A SCOTS CEO has been named as a member of the new small business council which met for the first time this week at Downing Street.
THE UK Government named CEO Andrew Bissell of Sunamp as a member of the council which held its first meeting yesterday.
The chief executive and co-founder of the Tranent-based heat battery manfacturer has joined 18 fellow council members from across the UK to tackle issues facing small businesses.
The council brings together a wide range of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from sectors such as food and drink, climate tech, manufacturing and beauty.
Mr Bissell is looking forward to the new council and to helping to shape discussions in the months ahead.
The new council is chaired by Kevin Hollinrake, the small business minister and will work alongside the Prime Minister’s business council.
The council is tasked with overseeing access to funding, skills and support, and removing barriers to business growth.
Mr Bissell said: “SMEs come in lots of shapes and sizes, and it was great to see so many women and such ethnic diversity at our first meeting.
“One area for discussion will be the low level of funding that goes to women-led businesses.”
Innovators currently have a difficulty in overcoming regulatory and policy barriers, and Mr Bissel hopes that creating competition in these areas will lead to growth.
Minister Kevin Hollinrake believes that the work of the council is important as small firms are at the heart of our communities and the engine of our economy.
He said: “We’re giving small firms a big voice, so they can directly air their concerns to government without delay.
“Only when we work together can we tackle some of the burning issues SMEs are facing only then can we help boost jobs and grow the economy.”
Almost every business in the UK is a small business (99.9%) and they support around 27m jobs.
