FSB AGM & National Conference 2011

Last week the FSB AGM & National Conference was held in the BT Convention Centre, Albert Dock, Liverpool, with the conference exhibition having a wide varierty of stands including the full range of service providers, Policy Unit, and for NFSE Sales products. Full details can be obtained here on the FSB website conference pages, but a flavour of the event is given below.

Motions
Some healthy debate occurred with all six motions detailed below
1. This Conference calls upon Her Majesty's Government to incorporate the New Zealand Companies Act 218 notice into UK law.  This allows creditors of a limited liability company to recover an overdue debt by serving a statutory demand on the registered office of the debtor company giving them 15 working days to pay the debt after which liquidation proceedings against the debtor company can be started and giving the claimant priority over the receivers.
Carried
2. The Federation of Small Businesses calls on the UK Government to 'unchain the private sector' and to let it deliver its undoubted potential to generate recovery in the economy (ie lessen red tape)
Carried
3. That this house calls upon her Majesty's Government to extend the National Insurance Holiday (NICS) to existing businesses instead of providing the holiday to new businesses only.
Carried
4. This Conference calls upon Her Majesty's Government to press ahead with a new generation of nuclear power stations, despite fresh concerns about the safety of nuclear technology, in order to deal with anticipated energy shortages and the uncertainty of oil and gas supplies from the Middle East.
Carried
5. This Conference calls upon Her Majesty's Government to adopt Single Double Summertime (SDST)
Not Carried
6. This Conference calls upon Her Majesty's Government to explore ways of suitably compensating small businesses, through the mechanism of a business rate rebate, in circumstances where development works or maintenance work leads to disruption and loss of trade.
Carried 

Question Time 

Chaired by Peter Sissons with panel :
Luciana Berger MP (Lab) – Labour MP for Liverpool Wavetree
Jake Berry MP (Con) – Conservative MP for Rossendale and Darwen
Brian Binley MP (Con) – Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Small Business Group
Gordon Birtwistle MP (LibDem) – former mayor, and currently Leader of Burnley Council
Mike Cherry FSB UK Policy Chair 

South Wales' Region National Councillor, Julie Williamson, asked the first question "given the cost of fuel what would be your advice to small businesses that are reliant on the road network?"  Since then the Chancellor appears to have succombed to pressure applied by FSB members writing to their MPs, as he has introduced a fuel stabiliser in this week's budget.

Honorary Positions
Only one post was contested, that of the two Vice Chairs, and Tony Cherry & Sandra Dexter were successfully elected.

Speakers 
Included a video from David Cameron MP (Con) Prime Minister with Mark Prisk MP (Con) minister for Small Businesses attending in person.  Though due to speak Friday morning unfortunately Vince Cable MP (LibDem) Sec of State for Business, Innovation & Skills did not make it.  However Ed Miliband MP (Lab) Leader of the Opposition, made it at last by late afternoon,after the lengthy Libya debate in the House of Commons, and was made to feel most welcome.  He scored another set of browny points by promising should he become PM to attend a conference – would be the first PM ever to do so!

Workshops 
Evolution - attended by many members, wanting to make their voice4s heard on the future of the FSB, and how to make the organistaion ‘fit for purpose' not only in these challenging times but for the years ahead. Education & Employers’ Task Force - Dr Anthony Mann gave a short presentation on the work of the Education and Employers Taskforce.  It is a coalition of willing organisations which was set up 18 months ago.  The primary role is to get employers working with schools and colleges.  It covers 5-19 year olds and includes activities like business mentoring, School Governorships and work experience opportunities.  
Your FSB, Get Involved - encourged members to realise that there was more to the organsiation than just member benefits, but also something could be gained by getting involved. This workshop concentrated on involvement in recruitment and campaigning.

Other Business Activities 
Networking sessions both for beginners & old hands who just needed to brush up their skills
Seminars on
* How to make money by using CSR and using social media: The session  covered what is CSR for small businesses, who should you be telling about what good you do, and practical tips to get the most from scare resources using tools such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and blogging etc
* IT for the Future: A presentation from Dell on where IT is heading for the future and a glimpse at the latest advances and technologies that are already making their mark on the way we work and communicate. There were practical demonstrations and advice on how to harness these advances for your business
* Apprenticeships – Good for Business: Representatives from the National Apprenticeships Scheme covered the key facts about Apprenticeships, myth busting and demonstrating how apprentices can add value to your business
  
Other Events

As usual a reception for partners where local historian Ken Pye gave an excellent talk on Liverpool giving all guests plenty of ideas for siteseeing.
And for all attendees there was the inter-regional competition including laser shooting, a wheelchair slalem conducted by FSB sponsored women’s wheelchair basketball team, and a variety of quizzes.  And of course the whole event wouldn't be complete without two excellent dinners - A Day at the Races where particpants could win prizes, and on the last evening a black & white them with the vening finshed off by dancing to the band.