Sharper focus and stronger voice for small business policy

31 October 2006:

Changes to the Government's Small Business Service (SBS) - making it a smaller, more sharply focused policy unit within DTI with close links to HM Treasury – have been announced by Margaret Hodge, Small Business Minister.

The new streamlined SBS reflects the organisation's move from delivering services on the ground to become an expert policy unit on small business issues throughout Government. The transition means that from April 2007 the SBS will no longer be required to have Executive Agency status and will instead operate as an expert policy unit within the DTI's Enterprise and Business Group.

Key changes include:
• a core team of 50 people providing a sharper policy focus on simplifying the business environment, stimulating enterprise culture and providing advice across government on how policies can be more business-friendly
• an additional team of around 50 people to work on key projects, for example the Business Support Simplification Programme, which aims to reduce the 3000 publicly funded business support schemes to 100 by 2010
• the SBS will retain specialist expertise in key areas, including: business support policy, small business finance, specific enterprise policy issues including women and ethnic minorities and research, statistics, analysis and performance evaluation.
• Since its creation six years ago the Small Business Service has championed the needs of small business within government. Research shows that every pound spent by the SBS delivers a return to the economy of over two pounds and SBS has delivered some £85million each year in admin cost savings to business.

The bulk of the restructuring of the SBS is planned to be completed by Spring 2007.

For further information:
Web:www.sbs.gov.uk