What do UK small businesses really need now to help hit Government targets, drive the growth mission and keep our high streets thriving?
Rt Hon Liam Byrne, Chair of the Committee, said:
“Britain’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy. But right now, they’re under siege—from shoplifters to skills shortages. If we want to hit our growth targets, build the homes we need, and restore our high streets, then we need a new national strategy that backs small business with the skills, security and support to thrive. That’s what this inquiry is all about—listening hard, acting fast, and getting serious about small business success.”
Meeting details
In this opening session of oral evidence in Parliament, the BTC will question three panels of small business representatives on the overall environment for SMEs in the UK and the challenges and barriers facing businesses on the high street now – including record levels of shoplifting.
Representatives of the hair and beauty industry will answer questions on the opportunities and challenges in their sector, and particularly the impact of illegal practices like money laundering and tax avoidance on legitimate business owners.
And the construction sector, facing what the Federation of Master Builders has described as a national skills crisis, will discuss how they can best be supported to contribute towards the Government’s major housing and infrastructure targets.
As of March 2025, there were around 35,000 job vacancies in the construction sector: the largest percentage increase in vacancies of any sector from the previous quarter, at 17.3%. In order to fulfil Government targets, it is projected by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) that the industry will require 47,860 additional workers per year from 2025-2029, or 239,300 extra workers over the next five years. Who’s going to train them all, and who’s going to pay for it?
BTC Members launched this inquiry into a new UK strategy for small business with a series of well-attended “high street round tables” and an online survey on what SMEs need now to drive growth - open to all small business owners to complete by July 16.