Primary Authority tools explored for small business
21 March 2011
LBRO, which administers Primary Authority, is testing how some of the scheme's tools that work well for big business can be adapted for smaller local concerns.
Support to local businesses is already a key activity for many local authority regulatory services, and LBRO is working with eight pilot councils on a range of established and new approaches to see what benefits the may be in applying the principles of PA.
Lessons learned from these pilots will be made available from the LBRO website. LBRO Chairman Clive Grace said: "Primary Authority has proved itself in the big business arena and there is every reason to explore how we might apply some of its principals in helping smaller firms.
"These pilot schemes are at the cutting edge and the experiences of the local authorities involved are likely to be of great value for other councils around the country."
To follow is a brief summary of the pilots.
Central Bedfordshire Council
The council is developing a joined up approach to improving communications and relationships with small businesses at Stratton Business Park. This pilot will be used to test how larger businesses can be engaged to help improve the compliance and success of small firms when they are located together.
Cheshire West and Chester Council
This project relates to enhancing and developing targeted support for business in Ellesmere Port. The focus is on the provision of consumer credit and specifically the secondhand car trade.
Lichfield District Council
Lichfield is developing a joined up approach to customer services to better meet small business needs by bringing together business facing services such as environmental health, licensing, waste, business rates, planning, building control, economic development and corporate communications.
London Borough of Enfield
Enfield's project is to provide targeted support to food premises and focuses on partnerships with businesses to improve standards rather than interventionist enforcement based approach.
Luton Borough Council
Luton is working with up to 30 small groceries and restaurants in Bury Park by offering offer three months of support with the aim of achieving sustained compliance in food standards, health and safety, trading standards and waste disposal.
North West Leicestershire District Council
Case studies are being developed from the innovative work NWLDC has carried out with other regulators to support small businesses, including an ‘Open for Business' initiative which helps businesses comply by providing a single point of contact to access services.
Stafford Borough Council
Stafford's regulators want to engage more closely with a very successful town centre business partnership. By using established networks, Stafford is working with the business community to develop forms of earned recognition, and wants to develop an improved joined up approach. The pilot project will also support the outcomes of a self-assessment and external peer challenge of the service using the Regulatory Services Excellence Framework.
Swindon Borough Council
Swindon wishes to increase the number of food businesses that achieve the highest standard in its food hygiene rating scheme by creating a five-star business club. In return for an annual subscription they will receive regular advice and support to help them retain their high performance.
For enquiries about Primary Authority for Small Business email duncan.johnson@lbro.org.uk or call 0121 226 4000.
[END]
Media enquiries to Jo Barker or Roland Curtis. Tel: 0121 226 4019.
Email: jo.barker@lbro.org.uk or roland.curtis@lbro.org.uk