Lobby group launches inaugural Small Firms’ Summit

BUSINESS lobby group Private Sector Partners is hosting its inaugural Small Firms’ Summit for business owners and directors in February.

The summit aims to give owner-managers and senior private company directors the chance to express their views on the big issues facing them and critically examine support for businesses in the North West.

Hosted by Jim Hancock, the former political editor for the BBC in the North West, it will be held on Thursday February  18, at the the University of Central Lancashire’s New Campus in Burnley from 12.45pm.

Business Link Northwest is an event sponsor, with managing director Peter Watson in attendance to receive feedback from the leaders of businesses. TheBusinessDesk.com is media partner for the event.

Business leaders giving presentations include Robert Craven, managing director of the Directors’ Centre and Tony Barnes, chief executive of AIM-listed smart metering company Bglobal.

There will be breakout  sessions in groups of ten during the conference, where guests will have the chance to share their experience of the relevance and value of services from Government business support  schemes.

Len Collinson, PSP’s leader, said: “PSP North West represents 140,000 private businesses across the region.

“We are keenly aware of the huge number of problems and difficulties they face. This ranges from  recruitment of people to skills shortages, issues associated with employment law, to over-regulation through to problems with public sector tenders. The Small Firms’ Summit will provide a voice for leaders of smaller businesses to air their concerns. These will then be impressed upon policy-makers and decision-makers.”

It costs £25 to attend the Small Firms’ Summit. To register for a place or to obtain more information, contact Emma Ryde on 0161 794 9538 or email eryde@colgranhouse.com.