Pictured: Geoffrey Davies
The chairman of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership today
welcomed the Prime Minister's pledge to take the "brakes off
business" in 2012 to help small enterprises thrive.
Dr Geoffrey Davies OBE backed measures to support businesses
announced by David Cameron, including the Government's resolution
to get "pointless time-wasting out of the British economy and
British life once and for all."
The Prime Minister made his comments to an audience of small
business owners and entrepreneurs yesterday (THURS) just hours
before an official visit to the Marches to meet companies in the
LEP's Enterprise Zone.
The Marches LEP is tasked with creating the conditions for
economic growth across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford &
Wrekin, and last year won a successful bid for Enterprise Zone
status for a site in Rotherwas, Herefordshire.
Mr Cameron, on his first official engagement of 2012, said: "I
am determined that we do everything possible to take the brakes off
business: cutting taxes; slashing red tape; putting billions into
big infrastructure projects; making it much easier for British
firms to get out there and trade with the world.
"And there is something else we are doing: waging war against
the excessive health and safety culture that has become an
albatross around the neck of British businesses. But for British
businesses - especially the smaller ones that are so vital to the
future of our economy - this is a massively important issue. Every
day they battle against a tide of risk assessment forms and face
the fear of being sued for massive sums. The financial cost of this
culture runs into the billions each year."
Dr Davies, chairman of the Marches LEP, said he was delighted Mr
Cameron had been able to see progress being made at the Rotherwas
site, and welcomed the Prime Minister's pledge to support SMEs.
"I'm pleased that Marches businesses had the opportunity to talk
directly to the Prime Minister about the issues they are facing and
their plans for the future.
"More than 80 per cent of businesses across the Marches are
SMEs, employing fewer than five people, and these businesses
probably provide the greatest opportunity for real growth. Any
moves to free small firms from the stranglehold of health and
safety red tape will really help support enterprise in this
region."
Speaking to businesses yesterday, Mr Cameron also announced that
the Government would be tackling the compensation culture and
address the fear from businesses of being sued for trivial or
excessive claims.