£10m-worth of red tape slashed for small businesses

Speaking in Bristol, new business secretary Sajid Javid promised to cut £10 million of red tape for small businesses, fewer employment tribunals and to review business rates.

He also pledged to simplify audits for small businesses and said hundreds of live music venues and community events will now be exempt from entertainment licensing.

Javid said: “Small businesses are Britain’s engine room and the success of our whole economy is built on the hard work and determination of the people who run and work for them.”

His sentiments were echoed by business minister Anna Soubry, who added: “This will be a no nonsense bill to back small businesses and help create jobs, giving financial security and economic peace of mind to hardworking people across the country.

“We want businesses to be our partners in identifying and scrapping needless burdens at home and in Europe. Its important government gets behind small businesses-enabling them to get finance, get paid on time and get rid of red tape.”

Bureaucracy in general came under fire from the newly appointed minister, who said that he would ensure there were no more ‘slaps on the wrist’ for minor health and safety breaches such as no-smoking signs in the wrong place.

Reform to business rates will be particularly welcomed by the pub industry, with many licensees describing the current process as outdated and unfair.

Javid added that his passion for small businesses stemmed from his childhood, where he worked in the family’s clothing shop.