LABOUR’S Shadow Secretary of State for Business & Trade Jonathan Reynolds has outlined the party’s stance on its support for small businesses at an event in Northamptonshire.
Supply chain consulting and warehouse solutions provider Visku hosted a special event for the British Chambers of Commerce at its Wellingborough headquarters.
Mr Reynolds outlined Labour’s blueprint to stimulate and support the growth of small businesses. He told an audience of business leaders that, if the party is elected to government at the next General Election, Labour will introduce a raft of actions headed by pledges to:
- Introduce legislation to tackle late payments;
- Replace business rates;
- Remove barriers to export;
- Enable better access to finance.
After his speech, Mr Reynolds took part in a Q&A session chaired by the BCC director general Shevaun Haviland. “I want to make this a genuine conversation with business and that is why I am grateful to the Chambers of Commerce for putting this event on. It underlines the great strength of the Chamber network,” Mr Reynolds said.
Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce hosted Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer at an event at the Silverstone factory of specialist electric vehicle upcycler Lunaz in December. The Chamber’s chief executive Louise Wall said: “We are delighted to bring businesses together with senior figures from the world of politics. The Chamber takes a neutral stance when it comes to party politics but we know it is important for our members to be able to hear from, and put their views to, all of the main parties.”
The event took place at Visku’s warehouse at Park Farm Way in Wellingborough, one of the company’s flagship warehouses and which earlier this month hosted the start of the UK Warehousing Association’s campaign to mark the UKWA’s 80th anniversary.
Visku chief executive Julian Burnett said: “We are delighted to host this very special event for the British Chambers of Commerce here at our Wellingborough HQ and to hear Jonathan Reynolds’ plans for stimulating the growth and development of small businesses.
“In light of today’s increasingly unpredictable business challenges, effective supply chain has become an important topic for the economy and for sustainability. Within this context, Visku is more relevant for the market today and for the future than ever before.”
- Main picture: Jonathan Reynolds (left) with (l-r) Julian Burnett, Shevaun Haviland and Visku founder Andy Kaye.