Responding to the publication of Lord Young’s report on small firms, the ALMR has praised the contribution of licensed hospitality and called on the Government to do more to encourage small businesses.
The Report on Small Firms 2010-2015, published today, states that there are currently 5.2 million small firms in the UK, a record number, employing some 48% of the UK workforce of 30.8 million people.
ALMR Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “Lord Young is right to praise the contribution being made by small firms to the UK’s economy and to recognise the breadth of small firms making a positive impact. This valuable contribution by small firms to UK PLC is a vital one and aided, in no small part, by the contribution being made by licensed hospitality.
“Across the country, 70% of alcohol retailers and restaurants are small businesses. We are also a dependable, source of employment and income for local communities and a vital contributor to the burgeoning number of small firms across the UK.
“There is, however, more that the Government can do to stimulate this growth and we would remind them that UK businesses are often struggling to remain profitable in the face of increased operating costs.
“The ALMR has continually been vocal in its calls for regulators in the sector to have regard to growth in policy setting, licensing and decision-making. If the Government is prepared to invest in the future of the UK’s small businesses, then there is no reason why we cannot see licensed hospitality businesses contribute even more across the spectrum of UK small firms.”
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