Interesting to see that Anita Campbell of Small Business Trends in the US has referenced figures on UK small businesses.

There are now more than half a million more businesses in the UK than in 1997. Figures just released by the Small Business Service also show that around 95% of businesses operating in all sectors are SMEs (small to medium sized enterprises - known as SMBs (businesses) in the USA).

The full statistics can be downloaded from the Small Business Service website.

Although this is my professional blog for Bruce Marshall Associates LLP many readers know that I am also an active member of the Labour Party.

The growth in business numbers since 1997 when Labour entered government are just one indication of how much the Labour Party has changed and can be trusted to run a sound economy.

However, I personally still think there is a lot more Labour could do to help small and medium sized businesses. There is still a reluctance amongst many Labour Party members to accept that we can be an all embracing party that welcomes entrepreneurs. But why should this be? Many people who would have traditionally have worked for others are now capable of working for themselves. We in the Labour Party should celebrate this, not decry it.

Where I think the Labour Party could still do more is in really understanding the needs of small businesses. Large government departments pay little more than lip service to concepts such as 'cutting red tape'. We've recently incorporated as a limited liability partnership and you wouldn't believe the difficulty we had in obtaining a new VAT number. The fiasco dragged on for over two months despite us being told in our first phone call that it should take no more than 10 days.

Now let us consider for a moment what might have happened if it had taken us over two months to provide what is required to the Inland Revenue or Customs and Excise. From past experience I can tell you they would have charged us. So doesn't it seem reasonable that we should charge them for what it has cost us in terms of time, inconvenience and embarrassment? 

We run a professional services business. I used be the in-house PR for one of the world's largest accountants for owner-managed businesses. We aren't babes in the wood when it comes to running a business. Yet we struggled to fill in some of the barrage of forms that get fired at you. What would it be like for someone with no experience of business, but is excellent at their trade or craft?

As a small business owner in the UK you feel that the government demands a lot of you, but gives you precious little in return (unless you happen to be in specific sectors or geographical areas that are eligible for special grants and loans etc).

Labour has improved things immensely compared to under the Conservatives, but we still have a long way to go.