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Conservatives In The European Parliament


Opening Doors For Small Business
- a quick and easy reference guide

Sesame

SESAME 
Supporting Every Small And Medium-sized Enterprise

By:

Giles Chichester MEP
Louise Kennerley
Natalie McCoy

 


Giles Chichester MEP Visiting tutu makers Messrs Scott (right) and Morson
 Giles Chichester MEP Visiting tutu makers Messrs Scott (right) and Morson (left) in their Devon workshop after successfully helping them get paid by Italian customers
 
AN SME DEFINED:

• Micro enterprise: employs less than 10 employees; enterprises with no employees, ie provide an income for the self employed (and maybe family workers)
• Small enterprises: provide a job to 10-49 employees
• Medium-sized enterprises: have 50-249 employees
• an LSE (or large scaled enterprise): 250+ employees


Malcolm Harbour MEP, most small business friendly parliamentarian of 2006. Presented by the Forum for Private Business.
Malcolm Harbour MEP, most small business friendly parliamentarian of 2006. Presented by the Forum for Private Business.

 

In an age of mergers, free trade unions, WTO rules and negotiations, environmental concern as well as free market economies, running a small or medium sized enterprise and keeping up with daily progress and changes can be exhausting and confusing.

The onslaught of European Union (EU) legislation and regulations, in addition to national and regional obligations, can place a veritable strain on business owners and operators.

SMEs have long had to juggle multiple roles – accountant, innovator, logistician, salesman, and public relations all in one. Today, with the European internal market and the expanding inter-dependency of trade in general, businesses of all sizes need to keep abreast of changes in the marketplace in order to survive. This means, amongst other things, applying the regulations and standards concocted by the EU, the WTO and/or the UK Government.

Luckily, policy-makers are finally taking into account the impact of their activities on SMEs. According to the European Commission itself, approximately 99% of all enterprises in the EU are SMEs. It is high time their needs and perspectives were taken into consideration.

In recent years, interest and support for the needs of SMEs has been growing. Networks, associations, studies and government agencies have sprung up to assist SMEs compete in a world primarily geared towards large, resourceful and powerful multi-nationals.

There are an estimated 4.3 million SMEs in the United Kingdom generating 58% of its GDP and employing 12 million people. There is no doubt as to the importance of SMEs to the British economy and community.

The Conservative Party has long championed the cause of British business in general and SMEs in particular. We MEPs understand, many of us small business owners ourselves, the extraordinary effort and work necessary to start, run and expand a business.

This guide aims to serve as a starting point for SMEs. In it we provide information on where and how to find help, tips, links to support, funding, lobbying, as well as an introduction into the world of European thought and policy towards SMEs.

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