SFA: Small firms need more help

THE Government has been accused of not fully acknowledging the role played by the country’s small businesses.

The Small Firms Association (SFA) said it is time for the Government to recognise the “key role” that small business plays in Ireland’s economic and social success and “to provide the small business sector with the confidence and supportive environment to ensure future success”.

It has re-issued its call for the establishment of a national entrepreneurship policy aimed at attracting young people to set up in business and to increase the number of innovative start-up companies entering the marketplace. The SFA issued a similar call last year.

SFA chairman Aidan O’Boyle said: “The small business sector is the real future of this country in terms of our economic development and job creation.” He said the Government must now turn its attention to the enterprise sector and develop a comprehensive enterprise and jobs support strategy early in the new year.

“Given the financial constraints it is operating under, it is essential the Government focuses on where there will be a direct return on investment and that is by supporting small businesses in retaining jobs, rather than relegating those people to the dole queues.

“Its also about creating a competitive environment that will allow Irish small businesses to compete equally with their counterparts most immediately north of the border, but around the globe, through tackling Government controlled costs such as electricity and other energy costs, local authority charges, regulatory burden and waste/water charges.”

Access to finance is still a critical issue for many small firms, according to the SFA. The association said it is inundated on a daily basis with calls from small firms stating that their restricted access to credit is reaching crisis point. It is backing the introduction of a Government-back loan/equity guarantee scheme for small businesses.