for life outside the European Union. The Reformed Business Funding: What small firms want from Brexit, from the Federation of Small Businesses, claims that when the UK formally leaves the EU, a dedicated £3.6bn fund to develop the competitiveness of UK small businesses will be lost. Expected to end in 2021, there is currently no regional or national equivalent to take its place, nor any discussions of a replacement in the pipeline. 78% of small enterprises have sought business support services over the last 12 months, with those in Yorkshire (25%), the North East (22%) and North West (18%) the most likely to submit applications for EU-funded schemes. As a result of its findi... »