Business chief: Signs seem positive

Federation of Small Businesses chairman John Walker says there are positive economic signs for 2013
31 December 2012

Business confidence remains low but there are some "positive" economic signs for the year ahead, according to the Federation of Small Businesses.

National chairman John Walker said that 2012, when the UK dipped back into recession, had proved tough, but suggested the picture for the coming months was a little brighter than it had been in recent years.

But he criticised the banking industry for pushing many businesses to the wall through mis-selling financial products and warned that it must work hard to rebuild trust with small firms.

In his New Year message, he also told the Coalition that his members are facing a "huge compliance burden" under changes being introduced in April which will force all companies to report their payroll information in real time.

Mr Walker said: "Confidence is still low, with many concerned about lack of demand and wider economic issues, but our members are heading into 2013 with more confidence than they did going into either 2011 or 2012. This is a move in the right direction and something the Government must build on in the new year."

He added: "The signs seem to be positive, but it's going to be a long road ahead with some economists warning of a triple-dip recession, and others cautious optimism."

The FSB national chairman said banks are still failing to provide the finance companies need, with less than 10% of small businesses reporting easy access to the credit they need.

Mr Walker said the organisation had also tried to work with banks and the Financial Services Authority to find a way to resolve the mis-selling of financial products "scandal".

"It has been a year of financial scandal with this mis-selling and the manipulation of the inter-bank lending rate," he said.

"Too many businesses have failed because of this, but I want 2013 to be the year when a line is drawn under this sorry saga and firms are given the redress they deserve. It has already gone on for too long and, until it ends, business and banks will not be able to rebuild the broken relationship crucially needed to help bolster the confidence of small firms and the wider economy."

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