Enterprise Nation

Yesterday morning a 'home business summit' was called by Mark Prisk MP who is Enterprise Secretary for the Conservative Party. Mark wanted to know what home businesses want from Government. I wanted to know if we would be greeted by the same level of hospitality shown to participants at the G8 Summit. 

Tory Tuesday

The event was labelled 'The home business summit.' The hosts were the shadow enterprise and rural secretaries and invited guests were people who represented home based businesses.

I made my way through the tight security of Portcullis House with articles from that morning's press fresh in my mind. They spoke of an 18 piece sumptious banquet offered to guests and leaders at the G8 Summit in Japan. My expectations were high.

Okay, so we weren't in northern Japan and we weren't the G8 leaders so I suppose self-service coffee and biscuits was seen as appropriate. At least this level of extravagance wouldn't attract bad press.

The conversation, guided by the two MPs, was lively and good spirited.

There was talk of broadband, home business hubs, media attention, business support and, critically, what should be the role of Government in encouraging and supporting home business.

The outcome could be summarised as:

• offer support to those groups who are already doing good work to help local home businesses start and grow
• don't regulate or tax! Leave the admin aspects of starting a home business, alone
• do talk about home business more in speeches. Celebrate the contribution we make to the economy, environment and society.

What next?

We'll wait to see what happens next. Mark Prisk committed to reporting our discussions to his shadow cabinet so they could consider the upsides of a nation populated by vibrant home businesses.

It may have not been the G8 gathering but bearing in mind the significance of yesterday's meeting, I do think it deserves a tag. Maybe the 'Portcullis House posse' would be about right. - Emma Jones

If you would like to offer your views, you can do so by clicking on the link below and scrolling down to Small Business Support Survey.

• Small Business Support Survey