Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

Parliamentlive.tv Work and Pensions Committee

...employ more young people and those furthest from work.

Watch the full committee session here 🔗 parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

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✅ A rebate on Statutory Sick Pay costs.

✅ Uplift the Employment Allowance in line with the NLW.

✅ Introduce a £3000 incentive for employers taking on an apprentice.

FSB's Chris Russell tells the Work and Pensions Select Committee how the Government can help small firms...

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and hedging ability of big businesses. The Government needs to keep a close eye on the situation, and be ready to step in if needed.

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📺 FSB’s Paul Wilson tells Channel 5 News that many small businesses are worried about the impact of skyrocketing energy prices.

⚡️ Small and micro businesses are vulnerable to energy shocks, as they are not covered by the protections offered to households, and do not have the buying power…

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Businesses urged to take simple steps for smoother trade with the EU Businesses are being urged to take simple steps to prepare for the landmark EU agri-food deal, that will cut costs, slash red tape and open up opportunities for exporters and importers.

✅ It's good to see progress on a UK-EU food and plant safety deal (SPS).

➡️ But as the details are worked out, small firms must not be saddled with extra checks, paperwork or rules that make trading harder than it needs to be.

Read more 🔗 www.gov.uk/government/n...

Read the full report 🔗 publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...

🆕 A new report by the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee shows that small businesses are facing a range of 'pandemic-level' pressures.

✅ At our event today to mark the launch of the report, we asked Committee chair, Liam Byrne MP, what the Government can do to support small firms 👇

🗞️ All the most important small business news of the week, every week.

✅ Sign up for FSB's Weekly Brief Newsletter on email and LinkedIn newsletters to get it delivered straight to your inbox every Friday.

📧 E: go.fsb.org.uk/3QWcJDX

📥 LI: go.fsb.org.uk/4cKAkjC

📻 We’re a month away from employment costs, business rates and energy bills going up, FSB's Tina McKenzie tells @listentotimesradio.bsky.social.

Today's Spring Forecast was a missed chance for the Chancellor to address the costs stack about to hit small businesses ⤵️

The graphic shows a closeup picture of the Elizabeth Tower on the left with light blue text on a dark blue background on the right-hand side of the graphic, reading: "FSB responds to the Spring Forecast."

🚩 Inaction from the Chancellor is not enough for the UK’s 5.7 million small businesses and self-employed who are being squeezed by cost pressures and facing a new cost crunch about to hit in April.

Read our full response 👇

🔗 www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre...

The graphic shows a closeup picture of the Elizabeth Tower on the left with light green text on a dark green background on the right hand side of the graphic, reading: "Spring Forecast "Watch it Live."

⏰ The Chancellor is due to deliver her Spring Forecast from 12:30pm.

✅ Stay tuned for FSB's full reaction later this afternoon and in the coming days.

🔴 Watch it live here 🔗 parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

Time to shape the future of banking for small businesses A bank account is a basic necessity for a business of any size, but how happy are you with the service you receive from your bank? From the basic ability to send or receive a payment, to overdrafts, l...

🏦 From your bank’s customer service levels, to receiving a payment, overdrafts, and loans - we want to hear your views in our latest survey to help shape the future of banking for small businesses.

Find out more, and how respondents have the chance to win £200 👇

🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/time-s...

Cost crunch, Employment Allowance, rates reform, business leadership, future banking, fraud prevention We’re being pushed to the brink, small firms tell Chancellor FSB has warned of a looming cost crunch in April that could push many small firms to their breaking point. In a letter to the Chancellor, F...

💡 OUT NOW: Catch up with the most important small business news of the week in the latest edition of the Weekly Brief 👇 👇

www.linkedin.com/pulse/cost-c...

Small businesses warn April cost hikes could force closures Small businesses have warned they are heading into an "unprecedented cost crunch", with over a third of employers planning to cut output.

📈 Business rates, dividends tax, energy standing charges, Statutory Sick Pay, and employment costs are all set to skyrocket for small businesses in April.

We told @cityam.bsky.social why the Chancellor needs to take urgent action to support small firms ⤵️

🔗 www.cityam.com/small-busine...

💷 Our research shows that 35% of small firms plan to close or contract over the coming year.

That's why we're calling on the Chancellor to take action and protect small businesses from these unparalleled cost hikes.

Read our full release 🔗 www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre...

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🚀 Small businesses' costs are set to soar in April, with business rates bills, Statutory Sick Pay costs, energy standing charges, and employment costs all increasing.

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Small businesses face perfect storm in April Lobby group for small employers has found that 35 per cent are planning to close their operations or reduce their output as combination of higher costs arrives

🚨 OUT TODAY: In our exclusive in @thetimes.com, we tell Helen Cahill that small firms are facing an unparalleled cost crunch in April, with business rates, energy standing charges and employment costs all set to rise 👇

🔗 www.thetimes.com/business/com...

📻 With the minimum wage, Statutory Sick Pay, and other bills set to rise for small firms, FSB's Tina McKenzie tells Nick Eardley on #BBC5Live why the Government needs to take action to relieve the pressures facing small employers ⤵️

🚀 Skyrocketing employment costs for small businesses have priced many young people out of jobs.

FSB's Tina McKenzie tells Peter Cardwell on #TalkTV that the Government needs to give small business owners the support they need to create jobs and growth 👇

📺 "We've been warning government that small firms can't carry on like this," FSB's policy chair, Tina McKenzie, calls for help with energy costs and a Statutory Sick Pay
(SSP) rebate on @news.sky.com this morning, after the latest unemployment figures showed the UK unemployment rate stood at 5.2% 👇

🗞️ Get all the most important small business news of the week, every week.

✅ Sign up for FSB's Weekly Brief Newsletter on email and LinkedIn newsletters to get it delivered straight to your inbox every Friday.

📧 E: go.fsb.org.uk/3QWcJDX

📥 LI: go.fsb.org.uk/4cKAkjC

📣 Small businesses, what do you think of the deal you're getting from your bank? 🏦

We want your views on everything from transfer fees to customer services in our latest survey.

Respond by 24 February for the chance to win £200 ⤵️

🔗 about.fsbbigvoice.uk/Banking

Cost pressures, GDP, local spending, Scotland Manifesto, banking survey, apprenticeship week, terrorism legislation Small firms face pandemic-level pressures as April costs threat looms FSB has called on the Government to act fast after a report from the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee found that smal...

🗞️📣 Read all about it! All the most important small business news of the week in the latest edition of the Weekly Brief 👇

🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/cost-p...

📣 Calling all small businesses: Are you getting a good deal from your bank? 🏦

Have your say on everything from current accounts to customer services in our new survey.

Respond by 24 February to help us get a fairer deal for small firms - and a chance to win £200 ⤵️

🔗 about.fsbbigvoice.uk/Banking

The graphic shows a picture of stacked pound coins on the left. On the right is text reading: "FSB PRESS RELEASE: Meagre GDP growth not felt by small firms as costs mount."

💷 The small uptick in GDP figures shouldn't disguise the tough reality being felt by small businesses.

🚩 It's crucial that the Government turns its focus to relieving the pressures facing small firms.

Read our full release 🔗 www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre...

🏬 With a new House of Commons Business and Trade Committee report saying that small high street firms are being squeezed on a wide range of costs, FSB's Paul Wilson tells BBC News #BusinessToday what the Government should do to support small businesses 👇

"You get the opportunity to get a young, bright mind into your business, and they get the hands-on experience and broader knowledge.”

👨🏻‍💻 On #NAW2026 Employer Tuesday, FSB's Policy Champion Hollie Whittles tells us why small business apprenticeships are so important 👇

#SkillsForLife

🚌 Free bus passes for apprentices under 25 to support access to training and work

👩🏽‍🔧 Keep Child Benefit for under‑20s who choose an apprenticeship, just as it is for those in further education

#NAW2026 #SkillsForLife

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The post says: "WE’RE CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT MORE SMALL FIRMS TO TAKE ON AN APPRENTICE."

#Apprenticeships are a great way for young people to learn and become work-ready. For a small business, employing an apprentice can be invaluable too ✅

To help encourage more employers to take on an apprentice, we’re calling for:

💷 £3,000 incentive for SMEs hiring apprentices under 25

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💭 FSB's Policy Champion Hollie Whittles talks about this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, and what apprenticeships mean to her 👇

#NAW2026 #SkillsForLife